4-6 Apr 1890, 60th
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 40:525, 4/12/90, p 13; Millennial Star 52:257, 273, 289, 305, 321, 337]
[4 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 40:525-527, 4/12/90, p 13-15]
GENERAL
CONFERENCE.
_____
The Sixtieth General Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened at 10 a.m., Friday, April 4th, 1890, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
There were on the stand: Of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon; of the council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; of Counselors to the Twelve: John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells; Patriarch, John smith; of the Presiding council of the Seventies, Henry Herriman, Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, John Morgan and B. H. Roberts; of the Presiding Bishopric: William B. Preston, R. T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also present a large number of prominent brethren from various parts of Utah and surrounding States and Territories.
The choir sang:
I saw a mighty angel fly, To
earth he bent his way;
A message bearing from on high, To cheer the sons of day.
The opening prayer was offered by Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
Singing:
Come listen to a Prophet's
voice, And hear the word of God;
And in the way of truth rejoice, And sing for joy aloud.
President Wilford Woodruff
said: Sixty years ago next Sabbath this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Fayette, Seneca County, New York. It was organized by the Prophet of God, Joseph Smith. It was organized by the commandments of God, by the revelations of Jesus Christ. Its history is before the world, the heavens and the earth; and I feel myself that our hearts should be filled this morning with gratitude and thanksgiving that we have the privilege again of meeting in an Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I hope and trust that the hearts of the Saints will be lifted up in prayer to God that during the time we shall spend together in this capacity the spirit and power of God may rest upon the Apostles and Elders who will address us, and upon the Saints themselves who may hear.
I feel very thankful myself that I still have the privilege of meeting in general Conference with the Saints of God. I realize that we are weak instruments in the hand of God who are called to perform this work. The Lord has chosen the weak things of the world from the foundation of the earth, to perform His work in every age and generation of men. I pray that the Apostles and Elders of Israel may be clothed upon with the spirit and power of God while they address the Latter-day Saints. We want to bear in mind that our strength, our hope and our power is in the hands of God and not in men. The Lord Himself has stretched forth his hand to establish this Church, His Kingdom, His Work, His Zion, the gathering together of His people in fulfilment of the revelations of God which have been given to the inhabitants of the earth since the foundation of the world, since the day of the old Patriarch, Father Adam, was brought forth and placed in the garden of Eden. From that day until now His work has been performed by the inspiration of the Almighty, and not by the power of man. The very things in our history that we have been called to pass through, the scenes which have been enacted and shown and they show today to all heaven and earth, in the warfare, in the opposition, in the labor that are manifested among the sons of men -- from the creation of the world till today -- that this is the work of the Lord. The various persecutions, the efforts which have been manifested against the organization of this Church and kingdom for its overthrow and destruction should show -- and have shown to heaven and earth -- that there is a power on earth outside the power of man.
We have no power in ourselves. We never have had in the guidance and direction of this kingdom only through the interposition of Almighty God. Joseph Smith himself was administered with in a way and manner that I have found no record of. I have never read anywhere, that I know of, of the same power manifested in any dispensation to the children of men which was manifested to the Prophet in the organization of this Church when the Father and the Son both appeared to the Prophet Joseph in answer to his prayer, and when the Father said, "This is My Beloved Son; behold Him; hear ye Him." This was an important revelation which has never been manifested in the same manner in any dispensation of the world, that God has given concerning His work. So in its organization the Prophet was administered to by the angels of heaven. They were his teachers, they were his instructors, and all that he did, all that he performed from the commencement, from that day to the day of his martyrdom, was by the revelation of Jesus Christ. We ought to understand this, and as a people have faith in God, in His revelations, in His promises. We should look forth for the fulfilment of these promises unto us in the day and generation in which we live;. They will be fulfilled. The lord is at work. He has set his hand to accomplish the great dispensation of which all the patriarchs and Prophets have spoken since the world began. Therefore let not your hearts be troubled; believe in the Father, believe in Jesus Christ, believe in the gospel which has been preached unto us, and keep and fulfil the commandments of God; then all will be right. The Lord will not fail the Latter-day Saints; He will not fail in His work, in the gathering of His people. He will not fail the seed of Abraham; He will not fail the seed of Judah. They will be gathered home to Jerusalem, their holy place. They will receive their city and Temple, and be prepared for the coming of their King.
Zion will arise and prosper. If the Latter-day Saints will but do their duty, there is nothing in the way of our accomplishing all that has been promised unto us. I have no fears myself with regard to the outcome and final triumph of the Kingdom of God, of the Zion of God, of the Church of God, of the Saints of God. The Lord has already gathered many thousands to these valleys of the mountains, in fulfilment of His promises.
Now, brethren and sisters, let us be thoughtful while in the flesh, and seek to magnify our calling. Let our hearts be set on the building up of the Kingdom of God, and none shall fail. With regard to those who may address us during this Conference I hope that they may all have our prayers, that they may be inspired by the Spirit of the Father, and preach only those things which are true and faithful.
May God bless us and pour out His Spirit upon us, that we may have a good time at this Conference. May we enjoy that Spirit, may our hearts be united together, and may we rejoice in those principles which have been revealed for the comfort, salvation and eternal life of the children of men.
Elder John Morgan
was the next speaker. His remarks were substantially as follows: I am gratified at the privilege of meeting with the Saints in General Conference, of hearing the voice of President Woodruff, and for the fulness of the Gospel, revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is a cause for gratitude that, notwithstanding the opposition arrayed against the truth, its cause still prospers. That which to the natural eye would seem to break down this work established by the Almighty, has the opposite effect. There never was a time in our history when the Saints attracted wider attention than now. This is not from personal causes, but on account of the principles which the Saints have been taught. Because of those principles they are regarded as a peculiar people. According to the Scriptures, when the Saints are regarded with aversion they should rejoice. I have traveled throughout this country a good deal of late, and met with many people and heard numerous ideas expressed regarding what is called "Mormonism." One journalist said, with regard to that system, that its merits did not enter into the question; the nation had had enough of it. They would not tolerate it. This said he, is a settled fact. This seems to be a peculiar sentiment. It is also common to assert that the religion accepted by the Saints would finally go to the wall. O course I could not agree with this view, being convinced that truth will assert its true position in the hearts of the children of men and will ultimately prevail. The people of God have been enabled to triumph over opposition in the past, so will they be able to do in the future.
I testify that God is pleased with His people, also with those who preside over the Church, and is guiding it with His all-powerful hand, by the spirit of revelation through His servants.
Elder Jacob Gates
said in substance: I am always willing to bear testimony to the truth, with considerable of which I have been made conversant, through the Gospel, for the last half century. I have never seen anything that tended to weaken my faith regarding the fulfilment of the predictions of the Prophets relating to events of this dispensation.
A peculiarity of this dispensation is that we have been commanded to be clean and come out from the world, with which we cannot fuze. We have to take a sure and direct course and take what the world has to give us. We are now experiencing what was promised the Saints fifty years ago. I heard Hyrum Smith predict the situation when he was on trial before Judge King. He said that at that time it was a State persecution. In time it would become national. I look for the time when Jehovah shall remove every barrier that stands in the way of the Saints' enjoying every right and privilege the Lord designs they should possess. I say to the Latter-day Saints, move on to victory. There is no need to be discouraged. The destruction of "Mormonism" has been predicted from its organization, but every effort in that direction has failed. and history will in that respect be repeated.
Elder B. H. Roberts
said in substance: I feel grateful for the privileges we now possess and the favorable auspices under which we are enabled to engage in the exercises of this Conference. There is enough to inspire gratitude in the hearts of the latter-day Saints if they but pause to consider what they enjoy. Besides spiritual blessings we have those of a temporal character, which alone are exceedingly precious. The winter has been severe and some losses have occurred in consequence, yet there is abundance of food and clothing for all. Copious snows have been stored up in the mountains, presaging a plenteous coming harvest. There are not the want, misery and perplexity here that are in other communities. The Saints have been preserved from many evils that exist in other communities and have measurably kept themselves free from the entanglements resulting from the credit system. This freedom from the cause that makes the many become the servants of the few is a result of listening to the counsel of the servants of God.
We have other blessings to be grateful for. It is not long since the stand at gatherings of this kind was almost vacant, causing a spirit of loneliness to prevail. Now nearly all of the presiding brethren are in their accustomed places. For this I thank God.
The experience of the last few years, like that of the past sixty years, gives us confidence that this work will not be destroyed by the cunning of its assailants. Mob force cannot destroy it, as that process failed when the numbers of the church were but few. Of late we have seen the combined wisdom of wise men applied for its destruction, yet the Church remains unmoved, not as a quorum displaced, and not an indentation on the armor which encases the good ship Zion. I have often thought how gloomy was the prospect before the Former-day Saints to whom the spirit of prophesy manifested that there would be a falling away. In our day we have been given the assurance that the Kingdom shall not be destroyed nor given to another people. The Lord will chasten us, if needful, and repeat the experience until the desired effect is produced, but the Kingdom is indestructible. It cannot be removed from the face of the earth. If there is danger to the work of God, it does not proceed from outside enemies. It arises from individuals who compose it. While it shall remain intact, many who are identified with it may fall. Having escaped from those who formerly threatened our destruction and come to these valleys, a flood comes upon us, that our disintegration may be encompassed. This flood is one of wickedness, from which, until late years, we have been measurably free. In the past, extremes of wealth and poverty have been rare. This condition is changing and the situation is becoming similar to that which exists in other communities. There is danger of this change, to say the least. Wealth and luxury are pouring into the laps of the Saints. These are more dangerous, because more insinuating, than the opposition and poverty. All should be on their guard against the allurements of wealth. The temptations to the young to break the Sabbath and indulge in other practices that are in conflict with the Gospel of the Son of God are increasing. They lead to spiritual death. It is well for the saints to contemplate the reason for their gathering to these valleys. It was not that they might surround themselves with wealth and luxury, but to be free from the evils of the world and to be taught in the ways of the Lord.
Elder Joseph E. Taylor.
I have a testimony concerning the work which God has planted upon the earth. I have faith in it. It is credited to President Brigham Young that he said, when the people first entered this valley he hoped they should be left in peace for at least ten years to enable them to gather strength. The Prophet Joseph Smith not only himself received the fulness of the keys of the Priesthood, but he conveyed them to others, that the work of redemption for the living and the dead might be conducted uninterruptedly. That labor cannot be stopped, as it is progressive and continuous. While inclined to chafe under the effects of opposition, we should remember that we are gaining experience which we could not obtain by any other process. We should never forget that no matter how bitterly we are assailed, it is not justifiable for the Saints to cherish enmity toward those who persecute them. Elder Taylor continued to show the necessity for the servants of God who preside to possess the unbounded confidence of the people. The labors and devotion of those men were of a nature to entitle them to this support. They were imbued with, and directed the affairs of the Church by the spirit and power of God.
The choir sung the anthem:
O be joyful.
Adjourned till 2 p. m.
Benediction by Counselor Daniel H. Wells.
_____
[4 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 40:527-529, 4/12/90, p 15-17]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Re-assembled at 2 p.m..
The choir sang:
O Jesus! The Giver Of all we
enjoy,
Our lives to Thy honor We wish to employ.
Prayer by President A. O. Smoot, of Utah Stake.
Singing:
Prayer is the soul's sincere
desire, Uttered or unexpressed
The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast.
Counselor John W.
Young.
It has always been a question with me whether a person called unawares or by previous arrangement to address a public congregation feels the more at ease. However that may be, it is always a duty to respond when the call comes.
Many of those present have come from distant places to engage in a common worship and listen to instructions from God's servants. We are a peculiar people, especially on the ground that we are sincere. By this statement I do not wish to cast a reflection upon any other classes of religionists. There are among other communities many who use their religion as a mere convenience, but they have no depth nor sincerity of belief. There are some, of course, who are honest in their professions but they are in the minority. Brother Morgan stated this morning that persons had stated to him that the world had had enough of "Mormonism." It would be more proper to state that the world contend that they had had enough religion of any kind. The people abroad know but little of the principles of "Mormonism." So far as they have had information regarding it, they have repudiated it.
This should not slacken our efforts as propagandists. We have been so constantly and necessarily engaged in temporal affairs that our spirituality has been curtailed. This condition causes some of us to imagine that the work of proselyting has been almost completed. On the contrary there are many strangers who come among us who do not understand anything about the real doctrines of the Gospel. Means should be devised and used for this labor of spreading the truth. We are no longer isolated, and the increase of wealth seems to cause us to lose sight of the missionary work, so necessary to spread a knowledge of the Gospel. There should be a more liberal use of means to supply the Elders with printed matter to be scattered abroad, instead of the missionaries, in many instances, being under the necessity of purchasing their own pamphlets. The same liberal disposition should be exhibited in the matter of sustaining the families of those who are engaged in the work of the ministry.
There are temporal considerations that would insure work to all who desire to labor. If there was an organization commensurate for the attainment of that end, there appears no reason why all workmen, skilled and unskilled, should not be employed at proper prices. We have not had many products which could be exported, and in that regard we have largely depended upon the opening and development of mines. Any labor organization that might exist here should be independent of associations of that nature at a distance. Those who are in Pennsylvania are not in a position to know what steps would be best for workmen in Utah. The circumstances surrounding the people here are different to those existing elsewhere. To allow, the skill and ability acquired by the people in the countries from whence they came to go to waste, not being exercised, is against the principles of genuine economy. We are gathered in a conference capacity to receive instruction on temporal as well as spiritual considerations.
The gathering together of this people for a common interest is one of the miracles of the age. It is such a phenomenon as does not exist anywhere else. although coming from the different parts of the earth, we have no nationality, being fraternized by a great common object. We are, because of the principles we have espoused, not only a homogeneous people, but a loyal people. We believe in the intuitions of the American government and uphold the principles upon which they were founded. Our loyalty goes deeper and spreads wider than that of any other people. We understand that this country was discovered and settled for the attainment of a divine purpose. We believe that the framers of the Constitution were inspired when they formulated it, causing them to produce an instrument which, if lived up to, would preserve the liberties of all citizens equally.
I pray that the spirit of God may be poured out upon us, that we may understand the instructions imparted. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
addressed the Conference. Following is the substance of his remarks: I have felt very much to rejoice in the testimonies which have been borne to the Gospel by our brethren. My heart is full of gratitude to God in that I have been permitted to live in this day and to hear and accept the Gospel. I trust that I may be among those who will be able to stand with this work in its final triumph. If there is one lesson more than another which the Lord has sought to impress on His people and upon the world, it is that He alone will have the glory for the triumph of Zion, that He in the carrying out of His purposes is not under the necessity of asking the counsel of men, but is fully able to perform all that is predicted concerning Zion and the work of the latter days. There is no greater truth than that which was announced by President Woodruff this morning, that our strength, our power our hope, is in God and not in men. If we, as individuals, succeed in obtaining celestial glory, it will be through the mercy which He shows unto us, His weak and erring children.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was untaught in religious matters and in the things of the world; he was unskilled in the arts of man; but he had within him an honest heart, a clear conscience, and possessed that great attribute which is necessary to the success of any man who engages in God's work -- willing obedience to that which was commanded of him. When he sought to know the will of God concerning his future action and course in life, the Lord had mercy upon him and revealed to him His mind and will with respect to the people of the earth, and through him established this Gospel in which we, as Latter-day Saints rejoice. He chose one of the weak instruments of the earth to bring to naught the wisdom of men and to confound the mighty in their plans and judgments. He empowered Joseph smith to commence a work which is to extend throughout the countless ages of eternity, and which is to bring salvation or condemnation to every human being. The Lord sustained the Prophet Joseph through all the trials of his life, and raised up friends to assist him in this work.
Let us cultivate the Spirit of God and not set up our own wisdom against that of the Almighty or the counsels of His servants. Apostacies may occur in the Church as they have before, men in high places may fall; but the fact remains that the Church of Christ will stand, and this great work will go on despite all the obstacles and difficulties which may beset it. Let us be true and faithful to our covenants and the blessing of God will assuredly rest upon us and our labors in His cause.
Apostle Anton H. Lund
said in substance: I have enjoyed listening to the testimonies borne and teachings given by the brethren. The prediction to the effect that this work should be a marvel and a wonder has been fulfilled. This can be comprehended when the nature of this work, then in its inception, sixty years ago is compared to its present status. Those who were connected with the Church when it was organized looked forward to this day and were glad. The prophecies of Joseph have been partly fulfilled and the remainder will also be verified. He was told that his name should be known for good and evil throughout the earth, and that the Book of Mormon, the record of the ancient inhabitants of this continent should be revealed and published abroad and be a means of manifesting the Gospel in greater plainness. There has been no necessity to change any of the principles inculcated in the plan of salvation, because, being true, they are eternal. Joseph was shown by the power of God that those who embraced the Gospel should gather from the nations of the earth, and he predicted that the Church should remove to the Rocky Mountains. These things have all been fulfilled, and it is a marvelous work.
It is true that men have apostatized, that men high in authority have fallen, but that is no proof that this work is not of God. Some of those men who followed the Prophet Joseph Smith were called to assist him did not remain faithful; but one thing is evident to all those who study the matter, that those witnesses to the Book of Mormon, those who published their names to the world, all adhered to their testimony; they never recanted or took it back. They did not dare to deny; and although cut off from the Church, we find that they would still give their testimony to the world that they had seen the plates from which this work was translated. Some persons may ask, "How is it possible that men who had seen angels and had such a testimony could fall away from the Church, as these men did?" Men may see angels and have revelations, and as long as they obey the whisperings of the Holy Spirit they will not apostatize, but when they begin to feel that they have strength enough in themselves, and fail to acknowledge God as their Helper, then they cannot stand.
My testimony is that God as established His work upon the earth and will carry it to a successful issue; that this is the kingdom as was predicted, and that we will see the Lord fulfil His promises to His Saints. We have nothing to fear, and as President Woodruff told us this morning, we need not be troubled. God is at the helm and will steer the good ship Zion into a safe harbor.
Apostle Mariner W. Merrill
spoke in substance as follows:
I have had many reflections today in looking back over our history. I was not personally connected with the history of the Church before coming to this country, but I have been somewhat familiar with that of our people since 1853, that being the year I came to America. I have attended many Conferences in this city -- in the old tabernacle here, in the old Bowery, and more recently in this building. I have been led to ask myself the question, Where are our brethren whom we saw upon the stand in years gone by? Where is President Young, Jedediah M. Grant, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, Orson Pratt and other Apostles? Many of those present have perhaps heard these men bear faithful testimony to this work, they having been identified with it from the beginning. But they have gone on the other side of the veil, where they are actively engaged in promulgating the Gospel of the Son of God.
It has been said by some people in recent years -- by those who know not our people, our methods and designs -- that those men whom I have just named were not loyal to the government of our country, that they encouraged bloodshed, anarchy and opposition to law. I, for one, having had personal acquaintance with our deceased brethren, know that these statements are untrue. They were not only loyal to the government, but faithful and true to their Church and people. They sought the welfare and salvation of the Saints and of the whole world. During the settlement of the north by the Saints, where we were surrounded by the Indians, people hostile to us, when some of our brethren were actually slain, President Young's advice to the Saints was this: "Do not shed their blood; it is not our mission , it is not our calling to shed the blood of our fellows. Feed them rather than to fight them." This has been the policy of our leaders all the time, both in the north and in the south, and among all the people scattered throughout this land -- to save, not to destroy, the lives of men.
We are called upon to build Temples; but we learn in the sacred book that David was not permitted to build a Temple because he was a man of war and bloodshed. The Lord does not require his people to shed the blood of their fellow-men, but He requires them to have a crown of light set upon a hill, to the God-fearing, honest, straight-forward and upright in all the affairs of life -- an example to all the world.
We are assembled here today from various States and Territories, to hear the word of the Lord through His servants. If we want a good conference and to enjoy the Spirit of the Lord we must come in to this building humbly and peacefully, seeking to know the Lord and to hear His voice through his servants. The Lord has been very merciful to us ever since we first came into this place, when it was an unfruitful desert. He has blessed this land of Zion to us, and will preserve it until He sees fit that we should go somewhere else. We must not, however, set our hearts upon the things of the world to the neglect of those duties required of us as the servants of God.
I exhort you all to seek the Lord earnestly, that you may know that God lives, that this work is true, that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, that Brigham Young and John Taylor were Prophets of God, great and good men and filled with the power of God, as also are these who live after them. God revealed this work to me when I was but a child and I bear record of it today. Do not depend upon parents or those around you, but know the Lord for yourselves, so that you may be able to give the reason for the hope that is within you of eternal life.
President Wilford Woodruff
Said: Before the close of the meeting I have a request I want to make of these Apostles, these High Priests, Seventies and Elders, and the Lesser Priesthood and all the Latter-day Saints who have any communion with God or with the Holy Ghost. Brother Merrill has been talking of revelation. If there was ever a time since God made the world that the inhabitants of the earth needed revelation, it is today. Now, the Lord has given us the stick of Judah -- the law of God to the Jews -- which reaches down to our day and generation, and which shows us their history and has told us what would come to pass with them and what will come to pass in the future. So has the Lord given us the stick of Ephraim -- the stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim -- giving the history of the inhabitants of this continent and what shall take place in the last days. I hold in my hands a code of revelation (the Book of Doctrine and Covenants) given to Joseph Smith, the Prophet. There are some of the most sublime revelations in that book God ever gave to any generation, or to any prophet or people under heaven. This book of revelations, like other records, will go down to the end of time and into eternity. These revelations give you the whole history of the celestial kingdom, of the terrestrial kingdom and of the telestial Kingdom of our God. But we want revelation every day. Well, you say, the President of the Church should give revelation. Yes, it is true, the President holds the keys of giving revelation to the Latter-day Saints. But is he alone to give revelation? No, verily, not. There is not an Apostle in this Church, there is not an Elder in this Church that stands up in this congregation to teach this people, but should be full of revelation. Here is where your revelation should come -- from those who teach you day by day.
How many revelations did Brigham Young give that were written to the people? Very few. How many has John Taylor given that were written to the people? Very few. How many has Wilford Woodruff given? Very few. We have had some, though not revealed to the people, perhaps, or published.
But we want revelation every day. And I want these Apostles and these Saints to go before the Lord in your secret places and ask Him to pour out revelations upon this people, that we may give you the word of the Lord while we are with you, and that these Apostles, when they speak, may speak by the power of God, by the Holy Ghost. Then that will be the word of the Lord, it will be scriptures, it will be the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believes. God bless you. Amen.
Gently lead us, Lord, O gently lead us,
was sung by Sister Maud E. Pratt and the choir.
Adjourned till tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 40:529-530, 4/12/90, p 17-18]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Saturday, April 5th, 10 a.m.
Singing by the choir:
Softly beams the sacred
dawning Of the great Millennial morn,
And to Saints gives welcome warning That the day is hastening on.
Prayer by Elder David H. Cannon.
The choir sang:
How are Thy servants
blessed, O Lord! How sure is their defense!
Eternal wisdom is their guide, Their help Omnipotence.
Apostle John W. Taylor
addressed the conference, the following being the substance of what he said: I desire the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that all may be edified by what is uttered. I have been thinking about the remarks made yesterday by President Woodruff in relation to the operations of the Spirit of God. It is a spirit of revelation, imparting that knowledge necessary to the individual according to the sphere in which he moves. I am reminded of an incident that occurred yesterday. I telephoned for an individual with whom I wished to communicate. The answer was that he was "engaged." This response was repeated several times. Finally I concluded to abandon the telephone and pay my friend a personal visit. Is it not so that we are sometimes so much engaged in the pursuit of mammon that the Spirit leaves us? A sister who died appeared in a vision to a young Lamanite in Nephi, as she had something to tell. She stated that her own children were so engrossed in business that she could not communicate with them. The more I am engaged in temporal things the darker is my mind, but when employed in spiritual matters I am correspondingly brighter. One peculiarity about the speaking of the Elders is that they generally bear testimony that this Church was organized by Divine authority. I have the same witness, and testify to it. I pray that I may have strength to endure to the end. I expect to witness much opposition against this people, but I expect to see the Kingdom of God pass safely through it all. I testify to strangers that if they will accept of Christ as the Redeemer, repent of their sins, be baptized for the remission of the same that they will receive the Holy Ghost. The speaker, in conclusion, made some remarks about people disposing of their property by a process of proxy. He expressed himself to the effect that those who imagined they could hide themselves under the cloak of some one else would find the garment was not large enough for two.
Apostle Heber J. Grant
was the next speaker. I am pleased to have the opportunity of once more meeting with the Latter-day Saints in a general Conference. I rejoice in the testimony of the Gospel, and it is a constant and earnest prayer of mine that I may at all times have the inspiration, light and spirit of our Heavenly Father dwelling within me to the extent that I may never depart from the principles of truth or plan of life and salvation which we have espoused.
We, as Latter-day Saints, have very great cause to be thankful for the many manifestations of the goodness and mercy of our God. Let us strive with all the ability that we possess to obtain sufficient intelligence, light and knowledge from our Heavenly Father to enable us to keep in the path of duty. Many of us feel that we are firm in the knowledge of the Gospel, and that there is very little fear of the trials of life turning us from the truth. At the same time, we should thoroughly understand that in no single day or hour of our lives would we be able to stand alone and maintain the testimony of the Gospel without the light and inspiration of the Spirit of God. It is not the visitation of angels, association with the Prophet Joseph Smith, or any of the open manifestations of the Spirit of God which causes men to be faithful; it is their own diligence and faithfulness in keeping the commandments of God.
There is but one straight path before us, that of duty. If we conscientiously fulfil the obligations and duties resting upon us there is little danger of our stumbling. I pray God to bless you and inspire you all with His Holy Spirit. I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know for myself that we are engaged in the work of God. I pray that this testimony may ever remain with me and each and all who possess it, and that those who have it not may strive their utmost to gain it.
Apostle John Henry Smith
addressed the congregation; I regard these conferences as being a source of comfort and strength to the Saints. The people come from every part of the land occupied by members of the Church and hear the instructions imparted. They are thus enabled to carry the influence and effect of the instructions to the people whom they represent. The Church is growing so large that it is becoming impractical for the leading authorities to mingle a great deal with the people. The labors of the Apostles are largely confined to visiting the Stakes and attending their conferences. The multifarious duties of the First Presidency greatly engross their attention and prevent them going about to any extent among the Saints.
As has been said there need be no fears regarding the fate and destiny of the work. With regard to individuals it is different. Men are liable to step aside from the path of duty. The mission of the work of God, however, cannot be prevented in its accomplishment. We are called to be laborers in it. We are on the good ship Zion. It will reach a safe harbor, but before its arrival in the haven many may be washed overboard. We have been inclined to lose sight of the necessity of complying with the laws in reference to tithes and offerings. So with regard to many other duties which are classed as lesser requirements, but which are all essential. Many seem to be willing and anxious to receive their blessings in the House of the Lord, who fail to take a course that justly entitles them to those great privileges. There should be a reformation in many respects. There are men in high station who use things that the Lord has said are not good for man, and should be refrained from -- such as strong drink and tobacco. Some neglect their prayers and in other ways wound the Spirit of God, causing that holy influence to leave them. I anticipate that when the brethren, as a whole, shall be ready to discard the use of tobacco alone, our Father will more abundantly bless us. The question with us is whether we will, by our works, cause our names to be written in the Lamb's book of life; There are many allurements to lead us from the course that will make our calling and election sure. I pray that we may completely fill the measure of the mission entrusted to us.
Apostle Francis M. Lyman
followed. He said in substance: I feel it is one of the greatest privileges to meet with the Latter-day Saints in General Conference, to listen to the words of exhortation and the testimony given to us by the servants of the Lord.
In the history of this people it has been thought at different times that if the successful leaders of the Church, commencing with the Prophet Joseph Smith, should pass away there would be an end to "Mormonism." Our former leaders did pass away, but other men were selected to fill their places, to be the standard bearers for the time, and the work of the Lord has progressed and increased. It has been thought, also, that if the Church could be separated from the State there would be an end to the former. But the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not depend upon the power of any man or any certain number of men; nor does it depend upon any political power for its strength; for if every vestige of political power were to be taken from the people in this Territory or in any other part of the United States, it would not effect this Church in the least, because its organization is as independent of the State as any other Church. Though there may have been a feeling lurking in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints that if their political power were removed from them the Church would be broken to pieces and destroyed, such would not be the case. Although as a people we have been deprived of this power to quite an extent in Idaho, in Ogden, in Summit, and elsewhere, it will be found that the present is one of the largest, if not the largest, Conference ever held here, and that the Saints will continue to increase in numbers and faith.
The work of the Lord in the establishment of His Church stands firmer today than ever it has stood before. Its chances are better and the faith of the people is stronger. The Brethren who bear the Priesthood, from the first to the last, are better established today in the gospel, all the experiences, changes and vicissitudes through which they have passed having tended to purify and stimulate them in the Gospel faith. Though sometimes there may be lethargy and carelessness on the part of the Saints, yet when we travel among them from place to place we find that, with all their weaknesses and failings, there is a love for the truth abiding in them; and if the occasion should arise, they would be ready to sacrifice anything in the world in order to sustain the Church and the principles of eternal truth. It is a rare thing to find among the Latter-day Saints one person who will stand out against the truth, who is obstinate and will not yield when shown to be in the wrong.
Apostle Lyman, in conclusion, earnestly exhorted the Saints to be temperate, and to relinquish the use of tobacco and intoxicants, in obedience to the Word of Wisdom. He pointed out the value of example in these respects, and urged the necessity of a strict observance of the Sabbath day.
Apostle Moses Thatcher
spoke briefly, in substance as follows: I desire to express my gratitude for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. What has been said is in harmony with my views. I bear testimony to their truth. May the Spirit of God continue to be imparted to us. These conference gatherings are refreshing to the spirit and a delight to the soul. The people have not come together in vain. They will not go away empty. Many thoughts have passed through my mind. Some are of a conflicting nature. I have wondered what would be a proper course for our leaders under the present circumstances surrounding us. If we will follow our file leaders as they follow Christ, our path will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. We must not expect the people to listen to us unless we listen to those who lead us. I am reminded that after his tribulation, Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, obtained wealth and power. While Abraham was comparatively poor and a humble servant of God and obeyed Him in all things, the Lord afterwards made him wealthy. There is no harm in wealth, but there is in the love of it. When the heart is hardened and the conscience seared, the danger is great. I have thought of the course of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor. They did not devote all their time to temporalities, but part of it to spiritualities and a part to temporal things. It is only when we depart from equity and justice that the Holy Spirit leaves us. The danger is not in the possession of wealth, but in oppressing our fellow beings. Z.C.M.I. was not organized by President Young to enable him to accumulate wealth, but for the substantial benefit of the people. So with other enterprises in which he engaged. When I have thought of the financial enterprises with which our leading brethren are associated and the heavy burdens thus placed upon them, I have concluded that we who have been called to be ministers of salvation should not [be] so extensively connected with financial matters. The leading authorities are employed from fifteen to eighteen hours a day, and in giving counsel in ninety-nine out of a hundred instances it is on temporal matters rather than those that are spiritual. I did not come to these mountains to accumulate wealth, and, for one, I would rejoice to be relieved, from this time on, form temporalities, and labor, in future, exclusively in preaching the Gospel of salvation. The spirit of speculation is abroad among us and the people make the excuse for their course that their leaders are operating in the same direction. I am willing to be guided in these matters by those who preside, and trust that I shall endure.
The choir sang:
Come, Spirit, Come.
Adjourned till 2 p.m.
Benediction by Elder G. Reynolds.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 40:530-532, 4/12/90, p 18-20]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Re-assembled at 2 p. m.
Great God, attend while Zion
sings The joy that from Thy presence springs;
To spend one day with Thee on earth Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.
was sung by the choir.
Prayer was offered by Elder Rudger Clawson.
Singing by the choir:
Joy to the world! The Lord
will come And earth receive her King:
Let every heart prepare him room And Saints and angels sing.
President Lorenzo Snow
said, in substance: We have been greatly blessed during this conference. The Spirit of the Lord has been poured out upon the speakers and hearers. I feel my inability to say anything particularly instructive unless by the dictations of the Holy Spirit. I feel also that you cannot anticipate any teachings that will do you good unless you have the same Spirit, which it is your privilege to possess. So far as the past is concerned, since our assembling together, the Lord has been as favorable to us as on any similar occasion. It is wonderful to contemplate the progress of the Church since it organization, sixty years ago tomorrow. Have the Saints made progress as rapidly as that exhibited by those similarly called of God in past ages, during the same length of time? It is interesting to contemplate and estimate the abilities we have received from the Lord to continue prosperous notwithstanding the opposing forces that have been brought to bear upon us. No external power can prevent us from attaining to the high destiny marked out for us on the condition of faithfulness. We did not lay out the path to salvation for ourselves. It was delineated by God before the earth was organized. The Lord has seen fit to make known the path. It depends upon ourselves as to whether we continue to travel on that road which leads to celestial glory.
We need not trouble about the future. Some people express the opinion that the Saints shall go into captivity, by the process of disfranchisement. I do not know whether this will be the case or not. If the Lord had manifested that this would be so, I would not say anything about it, as it would not be wisdom. If we had been made acquainted with the trials through which we have already passed we would have been discouraged. As it is our experience has increased our faith. So in regard to our future. It is wisely obscured from our view. I know what my trials have been; I know not what they will be. On every emergency the Lord has given me needed succor. For this I feel thankful. I have never seen the day when I was discouraged, as I could always see glorious blessings ahead. When we speak of future troubles of this Church, we may be sure it will never be placed in a condition when the members cannot receive the highest blessings of the Almighty according to the demands of circumstances.
Six hundred years before Christ the Jews became wicked. Their kings, princes and people were given to idolatry. This offended God, being contrary to his mind and law. They even went so far as to burn their children as offerings. The Lord told them that their city should be destroyed and they be led into captivity to remain in that condition 70 years. But God did not desert them. -- He said he would not make an end of them but they should be punished and an end would be made of those who afflicted them. In their captivity they progressed. They built houses and cultivated the soil. Indeed there never was a time when the Israelites had greater prophets than during their captivity. Note, for instance, the works of the Prophet Daniel and those of the three Hebrew children, whose marvelous deliverance has been handed down to us. As it has been so it shall be. In every situation the Latter-day Saints can approach God and receive blessings until they reach a fulness of glory. One singular feature about the captivity was that King Nebuchadnezzar was converted. He was convinced that there was no God but the God of Israel. After Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego had been delivered the King sent forth an edict to the effect that the God of these men should be respected. Those who refused to obey this command should be punished by having their houses destroyed.
History frequently repeats itself. The Latter-day Saints are accused of many things of which they are innocent. They will yet be understood and their labors appreciated throughout this land. Should the rulers take it into their heads that the Saints have been badly used by being deprived of their liberties without reason or just cause, and should they take a different course than that now pursued, it would be a remarkable thing. What God has done He will do again. He has promised to soften the hearts of the people from time to time, as may answer the consummation of His great purposes. The Lord will not make an end of the people He has called and chosen, but will make an end of the nations of the wicked.
The testimonies that have been borne that the kingdom of God shall not pass from the hands of the Saints or be given to another people are true. They are borne of the Spirit of God. This work is built on a sure foundation, being founded on the rock of ages. How can such testimonies be overcome, seeing that they are fact? Can they be confuted? Can any people say that it has been revealed to them from the eternal worlds that these testimonies are not true? They cannot. They do not profess to be in possession of such information. No matter who are lost by the way and make shipwreck of their faith, the Church will go on.
God bless the Latter-day Saints, that His Spirit may be poured out upon us, that we may obtain crowns of glory and dwell in the presence of God.
President George Q. Cannon
addressed the conference. Following is a synopsis of his discourse:
The remarks which have been made during this conference by the various speakers have been accompanied, as I have no doubt all present feel, by the testimony of the Spirit of God. The Lord is with His people and He gives unto them, when they are living aright, the testimony of His Holy Spirit, by means of which they can know the voice of the true Shepherd, and are able to distinguish the servants of God by their teachings and by the spirit that accompanies their words. We have been told that it is not the privilege of a few to have this testimony alone, but of all who enter into covenant with God, to receive for themselves a knowledge concerning the principles which are taught them.
In our conferences as well as at all our meetings there should be the plainest talk to the people, inspired by the Spirit of God. Not only should a spirit of counsel and instruction rest upon those who address us, but, if needs be, the spirit of warning and reproof. We have had reproofs administered to us at this conference concerning our methods of life and our habits; and shall the Latter-day Saints take offense at the plainness of these exhortations? No. Whenever the Saints are in the position that they cannot submit to reproof and warning, they are indeed in need of chastisement at the hands of God Himself. Blessed are those who have men in their midst who dare to tell them the truth, however unpleasant that truth may be; There never has been a day within my knowledge when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been without men who had the courage to do this. Brother Joseph Smith was terrible in his rebukes to the people; so was President Brigham Young and other servants of God; and it is necessary that this should be the case. It is not man's wisdom that has governed or directed the affairs of this Church, but the wisdom of Almighty God manifested through his chosen servants.
Some remarks were made here yesterday in the nature of a warning concerning the increase of wealth in our midst, and the speaker quoted poetry in order to illustrate his views. I myself also thought of two lines which were somewhat applicable:
Ill fares the land, to
hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
The speaker referred to the dangers attending the increase of wealth and luxury among us; and it is well in this solemn conference for us to take this important subject into careful consideration. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that a stream of wealth is flowing into the midst of the Latter-day Saints. There are probably widows in this congregation who have hitherto been accustomed to go out gaining their livelihood who are now worth thousands of dollars; and working men, in like manner, find the property of which they are possessed valued at thousands of dollar, approaching in some instances a hundred thousand dollars. What a wonderful change is this! Now the question presents itself to us at this particular time: "What shall we do with this superabundance of wealth which has so quickly come into our possession:" In the Book of Doctrine and Covenants there are more revelations given in the early history of this Church upon this point than upon any other that now suggests itself to my mind. I think a careful examination of the early revelations given to the Prophet Joseph will reveal this fact -- that the Lord operated upon his mind, giving him instructions for the members of His Church respecting temporal matters more than anything else.
The Church had been organized only a few months when the Prophet's mind was exercised on this subject. Scarcely had the Saints left New York and gone to Ohio than the Lord inspired him and gave him revelations concerning the Church's temporal affairs. We have heard that wealth is a good thing under certain circumstances -- that there is no impropriety in a people being rich, because in ancient days the men of God were rich, and yet were His faithful servants. This is true, but I would like to draw the earnest attention of my brethren to the consideration of this subject. Wealth will never be dangerous to the Latter-day Saints if equally distributed. But if it shall create class distinctions among us -- if it shall lift one class above the other, and give one portion of our community advantages which are not enjoyed by the rest, then instead of its being a blessing to us there will be great danger of its becoming a snare.
This Gospel was revealed to bless the poor, to save the honest in heart among all nations. One of our brethren spoke yesterday about certain classes of society not having been reached by us, and being heretofore unacquainted with our principles. If, however, they have not known about us, it is because they have closed their eyes and shut their ears. We have pleaded in vain with the rich, while the poor, the humble, the meek and the lowly have been gathered together. I made it a practice during my missions not to pass the house of a rich or prominent man, without going in and telling him the message of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The revelations of which I have spoken, contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, have for their object among other things the elevation of the poor. A law given to this Church concerning surplus property was that it should be consecrated to the Lord, -- that it should be placed in the hands of the proper authorities to be distributed among those in need belonging to the Church. That law was called the United Order, but the Saints failed to comprehend it; they failed to carry it out practically. Some of them broke their covenants and God pronounced judgment upon them. The result was that the United Order was broken up and the property assigned to those who were members, as a stewardship. After awhile the servants of Go asked a question concerning tithing. The reply came that the people should first give a tenth of their property and one-tenth of their increase from that time forward. That was the last law written, upon this subject.
I often hear the remark while traveling among the Latter-day Saints, "I wish we could have a United Order among us; it would be so delightful if we could live in that Order." In many instances this has been prompted by the best of feeling; but those who ask it do not comprehend the sacrifices which it would entail. We cannot enter into such an order suddenly. There must be a preparation for it.
What shall be the course for us to pursue in the present circumstances? Is there faith enough among us to put our surplus means into a treasury fund? We have many great and important duties to perform connected with the work of God. There is a constant cry for means in every direction today. If the Church held under its control a million of dollars this sum could be easily expended in works which would be of the greatest benefit. For instance we have established Church schools in almost every county in this Territory, and attempts are being made to educate all our children at Church schools, academies, or seminaries. There is also some talk of establishing a Stake of Zion in Palestine. Means are required for that also. Besides this, manufactories are needed in our midst to give employment to this people, to sustain the men, women and children who belong to this Church. I feel that this is an opportune time to consider all these things. I should fear, indeed, the accumulation of wealth among us if it were to be kept in the hands of a few.
We have been threatened as a people with disfranchisement in Utah Territory, and some even say that this is likely to occur. Already there are bills introduced into Congress proposing to take the right of franchise form the Latter-day Saints, regardless of their practices. But I have contemplated this with a good deal of complacency. It has had no terror for me, although I think it would be a terrible outrage; one of the worst things that could be done by a government like ours, because it would stand unparalleled, at least in modern times. I have, however, never liked the distinction of one class of our people having the franchise while another has been deprived of it. I have thought that it would lead to serious results sooner or later unless carefully guarded against, and this gospel will never accomplish its mission until the inequalities have disappeared from among us.
President Woodruff
Stated that it had been customary for some time past to read reports and present the authorities of the Church to the general assembly on the last day of Conference. There would be a departure from that rule this time so as to reserve tomorrow exclusively for preaching, and the presentations would be made this afternoon.
President George Q. Cannon stated that as some of the Presidents of Stakes had failed to forward their reports, although they had been requested to send them, only an incomplete, general report could be made up, and the reading of it would be dispensed with.
THE RELIEF SOCIETY
report was in every respect complete, as it embodied statements from every Stake in the Church. It exhibited the following totals, which were read by Brother Cannon: It showed 334 branches, with a membership of 16,825. There had been disbursed for charitable purposes, $10,382.90; for buildings, etc., $2,667.18. There is now on hand, cash, $11,997.55; property of various kinds, $18,901.02; real estate, $56,248.15; wheat, 43,081 bushels; cash for wheat, $1,474.6.
The report was signed by Zina D. H. Young, President; Jane S. Richards, First counselor; Bathsheba W. Smith, Second counselor; Sarah M Kimball, Secretary; Romania B. Pratt, Assistant Secretary and M. Isabella Horne, Treasurer.
The following summary, showing the number, general condition etc., of
CHURCH SCHOOLS,
was read:
Totals of institutions of Learning:
Colleges 3
Academies 21
Seminaries 5
29
Of these there are in
Utah 23
Idaho 4
Arizona 2
29
Students.
Male 2,248
Female 1,689
3,937
Teachers.
Principals 29
Regular Teachers 38
Lady Teachers 13
Music Teachers 5
Specialist 1
86
Total
engaged in this school work 4,823
(Normal students, 136)
Branches of education taught:
Theology, Geometry,
Rhetoric, Trigonometry,
Grammar, Calculus,
Elocution Book-keeping
Reading Astronomy.
Orthography, Geology,
Arithmetic, Physical
Geography,
Algebra, Geography
Physics, General
History,
Chemistry, U.
S. History,
Physiology, Latin,
Hygiene, French,
Natural History German,
Biology, Spanish,
Civil Government
Vocal Music, Penmanship
Instrumental Music Calisthenics,
Drawing, Phonography.
To normals -- Theory and
Practice of Teaching
THE AUTHORITIES
were then presented for the votes of the assembly as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
Counselors to the Twelve Apostles -- John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, with their Counselors, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church: John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies: Henry Herriman, Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan and B. H. Roberts.
At this point President Cannon stated that there was a vacancy in the Presiding Council of the Seventies. George Reynolds was nominated and elected to fill it.
Wm. B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder.
John Jaques as Assistant Church Historian and General church Recorder.
Joseph Don Carlos Young, as General Church architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the Conference.
Arthur Winter as Church reporter.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amos Howe, Anton H. Lund, James Sharp.
The vote to sustain the brethren named in their several offices and callings was unanimous throughout.
The choir sang:
An Angel from on high, The long, long silence broke.
Adjourned till Sunday, April 6th.
Benediction by Elder John Nicholson.
_____
[5 Apr, 7 pm]
[WWJ 9:89]
The Priesthood Meeting was held Saturday Evening April 5. K G Maeser spoke 35 Minutes on Education. G. Q. Cannon spoke 35 Minutes. W. Woodruff spoke 15 Minutes.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 40:655, 5/10/90, p 15; CD 2:38-44]
REMARKS
_____
By President George Q. Cannon at a General Priesthood
meeting
held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday evening, april 5th, 1890.
_____
From
Brothers Karl G. Maeser and James E. Talmage we have heard good reports and
excellent talk concerning our Church schools. Certainly, their remarks are very
encouraging, and the success which has attended the effort to establish these
schools is of the most gratifying character to the General Board of Education.
We have felt that God was with us in this effort, and that the Latter-day
Saints have had the spirit of it and have met the expression of feeling
concerning the movement with hearty responses. I do not know any theme upon
which we can grow more enthusiastic, if we would allow our minds to contemplate
the future, than this subject that has been mentioned this evening-the
education of our children.
The
Latter-day Saints have suffered as no other people, at least in our generation,
have for their religion. We have forsaken all things, it may be said, in order
to obey the mandates of God as revealed in the principles of the Gospel. We
have taken joyfully the spoiling of our goods, the driving from our homes, and
everything of this character, for the sake of the Gospel which the Lord has
revealed. Today, Elders go out for two and three years at a time, and they
spend these years away from home preaching the Gospel, without remuneration of
a pecuniary character, and think themselves exceedingly fortunate if they are
the means of bringing a few score of souls to the knowledge of the truth. This
has been the case for many many years. I have heard in this Tabernacle, many
times, as you all have doubtless, discourses delivered by our most accomplished
Elders, full of the Spirit of the Lord, incontrovertible in argument, founded
upon the scriptures in such a manner that no one could dispute them. Hundreds
of strangers have been present and heard them; yet how many of them have
embraced the Gospel? If there have been a dozen, I do not know them. Of late
years, our efforts in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles have not been very
fruitful of results. Our Elders have gone abroad and preached diligently. They
have encountered great opposition and have many times submitted to great
hardships. It is reported to us that some have had to sleep out of doors,
because they could find no place in which to lodge. Now, right around us are
thousands upon thousands of spirits which have come pure from the eternal
throne of our God. They have come here free from tradition and ready to receive
instructions such as shall be imparted unto them. I suppose that it is not
overstating the matter to say that there are within the circle of our influence
and operations somewhere in the vicinity of seventy-five thousand children of
school age. I have not consulted the reports lately, but in the Sunday schools
we consider that there are between fifty and sixty thousand children enrolled.
Think of the immense influence which sixty thousand children, properly
educated, will have in the earth, if we will furnish them with the facilities
that are within our reach. Why, it is stupendous, the mere thought of so many
children being trained and indoctrinated in our principles, as they are in our
schools, and a foundation laid of faith in God; then upon that great foundation
a superstructure reared of an understanding of the principles of the Gospel,
and combined with that, a knowledge of science as well as of the ordinary
branches of education. Just think of it, you Elders who have gone out in former
days, having been called from the plow, from the anvil, from the carpenter's
bench and from other laborious occupations. Think how you felt when you
realized how ignorant you were of those things that the world considered
necessary. Now we have these facilities within our reach. We have the
opportunity of giving to our children this instruction, and it is more valuable
than all the money that can be given to a child. I have asked some of my
children (I have some ten or twelve of them going to the academy here) which
branch of the study they like best. Every time I have asked the question the
reply has been, Theology. This is very delightful to me, to think that children
can have theology taught them so that they will take more interest in that than
in any other branch of study; for as theology is in the world it is the most
dry, and repulsive, I might say, study to which application can be made. Of
course there are exceptions.
Every
five years, a new generation of children is launched, so to speak, into the
field. Take a child from thirteen to eighteen years of age and during that
period the character is formed, and you can give direction to the mind in such
a manner that it will influence all future life. It is not necessary to dwell
upon the strictness with which Catholics cling to education. They comprehend
this better, probably, than any other sect. They recognize the importance of
indoctrinating their children while they are young in the principles of their
religion; for experience has taught them that when they do this the children will
not depart from those principles. You scarcely ever find a Catholic who becomes
an atheist or an infidel. It is Protestantism that is breeding
infidels-Protestantism which denies the Priesthood and other true principles,
in its anxiety to destroy Catholicism and its influence over the minds of its
adherents. The result is, among the Protestants atheism flourishes, while among
Catholics it can scarcely be found. It is true, in Catholic countries there is
great carelessness in many instances, and they practice many things which we
think are very irreligious and contrary to the principles of righteousness.
Nevertheless, their religion never loses its hold upon them; they cling to it,
and before they die they generally try to make peace with the church. This is
the consequence of early training.
We should
profit by this. There is no direction, according to my view, (and I speak my
own views about this) in which we can expend means more judiciously and with
greater results to us, as a people, than in the building of school houses and
the furnishing of them with everything necessary to provide good education.
Today, in this city, rich as we are, there is not money enough derived from our
college to pay our teachers. The Salt Lake Stake Board applied to us a few days
ago and said that they were so embarrassed that they could not carry on the
school unless some assistance was rendered them. Not only that, the rooms that
are used are inconvenient, they are inappropriate, they cannot be used to the
best advantage, and a great many children have to be turned away because of the
lack of accommodation. This is a sad thing in a city like Salt Lake, with the
wealth that we have.
I suppose
more would have been done in this direction had it not been for waiting to hear
what the decision of the Supreme Court would be in regard to our property. Our
attorneys are unsettled themselves as to the best method of securing property
that may be given for educational purposes. On this account a number who have
promised funds have withheld them until something of a reliable character can
be reached concerning the best method of holding them. But, brethren, we can at
least give the interest of that which we intend to donate, that it may go
towards supporting this school. Our schools should not languish in this city,
nor in any of our counties. There should be a liberal response, a willingness
to endow these schools, and put them in a position where they can grow and
furnish the education that is so desirable to our children. I desire to see
such colleges established in our land, and such proficient teachers obtained by
these colleges, that there will be no necessity for any of our young men or
young women to go elsewhere to gain a knowledge of any branch of learning, no
matter what it may be. And I think the time is not far distant when this
consummation can be reached if we will foster these institutions of learning
and encourage our teachers. At the present time there is a great lack of
competent teachers. But we have a large number of young men who are very
bright, and under the influences that prevail here, with our temperate habits,
with the strength of intellect which God gives unto those who pursue lives of
righteousness, I think it will not be long, with the stimulus there is at the present,
before we shall have a corps of teachers that will not be excelled anywhere in
this land, because we have the element here out of which to create them, under
the blessings of God. But we need school rooms. We need good buildings that are
adapted to the wants of the children. We need means with which to erect these
and to endow them.
This
brings me to another subject. The General Board of Education have appealed
twice, I think, to the Council of the First Presidency and Twelve for funds,
that the board might have means with which to aid the struggling institutions
that exist throughout the country. It has been with some degree of reluctance,
considering the great desire on the part of every member of the Council to see
education promoted, that what has been needed has been supplied, for the reason
that the calls upon the Church are so numerous and of so varied a character
that there has been a fear that we might be embarrassed and not be able to meet
the obligations that we are taking upon ourselves. Those of you who have kept
abreast of the news of the day know pretty well concerning our situation as a
Church. Some have said-and it flew in my face while I was talking this
afternoon, what I had heard that other folks had said about our property-"Why
didn't we devote this property that has been confiscated in this direction and
the other direction, instead of letting it be seized?" I know there is
room, under all circumstances, for people to find fault. But I can say for
President Taylor that while he lived he was determined that if this nation
wished to put itself on record by taking our property, he was going to give
them the opportunity to do so; and I do not know but it is just as good a test
as anything; it makes history, and I do not think we shall be any poorer for
it. I feel, however, that one lesson of this kind is sufficient. I think that
hereafter, instead of allowing any property to accumulate that is going to be
in danger of being seized, we had better spend it in schools, in charitable
institutions, in works of benevolence, or in any direction that may be
necessary, either in putting means into factories and other operations that
will give employment to the poor or in rearing other institutions that shall be
a benefit to the whole people. I would rather see our means go in this
direction than to have it appropriated again by our enemies. One mobbing is
enough. If the Lord is satisfied with it, I think it is sufficient for the rest
of us.
The fact
is, no matter if all that we give as tithing were to be taken, the obligation
to pay our tithing still remains upon us. When we were driven out of Missouri
into Illinois and the people were stripped of their property, the obligation
still rested upon the people, though they knew they might be driven again, to
go and build Nauvoo and rear a temple there. Many people might have said,
"What folly it is for you to build that temple when you know that your
enemies are going to drive you out." In fact, every one that was well
advised knew that the time was near at hand when we should abandon that city
and that temple. Yet the Latter-day Saints worked as they never had before on
any public building, to build the temple sufficient to fulfill the commandments
of God. In like manner, if we knew (though I do not think we do know; I do not)
that our tithing was going to be taken again, I do not think it would release
us from the obligation to pay our tithing, and to pay it honestly and
truthfully; and not only to pay our tithing, but to pay a surplus if we can. A
man should not be content to pay his tithing alone. That is but a small thing.
He should do more than this, if he is able, and if he wants to prepare himself
for those things that await us, and for that law the carrying out of which is
in the future, but which God has revealed unto us in plainness. I know those of
us who have large families, it makes our heads ache sometimes to know how we
are going to provide for them and what we shall do in this direction and in the
other. I know that these are great and serious burdens that rest upon us all,
to a greater or less extent. But if we have our hearts set upon doing what is
right, the Lord is able to multiply our increase and our basket and store. I
can testify to you this night that He is able to do this. I know it by personal
experience. He will increase us if we are liberal. The liberal man, as the
prophet has said, deviseth liberal things, and by his liberality he shall
stand. So it shall be in earthly things. If we are liberal, if we are wise
stewards in the management of earthly things, and are liberal with the Lord,
how easy it is for Him to turn things into our way and to increase our
substance in a manner that is unexpected to us. I know that He can do this, and
you all know it just as well as I do. Many times when we have been out in the
world we did not know how to get a little something, probably a garment, or a
pair of shoes, or some other article of dress that we needed; we were among
poor people, and I suppose some of us have felt like that lord of whom we read
in the scriptures, who, when the Prophet Elisha declared that on the morrow a
measure of fine flour should be sold for a shekel, said, "Behold, if the
Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" He did not know
how such a thing could be unless God did open the windows of heaven. But it was
fulfilled, though he did not live to partake of it, because he was trampled
upon and died. God is able in marvelous ways to turn things in our way. If we
look after the good of our fellows, if we have our hearts as broad as we can
make them for the work of God, and think about it instead of aggrandizing
ourselves and letting our thoughts dwell upon our own interests, God will, just
as sure as we live, pour out blessings upon us and increase our substance and
give us means; for He can do so with safety when we are in that condition; but
He loves us too well to do this under our present circumstances. I heard the
Prophet Joseph say that he knew where there was any amount of gold, and he said
the time would come when the Latter-day Saints would have all the gold they
wanted, whenever they got in that condition that they would not set their
affections upon it.
Now we
are likely to be tempted, and some are, with an abundance of means. I suppose
some of the Latter-day Saints would say, I would like to be tried a little in
that direction. But there is danger in this feeling; there is danger of luxury
and of pride. God has revealed a plan, however, that will save us from this
danger if we will adopt it. If we will follow His counsel, we will be saved
from the evils that have damned the world and that would damn this Church if
they should be allowed to exist in it. I cannot look forward to the triumph of
Zion under the present system that prevails in the financial world, with the
methods which abound of making money and of living. Such system has been the
ruin of every people who have lived under it. There is no nation can stand it;
no church can stand it. We cannot stand the increase of wealth among us while
we remain in our present condition, making money for ourselves and our families
only, as is the custom in the world from which we are gathered. We would become
proud and the power of God would leave us. This Church is founded to make a
people that shall be equal before the Lord-equal in temporal things. Not that
we shall all have the same number of horses and cattle, etc.; not at all. One
man cannot do as much as another man. One man wants more to eat and more to
drink than another man, and he wants a longer bedstead, a longer coat, and a
larger hat. We are not alike; our wants are not alike. But the Lord has
explained how we can be equal. He says if we are not equal in earthly things,
how can we be equal in heavenly things? Shall we each have a house of the same
size, or families of the same size, or the same number of horses and cows, or
the same quantity of land? No; we shall have according to our wants and our
needs, and every man will have an equal claim. The Lord says that this is
equality, every man having an equal claim on the bounties of God and on that
which He has to give to us; no one having in excess of another beyond his
ability to use it to advantage. There will be some who will have the faculty of
managing. You give some men a hundred thousand dollars and they will manage
that as easily as other men will a hundred dollars; and shall a man who can
manage so large an amount be deprived of doing it? No; God does not design to
lariat us; but every man that has talent shall have the opportunity of using his
talent-not, however, for his individual aggrandizement, but for the benefit of
God's Kingdom and for the salvation of his fellowmen.
It was
for this purpose that the Gospel was revealed in our day-to save us from these
dreadful evils that are now threatening our Republic. Our nation is menaced
with evils that, unless they are checked, will overthrow it. The increase of
enormous wealth among the few and the corresponding degradation of the poor-the
rich and the poor growing wider and wider apart-these are things which lead to
anarchy and destruction. Now, God will save us from this. He has revealed the
plan if we will adopt it. We cannot do it all at once; but let us do it by
degrees. Let us have our hearts upon the Kingdom of God, and not think about building
up ourselves and our families and accumulating great wealth in our hands. But
let us distribute this wealth in such ways as shall benefit the people; not to
give it away and make paupers of people. That would be wrong. We do not want to
pauperize any man or any family, or make them feel that they get means without
earning it. Everyone should have the opportunity to work and to earn that which
he needs for his sustenance.
I did not
expect to talk in this strain when I got up. But I want to say before I close,
let us pay our tithing. We have been looking at some of the tithing lists, and
I confess I am a little ashamed at the tithing paid by some of the Stakes. It
is too small. It shows that there is a falling off, and it is not a good
indication. When men neglect their tithing, they neglect other things. When you
see men liberal in their tithing, they want to tie themselves to the work of
God. Where a man's treasure is there will his heart be. When a man neglects to
obey this law of the Lord-I do not care who he is or what his standing may be
in the Church-his faith is not as it should be in the work of God. And as with
an individual, so with a Stake. Let us be liberal with this, and God will
increase us in our basket and store. Look throughout the Stakes at the men who
pay their tithing and you will see men whom God has prospered and whom He
blesses with His Holy Spirit. Besides these Church schools, there are many
other ways in which funds are required. You cannot imagine how many calls there
are. I have been somewhat familiar with the office of the President of the
Church for many years; but I never saw anything like that which is now coming
in. Claims are multiplying upon every hand, and proper claims, too. The work is
extending, and it requires us, as a people, to keep abreast of the times and to
live so that we shall have the satisfaction of doing our part. I met a man on
the street one day; he was a wealthy man among us, and I had found
accidentally-for it is a thing I pay no attention to, so far as individuals are
concerned-that he had paid no tithing for some time, and I felt very much
impressed to speak to him on the subject. I said to him: I find that you have
not paid any tithing. Now let me say to you, you are not going to be here long,
and when you go somebody else will have your wealth, and what will be your
feeling when you get to the other side of the veil, to think that you had this
property at your control, God having made you a steward of it, and you had not
paid your tithing to the Lord? Says he, Brother Geo. Q. Cannon, I will pay my
tithing. But he died without doing it, very shortly afterwards. Now, we are
alive today. Let us leave none of these things undone. Let us do our duty
today, and when tomorrow comes, let us do it again, or we will have sorrow when
we get where we will have no money to pay. But, my brethren, we shall never
regret being liberal for the cause of God. We shall never regret spending our
time and our talent and using all our energies to establish truth and righteousness
in the earth. We can look at our fellows without blushing and feeling
condemned, if this is our condition, and if we have been liberal to the extent
of our ability in everything connected with the work of God; and we shall sit
down with pleasure alongside the faithful of all ages. God bless you, in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 40:532-534, 4/12/90, p 20-22]
THIRD DAY.
_____
Sunday, April 6th, 10 a. m.
Singing by the choir:
Come we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord And worship at His throne.
Prayer by Elder Charles W. Penrose.
The choir sang:
Inspirer of the ancient
seers, Who wrote from thee the sacred page,
The same through all succeeding years, To us in our degen'rate age.
President Wilford Woodruff
was the first speaker. Following is a brief synopsis of his discourse: I feel that every heart in this congregation should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for the blessings which we enjoy this morning, that so many of us have the privilege of meeting in this Tabernacle in Peace and quietude to worship Him. Neither the President of this Church, nor his Counselors, nor the Twelve Apostles, nor any man who dwells in the flesh has any power of himself to instruct or edify the Saints; he can only do so by the power and blessing of the Almighty. We are all dependent upon the Lord. The Prophet Joseph was a humble man; he was chosen as one of the weak instruments in the hands of the Lord, raised up in this last dispensation to lay the foundation of this great Church and kingdom of God upon the earth. He was taught by the administration of angels. He knew full well that his strength lay in God and not in himself; and that is our condition at the present time. Whenever the President of this Church or any of those in authority feel in their hearts that the Lord cannot do without them in the carrying on of His work they stand on slippery ground. What did Joseph Smith say when Oliver Cowdery told him that he was the second apostle in this Church and kingdom and that if he left the Church it would fall? His reply was, "Oliver, you try it." Oliver Cowdery did try it, and he fell, but the kingdom did not. The Lord is not dependent upon any one man or any set of men for the carrying on of His work.
We have been called in this day a generation to go forth and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles first and then to the house of Israel. This has been my lot. It has been the lot of the Apostles, and of thousands of our Elders. We have been called to warn the inhabitants of the earth of the judgments which are to come, to teach them the law for the salvation of the human family. Strong testimonies have been borne by the various speakers during this conference concerning the revelations of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants of the earth. Moses gave unto us the revelations of Israel. We have the Bible, the stick of Judah, the law of God through Moses through the ancient prophets and patriarchs, which has been handed down to us. While thousands of years have passed and gone, the Bible and other revelations of God have been preserved unto this generation. The Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants contain some of the most glorious and sublime revelations that have ever [been] given to man. They show what lies before us, what awaits our nation and the nations of the earth. These things are clearly pointed out and will be fulfilled, whether men believe them or not. The question of revelation sometimes arises in our day. President Young led us for a good many years; he led us to these valleys; he was a man of God and filled with revelation. He laid the foundation for the building up of this Territory, and in all that he did the Lord was with him. The same may be said of President Taylor. If men do not have the Holy Ghost they have no business to teach others.
I would say to the President of the United States, to his Cabinet, to all the inhabitants of this land -- sixty or seventy millions of people -- to all the nations of the earth, to kings, emperors, and princes, "Do not worry about these Latter-day Saints. If they are not the people of God, if this work has not been established by the Almighty, they will fall of themselves; they will be swept away as with a besom of destruction from off the face of the earth by His judgments." Have the nations forgotten that there is a God in Israel, who created the heavens and the earth, who governs and controls all these things? Jehovah holds this work in His hands; He rules the destinies of all men; but here has been the great difficulty with all the world in every age that the people have failed to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in all things. The work of the Lord has been an uphill business throughout the entire history of the world. No person who believes in the Bible, in the revelations of God, can deny that the Lord has proclaimed that in the latter days He would set His hand to build up a Church and to gather together His people. The hour of His judgments has come, and we are called upon to warn the nations, to preach the Gospel unto them. Whether we are popular or unpopular, if we had not obeyed that command we would have been condemned; the Lord would have cut us off and raised up a people who would do the work. No king, emperor, prince or president has any power over the souls of men, and their subjects should have the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Our rulers are not the creators of those subjects over whom they preside. Our Creator has placed us here, and we are responsible to Him alone for our religion, for our faith and work. God will bless no ruler who will not guarantee his subjects their rights and privileges in their relationship and communion with Him.
We are here on a mission and can we afford to reject the gospel of Christ or turn away from His commandments because it does not suit the world? I cannot. There is a power above all men and governments, and when men shed the blood of the righteous because they follow the word of the Lord they will have to pay for it by and bye. The blood of Joseph and Hyrum Smith was shed; but the bill is not paid yet.
Let not your hearts be troubled. If we do our duty, if we unite together and keep the commandments of the Lord, all will be well in Zion. The world is looking for the destruction of this Church and kingdom, striving for our overthrow, but in vain. There has never been but one gospel on earth, and there never will be. A great responsibility rests upon us; let us not be afraid with regard to our work. Serve and trust in God, for you cannot put your trust in man. I thank Him for the privilege of bearing my testimony to this great work. If we were not God's people there would not be the combination which exists now for our destruction. Watch the signs of the times, watch for what is approaching -- thunder, lightnings, earthquakes, storms, cyclones, pestilence and famine. When the judgments of the Almighty are gathered together in the heavens, when the testimony of the Elders of Israel is closed, God's awful messengers will visit the earth. Therefore prepare yourselves for these things which await us, for they are assuredly coming, and no power can stay the hand of the Almighty.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 40:559, 4/19/90, p 15; CD 2:44-53]
DISCOURSE
Delivered by President Wilford Woodruff, at the General
Conference,
held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday morning, April 6, 1890.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I feel
that every heart in this congregation should be filled with gratitude to God
for the blessings we enjoy this morning, that so many of us have the privilege
of meeting in this Tabernacle in peace and quietude to worship God.
I want to
say to this large assembly that the President of the Church, or his Counselors,
or the Twelve Apostles, or any other man who dwells in the flesh, has no power
in and of himself to instruct or edify the Latter-day Saints; he can only do so
by the power and blessings of Almighty God. In this respect I am as weak as the
least member of this Church and Kingdom. We are all dependent upon the Lord;
and I feel this morning that I stand in need, not only of the faith and prayers
of the Latter-day Saints, but of the blessings of God and the Holy Spirit to
assist me to declare unto the Latter-day Saints the word of the Lord.
I will
say another thing. The Saints of God in every age of the world-prophets,
apostles and revelators-have been in such a position that they have had no
chance to be lifted up in the pride of their hearts, or to boast of their power
and strength to do the work of God among the children of men. Every man who was
acquainted with Joseph Smith and those who followed him, knows full well that
this was their condition while they dwelt among us. Joseph Smith was a humble
man. He was one of the weak instruments in the hands of God. He was raised up
in this last dispensation and fulness of times to lay the foundation of this
great Church on the earth. He was taught by the administration of angels from
heaven. He knew full well that his strength lay in God and not in himself. That
is our condition at the present time. We have no chance to be lifted up in the
pride of our hearts with regard to the position we occupy. If the President of
the Church or either of his Counselors or of the Apostles, or any other man,
feels in his heart that God cannot do without him, and that he is especially
important in order to carry on the work of the Lord, he stands upon slippery
ground. I heard Joseph Smith say that Oliver Cowdery, who was the second
Apostle in this Church, said to him, "If I leave this Church it will
fall." Said he, "Oliver, you try it." Oliver tried it. He fell;
but the Kingdom of God did not. I have been acquainted with other Apostles in
my day and time who felt that the Lord could not do without them; but the Lord
got along with His work without them. I say to all men-Jew and Gentile, great
and small, rich and poor-that the Lord Almighty has power within Himself, and
is not dependent upon any man, to carry on His work; but when He does call men
to do His work they have to trust in Him.
I marvel
today, in my own mind, why I stand before you as the President of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been associated with some forty
Apostles in my day and time. Twenty-four of them-two quorums-are today in the
spirit world. There is a quorum of young men, many of them the sons of Apostles
who have passed away, with us today. Well, when I look at this and see that I
am still in the midst of Israel, and realize that I have been called to this
position, I marvel at it. But it is the business of the Lord and not of man. It
is not a position that I have sought. On the other hand, the eternal truth of
this responsibility stares me in the face. I know that I am responsible, for
the position that I hold today, to the God of heaven, who has chosen me, as are
these apostles before me and these tens of thousands of Elders of Israel who
now dwell in the flesh on the earth. I attended a Priesthood meeting here last
evening with quite a number of those bearing the Priesthood. I look upon the
responsibility of these people as being very great. We have been called upon in
this day to receive the Priesthood and to go forth and preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ to this generation-to the Gentiles first, and then to the House of
Israel. This has been my lot. It has been the lot of these Apostles, and many,
yea thousands, of the leaders of the Latter-day Saints. We have been called
upon to preach the Gospel of Christ to this generation and to warn them of the
judgments which are to come.
There has
been a great deal said at this conference. We have had strong testimonies borne
by the Elders of Israel who have addressed us. I remarked at the commencement
of this conference (there were comparatively few people here then) concerning
our position and revelation. I remarked that Moses gave revelations to Israel.
We have the Bible-the stick of Judah-containing the law of God through Moses
and through the ancient prophets and patriarchs. It has been handed down to us
through the thousands of years that are past and gone. While libraries, like
the library of Alexandria (which was destroyed by an Arab chief and took days
and days to burn, it being one of the largest ever gathered together in the
world) have perished, the Bible has been preserved unto us, and we have it to
read. It gives unto us the law of God given to the ancients. But there has been
no change in that law, so far as the gospel is concerned, from that day until
this. The Bible-the Old and the New Testament-gives unto us the law whereby we
may be exalted and go back again into the presence of God and dwell with Him
for ever and ever. It gives unto us the course we should pursue in order to
receive a part in the first resurrection, that we may come forth clothed with
glory, immortality and eternal life. It also gives us the history, not only of
what is passed with the Jews, but of what is to come to pass. Then we have a
Book of Mormon-the stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim-that was written
upon this continent by apostles and prophets. It contains, among other things,
the teachings of Jesus Christ when he appeared, after his resurrection, in his
immortal and glorious body, and taught the gospel here. Those revelations
contain a great many principles. They show unto us the final winding-up scene,
the situation of great Babylon and the judgments that were to come to pass in
the last days before the coming of the Son of Man. We have also the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants, which you have in your houses and which you can read.
This code of revelation was given through the mouth of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, by the Urim and Thummim and otherwise. That book contains some of the
most glorious and most sublime revelations God ever gave to man. It shows unto
us what lies before us, what awaits this nation and the nations of the earth,
and what is at the door of the inhabitants of the earth. These things are
clear, they are pointed, they are strong, and they are the revelations of God,
and they will be fulfilled, whether men believe it or not.
Now, with
regard to present revelation. President Young led us a great many years. He led
us to these valleys. He was a man of God, filled with revelation. His teachings
were attended by the inspirations of Almighty God. He laid the foundation of
the building of this whole Territory. He governed and controlled this
Tabernacle we are in, the Temple we are building, and other Temples that we have
built in this Territory; and in all his counsels the word of the Lord was with
him. He had but few revelations that were written and published to the world.
But we had the word of the Lord through him day by day. The same with President
Taylor. We have already got, as I said before, this code of revelation, which
we can read every day, and which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction, to guide us in the way of life from day to day and
from year to year while we dwell in the flesh. When the Apostles and Elders of
Israel are called to teach you, when they are called to go abroad and to teach
the inhabitants of the earth, they are commanded of the Lord to speak as they
are moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and when a man speaks as he is moved upon by
the Holy Ghost, it is the word of the Lord, it is the mind of the Lord, it is
the will of the Lord, it is Scripture, it is the power of God unto salvation
unto every one that believes. If we do not have the Holy Ghost we have no business
to teach. But when the Elders of Israel do teach you by the Holy Ghost, you
have the revelations of God to you. We have these revelations lying before us
for our guidance day by day, as well as the living oracles.
I would
say to the President of the United States, to the Congress of the United
States, to the Cabinet, and to all the inhabitants of this land, as well as to
all the nations of the earth-kings, emperors, princes and people-do not worry
about these Latter-day Saints. I would say to all nations under heaven, if
these people are not the people of God, if this work has not been established
by God Almighty, they will fall of themselves, they will be swept from the face
of the earth by the judgments of God, when Great Babylon falls. But if they are
of God, what can you do about it? What can the nations of the earth do about
it? Have the nations forgotten that there is a God in Israel? Have they
forgotten that there is a God who created the heavens and the earth, and that
He governs and controls all these things? If He has set His hand to perform
this work, there is no power on the face of the earth, or in hell, that can
destroy it, because Jehovah holds it in His own hands. He holds our destiny and
the destiny of all the world in His hands. But the great difficulty with this
nation and with all nations is, as it has been in every age, they do not
acknowledge the hand of God in any of these things. You see it in the history
of the whole world and in the dealings of God with men and cities and nations,
from the creation of the world. I have referred to these things before in my
remarks. Whenever a nation is ripened in iniquity, the Lord raises up prophets
and inspired men and they are sent forth to warn that nation, and when they
have warned the people and given unto them the word of the Lord, that word will
not fall unfulfilled. We have before us a great many instances of the dealings
of God with men. We have a fair example in Babylon the Great. King
Nebuchadnezzar, surrounded with the city walls a hundred feet high and wide
enough for several chariots to ride abreast upon the top thereof, with brazen
gates and with a power to defy all but God himself, what did he say: "Is
not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the
might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" The prophet might
have told Nebuchadnezzar that the God of heaven had proclaimed a man before he
was born that would come and take that great city and destroy its ruler. Cyrus
was named by the Lord before he was born, through the mouth of the prophet; and
when the time came, as King Belshazzar and his princes were feasting and
drinking wine out of the cups that had been brought from the temple at
Jerusalem, he took possession of the city and carried off the treasures. The
army of Cyrus turned the river out of its course and walked in under the walls
of the city. Belshazzar was taken prisoner and slain, and the city went into
the hands of people they were not looking for. What did Cyrus do when he took
the city of Babylon? He took the riches-cattle, horses and property-there was
in that city and offered them as a sacrifice to the great God. This is the
course that a heathen king took; and we understand, from history, that Cyrus
pursued this course all his life. Whenever he took a city he went and offered
sacrifice to the great God, the God of heaven. You may trace this through the
whole history of the world until the present hour and you will find that that
God who sits enthroned on high has governed and controlled all these things. He
will do the same today. That same God has set His hand to fulfill the volume of
revelations contained in these records of divine truth, which portray the
winding-up scene of the work and Kingdom of God in the last dispensation and
fulness of times. Our Heavenly Father called His servant Joseph Smith. He laid
the foundation of this Church and Kingdom, and he organized the Church with
prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers, gifts and graces, for the perfecting of
the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of
Christ, until we all come to the perfect stature of a man in Christ Jesus, in
fulfillment of the revelations of God. Our numbers are few, it is true; but the
people of God always were few in every age of the world. Noah, after preaching
120 years, while building the ark, only succeeded in saving eight souls out of
all the inhabitants of the earth. The rest were destroyed by the flood, and
they were shut up in prison and there visited by Jesus Christ, the Son of the
living God. While his body lay in the tomb three days His spirit went to preach
to those spirits that were in prison, that they might be judged according to
men in the flesh. The work of the Lord always has been an uphill business, so
far as laboring among the children of men is concerned. But there is no person
who believes in the Bible can deny that the Lord has proclaimed that in the
latter days He would set His hand to build up His Church and Kingdom, He would
gather together His people, and He would send an angel flying through the midst
of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto every nation, kindred,
tongue and people under the whole heavens, crying with a loud voice: "Fear
God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." This was
the proclamation of the angel of God who delivered the Gospel of Christ to
Joseph Smith. "The hour of His judgment is come." So say we. We have
been called upon to warn the nations. We have been called to go forth without
purse or scrip. We have had to travel abroad, swim rivers, wade swamps, travel
on foot, and visit the nations of the earth in various ways, to preach the
Gospel unto them. We have been obliged to do this, for we have been called to
do it, whether we were popular or unpopular. If we had not done this, we would
have been condemned; the Lord would have cut us off and raised up a people that
would perform His work. These thousands of Elders, gathered out from the
nations of the earth, upon whose shoulders rests this Priesthood, are the
instruments in the hands of Almighty God, and are called to go forth to warn
this generation; and their testimony will rise up in judgment against this
generation and condemn them, and I declare it in the name of Jesus Christ, as
an Apostle of the Lamb of God in this day and age of the world. I say there is
not a nation under heaven, there is not a king, a prince or a president, or any
other man who has power over the sons of men, but should give unto their
subjects the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own
consciences. These subjects are the creatures of God, they are the children of
God. They are placed here on the earth and are responsible to God Himself for
their religion, for their faith and for their worship. They are not responsible
to the emperors, or kings, or presidents, or governors who rule over them.
Every man is responsible for the course he pursues before the Lord. And God
will bless no king, no emperor and no president who will not give unto his
subjects the rights and privileges in their relationship to God which the
Father Himself has given unto them. Whenever these subjects are deprived of
their rights, those who preside over them are held responsible.
We are here
upon a mission. This is not our home. This is not the place where we expect to
dwell forever. We are going into the spirit world. I have been associated with
the Church for 57 years. I was intimate with the Prophet Joseph Smith and those
that laid the foundation of this Church, who were martyred for the word of God
and testimony of Jesus. They today are in the spirit world, mingling with the
Gods, where they can plead for their brethren. So too shall we go in our day
and time. In view of this can I afford to reject the Gospel, or to turn away
from that which the Lord has required at my hands, because it does not suit the
world? I cannot. I have got to meet my acts before the throne of God, and so
have this nation and all the inhabitants of the earth. They will understand
then that there is a power above them, and that is the God of heaven. All men
have got to appear at the judgment seat of Christ. And when men shed the blood
of the righteous because they follow the words of the Lord, they have to pay for
it. No man can shed the blood of the righteous without it costing him
something. It was so in the days of Jesus Christ. No man was more unpopular on
the face of the earth then Jesus Christ was from the day He was born until He
ascended into heaven. All Jerusalem was against Him. The Jews were against Him.
The Gentiles were against Him, in a great measure. They cried out against Him
and accused Him of everything that was wrong, and labored very hard to find
some accusation against Him whereby they might put Him to death. It is true
that the Gentile judge who heard the testimony against Jesus told the Jews:
"I find no fault in this man," and he washed his hands, saying,
"I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it." All right,
said they, "his blood be on us, and on our children." How little did
those Jews know what it would cost them to shed the blood of Jesus Christ. Well
might the Son of God, while on the cross, cry out, "Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do." Strange language for a man that was
expiring on the cross! Why did He say this? He knew what would be the result to
the Jewish nation for the next two thousand years. Whenever the nations of the
earth have taken a stand against the Gospel of Christ or the people of God, they
have had to pay the bill. It has cost something to shed the blood of Joseph
Smith and Hyrum Smith, and the price is not fully paid yet.
While the
world look upon us as a strange people, while they have no faith in us or in
our teachings, and while they have no faith in the Bible which they profess to
believe in, still their unbelief will not make the truths of God without
effect. The inhabitants of the earth know not what awaits them. The Lord is
going to cut short His work in righteousness. If He did not no flesh would be
saved. As I have said before, we have been called upon to warn this generation.
How was it when we first went to New York, to Philadelphia, to Boston, and to
the various states of the Union? We went there and found hundreds of people who
were ready to receive the Gospel of Christ. We organized churches throughout
the United States, north and south, more especially in the northern and middle
states. At that time there was not the feeling that there is today. There were
a great many who were willing to open their eyes to see, their ears to hear,
and their hearts to understand. The Lord told Joseph Smith that He had set His
hand to prune His vineyard once more for the last time, and He commanded him
and others to go forth and warn this generation to gather out the honest and
meek of the earth, and to prepare for the day of His judgment. And in one place
in this book of Doctrine and Covenants, in explaining the parable of the wheat
and the tares, the Lord says: "Behold, verily I say, that the field was
the world, and the Apostles were the sowers of the seed; and after they have
fallen asleep, the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore,
even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the
enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign, behold he soweth the tares, wherefore the
tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness. But behold, in
the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word,
and the blade is springing up and is yet tender. Behold, verily I say unto you,
the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to
be sent forth to reap down the fields; but the Lord said unto them, pluck not
up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak) lest
you destroy the wheat also."
Do the
inhabitants of the earth realize the judgments that hang over their heads? They
do not, no more than the people did in the days of Noah, in the days of Lot,
and in the days of the Jews when they put to death the Messiah.
You have
embraced the Gospel. How came you to be gathered here in these valleys of the
mountains, in this once barren desert? Where did you come from? You came from
England, from Norway, from Sweden, from the various nations of the earth and
from the isles of the sea. How was it that you came here? You reply: An Elder
of Israel called. I heard him preach. He told me if I would repent of my sins,
I should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I believed him. I went forth and was
baptized. I had hands laid upon me for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and I
did receive the Holy Ghost. There was no deception about this. I was moved upon
to gather with the Saints of God to the mountains of Israel, that I might stand
with them and be taught in the things of the Kingdom of God, that I might stand
in holy places while the judgments of God were poured forth in the earth.
That is
why you are here. We might have preached to you till we had been as old as
Methuselah, and if the Almighty had not backed up the testimony of these Elders
of Israel, Utah today would be as barren a desert as we found it as far as the
Latter-day Saints are concerned.
This is
the work of God, and we are called upon to labor, no matter what may appear
around us, or what persecutions we may be called upon to pass through. This is
the great last Kingdom of our God that Daniel saw. It is the Zion of God that
Isaiah saw. It is the Church of Jesus Christ that the Revelator John saw. The
angel of God has come and delivered his message, in fulfillment of the
commandments of God, and the cry has been, Prepare ye for the coming of the Son
of man; behold the day of God's judgment is come. This is the proclamation to
the whole world today-Jew and Gentile. And this is why we are here. We have
been led here by the inspiration and power of God, and we have come here to
fulfill the volume of the book of the revelations of God to the inhabitants of
the earth. Therefore, I say, let not your hearts be troubled. It is your
Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. These Latter-day Saints are
where they should be-where the Lord has called them; and if we do our duty, if
we unite together and keep the commandments of God, all will be well in Zion.
The Lord has said: "Verily I say unto you, that I, the Lord, will contend
with Zion, and plead with her strong ones, and chasten her until she overcomes
and is clean before me; for she shall not be removed out of her place. I, the
Lord, have spoken it." We have got to do right and keep the commandments
of God. If we don't, we shall be chastened, there is no doubt about that. But
while the world are looking for the destruction of this Church, they will look
in vain. They do not realize that the judgments of God are being proclaimed by
sword and by fire, and that the Lord is pleading with all flesh. The sword is
bathed in heaven; it will fall upon Idumea and the world, and who is able to
stand the judgments of the Almighty? Those who are striving for our overthrow,
if they have not faith today in this and in God, they will have faith whenever
they come to judgment; for the whole of them have got to go to judgment, and
they will be judged according to their deeds done in the body.
Brethren
and sisters, let us look at these things as they are. We are under great
responsibility. In every dispensation God has called men and placed them as
watchmen on the walls of Zion. He told Ezekiel: "I have set thee a
watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my
mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou
shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that
wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine
hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn away from it; if
he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast
delivered thy soul." We have been called upon to warn this generation. We
have tried to do it in our weak way. I have for the last fifty-seven years of
my life. So have these brethren here. We have traveled thousands of miles
without purse or scrip. We have lifted up our voices and preached the Gospel of
Christ to this dispensation.
We are
also called, brethren and sisters, to perform some work in our day and time
that no other dispensation of men have been called to do. We have been called
to rear temples and to go into those temples and redeem our dead. It takes as
much to save a dead man as it does a living one. If the dead have not heard the
Gospel, the Lord is not going to send them to hell because they have not
received it. The Lord is the Father of all. He is merciful to all, and He will
save all, except the sons of perdition. Every man will have a glory. Our
"Liberal" friends here will have a glory. A man will have a celestial
glory if he abides the law of the celestial kingdom; he will have a terrestrial
glory if he abides the law of the terrestrial kingdom; he will have a telestial
glory if he abides the law of the telestial kingdom. That is the law of God
unto us.
Brethren
and sisters, I have desired to know the truth from the day I was a child. I
read the Bible in my boyhood. I attended Sabbath school under old Dr. Porter
and Dr. Haws. I read in this New Testament about Jesus Christ. I read of what
kind of a Gospel He preached and what kind of a man He was. I read about the
Apostles and of the power they had; how they laid hands upon the sick and they
recovered; they could cast out devils, and, in some instances, raised the dead.
In my boyhood I longed that I may live on the earth till I could find a servant
of God, an inspired man, who would teach me these principles that I read of in
the New Testament. The Lord promised me, in fulfillment of my prayers, that I
should live to see that day. I have lived to see it. The Lord has called a
people from the nations of the earth, from every sect, party and denomination,
to receive the fulness of the everlasting Gospel. There is but one Gospel.
There never was but one Gospel; there never will be but one. Millions of people
have been born in the flesh, have lived and have gone to the grave, who never
saw the face of a prophet in their lives; never saw a man that was called of
God and had power to administer in one of the ordinances of the House of God. Will
God condemn them because they did not receive the Gospel? Not at all. They are
in the spirit world-our fathers. We are called upon, as saviors on Mount Zion,
while the Kingdom is the Lord's, in the latter-days, to go forth and redeem our
dead. We hold in our hands the keys and power of their redemption, by attending
to the ordinances of God for them. It is a work that the Lord has blessed us
with. I thank God for this privilege. It is one of the blessings that the
Latter-day Saints enjoy. When I go into the spirit world I expect to meet my
fathers, my mothers, my relatives. I have been in the Temple of the Lord. I
have received endowments for over three thousand of them on my father's and my
mother's side, all that I could get access to. I do not want to go into the
spirit world to meet these people and have them say to me, "You had power
to enter into these Temples to get redemption for me, but you have not done
it."
Lay these
things to heart. Be not afraid with regard to the work; only serve God and trust
in Him. You cannot serve man, nor make flesh your arm, for your salvation. If
we are saved, if we are delivered, if we have redemption, it will be by the
power of the God of Israel. He sent His Son into the world to lay down His life
for the redemption of the children of men.
I feel to
thank God that I have this privilege of bearing my testimony to the work. I
know it is true. I know Joseph Smith was one of the greatest prophets that God
ever raised up in the earth, save Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith holds the keys of
this great and last dispensation and fulness of times; he will hold those keys
to the endless ages of eternity. He sealed his testimony with his blood. And if
we have to do the same, what of it? Thousands and thousands of the children of
men laid down their lives in going to war, for the sake of worldly honor. Is it
any more for a man to lay down his life for the gospel's sake than it is for
him to lay it down for some other cause? I say no. It makes no difference what
we are called to pass through, if we are united and do our duty all will be
well. I want salvation when I get through. I want to go where my Heavenly
Father and the Savior are, if I can. I want to go where the Apostles and
Prophets are who have borne the heat and burden of the day in their
generations-Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and all the Prophets and
Patriarchs whose testimonies we have in the Bible, as well as those who dwelt
in this land.
I bear my
testimony that this is the Kingdom of God. As to persecution, all men who live
godly in Christ Jesus suffer persecution. Why this combination by priest and
people against Joseph Smith, an illiterate boy, as soon as he was administered
to by the angels of God? Why did he wade in deep waters up to the day of his
death? Why did he pass through forty or fifty vexatious lawsuits? Because he
was a servant of God and warned the inhabitants of the earth of the judgments
that were to come. So it has been with all who have followed him. If this
people were not the people of God, you would not see a combination of the
inhabitants of the earth for our destruction. Are these Latter-day Saints all
the sinners there are in the world? If they are, I tell you the inhabitants of
the earth are in a good condition. But it is not so. We sin enough, it is true;
perhaps too much; we are guilty of a good many things, probably, that we ought
to repent of; I have no doubt there should be a reformation among us in some
things; we do not pray as much as we ought to; but we are not so bad as the world
call us by any means. The Presidency, the Apostles and these Elders of Israel,
our hearts should be united together. We should labor with each other, and for
each other, and for the benefit of the children of God. We have tried to do
that, in a measure, I believe; but we are weak. If, however, we will do our
duty, all will be well.
I pray
God to bless these Latter-day Saints. I know He will bless us if we walk
uprightly before Him. We will conquer, we will overcome, Zion will arise and
flourish, it will stand as appointed of the Lord, the saints of God will be
gathered, they will stand in holy places while the judgments of God are
manifest in the earth. I say to the Latter-day Saints and to the world, watch
the signs of the times, watch the changes that are going to take place. I tell
you that thunders, that lightnings, that earthquakes, that storms, that
cyclones, that pestilence and that famine are gathered together in the heaven
of heavens, and the angels of God are ready to go forth when the testimony of
the Elders of Israel is closed. Messengers will visit the earth that they
cannot mob, that they cannot destroy, because they are the angels of God. These
are eternal truths, written like pages of living fire upon these records of
Almighty God, and they will have their fulfillment. Prepare yourselves for the
things that await us. They are sure to come. No power can stay the hand of the
Almighty. God bless us and give us inspiration, light and truth, that we may be
prepared for that which is to come, for Christ's sake. Amen.
Apostle Franklin D. Richards
next addressed the conference. Following is the substance of his remarks: I esteem it a great blessing to be at this conference and to be permitted to be with you and to hear such precious testimony from our venerable President. What has been said are the eternal truths of heaven. They are the eternal truths by which the people of this generation will be judged. Brother Woodruff has lived and labored in this work fifty seven years. I have lived in it fifty-two years. It is not the work of man but of God. It has confounded the wisdom of the worldly wise. God has taken the young and the inexperienced, and through them brought His decrees to pass.
There is a philosophy in the gospel, and those who are ripened in experience understand the necessity of some things which exist. Those who have come into the work later are not practically familiar with the past and probably, in consequence, cannot so clearly see the future as can those who have been longer identified with the Church. Those who were scattered and peeled and were driven here have felt grateful for the season of rest we enjoyed for a time. When we came here, we were united and happy. We had no drunkenness nor profanity. Since the avenues of communication have opened, however, all manner of allurement has come among us, and every Saint should be on his guard. If the Elders all had the spirit of revelation, there would be no difficulties among the people. The Church courts would have but little to do. The people being taught correct principle, would govern themselves. All should cultivate the spirit of prayer and humility. Prosperity is causing many to forget their prayers. If you cease to keep up communication with God, you will dry up and go away, unless you repent. It is important that we keep up a connection between us and the heavens. When we send a telegraph message and get no reply, we understand there has been a storm and the wires are out of order. When connection is unbroken we know all is well. We have had a precious season during this conference. Every soul must have been comforted and fed.
I wish to say I have been blest of the Lord to know of these things. I obtained a testimony of them on the so-called Grand Prairie, while crossing it in November, 1838. It was there that I learned that the Prophet, some Apostles and Elders, to the number of about thirty or forty had just been taken to prison. We were told we need never expect to see them alive again. The enemies of the Saints were determined to destroy their lives. I was made to feel as only a boy of seventeen years old would naturally feel under such circumstances, when about 2000 miles from my native home, in search of the Gospel, the servants, and the Kingdom of God. It was there, in that lonely place, where the blessing and glory of God shone around me, and it was manifested to me that we would have them among us again; that the Church would not be destroyed -- that it could not be broken up. And it was shown to me just how it looked to Peter and his brethren when Christ was crucified.
When I saw these manifestations, I rejoiced exceedingly and I traveled over that dreary prairie with great delight, and afterwards associated with the people. This was the first testimony from God that I received. And during the last fifty years I have been traveling throughout the nations of the earth preaching the Gospel in this and European countries. I have been permitted to witness from time to time many blessings such as the gift of tongues, the interpretation thereof, the gift of healing, prophecy, revelation, the still small voice in divers ways and I know this to be the Kingdom of God. I know this is the work of the Lord just as truly as I know any earthly thing, and knowing this I feel that the short time I have to remain here is sacred, and with what little I have I am trying to help build up this Church and labor in defense of its interests, in any humble capacity in which I may be situated.
You will recollect that some few years ago one amongst the Apostles took the ground that our Savior was as any other ordinary man; that he lived, was tried and convinced, sentenced, and executed the same as any other person accused of crime would be. And when these things were brought to light, you will recollect that he was removed out of his place. This thing struck deep into my heart. This circumstance struck into me like molten lead and it went down into my soul. I thought what do I know about the Lord, our great Captain? What do I now about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer? And yet I am called to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to represent Him on the earth. It came to me with such force that I prayed and fasted. I searched the Scripture, prayed unto God, until He, in His pleasure showed it unto me. And I can say, I know that my Redeemer lives and that He will come and stand again upon the earth in the latter days. He came upon the earth in the meridian of time, but the inhabitants of the earth did not want to listen to His instructions. He came and went through His ministry, until the earth and the inhabitants thereof did not want to listen to or associate with Him. He triumphed over death, hell and the grave and ascended up on High, and there will remain until his enemies shall be made his footstool. You and I are called upon to prepare ourselves in body and in spirit, for his coming -- for His glorious return, when He shall come and bring His ransomed throngs with Him.
No earthly potentate, be he emperor, king, noble, czar, lord or judge, has ever held any title, nor has ever had any such prestige and demanded such wide-spread attention from the human family as has thus our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation.
The revelations to which President Woodruff has referred us this morning contain testimonies which have come down to us through the ages. We know they are true. We know He passed through that fiery ordeal and wrought out the salvation and resurrection for all mankind, and we are now looking for the time when these things shall come to pass which are therein contained.
We are living in times when men's minds are darkened. This nation and people have turned a deaf ear. Their hearts are hard and they seem to be benighted and have no desire to know the truth. They will not listen to us. They have turned their hearts away and they do not care to know anything about the kingdom of God.
We understand through the revelations that the great father of lies is the author of this condition of things. He was a liar from the beginning. He is the master of these lies and slanderous reports and ideas circulated against us, and he is keeping the people under that cloud of falsehood that they might not come to a knowledge of the truth. The blood of the prophets is upon them, and while this is the condition of things, and while we cannot be heard by the people of the world in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, let us go to our dead, get the records of our ancestry and work in the Temples for them and we will find that when we have gone as far as we can we will have the ministration of those we are working for. This has been the case with many already. Manifestations from the dead have been made to people working in the Temples.
Brother Richards concluded with an exhortation to the Saints to remain faithful to their covenants.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 40:592, 4/26/90, p 16; CD 2:53-59]
REMARKS
By Elder Franklin D. Richards, at the General Conference,
held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday morning, April 8th [6th], 1890.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
Beloved
hearers: I esteem it indeed an inestimable blessing to be permitted, with you,
to listen to the precious testimony that we have just been listening to from
our venerable President. I know that the things which he has declared unto us
are the eternal truths of heaven that have been revealed to us in the day in
which we live. They are no more true from my knowing they are true, or from you
knowing they are true, than if we did not know it; or if the wicked do not know
it, they are no less true. They are the truths by which the people of this
generation will have to be judged. President Woodruff has lived in this Church
and in the knowledge of this Church almost sixty years. I have lived in it
about fifty-two years. And I wish to say that I also know that this is the work
of the living God. It has not been devised by man, nor by any combination of
men. But it has been sent forth by the condescension of our Heavenly Father,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the ministry of holy angels. The wisdom
of men has been brought to naught wherein they have thought that they were of
necessary importance in the work of God. He has taken those who were young in
years, ignorant of the learning of the world, and has taught them in the
knowledge of Himself and of His purposes. This is the highest degree of
knowledge that is conferred upon men in the earth, and the human family are
going to find it so.
The
present is a time when those who are doubtful and who are less established
entertain feelings of trepidation in their hearts, not knowing what has been,
as some of the older ones do know; therefore they are not prepared to
understand, without the revelations of Jesus Christ, what is to come. But there
is a philosophy in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which aids people so
that they come to understand the necessity of some things that have to exist.
Our children, the rising generation who have been born in these valleys, and
the many who have emigrated to this country from foreign nations during the
period of our existence here, are ignorant of the persecutions that occurred to
the people of God in the States. They have not had a knowledge, and a sense, an
understanding, and a conscious comprehension of those things; and they also
must be made, by the blessings and providences of God, to come with us to a
knowledge of His dispensations, to an understanding of His appointments and of
the great truths that have been revealed. True, many of our children have come
up in the Sabbath schools and in the various associations, and have obtained a
knowledge by the testimonies of the Holy Ghost for themselves. But there are
many who have not; and it is pitiable to remember that some are associated with
such parentage that they do not have the examples before them which are
calculated to bring them to the knowledge of God in their earliest days.
We have
had a period of almost unexampled prosperity. While our children and they of
little experience have not had a full knowledge of these things, what have been
the feelings of those who came from the States here, scattered and peeled, a
little over forty years ago, when it was not known that man could subsist in
these valleys? The feelings of those men and women are sentiments of the utmost
gratitude to God that they were permitted to get away safely from their
professed Christian friends and lawless mobbers and have a little rest in these
mountains, where we could serve God according to the dictates of our
consciences. The Lord graciously brought us out through great difficulties, a
thousand miles from settlements, where we were hidden, as it were, from the
people of the nation around us. And for quite a season (it is within the memory
of some, and precious it is yet) the Lord blessed us to appoint the rulers from
among our number, even the political rulers. We were blessed with the best of
guidance and wisdom, by men who were inspired with the revelations of Jehovah
to teach us. We were united, we were happy, and we knew nothing of drunkenness,
and scarcely knew profanity; and blessed as we were in this excellent latitude
of superlative health, it was a saying among the people for many years that we
were not going to die here of disease. We did not, but died of old age.
Presently the avenues of communication were opened up, and all manner of people
came to dwell among us, and all manner of spirits and diseases dwell among us.
It becomes now a necessity for every saint to have on the whole armor that he
may be able to stand for himself before his God, and contend successfully
against the powers of darkness.
This is
our condition today. These things are calculated to put us, in common parlance,
upon our metal, to find out whether we are right with God, having fellowship
and influence with Him. Oh! if all those who are before me today would have and
keep the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of revelation that our President has
been telling us of, what would be the consequences? Would there be any
difficulties among this people? No indeed! Every family would be living in the
light and spirit of that revelation. Each family would govern itself. The
Presidency of the Church, the Presidencies of Stakes and the Bishops of Wards,
as well as the High Councils, would have little to do in settling difficulties.
Why? Because, as the Prophet Joseph said, the people being taught correct
principles they would govern themselves. This is what the Lord is trying to
bring His people up to, and fortunate for us if we so live as to acquire those
abilities of self-government and self-control. I would admonish all that they
cultivate diligently the spirit of prayer and supplication. With this vast tide
of prosperity, with this influx of wealth and inflation of prices, many men are
forgetting their prayers-old and young-and they are having so much business in
so much hurry, they cannot stop to pray, neither at morning nor at night. I
warn you, my brethren, if you cease your prayers and do not keep that
connection between you and your God, you will dry up and be blown away. These
influences will contaminate you. They will hunger your soul after the things of
the world, and the cares of the world will choke the word, and the Spirit of
the Lord will withdraw from you, unless you find speedy repentance and turn to
find the favor and presence of the Lord again. It is of the utmost importance
that we should keep the connection complete between us and the heavens. We know
when there is a storm, and we put in a telegram to send abroad and we do not
get an answer, that there is something the matter-the poles are down, the wire
is down, for there has been some storm. But when the wires are in order, the
message goes through and we get the answer. Just so it is about our prayers. If
we live as we ought to do, the spirit of prayer and supplication is with us,
and we are increasing in strength, in faith, and in fellowship with God, with
the angels and the spirits of the just made perfect. And these things will be
hastened on; according to our diligence and faithfulness, will the purposes of
God be brought about unto us.
We have
had, to my understanding, a most precious season during this Conference. It has
seemed as if the gamut of the gospel has been traced towards us, in every
keynote of it, from personal confession up to the highest principles of the
gospel. It seems to me that every soul must have been fed; every afflicted,
sorrowful one must have been comforted; every tried and tempted one must have
felt the benefit of these instructions to refresh his soul and renew his
strength before the Lord. I wish to testify that I have been greatly blessed of
the Lord.
I
obtained the first testimony of the Holy Spirit to the truth of this great work
in the midst of what is called the grand prairie in Missouri. I was crossing it
on foot one day in November, 1838. I had just heard that the Prophet, the
Apostles and the Elders, to the number of thirty or forty, had been taken off
to Richmond, Liberty and other places, to prison, and that we need never hope
to have them with us any more; for the wicked had determined that they should
not dwell with us nor we with them. I felt as a boy seventeen years old would
naturally feel under those circumstances-about two thousand miles from his
native home, in search of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the servants of
God. Right there in that lonely place it was that the blessings and glory of
God shone around me, and it was shown to me that we would have them again; it
was the work of God, it could not be destroyed, it could not be broken up, it
could not be impaired. It was shown to me how it looked to Peter and the
brethren anciently when Jesus Christ was crucified, and the Apostle has written
for us that his hopes were well nigh gone. When the Lord made this manifest to
me, I rejoiced exceedingly, and traveled over that prairie with great lightness
and testimony, and got up to associate with the people of God.
That was
the first testimony I received from God concerning the work. And during the
last fifty years that I have been traveling with you and throughout the nations
in preaching the Gospel to this and European countries, I have been blessed
with testimonies repeatedly, such as healings, tongues, interpretations,
prophesies, revelations, and the still small voice and in divers other ways. I
know this to be the Church and Kingdom of God, I know it to be the work of the
Lord, just as truly as I know any earthly thing I have to do with; and, knowing
this, I feel, and have all the time, to consecrate myself with what little I am
and have, to help build up this Church and to advance its interests in any
humble capacity in which I may be situated.
You will
recollect that some few years ago one among the Apostles had the senseless
inconsideration to feel and to say that our Savior was only as another man; that
he was tried and convicted, sentenced and executed as any other culprit should
be; and you will remember that he was moved out of his place. This thing struck
deep into my heart. I was ordained, as you know, here in these valleys, in
1849, being then the youngest member in the Council of the Apostles. But this
circumstance struck me all through like melted lead. It went down into my soul,
and I thought, what do I know about our Great Captain, our Lord Jesus Christ,
our Great Redeemer, and called to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. It
came home to me with an earnestness that set me at work with prayer and with
fasting, and with searching the scriptures, until God in His pleasure showed it
to me; and I can say that I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will come and
stand upon the earth in the latter day. He came and went through His ministry,
until the earth and the inhabitants thereof did what they listed with Him, and
when they had done the last thing they could do with Him, He triumphed over
death and hell and went on high. He lives there and will remain there until His
enemies shall be made his footstool. You and I are called upon to prepare
ourselves in body and in spirit, in all that we are, with all that we have,
with all that we can control, and prepare our surroundings, for His coming, His
glorious return, when He shall bring His ransomed throngs with Him.
No
earthly potentates, be he czar, emperor, king, lord or noble, or of any title,
has had the prestige and the attention of the human family as has this our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. The most ancient time we hear of-in the Garden of
Eden-it was said of Him that He should come in the meridian of time, and
sacrifices were given and required to perpetuate this knowledge, that He was to
come as the great living sacrifice, and by the wisdom of the Eternal and man on
the earth it was so perpetuated; and every great man that had any knowledge of
God offered sacrifices and perpetuated that knowledge till Jesus came and dwelt
in the flesh. These records that President Woodruff referred us to this morning
contain testimonies that have come down through the ages of time unto us, and
we know that He has come, that He has passed through this ordeal, that He has
wrought out salvation and the resurrection for all mankind.
We live
in a period of time when people's hearts are hard. The nation seems to be
beclouded. Terrible thought! our nation is filled with lies concerning us. They
do not know us. We have not the power to make ourselves known to them. They are
unwilling to know. They seem as if they are afraid we are right. We cannot get
them even to that first birth, by which they might see the Kingdom of God, much
less enter into it. Oh, what a terrible condition they are in! Parts of the
United States will not listen to an Elder; other parts are now receiving the
Gospel a little. But what has the Lord to say about this matter? We understand,
by the revelations, that the great father of lies is the author of this
condition of things. He was a liar from the beginning, and he has imposed these
lies and false ideas upon the human family, and he is keeping them under that
cloud lest they should come unto a knowledge of the truth. What did the
Apostles say anciently? That "God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Oh, terrible fate, terrible
judgment, terrible consequences; right here in the flesh, without waiting to
get out of it, to find the torments of hell as promised by some! For God has
decreed that he will sweep away this refuge of lies with the besom of His
destruction as promised by his ancient prophets.
This is
the condition of the world. And now while it is so that we cannot be heard by
the preaching of the Gospel, we say, as our President has said, let us go to
the dead. Let us get the records of our ancestry and go to work for them; and
very soon we will find that they will be at work for us, as those who are
laboring in the holy places do find. This is a work that has to do with the
generations of the dead for ages that are past.
The
testimony of John is true concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, who was in the
beginning, in the creation, and without Him there was not anything made that
was made. He had control, as He was the character known as Jehovah. When He was
in the burning bush he said to Moses, I am Jehovah; and He told His name along
occasionally to the ancient prophets and worthies, by which we know that He was
the Jehovah. When He came and entered into the flesh, then He was the Christ,
and has been known by that name ever since. He is our great Redeemer. And we
are commencing the great work of the last dispensation, in which the
consummation is to be; when there will come people from all nations, kindreds,
tongues and people, and they will praise and glorify His holy name, who hath
redeemed us out of every nation, and kindred, and tongue and people, and hath
made us kings and priests unto our God, and we shall reign on the earth. There
is a glorious prospect of triumph ahead, and we have no need to fear, no need
to be anxious about the outcome. The thing is to conduct ourselves properly
every day under the circumstances and conditions in which we are placed, and
abide by every law which God has given us, that we may be sanctified by them
unto immortality and eternal life; and if we can attain this, we are safe, we
are certain and are founded upon the rock of ages, and it matters little
whether we live or die. We shall all go in our time and turn; it will only be a
question according to the providence of God, when.
Well,
brethren and sisters, I rejoice exceedingly in this work. There is no other
thing like it on the earth. Why, the gold and the silver bear no comparison of
joy and satisfaction to what does the understanding and knowledge of the truth
of these principles and that these blessings that are offered us in the Gospel
are certain to come to us, and that we get a foretaste and commencement of them
here by testimony after testimony, line upon line, here a little and there a
little.
Now, some
people think it is terrible the way we are getting on and the way it is being
lorded over God's heritage. It is but a few days ago that there were men eating
and drinking with us at the table of the Lord right here in this Tabernacle;
let me ask you where are they now? Is there the wisdom in man, or in any
syndicate of men that could be got up among us, that could have drawn the line
between God's people and they who are not His people as has been done right
here in the streets of this city? Is it not a presumptuous thought to think
that God would give unqualifiedly His blessings unto all, promiscuous as we
were? And He has made those that have been selling their brethren for ten, twenty
or thirty dollars apiece into the hands of their enemies, to turn and train
with those that were like them. This is the commencement of the line which is
being drawn between the people and those that are not the people. Is there
skill of man that could have done this with as little injury of feeling, as
little difficulty of any kind, as this single circumstance? The Bishops know
who are their people now. They can go and labor with these people in their
Wards and help settle the difficulties among their worthy brethren; they can
help many among them who cannot get recommends to go to the Temple and
administer for their dead-help reconcile their feelings, settle their affairs
in a way that they can go well recommended, sanctify themselves, serve the Lord
more perfectly, and advance in the knowledge of the truth.
My
brethren and sisters, I pray the Lord to bless all these opportunities to
strengthen the weak, to encourage the sad and the heavy-hearted; for each ward
has people in all conditions-in ease and comfort, sorrow and sadness,
affliction and distress. But he who has the testimony of Jesus can stand the
storms which shall come upon us and laugh defiance at all the powers of sin and
Satan. They may make the heart sad and sorrowful and fill us with pain; but the
testimony of Jesus, that makes wise the simple and fills the soul with light
and knowledge and revelation, can above it all find smiling joy as they see the
light shining out of that cloud behind which He hides a smiling face. May the
Lord strengthen us; may we so live as to engage that strength. And let me tell
you, while we have had words of consolation, of reproof and of exhortation
given to us, there is no word that the Lord has ever condescended to utter in
our behalf, whether it be so simple as to say that you should retire to your
beds early and rise early, that your bodies and minds may be invigorated, or
what you should eat and drink, even up to the higher laws that pertain to the
celestial kingdom, which is too trifling for us, or that we can afford to
neglect. We must say as Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that procedeth out of the mouth of God." Let us
understand this, and make it our daily business to raise that kind of bread,
keep it on hand and live by it continually. Then the Lord will remember His
promises, He will aid us in affliction, send us succor in distress, bear us
safely through and count us as His own. May this be our happy lot, in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Cannon announced that as the Tabernacle was not large enough to hold the people, an overflow meeting would be held in the Assembly Hall in the afternoon.
The Choir sang:
Arise! Shine! for thy light is come.
Adjourned till 2 p. m.
Benediction by Bishop Orson F. Whitney.
[6 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 40:534-535, 4/12/90, p 22-23]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Singing:
Let us pray, gladly pray, In
the house of Jehovah.
Till the righteous can say, "Oh, our warfare is over."
Prayer was offered by Apostle Abraham H. Cannon.
The choir sang:
Jesus, once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth;
Once He suffered grief and pain, Now He comes on earth to reign.
The Priesthood of the Fifteenth Ward officiated in the administration of the sacrament.
President George Q. Cannon
addressed the conference. He read from the Book of Mormon a portion of the 27th chapter of Mosiah. He then referred to the organization of the Church with six members, sixty years ago today, and spoke of the manifestations of the power of God in behalf of the Saints in the various trying circumstances through which they had passed. These manifestations were a great testimony to the people that God had not forgotten his promises, and enabled His people to await the future with confidence and in serenity, for they knew their feet were planted on the rock of truth. In their religion God had embodied all truth. The speaker named some of the inconsistent ideas regarding future rewards and punishments which were believed in by the Christian world when the Church was organized, and called attention to the true order of the plan of salvation. He then spoke of the plainness, beauty and comprehensiveness of the Gospel which God had revealed through His Prophets, and closed with a powerful exhortation to the Saints to devote themselves to the service of the most High by living in harmony with his divine laws. The discourse was reported in full.
President Wilford
Woodruff
said: Before this conference closes there is a subject I wish to say a few words upon. Brother Cannon has today laid before us the truth with regard to the ordinances of the Holy Gospel, the revelations of Jesus Christ and the principles pertaining to the salvation of this people, which are revealed to us in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and are given through the living oracles. Paul says there is but one Gospel, and "Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel than that which I have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Whenever there has been any baptism from the days of Father Adam, or Moses, when he crossed the Red Sea, down to the days of Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith, it has always been the same. There has never been any change in the Gospel ordinances, in baptism or repentance; no change in the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been no change in the manner of receiving them; no change in the reception of the Holy Ghost. It is so in every age and generation of the world. There is no change in the holy resurrection of the children of men from the grave. These principles have all been reserved to us. I wish to say that in my acquaintance in this Church, I have seen men, from time to time rise up and try to be servants of God. They try to explain things they know nothing about, to make themselves appear clever. There is a great deal of this kind of thing in this age. There was one of the leading Elders of the Church who went before the people and undertook to preach certain principles. Joseph heard of it and desired him to present the doctrine to him in writing. He wrote it, and when he completed it read it to the Prophet. He asked Joseph what he thought of it. "Why," said Joseph, "it is a beautiful system, I have but one fault to find with it --" "What is that, Brother Joseph?" Joseph said -- "It is not true." So I say very little while someone, thinking he is smart, tries to teach something that is not in the doctrine and Covenants, and other Church works, and which is not true.
I, myself, sat for over two hours once in a meeting house, in St Louis, listing to a prominent Elder of this Church, who had called to people together to preach to them the doctrine of the, what was called "baby resurrection." He preached to two or three thousand people, and there was not a word of truth in the doctrine. I thought he ought to know better. In the afternoon I was called upon to speak. After meeting there were a great many people gathered around me and asked what I thought of the man's sermons. I replied, it is all nonsense. Well, that is just how I felt. It is no benefit in this world for men to preach such false doctrine. And now, every little while, I hear of some one of the Elders, who wishes to be considered smart, trying to teach something they know nothing about.
The Elders have a world of truth to preach about. There is enough revealed to fill the whole earth as long as you live. Preach the truth as you understand it. Do not speculate on things you know nothing about, for it will benefit no one. If you listen to false doctrine you will be led away by false spirits. Remember and observe this, and you will be all right. Keep in the paths of truth, and all will be well with you.
I pray God to bless you, my brethren and sisters. We have had a good time during this conference. We have had many testimonies, and they are true. Let us lay them to heart, and be not discouraged. Rely upon the Lord and you will be all right. salvation is here; the Kingdom of God is here, the Gospel is here; the Zion of our God is here; the work of our God is upon the earth. It is being built up and established. Let us do our duty, trusting in God and we will be brought off triumphant. And when e get through e will be satisfied with our labors in the flesh, and the lord's dealing with us. I hope we will so conduct ourselves and carry out the principles of salvation, that we may gain eternal life, which may god grant, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
The nations bow to Satan's thrall.
Benediction by Elder Elias Morris.
Conference was adjourned till October next.
_____
[6 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 40:535-536, 4/12/90, p 23-24]
OVERFLOW
MEETING.
_____
At 2 p.m. an overflow meeting of the conference opened in Assembly Hall, Apostle F. M. Lyman presiding. There were present on the stand, Apostles F. M. Lyman, J. H. Smith, M. W. Merrill and A. H. Lund; Elder C. W. Penrose of the Presidency of Salt Lake stake, and a number of other prominent brethren.
The choir sang:
Mortals, awake! with angels join And chant the solemn lay.
Prayer was offered By Bishop G. L. Farrell, of Smithfield.
The choir sang:
Spirit of faith come down, Reveal the things of God
The Priesthood of the Sixteenth Ward officiated in administering the Sacrament.
Elder C. W. Penrose.
addressed the congregation. It is a great satisfaction to me to see this large congregation, especially when I remember that the Tabernacle is full to its utmost capacity. There are also throngs of people outside who are unable to enter either building. This indicates that Zion is growing, and that the faith of the Saints is increasing.
It was said in the days of the Prophet Joseph that if he could be removed "Mormonism" would die out. He was removed, but the Saints, instead of being broken up, become more completely united together. So in the days of Brigham Young; it was said that this Church was held together by his statesmanship but we know to the contrary.
It is now said that if all political power can be taken from the Latter-day Saints they will go down. It may be that we will be deprived of all our political rights, but even if the Lord should permit our enemies to go to this great length, the Church will continue to go onward and upward. It was thought that to take from the church its property would cripple it and curtail its growth, but though it has for a long time been deprived of the use of its property, it has continued to grow and increase. So it will even if the Saints should be persecuted as the early Christians were, and be forced to flee to the mountains and clothe themselves in sheep skins and goat skins.
To suppose that our Father in Heaven specially loves poverty, and has a dislike to wealth, is an error. The Lord has no objection to wealth if it be used properly, and it is His design to pour it out upon His people as fast as they fit themselves to receive and make a proper use of it. He has said that His people should inherit all things. This Church is not organized for spiritual purposes alone, but for temporal purposes also, speaking as men speak. Man is composed of spirit and element, which, being inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy. A religion which is spiritual alone would not be adapted to our condition; but we need a religion which embraces both the temporal and the spiritual. The time will come when we will have a real spiritual Zion, but it will be when the Saints are pure and sanctified.
It would not do for us to spend all our time in spiritual pursuits, such as singing, preaching, etc. We have temporal necessities which must be provided for. We are mortals and live not in an immortal condition but in a state which renders us subject to death. We are in a school to learn how to prepare ourselves for a future life in the presence of God.
We have been exhorted by President Woodruff to seek the spirit of revelation. What is that spirit? It is the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth it understanding. The source of this inspiration is the Spirit of God, which is the light and life of all things and the power thereof by which they were made. This Spirit is in and through and round about all things, the light of God, the life of all things that have been endowed with life. But the Latter-day Saints in addition to this natural inspiration, are privileged to enjoy a higher endowment of this Spirit, the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is received through obedience to the laws of the Gospel. It is the same Spirit which was poured out upon Jesus. Men having the spirit of natural inspiration receive advanced ideas, and new truths are discovered by them, as in the case of inventors. The Spirit of God works in a similar way on the minds of men operating in a higher capacity. They receive the manifestations of the Holy Ghost and the things of heaven are shown unto them. But in order that this may be the case with a Latter-day Saint he must search for the truth and study it out diligently in his mind. We should remember these things, and not become too much engrossed in temporalities, and in the pursuit of wealth, to devote attention to spiritual matters.
Apostle M. W. Merrill.
I realize that no Elder can edify the Saints without the aid of the Holy Ghost. Oratory and long sermons have converted very few to the Gospel. Men unlearned and unaccustomed to public speaking have converted the honest, because the Lord was with them.
If there was ever a time when the Saints needed to seek the Lord it is now, and I feel to exhort you, my brethren and sisters, to turn to the Lord. Search your own hearts and find out how you stand before the heavens. How simple the language used by John the Baptist, when he conferred upon Joseph and Oliver the Priesthood of Aaron. Yet that authority so conferred embraced the keys of the ministering of angels and the Gospel of repentance. Most of the adult male members of the Church have received this or the higher Priesthood. Any Elder of this Church who will labor in the calling of a Teacher and who does it faithfully will enjoy the blessing of God, and the Spirit of Revelation. He will not need to ask the same questions of every family he visits but it will be manifested to him what he shall ask and what counsel he shall give to each household.
The Saints need the labors of the Teachers. They need to be reminded by these officers of their duties. They need to be asked if they are attending to their prayers, taking proper care of their children, and attending to their other duties. We may reach into the hidden things and it will profit us nothing if we do not live according to what God has revealed. Some may think it enough if they keep the name of being a Saint. But a day of reckoning is coming when the account of each person will be examined, and when he will be judged according to his works.
In 1882 the Lord called upon the Church through President Taylor to set itself in order. The Saints were commanded to set their houses and their families in order. How many of us have done this? How many Elders make a practice of gathering their families together and giving them proper instruction? Young people raised in the church will be found scattered far and wide in different parts of the world. Why are they not among the Saints? Have we been faithful in looking after our youth? Have we taught them diligently to keep the Sabbath day holy? We will be held responsible before the Lord to do this. We should teach our children to shun Sunday excursions. The season for these things is approaching and we should warn our children against them.
There is another subject which has not received the attention from the Saints' that it should have had. It is the redemption of the dead. It is a great work which rests upon the Saints, and they should not be neglectful respecting it. If the members of this Church had their ancestry and kindred back for only a few hundred years, they would not be able to do the Temple work for all. Our lives are too short. There is not time enough to do this work in this life, but we should do all we can of it.
The time will come when we shall have at our conferences, not only one overflow meeting but many of them, in different buildings. Perhaps we shall have some in the Temple.
Elder J. M. Tanner.
No doubt the benefit we derive from these conferences depends much upon the attention we give them. If a man would make progress intellectually, he must devote attention to the effort; so if he would have his faith increased and his spiritual nature strengthened, he must give attention to the teachings he hears from the servants of the Lord. No doubt some of the Saints at this Conference will go away more benefited than others. Some will leave feeling the necessity of reforming their lives, but others will have their minds too much engrossed in temporal matters to attend to their spiritual welfare.
The Jews of all nations have a similarity with other. They have similar purposes and aims, and have preserved their identity as a race. They have been aided to do this by the early training they received in assembling together at Jerusalem from distant regions and countries to receive religious instruction. No person who has attended this Conference in a proper spirit will fail to feel that he has been amply repaid for so doing. In the times of Solomon's Temple, there were different gatherings held in different parts of the Temple grounds to receive instruction. We see in modern Israel a similar condition.
The speaker dwelt upon the celebration of Easter by the Roman and Greek churches, and in the Holy Land, describing the same in an interesting manner. He also described at length the ceremonies and exercises which take place at Easter, in the Church of the Holy sepulchre at Jerusalem, portraying the ignorance and fanaticism of the worshipers. He also described the babel of confusion which exists among the different Christian sects of Jerusalem, and their hatred of each other, showing how the infidel Turk was compelled to interfere to prevent Christians from slaying each other.
How different it is with us! With what a different feeling we greet each other ! The scene we behold in this city today is vastly different from what we would see in Jerusalem on the celebration of Easter. I know that God does live in the midst of His people. I have seen many manifestations of His power among them. I pray that the Saints may take with them to their homes the spirit of this conference.
Bishop O. F. Whitney.
I rejoice in the testimonies which have been borne at this conference. My soul has been fed, and I have been strengthened, edified and built up by what I have heard. While sitting here I have been trying to recall how long a time has passed since I received a knowledge of the truth of this work. I think it is about thirteen years. When a small boy my mother frequently took me to meeting, but I did not like to go, to sit on a hard bench, and listen to preaching that I did not understand, though at times I felt the influence of the Spirit, of the Lord. We have been told that our minds must not be too much engrossed with the things of the world if we would understand and appreciate the things of God. This is the reason, perhaps, why I did not appreciate the Gospel till I became a young man. Perhaps I had been too fond of social pleasures, theatres, balls, amusements, etc. At all events the veil was not lifted from my mind until I had been called and had gone forth on a mission.
I well remember attending the debate between Apostle Orson Pratt and Dr. Newman, on the question: "Does the Bible Sanction Polygamy." I was then a boy of 14 or 15. I thought Dr. Newman at times was getting the best of the argument, because he was more eloquent, because he shouted louder and swung his arms more than Brother Pratt. But when alone and friendless in the missionary field, not knowing where I was next to find food and shelter, and when I had received a testimony of the truth of the Gospel, and was under the influence of the Spirit of God, I read the debate between Apostle Pratt and Dr. Newman, and was astonished at the impressions I had formed of it before. I learned then that eloquence is not argument nor noise and fury the truth and power of God.
On returning from my mission some of my young friends predicted that I would get over my religious feelings and be as I had been before, but I had prayed fervently to the Lord that I might never lay off the Gospel harness. It has ever since been my desire to labor for the advancement of the kingdom of God, and this I have done, though well aware of my shortcomings and imperfections.
I heard of a veteran Elder once say to a youthful convert, who was brimming over with zeal and enthusiasm in the good work: "Oh, you'll get over that. We all feel that way in the first place." I have often pondered upon those words, and when I have heard aged men, who for 30, 40 or 50 years have been engaged in preaching the Gospel, bearing testimony to its truth in burning words, I have come to the conclusion that that man was mistaken, and that there is no reason why our testimony of the truth should grow dim, or our zeal abate, if we live and labor as we should. As long as a man will live for the testimony of the spirit he will have it. It would be a good thing if we always had humility enough, when our spiritual strength wanes and our minds grow dark to confess that the fault lies with ourselves. Latter-day Saints who will lead chaste and pure, temperate, faithful lives, will never have occasion to say that the fruits of the Gospel are less sweet to them than formerly. But if we practice fraud and trickery, if we worship Mammon, if we are jealous of and conspire against each other, if we lust after forbidden things, we are very liable to say: "I once felt full of enthusiasm and zeal, but I've got over it now." There is always a good reason why a tree fails to blossom and bear fruit. The testimony of the Gospel in the bosom of a man who lives as he should live will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
Persecution and tribulation can be borne patiently by the faithful, and if we successfully bear the burdens placed upon us, they will make us stronger. The blasts that sweep through the branches of the forest oak, or mountain pine, the snows that descend and well nigh bury them, the cataracts that tumble upon them from the hills, only give them greater vigor and longevity. So with our souls. If trials come and are borne, they benefit us. If our pride is clipped and humbled occasionally, it does us good. God is a careful gardener. He trims our upper branches sometimes, so that we will not grow all to top, and in order that our roots may strike deeper and our characters be made stronger. There never has been and never will be too much trouble in this world. God knows best how much we need. There never was a man or a people chosen to do a great work in the earth, that did not have to endure hardships. Who were then ancient Romans? Outlaws, fleeing from justice. But they grew strong under hardships, fighting for their very existence, until they became men of iron, powerful enough to conquer the world. So with the stalwart Greeks who overran luxurious and effeminate Persia. Our mission is not war, but peace. our warfare is not against our fellow-men, but against evil principles and powers, and that warfare begins at home. We must first fight against ourselves, conquer our own lusts and passions, our own pride and self-will, and thus, as saved beings, be enabled to save others.
Never let us have it to say that we once had a testimony that "Mormonism" was true, but that we've outgrown it. We can not outgrow "Mormonism." We may grow too small for it and drop out of it. A fire will burn as long as it is supplied with fuel. The Holy Ghost is the fire of God kindled in our hearts. The fuel that will keep it burning is good deeds, pure thoughts, noble words and kind and holy and benevolent desires.
The choir sang an anthem.
Benediction by Apostle J. H. Smith
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
4-6 Oct 1890, 60th
Semi-Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 41:515, 10/11/90, p 13; Millennial Star 52:673, 689, 705, 721, 737, 753]
[4 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 41:515-518, 10/11/90, p 13-16]
GENERAL
CONFERENCE
____
The sixty-first [60th] semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4th, 1890, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
There were on the stand: Of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon; of the council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch, John Smith; of the Presiding Council of the Seventies: Seymour B. Young, John Morgan and B. H. Roberts; of the Presiding Bishopric: William B. Preston and John R. Winder.
There were also present a large number of Presidents of Stakes and other prominent brethren from various parts of Utah and surrounding States and Territories.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir sang:
Glorious things of thee are
spoken, Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word can not be broken, Chose thee for His own abode.
The opening prayer was offered by President Lorenzo Snow.
Singing by the choir:
How pleasant ‘tis to see
Kindred and friends agree,
Each in his proper station more, And each fulfill his part,
With sympathizing heart, In all the cares of life and love.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
Addressed the Conference. He said: I feel this morning to offer up the gratitude of my heart to God, my Heavenly Father, that my life has been preserved to again meet in a semi-annual conference with the Saints. I feel thankful that I have the privilege of meeting with so many of the Apostles, Elders and Saints who have assembled here on this occasion.
Our Heavenly Father revealed from heaven, over sixty years ago, to the inhabitants of the earth, through the mouth of the Prophet of god, whom He raised up, that He had set His hand once more, for the last time, to prune His vineyard and to prepare the people of the earth for the coming of the Son of Man. Over sixty years have passed away since those revelations were given. The Lord called upon the children of men, to take upon themselves the name of Christ – those who were willing to enter in the vineyard of the Lord and preach the Gospel of Christ to them. He gave us to understand that we should be called to go forth and preach the message of the Son of God in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. Many of those who engaged to carry out and fulfill these promises of God to mankind are today in the spirit world. They have closed their mission, they have borne their testimony, they ave fulfilled the object of their creation, they have magnified the high and holy Priesthood which the God of heaven has sealed upon their heads, to go forth and administer in the ordinances of life and salvation. A few of us are left; some of us still remain here in the flesh, and we are still called upon to labor. We are still called to officiate in the Holy Priesthood, and to administer in the ordinances of salvation to the children of men.
It has been a very important dispensation, a very interesting generation in which we live as Latter-day Saints. The history of this Church is before the world, and we are still passing through many interesting portions of the experience of the work of god in the last days.
I will say to the Latter-day Saints, the Lord has fulfilled, so far, all that He has promised unto us. The Lord has called many men – hundreds of them – from the nations of the earth, who have received the Holy Priesthood, the authority by which the God of Israel has always administered in heaven and on the earth the ordinances of life and salvation. They have labored faithfully until the present day; they have warned the inhabitants of the earth. All nations under heaven have been visited by the Elders of Israel as far as the doors were open to receive them. The Lord, so far, has warned the world; He has, so far, carried out the object of the calling of the sons of men. The Gospel has been preached and the children of men have heard it in every nation, including our own. They have heard the testimony of these Elders of Israel. And what was the mission given to the Elders? To go forth and deliver the Gospel message to all the world. The people were called upon to repent of their sins, to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and when they had faith in God, in the Gospel, faith to believe and receive those testimonies given to them, they were called upon to go forth and be baptized for the remission of their sins. Then they had the privilege of receiving the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost.
These are some of the principles that have been taught from the time of Father Adam down to that of every Patriarch, Prophet, Apostle – and even the Savior himself – in their day and generation, as the only Gospel ever revealed to the human family in any age of the world. There has never been but one Gospel; that Gospel is "the same today, yesterday and forever." That Gospel is the same that was taught by Adam to his children; which Elijah, Methuselah, and all the ancient prophets and patriarchs taught to their posterity, and the inhabitants of the earth. Jesus Christ taught the same when He came in the meridian of time; He never deviated from it in any instance. Paul the Apostle, born in due time, received the Gospel at the hands of the Lord, who said, though he or an angel from heaven preached any other Gospel, let him be accursed. That Gospel was revealed to Joseph Smith in all its fulness, power and glory, with all its graces, gifts and principles. He taught it to those around him; he organized this Church on the 6th day of April, 1830; and through all the tribulations, persecutions and troubles of the Latter-day Saints, that same Gospel has been among us.
I feel thankful that I have lived so long, connected with this Church and Kingdom, and that I live now in the midst of the Latter-day Saints. As the Lord has set His hand to warn the world, to warn this generation, to prune the vineyard. He will leave every nation under heaven without excuse, in these days of judgments, calamities and tribulations, which are about to be poured out upon the earth.
I feel thankful that I have been associated with this people up to the present day. How long I shall remain among the Latter-day Saints I do not know. It matters not with me; but I have the same testimony to bear today that I have had from the commencement of this Church – that it is the work of god as promised and prophesied of through the mouths of inspired men for 6000 years. I bear my testimony to these things this morning.
I hope and trust that while we are assembled in this conference our hearts may be united in faith and prayer, that we may enjoy the Holy Spirit of god. Without the inspiration of that Spirit, Utah would be as barren a desert, as far as we are concerned, today as we found it on the 24th of July, 1847. When you heard the Gospel of Christ preached by those humble men who had been called from their various occupations, to go forth in the Lord's cause, inspired by the Holy Ghost, without purse or scrip, taking no thought what they should eat or what they should drink, you knew that what they taught was true. You heard and believed their testimony, and that same testimony is here with this entire people today. When you received the testimony you were baptized for the remission of your sins, you had hands laid upon you for the reception of the Holy ghost. Without all this you would have remained at home.
I know that this is the work
of God, and so do you; therefore let our hearts be thankful to god; let us
unite together in our prayers to Him; let us do our duty faithfully while we
dwell here in the flesh, and carry out those principles in which we have been
taught. Let us continue to preach the Gospel, to warn the nations, to build up
Zion, and establish righteousness; so that when we get through and go on the
other side of the vail we will be satisfied with our labors here. We should
try, therefore, to live our religion, to be true and faithful to our covenants,
and to all those principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which will save all
men both in time and eternity.
I pray to God my Heavenly
Father that His blessing may rest upon us - upon these Elders of Israel, upon
these Apostles of the Lamb of god, that they may be inspired to declare the
words of salvation during this conference to their brethren and sisters, which
may God grant, for Christ's sake, Amen.
_____
Elder John Morgan,
Of the Presidency of the Seventies, was the next speaker. Following is the substance of his remarks: There is peace in the midst of the Latter-day Saints. For this blessing we should be grateful, in view of the efforts that are being made to harrass the community. I bear testimony to the truth of Brother Woodruff's remarks. These principles will remain. They are the everlasting Gospel that has always existed and will continue. They unite the children of men together. In the end all men will know that God has spoken these things. It behooves the Elders and Saints to be true and faithful and warn the inhabitants of the earth of judgments soon to come. If we do this our reward is sure. There is a great work to be performed in the nations; also among the Saints at home. The labors of a teacher are very important. They should built up the Saints. Some of the people complain that they are neglected by the teachers, because they are devoted to temporal matters of a personal nature. It will be well for the Teacher in the ward or Sunday school to attend to his duties. If he do them he shall reap joy and rejoicing. So with the missionaries to foreign lands. They have received freely, freely should they give, testifying that God has again revealed the true Gospel. This active work creates in the hearts of those who engage in it an abiding love for the souls of men. There should be no division among the Saints. They should see eye to eye, and not be narrowed down in their feelings, reaching out after the honest in heart and seeking after those who grope in the dark, that they may be brought into the light of truth. All malice and evil speaking should be eschewed. We should sustain and uphold, in their labors among the people, those who have been called of God to preside over his church. If we are faithful to our trusts all will be well with us.
_____
Elder B. H. Roberts,
Of the Presidency of the Seventies, said in substance: I have always accounted myself blessed to be associated with the work of god in this dispensation, and have greatly rejoiced that I have been brought in contact with the gospel, called by the world, "Mormonism." I can understand the feelings of gratitude that pervade the hearts of the Saints regarding this work, but it is no wonder that the world regard it with astonishment. The initial announcements connected with it were calculated to startle the religious world. In the first vision of Joseph Smith, the Prophet was informed by Christ that there were none of the sects right, but all had gone out of the way. So bold a declaration by the youthful Prophet was calculated to astonish the world. But this does not argue that there are not thousands of people in the world whom God loves. The significance of the opening announcement in this dispensation was merely that men had departed from the right way, and that they should be informed of the fact, that the way might be prepared for the re-establishment of the true Church of Christ. What Joseph declared is predicted in the scriptures, in which the Christians profess to believe. John, while on the Isle of Patmos, predicted the restoration of the Gospel in its fulness in the latter days, through the medium of an angel. This was to occur in "the hour of god's judgment." Had the inhabitants of the earth been in possession of the Gospel as it is in Christ, this predicted restoration would have been superogatory. Connected with this prophecy of John it is clearly stated that the inhabitants of the earth should be called upon to worship the true God, indicating that their worship at that time would not be directed to ward that Great Being. a portion of the fulfilment of that prediction was the bringing forth of the record called the book of Mormon, adding for Christ, the testimony of the Prophets who existed on this continent, they being thus united with that of those on the eastern hemisphere. Gradually the rich treasures of heaven have been developed, and the work of God has progressed, preparing the way for the coming of Christ, who shall establish a reign of righteousness and peace. He shall take the government into His own hands, and we have the glorious privilege of increasing faith on the earth, that a people may be ready to receive the Lord when he shall come. Before another general Conference shall be reached we shall have entered upon the year 1891. The speaker here read from Sec. 130 of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which relates to the coming of the Son of Man, and referred to some remarks made by the Prophet February 14th, 1835, at a meeting wherein certain Elders were told that they were called to go forth and prune the vineyard for the time, before the coming of Christ, even 56 years should wind up the scene. continuing, Elder Roberts said, that these circumstances have called the saints to believe that some great epoch will open at that time – the year following the present. My faith in the matter is that whatever the Lord has in mind to accomplish in that year will be performed. It may be something, however, that would scarcely create a ripple. The organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the greatest events of the history of the world. It was organized with six members, and but little was known concerning it even in the neighborhood where it occurred, at the time. Yet behold to what proportions the work then begun has grown. It may be that the greatness of what shall occur in 1891 will not be comprehended until succeeding years.
_____
President Woodruff
Said: I do not think anyone can tell the hour of the coming of the Son of Man. I think those things have been sufficiently revealed to us; so that we need not look for the time of that event to be made known. I will say here that in my dreams I have had a great many visits from the Prophet Joseph since his death. The last time I met him was in the spirit world. I met him at the Temple. He spoke to me. Calling me by name, he said, "I cannot stop to talk to you, for I am in a hurry." I met Father Smith. He, too, said to me, "I am in a hurry." I met a great many of the Apostles and others who are in the spirit world, and they all seemed to be in a hurry. I marveled at this, and wondered very greatly in my mind why anybody should be in a hurry in the Paradise of God.
I had an interview with the Prophet Joseph afterwards and asked him the question, "Why are you all in such a hurry here?" I said, "I have always been in a hurry in the world since I was born, but I thought there would be no occasion for it when I died and entered the spirit world." He replied, "Well. I will tell you: The Prophets and Apostles in this dispensation have had no time nor opportunity to prepare themselves to go to the earth with the great bridegroom when He goes to meet the bride, the Lamb's wife. We in this dispensation have not had time. We have first as much work to perform, to prepare ourselves as in other dispensations." He said the time was at hand for the coming of the Son of Man, for Christ to go forth in fulfilment of revelation and prophecy, to meet the bride, the Lamb's wife, the Church and Kingdom of God upon the earth. Says He, "That is not revealed to us, nor never will be until the hour comes; but we have much work to do to prepare ourselves for the event."
I have always believed from the revelations that we never would know the exact time of the coming of the Son of man; and I am more convinced of this from what the Prophet said to me in my dreams.
I have had a many interviews with President Young since he died, a great many teachings from him, and from others who held important positions here in the flesh, but who have gone into the spirit world, and seem, in a measure to have an interest and watch-care over the Church and Kingdom of God though they have passed to the other side of the veil.
_____
President Lorenzo Snow
Quoted from I Samuel, 12 chap. 22 verse:
"For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake; because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people."
Also from the 37th chapter of Matthew, beginning at the 38th verse, which relates the incidents of the crucifixion of our Lord. Brother Snow then said in substance: The Lord has called us from the world to be His people and to sustain and support us as such. In the quotation read from Samuel, the statement it embodies was made to the Jewish people. What may be said in that connection in reference to a community may be said regarding individuals whom God approves. In the history of a people of God, it is always a matter of experience that the Lord will seem at times as if He had forsaken them as a community and as individuals. I declare that God has not, and will never forsake the Latter-day Saints. Abraham was placed in peculiar circumstances. It required the utmost faith for him to believe that God was with him. So with Job, who had, until apparently left to himself, been greatly blessed. There were times in his life that were very distressing, and it seemed as if God had forsaken him. It was a dark day, but the Lord had not departed from him. After he had passed through affliction the countenance of the Almighty shone upon him, and he was delivered. Consider also the experience of the Savior in Gethsemane, when He endured incalculable mental torture. When on the cross, His sufferings and sense of loneliness were so intense that he called out "My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me?" When we pass through ordeals as a people, His face finally beams upon us and He delivers us. The past teaches this plainly. The sun of glory will arise upon the Saints and deliverance will appear. If we have lived as we ought we know that God has accepted us.
In such gatherings as this there are people from nearly all the nations of the earth. We came together because we received something that caused us to believe God had accepted us. We heard a testimony from the servants of the Lord that He had raised up a prophet, and had laid down an order of things by obedience to which individuals could receive intelligence from the celestial world. When the obedience was rendered, those who were baptized for the remission of sins and received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands rejoiced in a living witness of divine acceptance. We received a testimony that these things were true. This is what brought the tens of thousands of people called Latter-day Saints to this region. We are the people of God; He has not and will not forsake us, although we may have to pass through experiences that will, to the natural man, make it appear as if He had. Brother Snow further continued his theme, imparting comfort, instruction and encouragement to the Saints.
_____
Apostle Anton H. Lund
Next briefly addressed the Conference. Following is the substance of his remarks: I rejoice in the blessings of the Lord. We should be grateful that we live when the gospel has been revealed and that we have received a testimony of its divine origin. In having this testimony we should not stand still, but seek to carry out what God has revealed to us. It is not only needful for us to know that we have begun to walk in the path pointed out by the finger of revelation, but we must pass on in fulfilling the duties incumbent upon us. We should not leave our first love which we received and enjoyed when we entered the church. If we have become lukewarm the fault is in us. If we have been faithful we will be full of life and love, and show our gratitude to God by our course of life. Persecution should not retard our progress, as it gives up experience and enables us to show our fidelity. Those who will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution; it gives them experience and increases their faith.
The anthem "Sing unto the Lord," was sung by the choir.
Adjourned till 2 p.m. Benediction by Apostle Mariner W. Merrill.
[4 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 41:518-519, 10/11/90, p 16-17]
Afternoon
Session.
Singing by the choir:
Behold, the mountain of the
Lord In latter days shall rise,
On mountain tops, above the hills, And draw the wond'ring eyes.
Prayer by Elder Cyrus H. Wheelock.
The choir sang:
How swift the months have
passed away ‘tis Conference again
And Zion's untold thousands come to swell the joyous strain.
_____
Apostle Franklin D. Richards
Addressed the assemblage. The following is the substance of what he said:
He rejoiced in the contemplation of the work in which the Lord had called upon the Latter-day Saints to engage, and the longer he himself labored in God's cause the more intense became the pleasure of his soul. To say that he knew this to be the work of the Lord was simply to repeat that which had been so often uttered by the brethren when bearing their testimony to the truth of the gospel. He learnt it many years ago, and since then this work had gone on increasing abundantly.
It mattered not how much the powers of darkness raged against the Latter-day Saints, this fact did not alter their line of duty, but rather strengthened their faith and spurred them on to further effort. At all times they should seek to be "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."
He desired most earnestly to testify to the truth of this work, which was making such rapid progress; indeed if they looked at it carefully and in the critical light of the spirit, it would be found that it was going forward about as fast as the Saints were prepared to receive it. He urged that the strong among us should help the weaker ones, while the weak should hold on to the strong, thereby sustaining them in the trials and temptations which beset the people on every hand.
Many interesting questions were arising in the present day, among others the coming of the Son of Man, reference to which was made this morning. While this was a speculative matter, the signs of His coming were now abundantly manifest. While we could not obtain from the revelations any definite statement of the time of Christ's coming in His power and majesty, to take to Himself the Kingdom, we could learn from them a great many things which had to transpire before that great event would come to pass. It had been declared to us from on high that the hour of god's judgment had come. We had seen those judgments, more or less, poured out upon the world, manifested sometimes by terrible fatalities. But we were told that before Christ again came the sun should be darkened and the moon turned into blood, Jerusalem should be rebuilt, and many other things be performed in the land of Israel. We need not deceive ourselves, however, for God had given us a great deal of prophecy and revelation relating to the restitution of this dispensation.
After citing several of these from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, the speaker said we were blessed with many revelations, doctrines, commandments, and principles that should be a guide to us in our every day life. He counseled the Saints to think more of holy things and less of the affairs of this world. By some persons, death had been regarded as the "king of terrors," but such was not the case with those who were filled with the Holy Ghost. Many of the righteous fell asleep in death as peacefully and calmly as did some fall into a natural sleep when they laid their heads upon the pillow at night. The terror of death lay in sin, when the conscience was burdened with guilt and a knowledge of evil deeds.
There was much to do in these last days; therefore, said Apostle Richards, in conclusion, let us be on the watch, keep diligently the commandments of God, walk before Him in all righteousness, and so train u p our children that they may fear Him and serve Him faithfully all the days of their lives.
_____
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Addressed the Conference. Following is a brief synopsis of his remarks: I hope to be able to speak under the influence of the same Spirit as that which animated those who have preceded me. These gatherings result in much good to the Saints who desire to serve the Lord. We should be grounded in the truth. Those who have the Holy Ghost need not err. They walk in the light which comes out from our Heavenly Father. We should be more concerned about being prepared for coming events than filled with a desire to hasten them. There are many seductive spirits enticing us into dark and devious ways. The seed of the gospel has been cast abroad, and there will be various yields. Where it has fallen among rocks it will be destroyed by the heat of the sun. The Book of Doctrine and Covenants tells the manner in which many have fallen – they have loved the things of the world and the honors of men. These allurements endanger our hopes of salvation? It is important that we know the spirit we are following and manifest the fruits of the Gospel. Notwithstanding the efforts of the enemies of truth. It must be apparent to every observer that the Saints are being prospered in the things of the world. In this fact there is danger. I have always considered persecution as necessary. Blessings acrue to us through sacrifice. Happiness comes through being consistent and seeking to do good to the world.
I have never known a time when the authorities of the Church were more united than now. The Presidency are one; so are the Twelve. They have sought to lay aside any feeling of jealousy or envy that may have existed, and become united in Christ. I have never known a time when their union was more perfect than it is today.
Reference has been made to the coming of the Son of man. Brother Franklin D. Richards has cited events that must precede that great occurrence. The Book of Doctrine and Covenants says that the Lamanites must be established before the Lord shall come in His glory. There are 12,000,000 of Lamanites in Mexico and Central America. This shows the magnitude of the work to be done among that race alone. But the Lord can appear on the mountain and in the Temple. He appeared to Joseph in the Kirtland Temple. President Woodruff testified that he had met and communed with Joseph at various times. This is not surprising. I look for a time to come when communications between the visible Church and the Church behind the vail will be common.
Speaking of the year 1891 being eventful, has not 1890 shown many eventful features. Accidents and other catastrophes are multiplying, convulsions of nature are increasing. What causes produce the terrible accidents that are of such frequent occurrence? This is a sermon of nature. Men are becoming more and more reckless of human life, being devoid of natural affection.
Our position as a people is peculiar. But we are seeking to pray for our enemies, and not return evil for evil upon their heads. It is remarkable to what lengths some men will go in their opposition to the Saints, and to attain their own ulterior purposes. There is for instance a man in the north who, when an executive officer, said he had obtained a jury who would convict Jesus Christ if he were placed on trial. That man now asks the suffrages of the people to enable him to obtain a seat in the national legislature. The treatment of the people of Utah is perfectly startling, being subversive of all the grand principles that underlie the institutions of this government. A few years ago a person who believed that the object of the crusade was the robbing of the Saints would have been called a fanatic, yet it is now an accomplished fact. The time will come when our brothers in this nation will understand us better than they do now. When the opportunity presents itself, as it shall in the future, for the people of Utah to show their loyalty to the government, they will, I believe, not be found to be behind any of their fellow-country men. We shall occupy to our nation the position that Joseph, who was sold into Egypt stood in toward his brethren. The Lord will not let the labors of the revolutionary fathers fall to the ground. A class of young men will arise in these mountains who will help to rescue the nation in the day of its calamity. They are good and true citizens, although their first allegiance is to God. If we are true to ourselves, our country and our god we shall arise above everything that stands in the way of our development. The day of calamity is approaching. I is at the doors. Society will soon be convulsed, and those who will not take up the sword against their neighbors will flee to these mountains for safety and we will receive them, afford them relief, and not treat them as they have treated us. The speaker closed with a testimony to the divine character of the work founded by Joseph Smith and predicting the final triumph of truth.
_____
Apostle F. M. Lyman
Next addressed the Conference. He remarked that the Lord was upon the side of this people, and would sustain and preserve them. The work in which the Latter-day Saints were engaged was the word of God and not of man. The Father cared for and sustained His faithful servants. It was not the judgment, skill, understanding, or cunning of man that had converted this people. The Lord Himself had done this; He had given them faith, repentance, and also baptism, by which they had received a remission of their sins. The good that the Saints had done God had enabled them to accomplish. The Latter-day Saints were not divided, but stood as one, and god was pleased with their labors. This people were rapidly becoming numerically stronger, and their faith increased in proportion. God had planted in their hearts a knowledge of the truth and given them His spirit, and communication had been opened between us and the heavens.
Apostle Lyman spoke of the importance of prayer, and strongly exhorted the Saints to be more earnest in this respect than in the past. They should pray to the Lord often, and their supplications would be abundantly answered. Let them be prepared for the coming of the Savior in His power and glory, for the summons might reach us when least expected.
Let there be more faithfulness in Israel. Let the people cease backbitings, quarrels, contentions, envyings, strife, and all vanities should be put away. Intemperance and other sins which beset their paths should likewise be carefully guarded against. In our associations and societies as well as in the family circle a spirit of unity and harmony should ever prevail, and nothing be allowed to enter in any way calculated to cause a feeling of jealousy or bitterness. Every man and woman in Zion should be as a light set upon a hill, that cannot be hid. No Latter-day Saint should be ashamed of his actions, but should live a life above the slightest suspicion.
He prayed God to bless this people and the testimony borne by the speakers during Conference – that the instructions imported might find a place in their hearts, and that every word spoken would bring forth good fruit in due season.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[DNW 41:586-588, 10/25/90, p 18-20; CD 2:108-112]
REMARKS
By Elder Francis M. Lyman, at the Semi-Annual Conference,
Salt Lake City, Saturday afternoon, October 4, 1890
_____
It is
important, my brethren and sisters, that the Elders who stand before a
conference like this should receive the support of the faith and prayers of the
Latter-day Saints, because it is a very great undertaking to represent the Lord
and to speak in His name and by His authority, and the brethren feel their
weakness in doing it. They do not stand here as men who are learned, men who are
qualified to teach after the manner of the world; but they stand before the
people to speak as they shall have utterance from the Lord. They have been
remarkably blessed today, and their testimonies and exhortations have been
edifying to those who have listened. They have spoken to us the truth, and the
Lord has been with them, and I feel to testify to the truth of their remarks,
as well as to the truth of the doctrines that we have received from the Lord
through the Prophet Joseph Smith, to the record that he translated by the gift
and power of God (the Book of Mormon) and to the principles that have been laid
down for the salvation of the human family. The Lord is on the side of the
Latter-day Saints, and He will sustain them and preserve them. Our confidence
today is not greater, though we are so much more numerous and widespread, than
it was in the beginning of the work. The confidence and faith of the Prophet
Joseph and his brethren in the commencement-when the Priesthood of Melchisedec
was conferred, when the various quorums of the Priesthood were organized, when
the Bishopric was established, when the Apostleship was conferred, and when the
Twelve Apostles were chosen-was just as great as it is today. It is not because
of numbers, but it is because of the testimony of Jesus. We know that the Lord
has revealed to us the Gospel. He has made plain to us its truth, its power,
its value. He has labored with His servants. He preserved them when they were
few. When He had but one-Joseph Smith-He preserved him; and it was no more
difficult to preserve the Prophet alone than it is today to preserve two
hundred and fifty thousand Latter-day Saints. The work is not secure because of
the great number of its devotees. It is secure because it is God's work, not the
work of man. It is the founder of the work who cares for it. He sustains His
servants and His people. It has not been the wisdom of man, or the judgment,
skill and understanding of man that has converted you. The Lord has done it.
The Lord has given you faith. The Lord has given you repentance. The Lord has
given you baptism, by which you have received the remission of your sins. The
good that you have done, the Lord has enabled you to do. The missions that you
have performed and that which you have accomplished in these valleys, you have
done by the aid of the Lord. The Lord has given fertility to the soil. The Lord
has provided the earth. He has given to us the seasons, and the fruitfulness of
the earth; and he has given to us the barrenness as well, and the drouth; and
all the good things that we have around us the Lord has provided.
The Lord
has made His servants one. The testimony of Brother Moses Thatcher is true. The
Lord is with President Woodruff. The Lord is with his Counselors. The Lord is
with the Apostles. He will sustain and preserve them, if they keep His
commandments. If they transgress the laws of God, they will fall, one and all;
but if they are faithful and devoted to God, they will be honored, loved and
respected, as they are today. Israel loves the servants of the Lord. The
Latter-day Saints know the voice of the true Shepherd. They hear the Apostles,
they hear the Elders, and they are my witnesses that the Lord is with these
Apostles; that He sustains them, that He speaks through them, and that He gives
them judgment, and counsel, and wisdom, and faith, and He preserves them from
sin. The Lord is doing this. He has made them one. Unlike the disciples of
olden times, they are not seeking occasion against one another. But they
magnify, and love, and respect, and are lifting one another up, and trying to
come nearer to our Father who dwells in heaven. That is what these Apostles of
the Lord Jesus Christ are doing. They are not divided. They are one. And God is
pleased with them and with their labors.
Now, this
is the good word that we speak for ourselves; and the Lord speaketh through us,
for it is true. Sustain the servants of the Lord. Sustain the organization of
the Church. Honor the Priesthood that you have received, and that labors among
you; and thus honor God. For no man can honor our Father who disregards the
Priesthood that he bears.
We live
in important times. Anything very remarkable? Yes. The Saints are increasing
rapidly. They are spreading abroad. They are increasing in faith, in union, and
in a knowledge of the principles of eternal life. And the Lord has not wrought
with us as a whole alone; He has wrought with us individually, as His servants,
as His handmaidens. He has labored with us in our families. He has labored with
us in our Wards, in our Stakes, in our quorums, in our associations. He has
planted in the breasts of the Latter-day Saints, individually, a knowledge of
the truth. He has given to us His Spirit, and communication has been opened
between us and the Lord. The Prophet Joseph has conversed with President
Woodruff. Others have done the same. We have all talked with these brethren,
and with other brethren. The revelations of the Lord have been with us. We have
known the mind and will of the Lord, and the counsels of the Almighty are
dwelling in the midst of the people. And we are expecting something in the near
future. We expect the Saints to triumph over sin. We expect them to become more
righteous, and sin and corruption to be less among them in the future than it has
been in the past, and very much less than it is among other people. If this be
not the case, then are we disappointed. During 1891 we ought, individually, to
seek to come just as near to the Lord as we possibly can, by extra fidelity,
humility, obedience, and keeping the laws of the Lord. We should remember our
prayers more faithfully than we have ever done before. A great many in Zion
pray once a day. I learn, as I travel throughout the Church, that some of the
brethren think once a day is enough to pray in their families. I want to advise
you, if you would be prepared for what is to come in 1891, to pray twice a day,
and remember the Lord at noon. We find in the Book of Mormon that the servant
of the Lord urged the people in that day to pray morning, noon and night-three
times a day. I say, let the Latter-day Saints offer their prayers in due
season, and never neglect them. Remember the Lord, and His commandments in
regard to your tithings. Pay them in their kind, and pay them fully. For a man
who lacketh in his prayers, and in his tithing, and in his good conduct in his
family, will not be prepared for that which is coming in 1891. It may not be
anything that the world may be able to take notice of, or even all the
Latter-day Saints; but what wonderful things have happened that the world knew
nothing about at the time. I thought, when Elder Roberts was speaking this
morning, that he was going to refer not only to the organization of the Church
in 1830, as a matter that did not disturb the neighborhood for a little while,
nor the county, nor the State, but also to another important event that took
place before then. What disturbance was made in the world when the Father and
the Son came and visited the Prophet Joseph, and the Father said to him:
"This is my beloved Son; hear Him"? How numerous were those who heard
of that? No other person saw the light, or the Father and the Son; no other
person could bear that testimony, until Joseph had of spoken it.
Now, to
be prepared for the coming of the Savior in glory and in power, we find that a
marvelous work is yet to be done. What is it? Why, the Gospel is to be
preached. We are but a handful of people. We have only a few hundreds of Elders
in the missionary field all the time-less than five hundred, probably. How long
will it take five hundred men to preach the Gospel to the whole world, as a
witness, before the end shall come? We are laboring and doing what we can, and
the Lord will prompt His servants when more shall be done; and we will gain
strength and power, until we are prepared to accomplish what the Lord designs
should be accomplished. But it is important for us as Latter-day Saints to know
individually that we stand in the favor of the Lord, and to know that our
prayers are heard by the Lord and answered upon our heads. We ought to become
so well acquainted with the Spirit of the Lord that we could not be deceived.
We should understand it, and it should dwell with us. When we hear the words of
counsel that come from those who have the right to give counsel to the Church,
every Latter-day Saint ought to know it in a moment, and ought to recognize the
voice and counsel of the Lord through His servants.
I feel to
exhort all Israel-those gathered here and those not here-to be more faithful in
the future. Cease backbiting, cease quarreling, cease your envyings and strife,
and vanity, and folly, and intemperance, and every sin that doth so easily
beset the people. Let all men, everywhere, repent. Let us all try to refrain
from the follies of the past, and in the future of our lives let us be able to
go before the Lord and say that we love one another. Oh! what a joyful time it
will be when all Israel can say, We love one another. Can it be said in all the
quorums as it can be said by the First Presidency and the Twelve and the First
Seven Presidents of Seventies, that we love another, that we feel to bless,
encourage and strengthen one another, and that unselfishly we bow before the
Lord and ask upon our brethren the same blessings that we would that the Lord should
bestow upon us? Do the sisters in Zion-that important part and body of the
Church of Christ-feel that way toward each other? Are families living together
in that close communion and fellowship, and dwelling together without jealousy,
without heart-burnings, and without suspicion? If they are not, they have need
to repent. The union, the love and the confidence of the brethren in these
quorums that I have mentioned ought to permeate all parts of the Church. It
ought to be with every President of a Stake, with every Bishop of a Ward, and
with every quorum in the Church; and it ought to be in all the societies and
associations that are organized in Zion. You know that the Lord has been with
these leaders of Israel when they have traveled and labored in your midst. You
know that His Spirit dwells with them today. The Apostles are not numerous. You
do not see them very frequently; but when you do see them, and when you do hear
them, you know that the Holy Ghost dwells in them. You know they are honest
men. You know they are pure men. You know that they are men that refrain from
corruption and sin, and that bridle their passions, and are laboring for the
salvation of men. The tens of thousands in this Territory who are personally
acquainted with these men are my witnesses in this respect. Now, this same
faith and confidence ought to dwell in the hearts of the people. That which we
find good with us we recommend to you. I say that the High Councils in Zion
ought to dwell together in fidelity and faithfulness, and they ought to be as
exemplary men in the Church as the Apostles can possibly be. The quorums of the
Seventies, upon whose shoulders particularly rests the labor of preaching the
Gospel to the world, ought to be honest and industrious, faithful and temperate,
full of faith and power; they ought to be energetic, and labor as faithfully as
the Apostles can do. If they are doing so, God is pleased with them; and if
not, God is not pleased with them. The Apostles are no better than Seventies
ought to be. And what I say in regard to Seventies, I say concerning High
Priests and Elders. There is not a High Priest or an Elder in Zion but ought to
be just as good as an Apostle or as the Presidency of the Church. They have not
the same care and burden resting upon them; but God has placed the requirement
upon them that they should be just as faithful as men can be. They must not be
corrupt. They must not be wicked. They must not be lascivious. They must not be
dishonest, nor untruthful. But they must square their lives according to the
truths of the Gospel. In these quorums, men who stand representing God, or who
are at the head of families, they should be the mouthpieces of the Lord to
those quorums and to those families, and to every organization over which they
preside. The Lord requires this, and anything less than this does not give
complete satisfaction to Him. He requires of us nothing that is impossible. But
He does require of us all that is possible in our lives and actions, for the
support of His Church and for the accomplishment of His purposes in the earth.
We should be as a light set upon a hill. No Latter-day Saint ought to be
required to hide his head and to be ashamed of his course. He ought to live
above suspicion. If the world look upon us, they should be compelled to say,
though they may consider us fanatical and deceived, that we are conscientious,
and that we live according to our profession. If every Latter-day Saint were to
be judged by the world, they should be compelled to say that we have been honest,
truthful, virtuous, temperate and sober.
This is
the work of the Lord. You are the servants of the Lord. You bear the
Priesthood. The Lord has graciously given it to almost every man in the Church;
and the Priesthood that you bear is just as sacred as that which we bear.
Greater responsibility rests upon us because we have been called to these
certain positions; but every man who has received one particle of the
Priesthood, even that of a Deacon, is required of the Lord to keep His
commandments perfectly and entirely, and he is not in full favor with the Lord
until he does this as he is able.
I pray
that God may bless you, my brethren and sisters, and that the testimonies which
have been borne by the Elders of Israel, and the instruction that we shall yet
receive during this Conference, shall find place in our hearts, and that every
word shall bring forth its fruit in our lives; that God shall be pleased to
honor us as His servants and His Saints, and that He will be pleased to own us
as His people, and save us from the destruction that the wicked seek to bring
upon us. His arm is not shortened. He has established His work in the earth to
remain, and it will remain. We who are here today may pass away; but others
will arise in our place; for intelligences and chosen spirits that have been
preserved for this time and labor, are following us and treading right upon our
heels. I pray that we may do our work well, that the Lord will be pleased with
us, and maintain and sustain us in the future as He has done in the past. Amen.
____
Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Addressed the conference briefly. He spoke of his pleasure in meeting with the Saints, their early experiences in the settlement of this part of the country, from the time he arrived here, 39 years ago. He also dwelt for some time upon the importance of performing Gospel work for the dead, and asked God to bless the people.
The choir sang a selected hymn
Come Spirit come.
Benediction by President George Q. Cannon.
_____
[5 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 41:519-521, 10/11/90, p 17-19]
SECOND
DAY.
SUNDAY, Oct. 5th, 10 a.m.
The choir sang:
The morning breaks the
shadows flee; Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled!
The dawning of a brighter day Majestic rises on the world.
Prayer was offered by Elder Jos. E. Taylor.
Singing by the choir:
Sons of Michael, He
approaches!
Rise! the Eternal Father greet; Minister before His feet;
Hail the Patriarch's glad reign, ‘stablished now o'er sea and main!
_____
President George Q. Cannon
Was the speaker. After beseeching the faith and prayers of the large congregation attending conference for those who might be called upon to address them, he remarked that such an occasion as a general conference was full of interest to the officers and members of the church, who naturally expected to receive counsel and instructions concerning their duties, and information on the progress of the work in which the Latter-day Saints were engaged.
We were living in a peculiar times. The work of God was being assailed in various directions. However, this was no new thing. It had been the lot of the saints from the beginning to contend with difficulties and overcome obstacles. They have had to pass through scenes which I tested their faith, integrity, and fidelity. The Elders, who had been faithful in preaching the Gospel, had not neglected to tell the people whom they baptized the character of the difficulties which they would have to encounter when they espoused the cause of God. They were warned to expect the same fate which attended the ancient disciples of Jesus Christ, how their names would be cast out as evil.
The Elders had no desire to draw people into the Church merely for the sake of increasing its numbers, but were filled with the hope every time they baptized a soul, that he or she would be faithful all the rest of their life. Others might be content with a certain degree of happiness, a glory with a certain amount of salvation; but there were no people upon the face of this earth –and he doubted whether there ever had been since the creation – who possessed higher conceptions and loftier views regarding their future than the Latter-day Saints. That which would satisfy ordinary persons would not, with the views they entertained, satisfy the Saints. Others might court ease and seek for worldly profit; but not so with this people; they could not turn aside from the path which God had marked out for them in order to promote any worldly end or to gratify any worldly ambition. The promises of God to His faithful people were illimitable, as boundless as eternity itself. They were made to every one who entered into a covenant with the Lord in the way that He Himself had pointed out. Should they therefore not bear patiently with meekness and humility all the trials and difficulties which beset them? He thought he could answer yes for the Latter-day Saints.
There was a living testimony of the truth in the hearts of this people, and it was this which constituted the great strength of their work. But for this they would be a very weak people, and could be easily broken up; for it was not the President of the Church or his Counselors, the first Presidency; it was not that Twelve Apostles, Presidents of Stakes, nor any other body in the Church upon whom the people depended or unto whom they looked solely for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The Saints could go to God themselves, if they had doubts upon any question or point – pray to Him in their secret places and ask Him to reveal to them whether or not what was taught unto them was in accordance with His mind and will.
Many things in this Church had come in contact with the traditions and preconceived ideas of men. There were many things today which perhaps conflicted with the previous views of the Latter-day Saints. There was scarcely a thinking man or woman in the Church of Christ who had not indulged in reflections concerning the future of this work, and some of those views had been rudely upset by subsequent events. God was the author of this work and He would conduct it to suit His purposes, and not those of man.
Let them think of how many doctrines had been taught that were new to the world which God had revealed in our day. How would they understand these unlisted Spirit of God bore testimony to them? Who on the earth believed them? They were not sanctioned by tradition, they were not upheld by the common belief of men. They were new to this generation, and yet, though they shook the prejudices of mankind and perhaps startled to Latter-day Saints, then they sought of God for a testimony confirming them, He never failed to give unto them His Holy Spirit which gave the assurance that they were of God and not of man. And so it will be to the end. The Presidency of this Church have to walk just as the Saints walk; they have to depend upon the revelations of God as they come to them. They had their faith tested as the Saints have and so with the Twelve Apostles. All that they could do was to seek the mind and will of God.
If there were any who had joined the Church with the expectation of enjoying the ease and worldly profit, they were laboring under a wrong impression; yet he did not believe that there was another people on the face of the earth so blessed as the Latter-day Saints, notwithstanding their trials and persecutions. He believed – and he did not say this with any disposition to exaggerate – that a happier and more prosperous people did not exist. Look at the results of the lives of those who have been faithful as compared with those who have left the Church and been unable to endure. He was sure that those who did so would be perfectly satisfied with the course they had followed. God did not forget the sacrifices of this people. When he thought of the hundreds who had gone to prison willingly to show to the world that there were conscientious, true and faithful man and not cowards, covenant-breakers and recreants, he felt thankful to God that he lived among such people. However much the world might think the Latter-day Saints had been mistaken in their views, the time would come when their conduct during the last five years would stand out as the brightest page in the history of humanity, in modern times at least. He believed that this people were capable of undergoing any sacrifices that they may be called upon to make. They could bow with submission when it was necessary and right as easily as they could stand erect and resist that which they esteemed to be wrong. They would yet show mankind more abundantly that the Latter-day Saints are a people of truth and uprightness, who were loyal to God, to the country of which they were citizens or ought to be citizens, to the institution which He had permitted in His providence to be established; while in all the relations of life; strong in their fidelity, and, above all things, pure and virtuous.
He would lose all hope for humanity but for the Latter-day Saints. It filled him with horror when he saw the course which men and women were taking outside of this Church, and witnessed the fate which was coming upon the people of this and other nations and felt thankful to our Heavenly Father that He had est. a Church whose standard of purity was unequaled, and in which all impurity was denounced and dealt with. Virtue among the people was of a low standard outside of this Church. The Latter-day Saint who indulged in sexual sin would be damned if he did not repent. There was no greater cause of apostasy and there never had been in this Church than the want of virtue. God would have a virtuous people, for His Spirit would not dwell in unholy tabernacles. They must be pure not only in deed but in thought, in order to retain the Spirit of God.
They Elders, then they went abroad, wondered why the people did not gather as numerous leave as was the case formerly from the various nations of the earth. It was due to the abominable wickedness which prevailed. Lecture he was indulged in to such an extent that young men found themselves unable to marry, and, consequently, some of the oldest blood in America was disappearing. Those who practiced unblushingly one of the besetting sins of the age, foeticide, would stand before the bar of God as murderers and murderesses and would be damned. Here it, all ye Latter-day Saints! This was the curse which was coming upon our race today in portions of this country. In the Southern States it did not prevail to so great an extent as in the north, but it would creep in there after a time if care be not taken. The speaker regretted to learn that that sin had made its appearance somewhat among the Latter-day Saints. The curse of God would rest upon those guilty of such abominations.
God had chosen the Saints to institute a new condition of things on earth, to arrest the tide of evil. He had selected men and women who had the courage to carry out what he told them and they tried to do it. But the nation interposed in said stop, and they would bow in submission, leaving the consequences with God. They would do the best they could; but when their actions came in conflict with the constituted authorities, and the highest tribunal in the land cried "stop," there was no other course for the Latter-day Saints to pursue, than to be in accordance with the revelations which God had given to them, telling them to respect constituted authority and yield submissively thereto. Nevertheless they could stand as a living protest against the evils of the age, cry out against them and buy their lives proclaim that they were determined with the help of God to effect a change to affairs and redeem the world from its wickedness as far as possible.
Brother Cannon rejoiced that God in His providence had permitted the Saints to remain in the land to which He had let them, and trusted that He would give them courage and patience to bear all trials uncomplainingly. Those who fought against this cause might be prominent for a time, but when they ceased to occupy the positions which they filled and which gave their voices some importance, they would drop out of sight as hundreds before them have done in this land. Let not the Saints disturb themselves about the utterances of those men who inflated themselves with the idea for a time that they are important personages and we're going to do some great things against them. We have seen many of those creatures pass away and sink into oblivion.
President Cannon then took up another theme, on which he spoke as follows:
Before I sit down there is one subject that I have felt I wanted to speak about. I think it of some importance to us as Latter-day Saints. It was referred to yesterday by two or three of the brethren. It is in relation to the events of 1891, and connected with the coming of the Lord. It was intimated by Brother Roberts that some people thought that such an event might perhaps happen, and he was anxious that the Saints should not be disappointed if nothing did occur during that year that would fulfill expectation, because a great many anticipations have been indulged in connected with that year, and I believe there has been altogether too much agitation upon this subject. I have seen a great many times in our history when sanguine men have attached a great deal of importance to certain dates. I remember when 1888 was coming in, I heard on all sides that there was something remarkable connected with that year. I fully endorse what Elder Thatcher said yesterday upon this point – that 1890 has been as important a year as we have ever witnessed. And I believe it will be so with every year. I do not think it is wise for us to fix our minds too much upon any year as bringing to pass some very wonderful things. Perhaps it will be so. I do not question that; for every year comes to us freighted with great and wonderful changes. It is not one year alone; but all the years between us and the coming of our Lord will be big with events. They will be crowded with stupendous occurrences. God has thus spoken. Judgments will be poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth, and will increase until the Lord Himself shall come.
I took occasion to have the sermon that Brother Joseph preached hunted up, and I will read a little from it to show you what he said upon this very subject, and to show you also that we need not expect that 1891 will bring any such thing as the coming of the Lord. It was said yesterday that no man knoweth the day nor the hour. This is true. But I will tell you what men can know. They can know that such and such a time is not the time. Men can prophesy that 1891 is not the year. Although they cannot tell you that day nor the hour, they can tell you that He will not come this year or next year, according to the words of God already given. There are several revelations which peaked plainly upon this point, allusion to which was made yesterday by the brethren who spoke. There are a great many events to take place that have not yet occurred; and the Savior will not come until they do take place. Be assured of this, and be not concerned in your minds and agitated on these matters, because it is easy to understand that there are many things yet to be fulfilled before that grand and glorious event will come. Yet, as He has told us, He will, as a thief in the night. He will come when the inhabitants of the earth are unprepared for him.
Joseph said:
"I was once praying
earnestly upon this subject. [That is, concerning the coming of the Son of Man]
and a voice said unto me, ‘My son, if thou livest until thou art 85 years of
age, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man.'"
This was what the voice said to Joseph:
"If thou livest until thou art 85 years of age, thou shalt see the face of
the Son of Man."
He continues:
"I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this, and I took the liberty of concluding that if I did live to that time He would make His appearance. But I do not say whether He will make His appearance, or I shall go where He is. I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written, the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven till I am 85 years old."
Now, at the time Joseph made
this prophecy, Miller, of the Millerites, was making predictions about the
coming of the Son of Man – about the years 1842-3-4. In these years, as you who
have been kept informed will doubtless know, there was great excitement
throughout the United States about the coming of the Son of Man, and Joseph
prophesied that He would not come for the next forty years.
He goes on and says:
"The coming of the Son of Man never will be, never can be, till the judgments spoken of for this hour are poured out, which judgments are commenced. It is not the design of the Almighty to come upon the earth and crush it and grind it to powder; but He will reveal it to His servants, the Prophets. Judah must return. Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the Temple, and water come out from under the Temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed. It will take some time to build the walls of the city and Temple, etc., And all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance. There will be wars and rumor of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, and the sun turned into darkness, and the moon to blood; earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving themselves beyond their bounds. Then will appear the grand design of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world say? They will say it is a planet, a comet etc. But the Son of Man will come at the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning coming out of the East."
Now, the Prophet explains this in connection with his statement as to what the voice had said to him. He did not assert that Jesus would come in the clouds of heaven even if he lived to be eighty-five; but he was told that he should see Him, and he qualified it, so that there need be no misapprehension upon this subject.
I might read to you many revelations in this Book of Doctrine And Covenants (having the book in his hand) upon the same subject, in which the Lord plainly says that certain things shall take place. Allusion was made yesterday to some of them.
"And again, verily I say unto you, that the Son of Man cometh not in the form of a woman, neither of a man traveling on the earth. Wherefore be not deceive, but continue in steadfastness, looking for the for the heavens to be shaken and the earth to tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man, and for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low, and for the rough places to become smooth; and all this when the angel shall sound his trumpet. But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose; Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled unto the place which I have appointed.
These are the words of God concerning the coming of the Son of Man. These revelations given unto us with great clearness the signs that shall precede His coming. Therefore, do not let us get ourselves unsettled in our minds. I feel it important that this Conference should not separate without having it clearly stated to them that you need not look for the coming of the Son of Man either this year or next. Though we cannot prophesy the day or the hour, we can prophesy some things concerning His coming, that is, that will take place before His coming. God has not left us in doubt upon these points. If you have time, read the 29th section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and the 45th section, and the 88th section. Therefore, Latter-day Saints, go ahead and perform your duties carefully, consistently, and with a determination to do that which God requires at your hands. Do not look for some great cataclysm 20 current, which will show all the world that this is the Kingdom of God. That has been one of our great thoughts. Perhaps such a thing will occur; but I will tell you what I have observed during my life that God works in natural ways. His purposes, around seemingly perfectly natural – so natural that the world cannot see the hand of God in them. It requires faith and the Spirit of God to show these things.
I remember my thoughts and ideas when in my boyhood. Being familiar with the revelation which God had given concerning the Civil War, I thought to myself, now when that occurs, this nation will be convinced that Joseph is a prophet, because the revelation was so plain. It stated where the war should commence and other particulars concerning it, and at the time the whole nation was congratulating itself upon its peace and the probability of war was entertained by no one. The idea that there would be a war was ridiculed. How wonderfully that revelation was fulfilled! But how many persons have been converted by the strict fulfillment of that prophecy? I do not know of one. My conclusion is that God works in this way among the children of men, and they will continue to hard their hearts against all the evidence of the divinity of this work, notwithstanding the continued fulfillment of the prophecies of the Elders of this Church.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 41:648-652, 11/8/90, p 16-20; CD 2:112-123]
DISCOURSE
By President George Q. Cannon, at the Semi-Annual Conference,
Salt Lake City, sunday Morning, October 5th, 1890.
_____
I trust
that all who arise here to speak to this large congregation will have the faith
and the prayers of those who are assembled; for it is awe-inspiring to see such
a vast body of people listening to the words that are spoken; and I would not
attempt to speak unless I was sure that I would be assisted by the Spirit of
God.
These gatherings of ours in General Conference are filled with interest to the
officers and members of the Church, who naturally expect to receive counsel and
instruction concerning their duties, and to obtain information respecting the
progress of the work. We come together and we receive renewed strength by
meeting our friends and our brethren and being inspired with the hopes that the
Spirit of God gives. On these accounts these conferences are looked forward to
with great interest by all the people, and I am sure that this conference is as
full of interest as any that has preceded it, in many respects.
We are
living in peculiar times. The work of God is being assailed in various
directions. This, however, is not a new thing. It has been our lot from the
beginning to have difficulties to contend with, to have obstacles to overcome,
and to have scenes to pass through which have tested the faith, the integrity
and the fidelity of the Latter-day Saints. The Elders, in preaching the Gospel,
have not neglected to tell the people unto whom they preached, and whom they
baptized, the character of the difficulties that they would have to meet when
they espoused the work of God. They warned them that they might expect the fate
of the ancient disciples of Jesus Christ. They quoted to them the scriptures,
which told them how they would be opposed, how their names would be cast out as
evil, and that men would think they were doing God's service in killing them;
that if they embraced the Gospel they should be prepared to encounter all these
things, and perhaps it might be necessary, in the providence of God, for them
to lay down their lives for the truth. I do not think there is a faithful Elder
that has ever gone forth to preach the Gospel who has not told this to those
who manifested an interest in the truth and a desire to espouse it. Many of
them knew by experience how much the people would have to contend with, and
they felt it to be their duty to prepare them for these things, so that their
baptisms, their confirmations and their entrance into the Church would not be
useless. The Elders have not desired to draw people into the Church for the
sake of numbers; but every time they have baptized a soul they have hoped that
he or she would be faithful while life should last; and they wanted all
persons, in entering into the Church, to enter into it understandingly, and
with as full a realization of all that they would have to meet with as it would
be possible for persons in their condition to comprehend. Those warnings have
not been in vain. They have not been unnecessary. For notwithstanding the years
that have passed since the organization of the Church the trials of the faith
of the people have not lessened. There are as many causes to test their faith
today as there ever were; not exactly in the same form, perhaps, as those which
the Saints had to meet in earlier days; but still they have been of a
sufficiently trying character to test the faith of the people. The words of God
will be fulfilled concerning us, that everything that can be shaken will be
shaken. We shall have to pass through the furnace of affliction and be tried as
gold that is seven times purified, until all the dross of our natures is
cleansed, and nothing but pure gold remains. Why should it not be so? Other
people may be content with a certain degree of happiness and glory, and with a
certain amount of salvation. But there is no people upon the face of the earth
who have higher conceptions and loftier views concerning their future than the
Latter-day Saints entertain; in fact, our conceptions and our anticipations are
incomparably greater than those of any other people who now live, of whom we
know anything. That which would satisfy ordinary people would not, with our
views, satisfy us. Indeed, our aspirations, to the ordinary mind, seem almost
to be sacrilegious. Our views of the equality of man, our belief concerning his
relationship to Deity and respecting our future, are so immeasurably beyond the
views of mankind generally that when they attempt to follow us they become
lost, they cannot conceive of that which we picture to ourselves, and that
which the revelations of God sustain us in entertaining and believing.
Therefore, it is quite proper and consistent, having such anticipations as we
indulge in, that we should have all these things to contend with that are
necessary to test us and to prove us to the very uttermost. We would not
possess the qualifications necessary for the career of glory that we have
entered upon, if we were not tried to the very uttermost, if our integrity were
not completely proved, or if there was anything left in us like doubt or
unbelief or a want of courage to meet with and overcome all the persecutions
that could be brought to bear upon us. Other men may court ease; other men may
seek for worldly profit; other men may constantly be looking out for
self-interest. But not so with us. We cannot turn aside from the path that God
has marked out for us to pursue, to promote any worldly interest or to gratify
any worldly ambition. We must pursue that path undeviatingly, following the
example of our Lord and Master. He has pointed out the path that we should walk
in; and in asking us to tread in His footsteps, to do as He did, He has given
unto us the same promises that He Himself has received. He has promised us that
we shall be co-heirs with Him, and joint heirs in whatever glory He receives.
Whatever exaltation He attains unto we shall in like manner receive, if we
follow His precepts and His example. Can any people on the earth desire more
than this? Is there anything that is left out? It comprehends all; it embraces
all glory, all exaltation, all power, all dominion. The promises are
illimitable-as boundless as eternity itself. And these are made to you who are
here today. They are made to everyone who has entered into covenant with the
Lord in the way that He has appointed. Shall we not then bear patiently all
that we have to contend with? Shall we grow tired and weary, and after going so
far, give up and say we cannot proceed any farther? Or shall we, by putting our
trust in God and relying upon Him who has always been at our right hand and at
our left, pursue uncomplainingly the path that our Savior has trod, bearing
with meekness, with humility and with patience all the trials, the persecutions
and the evils that we have to meet? I think I can answer for this congregation
this morning. We do not walk in the dark. We do not rely upon that which men
tell us. I thank God this morning, as I do all the time, that He has not left
His servants without a witness. All who have joined this Church and been
sincere in their espousal of the truth have a living testimony in their hearts
concerning all that the Elders say to them and all the counsel that is given.
It is this that constitutes the great strength of the work of God. Every
faithful member of the Church is a witness to the truth of the work. If it were
not for this, we should be a very weak people and could easily be broken up. It
is not the President of the Church, or his Counselors; it is not the Twelve
Apostles; it is not the Presidents of Stakes, nor any other officer in the
Church, upon whom the people depend, or unto whom they look solely for the word
of God and the testimony of Jesus. They have the privilege given unto them by
the Lord to know for themselves concerning all these matters; and there is no
counsel given by the Presidency of the Church, no step taken, nor no policy
pursued that they have to depend upon their personal influence to have the
people believe, because the people can go to God themselves, if they have
doubts upon any point, and call upon Him, in the name of Jesus, to reveal to them
whether that which is done or taught is from Him or not. They need not be in
doubt. They need not run around asking questions about matters which may appear
mysterious to them; but they can go to the Lord in their secret places, and He
will remove their doubts and answer their questions, and He will throw light
upon their minds respecting the matters about which they may be disturbed.
There
have been many things in this Church which have come in contact with the
traditions and the pre-conceived ideas of men. There are many things today
which, perhaps, come in contact with views which we have entertained. There is
scarcely any thinking man or woman in the Church who has not indulged in views
and ideas concerning the future of this work-the manner in which it would go
forth, etc., and some of these views have been rudely opposed by events. We
have been shown that God's ways are not our ways, and that our thoughts are not
God's thoughts. We have been made to see that He is the author of this work,
and that He will conduct it to suit His purposes, and not the purposes of man.
I have no doubt that all of us who have had any experience in the Church have
seen this. We have seen many of our anticipations disappointed in the manner in
which the work has gone forth. It has required the Spirit of God poured out
upon us to reconcile us to many things, perhaps, that have been taught and done
in this Church from the beginning. But this is our refuge, this is our tower of
strength, that we can go unto the Lord, without the mediumship or intercession
of man, and in secret we can ask Him for, and obtain from Him, the light, the
intelligence and the knowledge necessary to enable us to pursue our course as
Latter-day Saints. Think of how many doctrines have been taught that have been
new to the world, but that God has revealed in our day! How could we understand
them unless the Spirit of God bore testimony to them? Who on the earth believed
them? They were not sanctioned by tradition. They were not upheld by the common
belief of man. They were new to this generation. Yet, though they shocked the
prejudices of mankind, and perhaps startled us as Latter-day Saints, when we
sought God for a testimony concerning them, He never failed to give unto us His
Holy Spirit, which witnessed unto our spirits that they were from God, and not
of man. So it will be to the end. The Presidency of the Church have to walk
just as you walk. They have to take steps just as you take steps. They have to
depend upon the revelations of God as they come to them. They cannot see the
end from the beginning, as the Lord does. They have their faith tested as you
have your faith tested. So with the Twelve Apostles. All that we can do is to
seek the mind and will of God, and when that comes to us, though it may come in
contact with every feeling that we have previously entertained, we have no
option but to take the step that God points out, and to trust to Him, as we
were often told by President Young, for the results. That is the way this
Church is led. There is no being, save the Lord himself, who knows the end from
the beginning. Who of us would be tested if we were in that condition? It is
just as necessary that the Presidency and the Apostles should be tried as it is
that you should be tried. It is as necessary that our faith should be called
into exercise as that your faith should be called into exercise. We can see a
certain distance in the light of the Spirit of God as it reveals to us His mind
and His will, and we can take these steps with perfect security, knowing that
they are the right steps to be taken. But as to what the result will be, that
is for the God of Israel to control. That is the way in which the Church of God
has always been led, and it will always be led in that way until He comes who
is our King, our Lawgiver and our President, even Jesus Christ.
It is
your privilege, my brethren and sisters, in all these matters, to know also
whether the steps that you take are acceptable unto God; and when you receive
this testimony you will know for yourselves; you will know it all over. Though
your mortal eyes and your mortal ears may neither have seen nor heard, you will
know it by the testimony that comes from God. The convincing power of the
Spirit of God is greater than the evidence of the outer senses.
God is
with His people, and He will continue to be with them; and if we will do that
which He tells us, He will never desert us, nor turn His face from us; He will
never close His ears to our cries, but He will be quick to hear our
supplications and to respond to them in blessings upon us.
If there
are any who have joined this Church with the expectation of having ease,
worldly profit and advantage from their espousal of the Gospel, probably they
will learn, if they have not already, that this is a wrong motive, and that
they have been mistaken in their ideas. Yet I want to say to the Latter-day
Saints that I do not believe there is another people upon the face of the earth
who are blessed as we are, notwithstanding our trials. I believe-and I do not
say this with any disposition to exaggerate-that a happier or a more prosperous
people does not live upon the earth than the Latter-day Saints. For God has
blessed us in the midst of our trials and has given us prosperity. You look at
those who have been faithful and compare the results of their lives with the
results of the lives of those who have left the Church, and I am sure that in
making the comparison you will be perfectly satisfied that the course of the
former class has been the most profitable in every sense of the word. So it
will be to the end, notwithstanding our afflictions, our imprisonments, and
everything of this character. I said on one occasion, and probably more than
once, to the brethren who were in the penitentiary, that I was willing to
prophesy that they would be more blessed and prospered in that which they put
their hands to do than if they had not gone there; and I am sure it will be so.
God does not forget the sacrifices of His people, and I am thankful this day
for the integrity of the Latter-day Saints. When I think of the hundreds who
have gone to prison willingly, so that the world might know that they were conscientious
and not cowards or covenant-breakers, I thank God that I live among a people
who can do such things as these without shaking of the knees or of the arms,
and without being afraid to face all the consequences of that which they have
done. I am thankful for it, not only because we are Latter-day Saints, but
because we belong to humanity. It is a glorious thing, however mistaken men may
be in the estimation of others, to see them valorous and courageous and not
afraid to meet all the consequences of their conduct. When my children do
wrong, I say to them, "Tell me of it; show me that you have courage, and
that you are not afraid to meet the consequences of what you have done."
When they do this and are ready to receive whatever the punishment may be, should
I be disposed to inflict any, I feel like embracing them. There is that in us
which makes us admire courage, even if it be in a mistaken cause. So it is with
the Latter-day Saints. However much the world may think we have been mistaken
in our views, the time will come when the conduct of the Latter-day Saints
during the last five years will stand out as the brightest page in the history
of humanity,-in modern times, at least,-and men will dwell upon it and say that
such exhibitions of courage and integrity are a credit to our race. I am
looking for that-I believe most firmly it will come. We have given the best
evidence of our sincerity that it is possible for men and women to give, and
whether the world accepts these testimonies and evidences or not, we are sure
that God and angels will accept them, and that they will be recorded in our
favor.
It may be
necessary for us to do other things that come in contact with our feelings. But
I believe that this people are capable of any sacrifice that they shall be
called upon to make; and they can bow in submission, when it is necessary and
right, as easily as they can stand erect and resist that which they esteem to
be wrong. We will show mankind-we have shown them, and we will show them more
abundantly-that the Latter-day Saints are a people of truth, a people of
integrity, a people who are loyal to God, loyal to the country of which they
are citizens or of which they ought to be citizens, loyal to the institutions
which God has permitted, in His providence, to be established, and loyal in all
the relations of life; a people strong in fidelity, and, above all things, pure
and virtuous. I tell you I would lose all hope myself for humanity if it were
not for our people. It has been my lot to travel and mingle with men, and,
without prying into affairs, things have come to my knowledge that have filled
me with-well, I cannot describe the feelings that I have had. When I see the
course that men and women are taking outside of this Church, and witness the
fate that is coming upon the people, I feel thankful to God that He has
established this Church, and that the standard of purity is raised among the
Latter-day Saints, and that all impurity is denounced and dealt with; that
there is a people upon the face of the earth who say that the virtue of men and
the virtue of women ought to be equal to the angels'. If you were to see the
faces of men as I have seen them when they have been told that we look upon the
sin of adultery as the greatest crime next to the shedding of blood, it would
be a picture to you; for I tell you that virtue among men is almost unknown
outside of this Church; and, of course, when men's virtue has fallen so low,
you can depend upon it the virtue of the other sex is not beyond question. The
testimony that we bear is that the Latter-day Saint who indulges in sexual sin
will be damned, if he do not repent. There has been no greater cause of
apostasy in this Church than the want of virtue. You can predict the future of
a man who is guilty of sins of this kind, unless he repents, as sure as you can
predict that darkness will follow the setting of the sun. God will have a
virtuous people, and those of you who are not virtuous will go the way that
others have gone, unless you repent; you will lose the faith; for the Spirit of
God will not dwell in an unholy tabernacle. The man or the woman that is
unvirtuous cannot retain the Spirit of God. They may be members of the Church
today, in full fellowship, unsuspected by their fellows; but if they do not
repent, their wickedness will produce its fruits and the result which God has
said would attend it. think of what the word of God is. In two revelations that
He has given to the Church, He has said that "he that looketh upon a woman
to lust after her, shall deny the faith . . . unless he repents." He that
"looketh" upon a woman, remember-not lay his hands upon her-but
"he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, shall deny the
faith." Therefore, we must not only be pure in deed, but be pure in
thought, in order to retain the Spirit of God and to have it dwell in our
tabernacles. It will not dwell in those who are lustful.
This is
the standard that God has raised for His people. He wants us to come up to this
standard-to be pure as angels are pure. And why should not we be? If we are
going to dwell with God and Christ and with the holy angels, why should not we
emulate on the earth the purity that they possess, which makes heaven the blest
abode that it is? I am thankful that this standard has been raised among us. It
gives hope for the future of humanity. Otherwise, the fate of this generation
is sure. They are going the downward road, and nothing can save them except
thorough repentance. The Elders wonder why it is that they do not gather out
more from the nations of the earth than they did formerly. The reason is
obvious. The people are corrupt. They are full of lust and abominable evils.
Abortion and feoticide and kindred sins are practiced almost universally. An
intelligent man with whom I was traveling a few weeks ago told me that when he
re-visited his home in Massachusetts about twelve years ago, to see his mother,
he went to the school houses where he had gone to school in his boyhood. In the
first school that he visited, out of all the scholars that were there he found
only four who were of native American families, and two of them were colored
boys. The rest of the children were all of foreign extraction. In the other
school that he visited there were ten out of the entire school that were of
native American families. He went back to his mother's house, and there was a
lot of old maids there. He said to them: "The Yankees are dying out. You
women are not having children; you are old maids; and those who are married do
not have children. What is to become of us?" That was his comment. And you
can mingle among the better class of this nation-I mean those who are in good
circumstances, and of old American families-and you will find that very few of
the young men marry. Luxury prevails to such an extent that they think they
cannot marry. They do not want to marry and take their wives into a lower
condition than they have occupied in their parents' houses; and as young men
they have the entree to society, and they go wherever they please and are
welcome; therefore, they do not marry. The result is, the best blood in America
is not being perpetuated. The old families are not being kept up, and their
places are being filled with foreigners. When they do marry, they do not have
children; or, if they do, they have only one or two. What will God do with a
people of this kind? He will let them be blotted out, if they do not repent.
They will bring upon themselves, but their sins, the very condemnation that God
has said would follow, because they destroy the life that God gives to them,
and they do not perpetuate their race. The result is, an inferior class of
people is growing up, because the foreigners, when they come here, are not
contaminated with that dreadful sin-the murder of the innocents, the murder of
unborn children, as well as those that are born-and they are not likely to be
for one generation, at least. These are sad truths, but they are true
nevertheless.
I have
been told, though it seems incredible to me, that among those who call
themselves Latter-day Saints the same evils are growing up. I tell you, in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that any woman who commits this horrible sin
will be damned, just as sure as God lives; and any husband who will suffer his
wife to take means to prevent the natural increase of the race as God has
designed it, that man will be cursed of God. I want to lift my voice against
these dreadful evils that exist in the world; and if they are coming into our
midst, I say to you, Woe unto those who practice them; for they will stand before
the bar of God as murderers, and they will be damned. Hear it, all ye people!
This is the curse that is coming upon our race today upon this continent,
especially through the Northern States. It is not so in the South. It will
creep in there, however, after awhile, if care be not taken. But the Southern
people have not yielded to this crime to the extent that those have in the
North.
God has chosen us to institute a new condition of things on the earth, to
arrest the tide of evil. He has selected men and women from the world who have
the courage to carry out whatever He tells them. And we have tried to do it.
But the nation has interposed and said, "Stop," and we shall bow in
submission, leaving the consequences with God. We shall do the best we can; but
when it comes in contact with constituted authorities, and the highest
tribunals in the land say "Stop," there is no other course for
Latter-day Saints, in accordance with the revelations that God has given to us
telling us to respect constituted authority, than to bow in submission thereto
and leave the consequences with the Lord. Nevertheless, we can stand as a
living protest against the evils of the age, and cry out against them, and by
our lives proclaim that we are determined, with the help of God, to do all in
our power to redeem the race, if it be possible to do so. God has chosen us
expressly for this mission. It required people of courage, of integrity and of
virtue, and I believe the great bulk of the Latter-day Saints are a people of
this character. Because of this virtue they were prepared to receive the truth
when it was proclaimed to them. They were not corrupted, and the spirit of God
had an abiding place in them. It is a remarkable fact that those who are
unvirtuous very rarely join the Church. They seem to have become corrupted so
that the Spirit of God has left them, and they have lost the strength necessary
to enable them to endure.
Brethren
and sisters, let us remember the mission that God has given unto us, and let us
put our trust in Him. He has been our savior and our deliverer out of the many
trials that we have had to pass through. Notwithstanding we have gone through
considerable during the past six years, when I look at the condition of the
people as I travel through the settlements, I feel to thank God for the
prosperity that he has given to us. I go into the houses of the brethren in our
settlements, and I see great comfort. I contrast it with the times of old, when
we had scarcely any food, no habitations and very little clothing, and I thank
God that the trials we now have to contend with have assumed a new form, and
that God, in his providence, has permitted us to dwell in the land to which He
has led us. I trust he will continue to do so. I hope He will give us patience
to bear all things uncomplainingly, and to go to with our faith undisturbed,
knowing that He comprehends all things, and that after the trials there cometh the
blessing. We have never yet passed through severe afflictions without there
being compensation in the shape of great blessings bestowed upon us. And so it
will be. Trial will follow trial; but blessing will follow trial also. Blessing
will follow blessing; and the cause of truth will spread, the honest in heart
will be gathered out, and the great work of God will go forth, notwithstanding
every effort to oppose it and to thwart it. And you may notice this: Those who
fight against this cause may be prominent for awhile. Sometimes prominence is
given them because of their opposition to this work, and their names being
linked with ours is all that gives them prominence frequently. But after a
while, when they have ceased to fill the positions occupied by them, and which
gave their voices some weight, they will drop out of sight and be forgotten, as
hundreds have been who have figured more or less conspicuously in their
opposition against us. We need not be disturbed, therefore, at the utterance of
this man or the other who occupies official position, and who for a while
inflates himself with the idea that he is an important personage and that he is
going to do some great thing against the Latter-day Saints. I have seen so many
of these men pass away and sink into oblivion. They step on the stage and
figure for a while, but soon they pass away. Therefore, do not let us be
worried over them; but let us pursue the course that God has pointed out, and
putting our trust in Him, know that all things will be overruled for our good.
Before I
sit down there is one subject that I have felt I wanted to speak about. I think
it of some importance to us as Latter-day Saints. It was referred to yesterday
by two or three of the brethren. It is in relation to the events of 1891, and
connected with the coming of the Lord. It was intimated by Brother Roberts that
some people thought that such an event might perhaps happen, and he was anxious
that the Saints should not be disappointed if nothing did occur during that
year that would fulfil expectation, because a great many anticipations have
been indulged in connected with that year, and I believe there has been
altogether too much agitation upon this subject. I have seen a great many times
in our history when sanguine men have attached a great deal of importance to
certain dates. I remember when 1888 was coming in, I heard on all sides that
there was something remarkable connected with that year. I fully endorse what
Elder Thatcher said yesterday upon this point-that 1890 has been as important a
year as we have ever witnessed. And I believe it will be so with every year. I
do not think it is wise for us to fix our minds too much upon any year as
bringing to pass some very wonderful things. Perhaps it will be so. I do not
question that; for every year comes to us freighted with great and wonderful
changes. It is not one year alone; but all the years between us and the coming
of our Lord will be big with events. They will be crowded with stupendous
occurrences. God has thus spoken. Judgments will be poured out upon the
inhabitants of the earth, and will increase until the Lord Himself shall come.
I took
occasion to have the sermon that Brother Joseph preached hunted up, and I will
read a little from it to show you what he said upon this very subject, and to
show you also that we need not expect that 1891 will bring any such thing as
the coming of the Lord. It was said yesterday that no man knoweth the day nor
the hour. This is true. But I will tell you what men can know. They can know that
such and such a time is not the time. Men can prophesy that 1891 is not the
year. Although they cannot tell you the day nor the hour, they can tell you
that He will not come this year or next year, according to the words of God
already given. There are several revelations which speak plainly upon this
point, allusion to some of which was made yesterday by the brethren who spoke.
There are a great many events to take place that have not yet occurred; and the
Savior will not come until they do take place. Be assured of this, and be not
concerned in your minds and agitated on these matters, because it is easy to
understand that there are many things yet to be fulfilled before that grand and
glorious event will come. Yet, as he has told us, He will come as a thief in
the night. He will come when the inhabitants of the earth are unprepared for
him.
Joseph
said:
"I was once praying earnestly upon this subject [that
is, concerning the coming of the Son of Man] and a voice said unto me, `My son,
if thou livest until thou are 85 years of age, thou shalt see the face of the
Son of Man.'"
This was what the voice said to Joseph:
"If thou livest until thou are 85 years of age thou shalt see the face of
the Son of Man."
He
continues:
"I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning
this, and I took the liberty of concluding that if I did live to that time He
would make His appearance. But I do not say whether He will make His
appearance, or I shall go where He is. I prophesy in the name of the Lord God,
and let it be written, the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven
till I am 85 years old."
Now, at
the time Joseph made this prophecy, Miller, of the Millerites, was making
predictions about the coming of the Son of Man-about the years 1842-3-4. In
these years, as you who have been kept informed will doubtless know, there was
great excitement throughout the United States about the coming of the Son of
Man, and Joseph prophesied that He would not come for the next forty years.
He goes
on and says:
"The coming of the [Son][of] Man never will be, never
can be, till the judgments spoken of for this hour are poured out, which
judgments are commenced. It is not the design of the Almighty to come upon the
earth and crush it and grind it to powder; but He will reveal it to His
servants, the Prophets. Judah must return. Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the
Temple, and water come out from under the Temple, and the waters of the Dead
Sea be healed. It will take some time to build the walls of the city and
Temple, etc., and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His
appearance. There will be wars and rumor of wars, signs in the heavens above
and on the earth beneath, and the sun turned into darkness, and the moon to
blood; earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving themselves beyond their
bounds. Then will appear the grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what
will the world say? They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of
Man will come at the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the
light of the morning coming out of the east."
Now, the
Prophet explains this in connection with his statement as to what the voice had
said to him. He did not assert that Jesus would come in the clouds of heaven
even if he lived to be eighty-five; but he was told that he should see Him, and
he qualified it, so that there need be no misapprehension upon this subject.
I might
read to you many revelations in this Book of Doctrine and Covenants (having the
book in his hand) upon the same subject, in which the Lord plainly says that
certain things shall take place. Allusion was made yesterday to some of them.
"And again, verily I say unto you that the Son of Man
cometh not in the form of a woman, neither of a man traveling on the earth. Wherefore
be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking forth for the heavens
to be shaken and the earth to tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man, and
for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low, and for
the rough places to become smooth; and all this when the angel shall sound his
trumpet. But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish
in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose; Zion shall
flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled
unto the place which I have appointed."
These are
the words of God concerning the coming of the Son of Man. These revelations
give unto us with great clearness the signs that shall precede His coming.
Therefore, do not let us get unsettled in our minds. I feel it important that
this Conference should not separate without having it clearly stated to you
that you need not look for the coming of the Son of Man either this year or
next. Though we cannot prophesy the day or the hour, we can prophesy some
things concerning His coming, that is, that will take place before His coming.
God has not left us in doubt upon these points. If you have time, read the 29th
section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and the 45th section, and the
88th section. Therefore, Latter-day Saints, go ahead and perform your duties
carefully, consistently, and with a determination to do that which God requires
at your hands. Do not look for some great cataclysm to occur, which will show all
the world that this is the Kingdom of God. Perhaps such a thing will occur; but
I will tell you what I have observed during my life-that God works in natural
ways. His purposes come around seemingly perfectly natural-so natural that the
world cannot see the hand of God in them. It requires faith and the Spirit of
God to show these things.
I
remember my thoughts and ideas when in my boyhood. Being familiar with the
revelation which God had given concerning the Civil War, I thought to myself,
now when that occurs this nation will be convinced that Joseph is a prophet,
because the revelation was so plain. It stated where the war should commence
and other particulars concerning it, and at the time the whole nation was
congratulating itself upon its peace, and the probability of war was
entertained by no one. The idea that there would be a war was ridiculed. How
wonderfully that revelation was fulfilled! But how many persons have been
converted by the strict fulfilment of that prophecy? I do not know of one. My
conclusion is that God works in this way among the children of men, and they
will continue to harden their hearts against all the evidences of the divinity
of this work, notwithstanding the continued fulfilment of the prophecies of the
Elders of this Church. The inhabitants of the earth are not converted by the
fulfilment of the prophecies, because they come along so naturally. Here we
have cyclones, and all these things that are evidences of the last days, and
who trouble themselves about it? Why they tell us that it is by means of the
telegraph and the facility with which news travels that we learn more of these
things. They always were and always will be, they say, and this is no evidence
that these are the last days; for when was there a time when there were no
wars, or accidents, or when we did not have whirlwinds, and tempests, and
earthquakes? This is the way in which the Elders are met when they speak about
these things. Therefore, Latter-day Saints, let us put our trust in God and,
waiting the fulfilment of His promises, look forward with the eye of faith to
their fulfilment, that we may rejoice in them when they are fulfilled. Amen.
The choir sang an anthem:
I will lift up mine eyes.
Benediction by Apostle Abraham H. Cannon.
_____
[5 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 41:521-523, 10/11/90, p 21-23]
Afternoon
Session
Singing by the choir:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah, Jesus anointed
"that Prophet and Seer,"
Blessed to open the last dispensation, Kings shall extol him and nations
revere.
Prayer by Bishop O. F. Whitney.
The choir sang:
Ye children of our God, Ye
Saints of latter days
Surround the table of our Lord And join to sing His praise.
The Sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered, they Priesthood of the Twentieth Ward officiating.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
Addressed the Conference. Following is a synopsis of his remarks:
I know not how long I may be able to talk, but while I do I want the attention of the congregation. They Saints have often heard me testify concerning the power by which this Church has been established. I have no power nor have these Apostles, to preach the Gospel and build up the Kingdom of God, except by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Whatever testimony we bear to be productive of good, must be by the spirit of God. We live in the greatest of all dispensations, and there are many things which the Lord has withheld from the foundation of the world, and which have never before been revealed to man, which will be revealed to the Saints of this dispensation. Things will be revealed to us which our forefathers looked anxiously forward to.
Every dispensation of the Gospel has had its work, and at no time has God ever set His hand to do a work among men, without having an element prepared to work with. This is true of this dispensation. God has raised up a Prophet in this age, and to him sent messengers who had once lived in the flesh. The Lord understands if man does not, that all His works must be performed according to the laws of salvation, the laws of the Holy Priesthood. The Lord raised up Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and who did the work appointed to him. So the Lord raised up Joseph Smith, at the time set for him to appear and perform His work, and to him He revealed the same Gospel which was revealed to Abraham and Moses and to the prophets. It is the only Gospel God ever revealed to man. In fulfillment of the revelations of St. John, and other Scriptures, this Gospel was revealed to Joseph Smith.
Many here in this congregation have seen and heard Joseph Smith, and knew him and his teachings. It cost him his life to proclaim those teachings. It cost Jesus and the Apostles their lives also. Jesus was a Jew, through the loins of Judah, yet he incurred the hatred of the Jewish nation. Is it not strange that a righteous man cannot stand up among the people and not incur their hatred? Yet it is true that he cannot.
There was a war in heaven. Lucifer and one-third of the hosts of heaven rebelled and were cast out. That war for your has never ceased, but has been manifested in every dispensation of the Gospel committed to man. Did Jesus undertake to please the Jews? No. He was faithful to the mission He had received from his Father, without regard to whether the Jews were pleased with Him or not. The Lord revealed to Moses and all the prophets of every age that a Savior would be born to redeem mankind. In the meridian of time He appeared and organized His Church. The Apostles whom He chose, faithfully labored to spread the work which He introduced. But it cost a great sacrifice to belong to the church of Christ in those days. The persecution of the saints was so great that at length the last man bearing the priesthood disappeared from the earth and the Church went into the wilderness. This opposition to the truth will continue until He comes to reign whose right it is to reign and cast Satan into the place prepared for him, where he can no more deceive the nations. Jesus is with His father and His apostles are mingling with just and holy beings in the heavens where they can plead for their brethren. There are different degrees of glory to which men will attain. The number of men who will reach the highest is few, for there are not many who are willing to make in the flesh to sacrifice necessary to end title them to it.
The Prophet Joseph Smith lived some fourteen years after he organized this Church and then he laid down his life for it. But did his death this organized the Church? No. It continued to grow and flourish. Need we think we can please the world? No. We cannot please the wicked. In order to do so, every Latter-day Saint would have to deny every principle God has revealed to us. I have been with this Church more than fifty years. I can testify that whatever the world may say, Joseph Smith was one of the greatest prophets that God ever raised up, save Jesus only.
The Savior said on the cross, of those who were the cause of His death, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." They did not know what they did. They did not comprehend what they would have to pass through inconsequence of having shed the blood of the Son of God any more than did the mob who slew Joseph Smith. The yoke remains on the neck of the Jewish nation today. Our business is to honor God and serve Him. Our aim is eternal life. It will pay any man that ever breathed to keep the commandments of God and to be virtuous and upright. We have labored faithfully in warning the nations because the day on God's judgment has come. We have now been doing this work for sixty years, and have suffered much affliction, and God has preserved His work. I say to the Saints, "fear not, little children; it is your Father's good will and pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Brother Cannon this morning delivered one of the most solemn discourses ever uttered by any man. What he said was true. I am pained to see the increase of crime in all its various and most hideous shapes in my own and other nations. These things are noticed by heaven. If you want to know what is going to come to pass read the Revelations of St. John. They will be fulfilled. Who will believe them? After two-thirds of the inhabitants are destroyed the other third will continue in wickedness and unbelief. There is no power on earth can govern the Almighty. No nation committing sin can escape the judgment of God. It is mournful to think of the wickedness of this and other nations. I want to say to the Saints as a servant of God, attend to your prayers and perform every duty and all will be well.
If you are curtailed in any of your privileges you may know that God will hold responsible those who caused the curtailment. Joseph Smith said if he had power he would sustain every man and woman on earth in their religious liberty. All are responsible to God alone for the exercise of their religious rights. God is in earnest in His labors and work. I know this is the Gospel of Christ, the Zion spoken of by the prophets, and God will sustain it to the end of time. The world will find before the Lord gets through with them that He has all power in heaven and on earth. I have never seen any reason since I became identified with the work of God to desert it. I bear my testimony to the Latter-day Saints concerning these things. I made that you all may be faithful. If you are you will be satisfied when you get behind the vail. There are many today would lay down their lives for the work of God, if it were necessary.
All classes of men will have to go into the spirit world, and will finally learn whether or not "Mormonism" is true. I testify that it is.
_____
Apostle John Henry Smith
Was the next speaker. The substance of his discourse was as follows:
The Spirit of the Lord has rested in great power upon the brethren who have spoken to us yesterday and today. Each of them has given to us words of counsel and testimony, or of reproof. The remarks of our President to us this afternoon our words of life unto us. If we, having received the Gospel and started in the way of life, can receive in our hearts the admonitions and testimonies that have been borne this day, we will not be far from the line of our duty.
It is probable that if three-fourths of those here today were asked: "Have you received a witness of the Son of God to the truth of this work?" The answer would be: "Yes; hundreds of evidences of its truth have been given to me."
And yet with this testimony from God, we discover that the weaknesses of the flesh, and the false traditions under which we were reared, frequently bore us are living up to the obligations and requirements that we feel resting upon our shoulders. It is not to be wondered at that we make many failures when we sense the conditions that exist; the immorality, and lack of faith that prevailed so widely among men, many of whom profess belief in Christ. Skepticism on the right hand and on the left exists, because men have departed from the truth, and have violated the law of God. I have discovered that when a man schooled himself in a disbelief in a Supreme Being, or in the truths of revealed religion, such a course is often due to the wrong acts of the individual himself, in violating some law of virtue or right. One of the prophets, speaking of the time when the world should be in an apostate condition, pointed out those states that would exist among men in regard to those relations that concern the perpetuation of life. The prediction that men would be adulterous and ceased to multiply is being fulfilled, as well as that prediction which foretold a restoration of the Gospel of repentance that would tend to lead man back to the presence of his Maker.
The world is in the condition foretold by the prophets in respect to chastity. Men seek to gratify their animal passions, and are drifting further and further away from the true plan of life. Our mode of dress and living tend to increase in men and women animal desires. Their natures are perverted and they destroy themselves, walking in the path of crime and evil. I have seen in New England hundreds of women who are invalid because of their sins in this regard. They claim that childbearing deprives them of social and other pleasures, and hence seek to avoid the cares of maternity. As certain as the sun shines the curse of God will follow the people who will commit these crimes, for their hands are stained in blood.
It has been intimated that these sins are making their way to some extent among the people of Utah. I had hoped that the influence of the Gospel would prevent the spread of such practices, for they lead down to hell. The warning cry should go forth. We should not mince the matter in speaking to the people. The Saints should be taught to avoid such violation of sacred laws, and a love of chastity and purity should be instilled in our sons and daughters. They should be taught to turn away from companionship which is evil. More care and prudence is necessary in the homes of the Saints now than ever before. Upon every hand are met the courtesan and that the debauche, we must keep our eyes upon our sons and daughters or the wicked and corrupt will poison their lives and we will find them wanderers from the fold.
A young man should hold that his honor and the virtue of a woman are above all price, and are to be held sacred in the eyes of every man. By remembering the promises that have been made us, and understanding what we lose by breaking the laws of chastity which have been revealed to us, our children will love them. Look upon the debauche! The finger of God has marked him for the damnation of hell. Conformity with the laws of life assures us of a reunion in heaven, as parents and children, while violation of them lead to every evil, to skepticism and utter spiritual darkness.
The responsibility rests upon us to relieve the needy, and live lives of purity. We should remember that a day of reckoning awaits us, in which every man will be judged according to the deeds done in the flesh.
My testimony is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been committed to this people, and that our mission is to warn the world of the consequences of violating the laws of God, and to preach the truth to every land warning them of the judgments that will stalk abroad; for death, misery and woe will be the consequences of the crimes men are committing. My testimony is that this work will spread, and that there will be found in Zion thousands who are innocent, and who will not commit the crimes that are the condemnation of the world.
The choir sang the anthem:
How beautiful upon the mountains.
Benediction by Elder John Nicholson, who by request, offered a special petition to the Lord in behalf of the sick among the Saints.
_____
[5 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 41:523-524, 10/11/90, p 21-22]
OVERFLOW
MEETING,
Held in the Assembly Hall, Sunday, October 5, 1890, commencing at 2 o'clock p.m., President Lorenzo Snow presiding.
The choir sang:
Praise ye the Lord, etc.
Prayer was offered by Bishop R. T. Burton.
The choir sang:
Behold the great Redeemer dies, etc.
the Sacrament was administered by the Bishopric and Teachers of the Twenty-first Ward.
_____
Elder Jacob Gates
Said he rejoiced in the fact that the Lord had restored the fullness of the Gospel in this the nineteenth century, and in contemplating its prosperity at the present time. Though the world calls Joseph Smith an imposture, every honest man and woman must acknowledge that there is something extraordinary connected with the work he established. The speaker had been personally acquainted with the Prophet, and for the benefit of the young and middle-aged people present he would bear testimony to the goodness and worth of that man, to whom he was first introduced in the year 1834, in Ohio; and immediately afterwards he traveled with him to Missouri, in Zion's Camp. On this long and eventful journey he had a good opportunity of studying the general character and prophetic endowment of the young Seer. When starting from Ohio, Joseph promised the brethren of the camp that if they would keep the counsel and commandments of God they should return in safety; but if they rebelled against the leaders of the camp a scourge would come upon them. The speaker then related how cholera broke out among the brethren in consequence of disobeying counsel and murmuring. Since that time he had associated with the Prophet during the mobbings and persecutions in Missouri and Illinois, and saw him lying cold in death's embrace after the cruel tragedy in Carthage. He knew he was a Prophet of the living God and that the revelations given through him were true, and if the Saints will live according to these revelations, they will be saved in the Kingdom of God.
_____
Elder Charles W. Penrose
Said he felt pleased to see the interest manifested by the Saints in attending conference. This afternoon both the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall are crowded with Saints anxious to hear the word of the Lord, and thousands cannot gain admission. As the Saints get experience they learn also to be wise and understand the prophecies uttered by the Servants of God in the various dispensations. The Saints belonging to the early Christian Church expected that Christ would return to the earth again almost immediately after His ascension, and it became necessary for Paul and others of the Apostles to explain to the people that the great apostasy and other events must first take place, and that the second coming off the Savior belonged to a future period. So also in these last days. When the Church of Christ was first established some of the Saints believed that the great work of the dispensation of the fullness of times would be accomplished in a few years, and that the Savior would make His appearance very shortly. But Joseph the Prophet, in speaking concerning this, told the Saints of certain things which must be done before that event could take place; and, as some of these events have not yet transpired, we have no reason to expect that the Lord will come to dwell on the earth in 1891, as some of the Elders seem to have anticipated. The speaker then referred to the wickedness and abominations existing in the midst of mankind, and the temptations placed upon the Saints to participate in them also. They Saints should remember their covenants and keep them, live lives of virtue and purity, and stand aloof of the follies and sins of the world. We should also keep the promises and agreements entered into with one another, pay our honest debts, return that which we borrow, and in all respects act fair and true to each other, for unless we do this we cannot expect that the Lord will prosper us, or that we will have a real Zion – which consist of the pure in heart – established in our midst. The young should respect old age and obey their parents, that they may prosper and live long in the land. Parents should be careful in training their children and plant in their young hearts, so far as it is within their power to do so, a love for the principles of the Gospel and good morals. This can only be accomplished by good examples, coupled with wise and consistent precept, on the part of the parents.
_____
Apostle Anton H. Lund
Was the next speaker. He explained that the prophecies uttered by
the Lord or Has inspired servants very seldom had dates attached to them. Those
that had, had all been literally fulfilled, although sometimes in such a
natural and quiet way that many people have not perceived of their fulfillment.
A number of the Saints have been somewhat exercised regarding the Indians. When
the Lord desires to fulfill His promises regarding the Lamanites He will
undoubtedly work through the legitimate channel of the priesthood and appoint
His servants to visit them and organize His Church in their midst, which has
been done in several instances already.
The Saints should avoid
going into debt and live within their means, for without this is no easy task
for them to be true and honest to each other, nor will they be apt to enjoy
that peace of mind which should characterize all who have covenanted with God
to serve Him and keep His commandments.
_____
President Lorenzo Snow
Spoke of the many blessings which had followed the Latter-day Saints in past years, and their prosperity even in the midst of the greatest opposition and persecution. For all this we should feal grateful to our Heavenly Father. A number of men, who once held high positions in this Church, apostatize because of their in gratitude for the blessings and gifts with which they had been endowed; among them were several of the first Apostles in this dispensation. The Saints should feel thankful for the blessings they enjoy, instead of murmuring and complaining of things which they do not possess, for the Lord knows better than we what is good for every one of His sons and daughters, and will give to us all according to His great wisdom and pleasure.
_____
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Said that a careful reading of the predictions made in regard to the second coming of the Savior would enable the Saints to understand their meaning. Christ had already appeared – first to the Prophet boy Joseph Smith in the woods of New York and afterwards in the Kirtland Temple, but the time when He shall appear in His glory and come to reign upon the earth has not been revealed. Others of the Saints cannot be reconciled to the fact that their sons and daughters are taken away from them by death in the prime of youth, and yet those same parents will, in some instances, not hesitate to give their daughters and sons in marriage to those who are infidels and wicked at heart – an act which places them in a most deplorable condition, compared with which death is but a small calamity. The Saints should be wise and act consistently in this as well as in other matters, and not cut themselves or their children of from the blessings of the Temples by being unequally yoked with unbelievers.
The choir sang the anthem, "Daughters of Zion."
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
_____
[5 Oct, 7:30 pm]
[DNW 41:524-525, 10/11/90, p 22-23]
PRIESTHOOD
MEETING
A meeting of the Priesthood was held in the Tabernacle at 7:30 o'clock, on Sunday evening. It was the largest assemblage of the kind ever held. And next is a brief synopsis of the remarks made, merely sufficient to indicate the nature of the subjects treated:
_____
Bishop William B. Preston
Spoke upon the duties of those who are called to officiate in the Lesser Priesthood. He defined the functions of the offices of Priest and Teacher, whose quorums should be fully organized. Bishops complain sometimes that it is difficult to obtain experienced men to operate in these offices, as they are called to labor in so many other directions. The young man who are active in the Sunday Schools and Mutual Improvement Associations should be C. elected and trained in the duties of the Lesser Priesthood, that they may be prepared to go forward by a process of gradation for advancement. If this is done and the time comes when they want to get married, they will be in a proper condition to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. The support of the poor was a matter of much importance. In some wards not more was donated for this object than ought to be contributed by one family. The record proves this to be the case.
_____
Apostle Heber J. Grant
Said we have much to contend with in the opposition of the world, but this is not nearly so discouraging as the opposition which is occasionally met with within our own ranks. Our duties belong to us as individuals. Those who contribute their fast offerings to support the poor will receive the blessings associated with that act of obedience. So with every other obligation. Blessings are predicated upon obedience to law. This is the largest Priesthood meeting I ever attended in my life. I expect the one held next April will be larger than this. This is the way the predictions of those who have asserted that "Mormonism" was soon coming to an end are fulfilled. It simply keeps extending. The First Presidency and Twelve are united, and this union is increasing among the people. I have no fears of any man or set of men having power to impede the progress of this work. No such power exists.
_____
Apostle John W. Taylor.
Brother Grant in his remarks has referred to the growth of the Latter-day Saints, and has shown that "Mormonism," instead of coming to an end, as has often in predicted, has grown and that the Saints have increased. In nearly all the older settlements, old meeting houses have been replaced by larger ones.
It has been said that not more than one-fourth of the Latter-day Saints pay a full tithing. If this is true, it is very unfortunate. When the Saints first settled here, then made a solemn covenant that, if the Lord would bless the land and make it productive, they would pay a tenth of their increase to the Lord. The promise is that if they will pay their tithing this shall be a land of Zion unto them. I admonish you, brethren, to pay your tithing. You will be blessed according to your faithfulness in doing so. When presiding officers do not themselves pay tithing, they cannot preach tithing to the Saints, effectively – their mouths are closed on the subject.
_____
Apostle Mariner W. Merrill
I look upon this meeting as the presiding authority of the Church; that is, it embraces the local presiding authorities of the various wards and stakes. Reference has been made to the union of feeling that exists among the Twelve and First Presidency. I testify that this is true, and it is an example that should be followed by all the organizations of the Church. Where there is not union among the local presiding authorities, the people are affected. Such a condition tends to keep them away from meeting, and has a bad influence. The speaker dwells at length upon the necessity of union and harmony among the members of Stake Presidencies, the Bishops under them, and the presiding officers of the various organizations in the Church. He spoke of the necessity of restoring good feeling where it did not exist, and of the necessity of taking such steps as might be required to secure that end, and continued:
I have always thought, in respect to Bishops' and High Councils' courts, that it was wrong for me to have any case in them. I ought to remove the cause of trouble before it reaches either of these courts. I have thought it was in vain for us to ask the Lord for favors until we have removed hard feelings and differences from among us.
When the presiding authorities of a Stake are united, a power can be exercised by them among the Saints.
I never enjoyed myself in any calling better than when I was laboring as a teacher and went forth in a spirit of humility. The teachers should not be in a hurry. They should take plenty of time in visiting the people. It is often the case that they delay making their visits to the last day before report meeting, and then make hasty calls so as to be able to say they have visited all the families in their district. This is wrong. It is not performing the duties of a teacher according to the spirit of that calling.
We should be patient with our children, and not deal too harshly with them because they are a little wayward. We should exercise a constant watch care over them, and seek to prevent them from going astray, for we cannot tell what temptations may beset them.
_____
President George Q. Cannon
Spoke upon the importance of union. Where there were differences among brethren they should get together, and fast and pray and thus bring about a reconciliation. When men possess the Holy Spirit they are softened and are tender in their feelings, and good results follow. One subject treated upon by Bishop Preston – the support of the poor – is frequently mentioned and enjoined in the revelations. One of the objects of the Gospel is the elevation of the poor. It is no matter that a man has brought destitution upon himself by his own acts, the obligation to extend help to him still exists. By extending aid it is not necessary that we should pauperize the indigent. While aiding them we should also seek to put them in the way of supporting themselves.
It is a false idea that Latter-day Saints cannot compete in business live according to the light of the Holy Spirit that the Lord my favorites. Make all things right with each other, and make restitution to each other were you have wronged any one. There was a time in our history when we did this and when we confess our sins. When this is done, let us at our quorums and houses in order, and the peace of the Lord will be with us.
We should fulfill our obligations and covenants with each other. Some of the people are living beyond their means and fail to meet their engagements at the proper time with others because their religious duty requires them to contribute a tenth of their increase. We should judge such things by the light of heaven, then we will see that when we are liberal in supporting the work of God we are prospered much more than when we are contracted in our feelings. Men who go on missions and perform other labors in the ministry are not distinguishable because of their poverty or it as a rule to the contrary is the case. There should not be a disposition to burden the Church, which is hampered on every hand by calls for assistance. Men can pay their tithing and donations and yet prosper. I believe that the leaders of the Church contribution is liberally to the support of the Church as any other class of the community. There is no community in the United States that has prospered to such an extent as the Latter-day Saints. This will continue if we are liberal in our ways. God has given us privileges. Let us be diligent in exercising them, and seek to preserve our rights.
Adjourned.
_____
[6 Oct, 10 am*]
[DNW 41:525, 10/11/90, p 23]
THIRD
DAY
MONDAY, Oct. 6th, ten a.m.
Singing:
Come all ye sons of Zion,
And let us praise the Lord.
His ransomed are returning, According to His word.
Prayer was offered by President A. O. Smoot, of Utah Stake.
The choir sang the hymn:
Though deep'ning trials
throng your way, Press on, press on, ye Saints of God!
Ere long the resurrection day Will spread the light and truth abroad.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Canon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles – Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
Counselors to the Twelve Apostles – John W. Young and Daniel H. Wells.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the twelve Apostles, with their Counselors, as Prophets, Seers and revelators.
Patriarch to the Church: John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies: Henry Herriman, Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds.
Wm. B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as General Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the Conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amos Howe, Anton H. Lund, James Sharp.
The voting in every instance was unanimous.
_____
President Woodruff.
Said: I will say, as the question is often asked, "What do the Latter-day Saints believe in?" We feel disposed to read the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and should there be any strangers present, they may understand our faith in this respect. The question is often asked, "Do the Mormon people believe in the Bible?" So the principles that are red will show our faith and belief appertaining to the Gospel of Christ.
The articles were then read by Bishop Orson F. Whitney. They are here introduced:
ARTICLES OF FAITH
Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1. We believe in God, the
Eternal Father, and in His Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's
transgression.
3. We believe that through the
atonement of Christ all men may be saved, by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the ordinances
are: First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism
by immersion for the remission of sins; forth, laying on of hands for the gift
of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be
called of God by "prophecy, and by the laying on of hands," by those
who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances
thereof.
6. We believe in the same
organization that existed in the primitive Church, viz.: apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing,
interpretation of tongues, etc.
8. We believe the Bible to be the
word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of
Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has
revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal
many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal
gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes. That Zion will be
built upon this continent. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth,
and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisie glory.
11. We claim of the privilege of
worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and
allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates,
in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.
13. we believe in being honest,
true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men :indeed we may
say that we follow the admonition of Paul, "We believe all things, we hope
all things," we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure
all things. if there is anything virtuous, lovely war of good report or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things. – JOSEPH SMITH.
_____
Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
Said: Beloved brethren and sisters, I move that we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in General Conference assembled, do accept and adopt these Articles of Faith which Bishop Whitney has now read as the rule of our faith and of our conduct during our mortal lives.
It may be thought that it is superfluous to offer it; but it must be borne in mind that we have a rising generation since this was last presented to us, that are coming to years of judgment and understanding; and we wish to have all old and young, rich and poor, bond and free, that have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in these articles to have a chance to express it by their vote, if they wish.
The vote to sustain Brother Richards' motion was unanimous.
_____
President George Q.
Cannon
Said: President Woodruff as doubtless the members of the Conference are all aware, has felt himself called upon to issue a manifesto concerning certain things connected with our affairs in this territory, and he is desirous to have this submitted to this conference: to have their views or their expressions concerning it, and Bishop Whitney will read this document now in your hearing .
Following is the manifesto as read:
OFFICIAL DECLARATION
To Whom It
May Concern:
Press dispatches having been sent
for political purposes, from Salt Lake City, which have been widely published,
to the effect that the Utah Commission, in their recent report to the Secretary
of the Interior, a lead step plural marriages are still being solemnized and
that forty or more such marriages have been contracted in Utah since last June
or during the past year; also that in public discourses the leaders of the
Church have talked, encouraged and urged the continuance of the practice of
polygamy.
I, therefore, as President of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn
manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy, or
plural marriage, nor permitting any person to enter into its practice, and I
deny that either forty or any other number of plural marriages have during that
period been solemnized in our temples or in any other place in the Territory.
One case has been reported, in
which the parties alleged that the marriage was performed in the Endowment
House, in Salt Lake City, in the spring of 1889, but I have not been able to
learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without
my knowledge. in consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House
was, by my instructions, taken down without delay.
Inasmuch as laws have been an act
that by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been
pro[526]nounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my
intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the
Church over which I preside to have them do likewise.
There is nothing in my teachings
to the Church or in those of my associates, during the time specified, which
can be reasonably construed to inculcate or encourage polygamy, and when any
Elder of the Church has used language which appeared to convey any such
teaching, he has been promptly reproved. and I now publicly declare that my
advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from contracting any marriage
forbidden by the law of the land.
WILFORD
WOODRUFF,
President of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[President Lorenzo Snow]
President Lorenzo Snow offered the following:
"I move that, recognizing Wilford Woodruff as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the only man on the earth at the present time who holds the keys of the sealing ordinances, we consider him fully authorized by virtue of his position to issue the manifesto which has been read in our hearing and which is dated September 24, 1890, and that as a Church in General Conference assembled, we accept his declaration concerning plural marriages as authoritative and binding."
The vote to sustain the foregoing motion was unanimous
_____
President George Q. Cannon
Spoke in reference to the manifesto, giving the reasons for its having been issued by President Woodruff. A synopsis of his discourse could not give an adequate idea of it. His remarks were of such vital importance that it is deemed better to wait the full report of them, which will shortly be published.
_____
President Woodruff,
Who had been deeply affected during the presentation off, and action upon the official declaration, also express himself on the same subject. his remarks will soon appear in full, the same reason for not giving a synopsis applying to his discourse, as well as to President Canon's.
[George Q. Cannon and Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 41:550-553, 10/18/90, p 14-17; CD 2:129-137]
REMARKS
By President George Q. Cannon and President Wilford
Woodruff,
at the Sixty-first Semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints,
Oct. 6th, 1890, immediately following the adoption by the General Assembly
of the Manifesto issued by President Wilford Woodruff in relation to Plural
Marriages.
_____
President George Q. Cannon.
On 19th
of January, 1841, the Lord gave His servant Joseph Smith a revelation, the 49th
paragraph of which I will read:
"Verily,
verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of
men, to do a work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might,
and with all the have, to perform that work, and cease not their diligence, and
their enemies come upon them, and hinder them from performing that work;
behold, it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons
of men, but to accept of their offerings."
The Lord
says other things connected with this, which I do not think it necessary to
read, but the whole revelation is profitable, and can be read by those who
desire to do so.
It is on
this basis that President Woodruff has felt himself justified in issuing this
manifesto.
I suppose
it would not be justice to this Conference not to say something upon the
subject; and yet every one knows how delicate a subject it is, and how
difficult it is to approach it without saying something that may offend
somebody. So far as I am concerned, I can say that of the men in this Church who
have endeavored to maintain this principle of plural marriage, I am one. In
public and in private I have vowed my belief in it. I have defended it
everywhere and under all circumstances, and when it was necessary have said
that I considered the command was binding and imperative upon me.
But a
change has taken place. We have, in the first place, endeavored to show that
the law which affected this feature of our religion was unconstitutional. We
believed for years that the law of July 1, 1852, was in direct conflict with
the first amendment to the Constitution, which says that "Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof." We rested upon that, and for years continued the
practice of plural marriage, believing the law against it to be an
unconstitutional one, and that we had the right, under the Constitution, to
carry out this principle practically in our lives. So confident was I in
relation to this view that in conversations with President Grant, and with his
Attorney General, ex-Senator Williams, of Oregon, I said to them that if my
case were not barred by the statute of limitations I would be willing to have
it made a test case, in order that the law might be tested. We were sustained
in this view not only by our own interpretation of the amendment to the
Constitution, but also by some of the best legal minds in the country, who took
exactly the same view that we did – that this law was an interference with
religious rights, and that so long as our practices did not interfere with the
happiness and peace of society, or of others, we have the right to carry out
this principle. In fact, it is within six or eight months that, in conversation
with two United States Senators, each conversation being separate from the
other, both of them expressed themselves though not in the same language, to
this effect: "Mr. Cannon, if this feature that you practice had not been
associated with religion, it might have been tolerated; but you have associated
it with religion and it has aroused the religious sentiment of the nation, and
that sentiment cannot be resisted. So far as the practice itself is concerned,
if you had not made it a part of your faith and an institution sanctioned by
religion, it might have gone along unnoticed." I do not give the exact
language; but these are the ideas that they conveyed to me. Now, we were very
confident that this law was an unconstitutional one. President Daniel H. Wells
would remember how he and I tried to get a case to test the constitutionality
of the law during the lifetime of President Brigham Young. We wanted to get
Brother Erastus Snow. It is the last thing that we should have thought of to
put a man like he was in the gap if we had not been firmly convinced that the law
was unconstitutional and would be declared so by the United States Supreme
Court. We telegraphed to Brother Erastus in the South, thinking that his case
would not be barred by the statute of limitations. He replied to us concerning
it, and we found that it was barred. Brother A. M. Musser proposed himself, if
I remember aright, to be a test case; but there was a defect in his case. We
wanted this case, whenever it was presented, to be presented fairly, that there
should be no evasion about it, but that it should be a case that could be
tested fairly before the courts of the country. Finally, Brother George
Reynolds was selected. I said to myself, when I learned the result, "it is
the last time that I will ever have anything to do with a test case again which
will involve the liberty of anybody." I was promised when he was
sentenced, by one high in authority and who had the right to make the promise,
that he should be released, when the circumstances were told to him; for they
were laid fairly before him, and he was told that the evidence had been
furnished by Brother Reynolds himself, and that everything had been done to
make it a test case; the government had been aided in the securing of
witnesses, and no difficulty thrown in the way. Afterwards, on the second
trial, I believe Brother Reynolds' lawyers got frightened, and there was
something occurred then that gave it a different appearance. But when the facts
were related, as I stated, to one high in authority, he promised me that George
Reynolds should be pardoned. There were those, however, in this city who were
determined that he should not escape imprisonment, and the prosecuting attorney
wrote a letter which changed the mind of this high official, as he afterward
told me, and he declined to carry out that which I had received as a promise.
But even then there were circumstances connected with this decision that made
us reluctant to accept it.
Since
that time the history of proceedings is before you and before the world. We
have felt as though this command of God was of such importance to us, involving
so many serious consequences that we should do all in our power to have the
world know the position that we occupied. There may be men among us who
believed they would be damned if they did not obey this, accepting it as a
direct command from God. Therefore, you can understand how tenaciously we have
protested, and how vigorously we have endeavored, as far as we could, to make
public our views upon the subject.
I suppose
there are two classes here today in this congregation – one class who feel to
sorrow to the bottom of their hearts because of the necessity of this action
that we have now taken; another class will say: "did I not tell you
so?" "Did I not tell you it would come to this?" "Did I not
say to you that you ought to take advantage of and comply with this years ago,
instead of enduring that which you have suffered since that time?" There
may be men here today who pride themselves on their foresight, and who take
credit to themselves because they foresaw, as they allege, that which we have
done today, and would lead others to believe that if their counsel had been
adopted, if the views that they presented had been accepted by the people, it
might have saved very serious consequences to us all and left us in a better
position but I, for one, differ entirely with this view. I believe that it was
necessary that we should witness unto God, the Eternal Father, unto the heavens
and unto the earth, that this was really a principle dear to us – dearer, it might
be said, in some respects than life itself. We could not have done this had we
submitted at the time that those of whom I speak suggested submission. We could
not have left our own nation without excuse. It might have said, "Had we
known all that you tell us now concerning this, we should have had very
different views about this feature of your religion than we did have." But
now, after the occurrences of the past six years have been witnessed by this
entire nation and by the world, and by God the Eternal Father and the heavenly
hosts, no one can plead as an excuse that they have been ignorant of our belief
and the dearness of this principle to us. Upwards of thirteen hundred men have
been incarcerated in prison, going there for various terms from one or three
months up two years. They have gone there willingly, as martyrs to this
principle, making a protest that the heavens and the earth should bear record
of, that they were conscientious in espousing this principle, and that it was
not for sensual indulgence, because if sensual indulgence had been the object
we could have obtained it without such sacrifices as were involved in obedience
to this law – without going to prison, without sustaining wives and children,
without the of the obloquy that has been heaped upon us because of this action
of ours. If licentious motives had prompted us, we could have secured the
results of a cheaper way and in a way more in consonancy with universal custom
throughout our own land and all Christendom. But the sacrifices that we have
made in this respect bear testimony to the heavens and to the earth that we
have been sincere and conscientious in all that we have done, and that we have
not been prompted by a desire to use women for lustful purposes, but to save
them, to make them honorable, and to leave no margin of women in our society to
become a prey to last, so that every woman in our lands should have the
opportunity of becoming a virtuous wife and an honored mother, loved and
respected by her offspring and by all her associates.
If no
other result has attended what may be termed our obstinacy, these results are,
at least, upon record, and they never can be blotted out. The imprisonment of
these men, the sufferings – the untold, unwritten, yea, the unmentionable, it
may be said, sufferings –of wives and children, they are recorded in heaven and
are known to man upon the earth, and they form a chapter that will never be
blotted out.
Latter-day
Saints, there has been nothing lost in the five years that have just passed. We
have lost no credit. There has been no honor sacrificed. We can look God in the
face – that is, if we are permitted to do so, so far as this is concerned, we
can; we can look the holy angels in the face; we can look man kind in the face,
without a blush or without feeling that we have done anything unworthy of our
manhood or of our professions and the faith that God has given to us. This all
of us can do; and if no other result has followed what may be called our
obstinacy, than these which I now describe they are grand enough to pay us for
all that we have gone through.
But the
time has come when, in the providence of God, it seemed necessary that
something should be done to meet the requirements of the country, to meet the
demands that have been made upon us, and to save the people. President Woodruff
and others of us have been appealed to hundreds of times, I might say; – I can
say for myself, that I have been appealed to many scores of times to get out
something, and to announce something. Some of our leading brethren have said:
"inasmuch as we have ceased to give permission for plural marriages to be
solemnized, why cannot we have the benefit of that? Why cannot we tell the
world it, so as to have the benefit of it? Our enemies are alleging constantly
that we still practice this in secret, and that we are dishonest and guilty of
evasion. Now, if we have really put a stop to granting permissions to man to
take more wives than one, why should not the world know it and we have the
advantage of it?" These remarks have been made to us repeatedly. But at no
time has the Spirit seemed to indicate that this should be done. We have waited
for the Lord to move in the matter; and on the 24th of September, President
Woodruff made up his mind that he would write something, and he had the spirit
of it. He had prayed about it and had sought God repeatedly to show him what to
do. At that time the Spirit came upon him, and a document that has been read in
your hearing was the result. I know that it was right, much as it has gone
against the grain with me in many respects, because many of you know the
contest we have had upon this point. But when God speaks, and when God makes
known His mind and will, I hope that I and all Latter-day Saints will bow in
submission to it. When that document was prepared it was submitted. But, as is
said in this motion that has been made President Woodruff is the only man upon
the earth who holds the keys of the sealing power. These Apostles all around me
have all the same authority that he has. We are all ordained with the same
ordination. We all have had the same keys and the same powers bestowed upon us.
But there is an order in the Church of God, and that order is that there is
only one man at a time on the earth who holds the keys of sealing, and that man
is the President of the Church, now Wilford Woodruff. Therefore, he signed that
document himself. Some have wondered and said, "Why didn't his Counselors
sign? Why didn't others sign?" Well, I give you the reason – because he is
the only man on the earth that has this right, and he exercised it, and he did
this with the approval of all of us to whom the matter was submitted, after he
had made up his mind, and we sustained it; for we had made it a subject of
prayer also, that God would direct us.
There
never was a time in this Church when I believe the leading men of this Church
have endeavored to live nearer to God, because they have seen the path in which
we walked environed with difficulties, beset with all manner of snares, and we
have had the responsibility resting upon us of your salvation, to a certain
extent. God has chosen us, not we ourselves, to be the shepherds of His flock.
We have not sought this responsibility. You know Wilford Woodruff to well to
believe that he would seek such an office as he now fills. I trust you know the
rest of us sufficiently to believe the same concerning us. I have shrunk from
the Apostleship. I have shrunk from being a member of the First Presidency. I
felt that if I could get my salvation in any other way, I prayed God that He
would give it to me, after He revealed to me that I would be an Apostle, when I
was comparatively a child; and I have had that feeling ever since. These
Apostles, all of them, feel the responsibility which rests upon them as leaders
of the people, God having made us, in His providence, your shepherds. We feel
that the flock is in our charge, and if any harm befell this flock through us,
we will have to answer for it in the day of the Lord Jesus; we shall have to
stand and render an account of that which has been entrusted to us; and if we
are faithless, and careless, and do not live so as to have the word of God
continually with us and know His mind and will, then our condemnation will be
sure and certain, and we cannot escape it. But you are our witnesses as to
whether God is with us or not, as well as the Holy Ghost. You have received,
and it is your privilege to receive, the testimony of Jesus Christ as to
whether these men who stand at your head are the servants of God, whom God has
chosen, and through whom God gives instructions to His people. You know it,
because the testimony of the Spirit is with you, and the Spirit of God burns in
your bosoms when you hear the word of god declared by these servants, and there
is a testimony living in your hearts concerning it.
Now,
realizing the full responsibility of this, this action has been taken. Will it
try many of the Saints? Perhaps it will; and perhaps it will try those who have
not obeyed this law as much as any others in the Church. But all that we can
say to you is that which we repeatedly say to you – go unto God yourselves, if
you are tried over this and cannot see its purpose; go to your secret chambers
and ask God and plead with Him, in the name of Jesus, to give you a testimony
as He has given it to us, and I promise you that you will not come away empty,
nor dissatisfied; you will have a testimony, and light will be poured out upon
you, and you will see things that perhaps you cannot see and understand at the
present time.
I pray
God to bless all of you, my brethren and sisters; to fill you with His Holy
Spirit; to keep you in the path of exaltation which He has marked out for us;
to be with us on the right hand and on the left in our future as He has been in
the past.
Before I
sit down I wish to call attention to one remarkable thing, and it may be an
evidence to you that the devil is not pleased with what we have done. It is
seldom I have seen many lies and such flagrant, outrageous lies told about the
Latter-day Saints as I have quite recently. I have not time to read the papers,
but I have happened to pick up two or three papers and glanced at them, and the
most infernal (Pardon me for using that expression) lies ever framed are told.
It seems as though the devil is mad every way. "Now," says he,
"They are going to take advantage of this, and I am determined they shall
have no benefit of it; I will fill the earth with lies concerning them, and
neutralize this declaration of President Woodruff's." And you will see in
all the papers everything that can be said to neutralize the effect of this. To
me it is pretty good evidence that the devil is not pleased with what we are
doing. When we kept silence concerning this, then we were a very mean and bad
people; and now that we have broke the silence and made public our position,
why, we are wicked in other directions, and no credence can be attached to
anything that we say. You men know by this that his satanic majesty is not pleased
with our action. I hope he never will be.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff:
I want to
say to all Israel that the step which I have taken in issuing this manifesto
has not been done without earnest prayer before the Lord. I am about to go into
the spirit world, like other men of my age. I expect to meet the face of my
Heavenly Father – the Father of my spirit; I expect to meet the face of Joseph
Smith, of Brigham Young, of John Taylor, and of the Apostles, and for me to
have taken a stand in anything which is not pleasing in the sight of God, or
before the heavens, I would rather have gone out and been shot. My life is no
better than other men's. I am not ignorant of the feelings that have been
engendered through the course I have pursued. But I have done my duty, and the
nation of which we form a part must be responsible for that which has been done
in relation to this principle.
The Lord
has required at our hands many things that we were prevented from doing. The
Lord required us to build a Temple in Jackson County. We were prevented by
violence from doing it. He required us to build a Temple in Far West, which we
have not been able to do. A great many things have been required of us, and we
have not been able to do them, because of those that surrounded us in the
world. This people are in the hands of God. This work is in the hands of god,
and He will take care of it. Brother George Q. Cannon told us about the lies
that are abroad. It is a time when there have been more lies told about
Mormonism than almost any other subject ever presented to the human family. I
often think of what Lorenzo Dow said with regard to the doctrine of election.
Says he: "It is like this: You can, and you can't: you will, and you
won't; you shall, and you shan't; you'll be damned if you do, and you'll be
damned if you don't." That is about the condition we as Latter-day Saints
are in. If we were to undertake to please the world, and that was our object,
we might as well give up the ship; we might have given it up in the beginning.
But the Lord has called us to labor in the vineyard; and when our nations
passes laws, as they have done, in regard to this principle which we have
presented to the Conference, it is not wisdom for us to make war upon
sixty-five millions of people. It is not wisdom for us to go forth and carry
out this principle against the laws of the nation and receive the consequences.
That is in the hands of God, and He will govern and control it. The Church of
Christ is here; the Zion of God is here, in fulfilment of these revelations of
God that are contained in these holy records in which the whole Christian world
profess to believe. The Bible could never have been fulfilled had it not been
for the raising up of a prophet in the last days. The revelations of St. John
would never have been fulfilled if the angel of God had not flown through the
midst of heaven, "having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His
judgment is come." Was that angel going to visit New York, Philadelphia,
Boston, and the world, and call the people together and preach to them? Not at
all. But the Lord raised up a Prophet. The angel of God delivered the Gospel to
that Prophet. That prophet organized a Church; and all that He has promised in
this code of revelations (the Book of doctrine and Covenants) has been
fulfilled as fast as time would admit. That which is not yet fulfilled will be.
Brethren
and sisters, it is our duty to be true to God and to be faithful. Make your
prayers known unto the Lord. The Lord has told us what He will do concerning
many things. He will fulfill His word. Let us be careful and wise, and let us
be satisfied with the dealings of God with us. If we do our duty to one
another, to our country and to the Church of Christ, we will be justified when
we go into the spirit world. It is not the first time that the world has sought
to hinder the fulfillment of revelation and prophecy. The Jewish nation and
other nations rose up and slew the Son of God and every Apostle but one that
bore the Priesthood in that day and generation. They could not establish the
kingdom; the world was against them. When the apostles asked Jesus whether He
would at that restore again the kingdom of Israel, He replied: "It is not
for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power." He did not say it would be established then, but He taught them to
pray: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." It is a long time
since that prayer was offered, and it has not been fulfilled until the present
generation. The Lord is preparing a people to receive His kingdom and His
Church, and to build up His work. That, brethren and sisters, is our labor.
I want
the prayers of the Latter-day Saints. I thank God that I have seen with my eyes
this day that this people have been ready to vote to sustain me in an action
that I know, in one sense, has pained their hearts. Brother George Q. Cannon
has laid before you our position. The Lord has given us commandments concerning
many things, and we have carried them out as far as we could; but when we
cannot do it, we are justified. The Lord does not require at our hands things
that we cannot do.
This is
all I want to say to the Latter-day Saints upon this subject. But go before the
Lord and ask Him for light and truth, and to give us such blessings as we stand
in need of. Let your prayers ascend into the ears of the God of Sabaoth, and
they will be heard and answered upon your heads, and upon the heads of the
world. You watch the signs of the times, the signs of the coming of the Son of
Man. They are beginning to be made manifest both in heaven and on earth. As has
been told you by the Apostles, Christ will not come until these things come to
pass. Jerusalem has got to be rebuilt. The Temple has got to be built. Judah
has got to be gathered, and the House of Israel. And the gentiles will go forth
to battle against Judah and Jerusalem before the coming of the Son of Man.
These things have been revealed by the prophets; they will have their
fulfilment. We are approaching these things. All that the Latter-day Saints have
to do is to be quiet, careful and wise before the Lord, watch the signs of the
times, and be true and faithful; and when you get through you will understand
many things that you do not today. This work has been raised up by the power of
Almighty God. These Elders of Israel were called from the various occupations
of life to preach as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. They were not
learned men; they were the weak things of this world, whom God chose to
confound the wise, "and things which are not, to bring to nought things
that are." We are here on that principle. Others will be gathered on that
principle. Zion will be redeemed, Zion will arise, and the glory of god will
rest upon her, and all that Isaiah and the other prophets have spoken concerning
her will come to pass. We are in the last dispensation and fulness of time. It
is a great day, and the eyes of all the heavens are over us and the eyes of god
Himself and all the patriarchs and prophets. They are watching over you with
feelings of deep interest, for your welfare; and our prophets who were slain
and sealed their testimony with their blood, are mingling with the Gods,
pleading for their brethren. Therefore, let us be faithful, and leave events in
the hands of God, and He will take care of us if we do our duty.
I pray
God that He will bless these apostles, Prophets and Patriarchs, the Seventies,
High Priests and Elders of Israel, and these Latter-day Saints, who have
entered into covenant with our god. You have a great future before you. You
have kept the commandments of God, so far as you have had the opportunity, and
by receiving the Gospel of Christ and being faithful your reward is before you.
Your history is written and is before you. I will say that this nation, and all
nations, together with presidents, kings, emperors, judges, and all men,
righteous and wicked, have got to go into the spirit world and stand before the
bar of God. They have got to give an account of the deeds done in the body.
Therefore, we are safe as long as we do our duty. No matter what trials or
tribulations we may be called to pass through, the hand of God will be with us
and will sustain us. I ask my Heavenly Father to pour out His Spirit upon me,
as His servant, that in y advanced age, and during the few days I have to spend
here in the flesh, I may be led by inspiration of the Almighty. I say to
Israel, the Lord will never permit me nor any other man who stands as the
President of this Church, to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is
not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out
of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of
men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. God bless you. Amen.
The choir sang:
How beauteous are their feet
Who stand on Zion's Hill.
Who bring salvation on their tongues, And words of peace reveal.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant. Adjourned until 2 p.m.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 41:526-528, 10/11/90, p 24-26]
Afternoon
Session, 2 p.m.
The choir sang:
With joy we own Thy
servants, Lord, Thy ministers below,
Ordained to speak Thy truth abroad, That all Thy name may know.
Prayer by Elder C. W. Penrose.
A special hymn entitled "Zion will be free," was sung by the choir.
_____
Apostle Heber J. Grant
Briefly addressed the conference. He said in substance: I have great satisfaction in seeing so large a congregation present. I have never attended a conference at which more of the Spirit of the Lord was manifest. We have been united and the speakers have been inspired by the Spirit of truth. May I be able to contribute something of the same character as that already given for the benefit of all present. I rejoiced in the large Priesthood meeting held here last night, at which the Spirit of God was present. I sustain a testimony born at that gathering to the effect that the man who contributes to the support of God's work will be rewarded both temporally and spiritually. I have been gratified with the remarks that have been made about events, which some have imagined will take place in 1891. Some spend nearly the whole of their time in hunting the mysteries, while neglecting important duties as they come along. The best course to pursue is to fulfill daily the duties required as they present themselves. In this way a man is rewarded as he goes along, and walks in the path that leads to salvation.
_____
Apostle John W. Taylor
Was the next speaker. he said substantially: I feel thankful to my Heavenly Father for the privilege of attending this Conference. It is the best I've ever attended in my life. I am in the habit of saying this every half year. I am like a hungry man who when he eats declares that this is the best meal he has ever partaken of. God has fulfilled His promise to His people and provided for them pastors and teachers after His own heart.
I was glad to be confirmed in my impressions regarding what some have expected would transpire in 1891.
I invite you all to pay your tithes and offerings, that this may be a land of Zion to us all. I am fully in accord with the views of Elder Grant in relation to the temporal duties of the Saints. When we engage to serve the Lord we do so that we might reap salvation. All that you will find yourselves possessed of as a foundation when before the bar of God will be your wives and children. If you train not your children you are blind indeed. There is a spirit working among the Saints to educate their own offspring. If our children will be all we will have for a foundation of glory in eternity, how needful that they be properly trained, that Church schools are the greatest institutions among this people and will be one of the greatest powers for good as one of the helps in the work of God. About two years ago an eastern paper published what purported to be a correct report of missions schools or it he asserted that 5000 children of the Latter-day Saints, in Utah attended them. If this be true it shows quite a percentage of parents who are inconsistent with regard to their religious duty. The ordinances of the Gospel have been taught to us and we are responsible for our children being instructed in these things.
The speaker here read from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants regarding the responsibility of parents regarding the proper instruction of their children. if I were a Catholic I would wish my children to be of that faith. So with any other religion. Being a Latter-day Saint I desire my children to be of that faith. Otherwise I would be a hypocrite. There are among us wolves in sheep's clothing ready to lead astray our little ones. The cry has gone forth "Let Zion be defiled." Wolves do not devour old sheep when there are any young ones. I have herded sheep long enough to know that. Look after your children. If you are faithful over a few of them God will make you ruler over many. May God bless you all. Amen.
_____
Apostle Mariner W. Merrill
Was the next speaker. The substance of what he said was as follows: I hope to have your attention that you may hear what I have to say. This position is not to me a desirable one. I am not here of my own choice. May the Lord favor me with His good spirit that what I may say may be of profit. I have felt that if ever there was a time when Saints needed the testimony of Jesus it is now. The Saints need that witness for themselves that they may understand the revelations as given from time to time. There was one given to President Taylor in 1882. It directed at all the quorums should be fully organized and the families of the Saints set in order. This was that the Priesthood and people might be preserved. We could hardly realize the importance of the word of the Lord in that relation at that time. We can see it now. Events since then require the Saints to know for themselves of the divinity of this great work. There is more or less fault-finding and complaining against each other among the people. When this is the case we should consider this matter, for the Lord has spoken on the subject and said we must forgive one another. It is written concerning the disciples of old, that there were envyings and strifes among them and they forgave not each other in their hearts, and were severely chastened in consequence. There may have been an outward form of reconciliation, but they forgave not one another inwardly and were in consequence of afflicted and sorely chastened. He who will not forgive his brother stands condemned and there remains in him the greater sin. The speaker related an incident wherein one man refused to forgive another, although the brother of against whom he entertained feelings asked forgiveness and requested to know what he could do to regain to his good will. Resuming his comments, Brother Merrill said: is there anybody here who feels us? If so he stands under condemnation, and lies under the greater sin. We ought to cease our fault-finding, and seek the Lord in fervent prayer morning, noon and evening. There is no other proper course for Saints. We must carry our religion into the actions of our lives. We must forgive one another as we desire to be forgiven. If we do not, God will not hear our prayers. He will be slow to answer our supplications. This evil is more or less prevalent. It keeps people away from their meetings. The time is now when we should live according to the light of the Holy Spirit that the Lord may favor us. Make all things right with each other, and make restitution to each other where you have wronged any one. There was a time in our history when we did this and when we confess our sins. When this is done, let us at our quorums and houses in order, and the peace of the Lord will be with us.
We should fulfill our obligations and covenants with each other. Some of the people are living beyond their means and fail to meet their engagements at the proper time. This is a cause of much ill-feeling. My policy has always been to pay as I got. Do not incur financial obligations; do not mortgage your homes, unless some circumstances exists that demand that you should do so. Pay day always comes around. It is easy to sign a note, but, when it matures, the one who gives it is sometimes unable to redeem it. It is contemptible for a man to take advantage of the law of limitations and hide behind that statute by refusing to redeem a note or pay a book account when they are outlawed. If you can't pay for what you want do without it. We have all seen the evils of mortgaging homes thousands of farmers in the east have done so and have lost their property. It will not do for the Saints to thus bring themselves into bondage.
Many of our young people think they cannot get married because they cannot provide a fashionable home this not only applies to the people of Salt Lake City, but largely to those throughout the Church. The tendency toward extravagance is increasing and is wrong. The Saints have good credit. When engaged on railroad construction contracts in the past I have been asked by business men who have been asked to let wagons and supplies go on credit, whether the persons desiring the accommodation were "Mormons." Saturday, "if they are it will be all right, as they will pay their debts." We are more ready to pay others than our brethren. We should pay without distinction everybody. But the better way is not to purchase until we have ability to pay down. It is good to be a free people financially. This status can be maintained by our living within our means. The policy of extravagance is all wrong. This country will be a land of Zion to all those who live within their means, pay their tithing, and offer their prayers morning, noon and night. That class will always be impressed with the will of the Lord when it comes through His servants. I was recently in the east, and I know that what Brother Canon has stated about the moral condition of the people there is strictly correct. Brother Merrill bore testimony to the truth of the Gospel, including by saying: God bless you. Look after your dead, and live your religion.
_____
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
Spoke briefly. He said: If any had imagined that God had withdrawn His Spirit from His Church, such ideas must have been dispelled during this Conference. Every heart must have been touched by the inspired instructions that have been given. When the servants of God are not bodily present with the people and their voices are not heard in their congregations, they begin to murmur and complain. But when the Prophets are with them the sheep soon recognized the voices of the shepherds and they are again established. This has been exemplified in other ages. Instances illustrative of this truth occurred in the history of ancient Israel, when Moses was their leader. So in the days of Jesus. His disciples had heard his teachings and understood them to be of God. They beheld the miracles he wrought. Yet when Jesus was hung up on the cross His followers imagine their hopes were blasted. Hence it is no new thing for the people to be mistaken when separated or a time from the servants of the Lord. If the instructions given during this conference are carried out, none will be without light and none need be led blindly. If this spirit of intelligence does prevail, Zion will indeed be the pure in heart. The condition of the Saints will grow brighter and better while the course of the world will be retrogressive. Since the restoration of the Gospel and its proclamation the world lies under condemnation, because they have, in many instances rejected the light. God is being ruled out of everything. The voice of the people is accepted as the voice of God, when the legitimate order is the reverse the voice of God should be the voice of the people. God will give no revelation through His prophets but what can be tested by the faithful among the people, to whom the channel of communication with the heavens is open. God's ways are not as the ways of man, and in the midst of our trials He has never deserted His Saints. The speaker predicted the spread and triumph of the work of the Lord, to the divine origin of which he bore testimony.
The choir sang an anthem:
Lord what is man?
---------
President W. Woodruff
Stepped forward to the breastwork of the stand and said: Before dismissing this Conference I want to say a few words to the Latter-day Saints. The Lord has said by revelation, to those who hold the keys of the Kingdom of God: "Whomsoever thou shalt bless I will bless and whomsoever thou shalt curse I will curse."
I have traveled something like a hundred and seventy-five thousand miles in my day and time, and I have preached the Gospel to the nations, to the islands of the sea and to my own country. I have met, in some instances, men who professed to have faith in God and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have stood up before me and cursed the Prophet of God, Joseph Smith and blasphemed the name of God. But in the midst of all these things, I have never seen a moment of my life when I felt to curse anybody. I hope I never shall. But I have pulled these men, under the circumstances, that the curse of God would overtake them; and in no instance, when I have been moved upon to say that, has it ever fallen unfulfilled; for they have been marked cases of the judgments of God overtaking them. But with regard to blessing, I will say, if there was ever an hour in my life that I felt to bless the Latter-day Saints, it is at the present time. My heart is drawn out with love and gratitude towards God and my brethren with whom I am surrounded. I have been sustained as a weak instrument in the hands of God as the President of this Church. Since I have been called to this office I have been sustained by the Latter-day Saints, and for over fifty years of my life as an Apostle. Why should not my heart be drawn out in love toward such a people? The world know not the love of the Latter-day Saints. They do not comprehend it. It never entered into their souls. I am surrounded here with Prophets, Apostles, Elders and Saints of the living God; and in the morning of the resurrection, when they come out of their graves, they will pass by the Gods and the Angels who are set there to watch the interests of the celestial world; they will go to those thrones, kingdoms, principalities and powers which have been ordained of God for them to occupy – those who dwell in this dispensation as well as in other ages of the world. If I am faithful, I shall meet you there; I shall meet these Saints of the Living God there. Therefore I feel it is my privilege to bless the Latter-day Saints. I cannot go abroad, as a man, and spread this Gospel to the world and administer to them the ordinances thereof, to have any effect, without the Holy Priesthood; and I, as a man, cannot bless the inhabitants of the earth, so that the Lord is bound to acknowledge it, only by the power of the Holy Priesthood; and that power I feel to exercise at the present time in blessing my brethren and sisters.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I feel to bless my Councillors – Presidents Geo. Q. Cannon and Jos. F. Smith. They have stood by me in all the labors of life, as far as we have been associated, since we have entered into the new and everlasting covenant. On the same principle, I feel to bless these Apostles who surround me. We have been united. We are united in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they have the gratitude of my heart for the labors of love and life which they have carried out in their day and time. I feel to bless the Presidents of the Seventies, with all their quorums in this Church, with every blessing that I have power to bestow upon them, as a servant of the Living God. I feel to bless the High Priests, who bear the high and Holy Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec – their Presidents and all who belong to the quorums. I also feel to bless the thousands of the Elders of Israel who have entered into covenant with the Lord, who have received a portion of the Melchisedec Priesthood, and who have gone forth and been faithful in the ordinances of the House of God. I feel to bless the Bishopric and the Lesser Priesthood, which is after the order of Aaron – the first Priesthood sealed upon the heads of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by John the Baptist, who held it, and who laid down his own life for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. I feel to bless these Latter-day Saints as fathers and mothers, as brothers and sisters, in all the ordinances of the House [528] of God. I feel to bless them and their families, and their flocks, and in their herds, and in all they put their hands unto. As far as I have the power to bless, they have the blessings of my heart and my spirit, in every sense of the word. And I say to all Israel, God bless you.
Let us live, brethren and sisters, that when we have finished our work and our testimony, as other generations have done, we will receive the same exaltation and glory. The world do not know you. The world do not know this work. They do not understand it. They have not entered into the spirit of it; they never will, except they obey they Gospel of Jesus Christ and the law of the celestial kingdom.
The vast audience than arose to their feet and President Woodruff pronounced the final benediction.
Conference adjourned till the 6th day of April, 1891.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
4-6 Apr 1891, 61st
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 42:497, 4/11/91, p 17; Millennial
Star 53:305, 321, 337, 353, 369, 385, 401, 417, 433, 449]
[4 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 42:497-498, 4/11/91, p 17-18]
GENERAL CONFERENCE
_____
The Sixty-first Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 4th, 1891, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
There were on the stand: Of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff and George Q. Cannon; Of the council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch, John Smith; of the Presiding Council of the Seventies: Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric: William B. Preston, R. T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also numbers of Presidents of Stakes and of other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and surrounding region.
Conference opened by President Wilford Woodruff announcing that the choir would sing the hymn commencing:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation;
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.
Prayer was offered by President Angus M. Cannon.
Singing by the choir:
Glorious things of thee are
spoken, Zion, city of our God!
He whose word can not be broken, Chose thee for His own abode.
President Wilford
Woodruff.
We are highly blessed of God in being permitted to meet together on this the sixty-first anniversary of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel that we ought to be thankful before the Lord, that our hearts should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for this privilege which we now enjoy. It is true many of our friends have been called from our midst during the past year, to the other side of the veil. The Lord has been merciful to us, as a people, in preserving us through our history, in all the vicissitudes of life through which we have been called to pass since the establishment of this Church and kingdom. I feel that we should lift our hearts in prayer to God our Heavenly Father for His mercies, and that He will guide and direct us by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that our minds may be enlightened, and our understanding opened to comprehend His mind and will concerning His people.
I rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the revelations that come from heaven to both Jew and Gentile, with the various dispensations of God to man. Generation after generation has passed away since the early Patriarchs stood in the flesh on the earth. The Lord has expressed, through the mouths of inspired men, from generation to generation, His mind, His will, His work. Those revelations which were delivered thousands of years ago have been fulfilled to-day in our midst and among the nations of the earth. God has set His hand to establish His work, to warn the world once more, for the last time, before the coming of the Son of man, and He has called Elders into the vineyard of the Lord, to labor while the day lasts; for "the night cometh, when no man can work." We have the fruits of this labor before us to-day, in this Tabernacle, in the valleys of these mountains. I trust, while we are together, that our prayers may be lifted up to the Lord, that our hearts may be united; that while our brethren, the Apostles and Elders, stand before us and give unto us their testimony of the word of God, we may have a full share of His blessing.
I do not think I ought to occupy much more of your time this morning; but I feel thankful that I am still with you, and able to meet on this occasion with so many of the Latter-day Saints who have entered into covenant with the Lord, and upon whose shoulders He has laid the holy Priesthood, to administer, to warn the world, to devote their time and attention to the ordinances of the House of God, both for the living and the dead. I feel myself that of all people under heaven that have ever lived, the Latter-day Saints have the greatest cause to rejoice that they live in the day and generation when the Lord has set His hand to gather together His people, to establish both Jerusalem and Zion, and to fulfil His promises made to Father Abraham and the ancient Patriarchs and Prophets.
The Jews have been a hiss and a bye-word among the Gentiles since the death of the Savior, eighteen hundred years ago. Their redemption is at the door to-day; it has been proclaimed by inspired men to their own tribe. It is left on record that the Jews will return home, that Jerusalem will be rebuilt; their temple will be established, and all those great and mighty promises given by inspiration and revelation will come to pass.
I pray God our heavenly Father to bestow His blessing upon us, that it may continue to rest upon His Saints who have entered into covenant with Him; that we may recognize our responsibility and magnify our calling day by day, so that when we pass to the other side of the veil we may be justified in His sight. This is my prayer and desire for Jesus Christ's sake, Amen.
_____
Apostle Anton H. Lund
addressed the Conference. Following is substantially what he said: I am pleased to meet with the Saints and listen to the remarks of President Woodruff. In looking back on their history the Latter-day Saints have much cause to rejoice. We can see that the Lord has been with His people, notwithstanding the opposition they have had to meet. In the early history, which was marked by great difficulties, if the Lord had not been close to the Saints they would not have been able to stem the opposition which confronted them. We need to have no fear of the outcome. The Lord has power to protect His people. But we should look to ourselves. We have received the truth. We should show our gratitude for this boon by our works. You know of the Lord's parable of the sower. I have no fear that the word has been in the case of the Saints, sown on stony ground. But with some of us it has, I fear, been sown on soil on which briars have grown and partially choked it. As a rule, however, the loss of this world's goods and of friends have had no power to draw us away from the truth. Generally speaking the truth was sown on good ground.
We have need to beware, lest, in times of peace, riches become the chief object of our lives. We have so much to love for that we cannot afford to do this. We should be honest in our dealings. I have seen more trouble arise among the Saints from temporal matters than any other cause;. We should all deal justly and remember the debt we owe to our Heavenly Father and pay our tithing. If we neglect this duty our faith and love for God's work will decrease. If we attend to this duty, those conditions will increase with us. There is a special debt of honor that not a few have omitted to discharge -- the refunding of means supplied by brethren to enable them to come to this country. This is not right, as such an obligation is sacred. We should remember our benefactors and not be guilty of the base sin of ingratitude.
We should not forget the object of gathering. It is to learn more fully the ways of the Lord. We have progressed in this respect, but many have neglected to give their children proper instruction in these matters. Some have imagined that their time has been too much occupied to give their children these beneficent teachings. Those who cannot occupy much of their own time in this labor should be particular to send them where they can get the instruction -- Church and Sabbath schools. In this way they may become grounded in the faith of the Gospel and be able to give reason for the hope that is in them. Many parents, seeing the result of former negligence in this regard now regret their sins of omission. Some have thought that their children could receive all that was necessary at ordinary meetings. This is an error, as children are only capable of receiving but a little at a time.
the speaker bore testimony to the divine character of the work in which he is engaged, attesting it to be the preparatory labor for the coming of Christ to govern the world.
_____
Apostle Marriner W. Merrill
said he was pleased to meet with such a large number of Latter-day Saints in conference. He had had many reflections since coming here in relation to the past. Thirty-eight years had gone by since he first became associated with the Saints in this city and Territory, and during that period how many of the brethren with whom he had been intimately acquainted had passed away! He dared say there were many present that morning who had never seen the face of President Young, President Kimball, Brother George A. Smith, and others of the early pioneers and settlers of this Territory; and he presumed also there were very few persons now in the Church who had ever beheld the Prophet Joseph. He himself was one of the latter. But the Prophet Joseph's testimony was still in force; his spirit had continued in the earth at his death; his mantle fell upon the shoulders of President Young; in turn it fell upon those of President Taylor, and now it was borne by President Woodruff. Thus we saw that the spirit of the great latter-day work was fully sustained among God's servants; in other words, the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that rested upon the Prophet Joseph and his brethren in an early day was still with the Church. That spirit and inspiration would continue in the earth and could not be taken away. The man or woman who had lost the spirit of this work had done so through his or her own neglect -- through the non observance of the commandments of God. During thirty-eight years of close observation he had seen that those Saints who had faithfully kept the laws of the Lord, who were honest in their dealings, had attended to their duties, and been prayerful in their daily life, were firm and steadfast in the truth today. The speaker counseled the Latter-day Saints to examine their acts closely, to sit in judgment upon themselves, as it were, and see, if needs be, wherein they had lost the gifts of the gospel. They must be a prayerful people, or they would assuredly lose the spirit of this work. Apostle Merrill next dwelt upon the subject of tithing, the strict observance of which he strongly enforced upon his hearers. The payment of tithing was an important matter among the Latter-day Saints. Though some had perhaps parted with thousands of dollars in this way, they yet had an abundance of this world's goods; they were full of faith and greatly blessed of the Lord.
In bearing a strong and earnest testimony to the truth of the latter-day work, the speaker urged the Saints always to be honest and forgiving. They must not encourage hard feelings in their hearts against one another; they could not afford to do this, though the world might do it. He said the Latter-day Saints had the grandest organization on earth, and he pointed with pride to their Sabbath schools, Young Men's and Young Ladies' M. I. associations, and Primary associations. If we keep the commandments of God, he said, we would be sustained in our work and lifted up to a far higher plane than those who now ridiculed and reviled them, and upon whom they looked with pity because of their ignorance.
_____
Apostle John W. Taylor
addressed the Conference, the following being the substance of his remarks:
I desire to be directed in my speaking by the Holy Spirit. I have listened with great interest to the remarks of Elder Merrill. I have paid particular attention to his testimony regarding the truth of this work. Any strangers who may be present will think his declaration in that regard rather remarkable. Our Lord and Savior promised that all who should do His will should know for themselves as to the divine origin of the Gospel. This is the reason why Elder Merrill is able to make such a positive statement of the knowledge he has obtained.
What is necessary to be done in order to be in accord with the will of God and as a result obtain a similar testimony? There are many opinions abroad on this subject. The best source of information is the Scriptures, which Christ commended to the consideration of men in His day. The speaker here read from the sixteenth chapter of St. Mark, showing that baptism by immersion in water, and the obtaining of the holy Ghost, by a prescribed ordinance, were necessary parts of the law of the Gospel. He also dwelt upon the commission given to the servants of God in that age to preach the Gospel, free of charge, to all people. In the same chapter is also a statement of the spiritual signs that were to follow the believer as a result of obedience. An explanation was given by Elder Taylor of the manner in which the divine message was carried to the people by the ancient Apostles and the results of the reception or rejection of their teachings. He next referred to the case of Nicodemus, who visited the Savior under cover of night to make inquiry regarding the steps he should take to obtain salvation, the reply being, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Christ asserted that He testified of things that He had seen and did know. Here then is an instance of a similar character here this morning, Brother Merrill having testified to what he does know. Christ gave other instructions to His servants in the days of the primitive Church. He enjoined them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high. He promised that if they did he would bestow upon them the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, who would instruct them and show them things to come. It is this spirit that imparts this knowledge of the things of God. These are not new doctrines. They are laid down in the Scriptures, which state that the "testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The speaker then dwelt for some time upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit as defined by the Apostle Paul, asserting that people among whom these spiritual manifestations do not exist, are not in possession of the power of God unto salvation. He admonished all his hearers to take the advice of the Apostle Paul and seek earnestly the best gifts. He promised strangers that those who would believe in Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by one holding authority for the remission of them, should receive the Holy Ghost and be able to testify that they had acted in accord with the divine will.
Adjournment till 2 p.m.
The choir sang,
From afar gracious Lord.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[4 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 42:498-500, 4/11/91, p 18-20]
Afternoon
Session.
SATURDAY, April 4th.
The choir sang:
The Spirit of God like a
fire is burning;
The Latter-day glory begins to come forth.
Prayer by Elder Jacob Gates.
Singing:
Lord, Thou wilt hear me when
I pray, I am forever Thine
I fear before Thee all the day, O may I never sin.
Apostle F. M. Lyman
Addressed the Conference, substantially as follows:
As was quoted this morning from the Apostle Paul, no man can say that Jesus is the Christ except by the Holy Ghost, so it is in reference to this work; no man can say Joseph Smith was a Prophet except by that same spirit. These things can only be known by the revelations of the Lord, which come by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We believe we are the children of God, that we are in His likeness, just as we are in the likeness of our parents and our children in ours. We believe in Christ and Him crucified and in His mission to save mankind; that for the cause of salvation He laid down His life and taught the law. His ancient Saints by their faith, repentance and baptism, and having the hands of the servants of God laid upon their heads, received the Holy Ghost. That Spirit bore testimony to them of the mission of the Savior and that their faith was perfect and their repentance genuine.They received testimony that their sins were forgiven. Their faith became so strong that they endured persecution unto death. The history of those things have come down to us. We believe in the resurrection of the body, of which Christ was the first fruit; That His was the great atonement for the sins of man. We believe that those who follow His footsteps will be redeemed and obtain immortality and eternal life. We hold that men to have this faith, must obtain it through repentance and baptism, and receive the Holy Ghost through being pure and just. They must love their fellow men and deal justly by them. They must have the spirit of charity -- the genius of Christ. If they do not they will fall short of a fullness of salvation.
God has sent none of His children to earth without their having the privilege of attaining to eternal life. Those who fail to reach that blessing will have themselves to blame. Man has his agency, and has from the beginning had power to resist evil and accept of and practice righteousness. Men will be judged according to the deeds done in the body. For all good deeds God will reward his children. Such works are the result of the inspiration of the Spirit of the Almighty. All good emanates from that source. All that is wicked comes from the evil one. The inspiration of Satan leads to the destruction of men.
We have the privilege to know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which we have received. He established it and planted his authority on the earth. This knowledge has caused the Saints to gather from the lands of their birth. They have, in numbers of instances, laid down their lives in the cause of truth. Among those who have done so was the Prophet Joseph. We can afford to lay down our lives, when necessary, in such a work. All that we endure for righteousness' sake will redound to our advantage in the life to come. We are to be rewarded for our good works, our endurance, and our labors for truth in the earth. Our lives here are but for a little season. Almost all the old members who were prominent in the Church have passed away. Nearly all who are at the head are new people.
The speaker proceeded to say that the Church had increased in strength from the beginning and that in the future it would not be of less importance than it was today, but would spread abroad, increasing in numbers and righteousness, and the Latter-day Saints would show the effects of the doctrines of the Gospel upon them. It would show in their communities, wards and Stakes as well as in themselves individually. The time was coming when the Latter-day Saints ought to seek to emphasize still more definitely the distinctive features of the Gospel in their lives.
In traveling among the Latter-day Saints difficulties were sometimes found to exist; but he begged of them to vie with each other in seeing who could be the most ready with the spirit of forgiveness. Where there was hardness of heart the Spirit of God could not dwell. In the presence of assembled Israel he warned the Latter-day Saints against the inclination towards stubbornness and unforgivingness. The Spirit of the Lord was full of forgiveness, justice, righteousness, mercy and long suffering, and they could not possibly be true Latter-day Saints without these virtues.
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Apostle Lorenzo Snow
remarked that they were dependent entirely upon the Lord whom they endeavored to serve for that intelligence and instruction, and those qualification, which were essential in order that they might perform the duties and obligations devolving upon them. The Lord had accomplished a great deal for the Latter-day Saints. He had aided them materially in their various experiences, in the trials and temptations to which they had been exposed while endeavoring to carry out His purposes during the last sixty-one years.
In taking a retrospect of their history as a church and people, they could not but feel grateful indeed for the mercies of the Almighty towards them. Referring to the advancement of the Latter-day Saints, morally, spiritually, and financially, the speaker said that during this experience of the last fifty-five years -- since he had been associated with this Church -- he had watched the wonderful strides made in these respects. He dwelt upon the persecutions and trials through which the Saints passed in Nauvoo and Missouri, the sacrifice of their homes and farms, and even the Temple itself, which had been consecrated through the revelations of the Almighty. They submitted to these cheerfully, though it took considerable faith to make the surrender. In Missouri their wives and children tramped over the frozen plains, and in some places their tracks were marked with their blood. Yet despite all these trials, the people grew in strength in the principles which they had espoused. They knew that all these things were of God and that they were suffering for His cause. It was plain to their understanding that the Holy Ghost assisted them; otherwise those sacrifices could never have been made. Various offers came that if they would renounce their principles there would be no cause for sacrifice; but they valued their religion too much to do this.
God had revealed to His chosen people many glorious things. He had enlightened their understandings; because when the Gospel reached them they were in darkness; they knew not God nor His ways. Who could wish for better prospects than were before the Latter-day Saints? What God had revealed in regard to their future was the result of faithfulness in this life in the carrying out of His purposes. It was wonderful what they had been able to do as a people, and they were still growing. More had been accomplished by the Latter-day Saints than by any other people on earth. What more did their persecutors want than they had delivered over to them already? Why did their missionaries go forth and preach the Gospel, while some had even laid down their lives in God's cause? For the good of mankind at large -- because we were the children of God. When men persecuted the Latter-day Saints they knew not what they did. This people would not be satisfied until every knee should bow and acknowledge the Lord as King.
God bless the Latter-day Saints. Let them not be discouraged. There was One at the helm who would not fail them, and the time would come when they would have everything that their hearts desired.
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Apostle Abraham. H. Cannon
was the next speaker, the following being the substance of his discourse: I have listened with great interest to the remarks of the speakers who have preceded me. God has been merciful unto us in imparting His mind and will through these Apostles who have addressed the conference. Though the Church has been organized nearly sixty-one years, it is still in its infancy. The events of the past will in future be considered small compared with those which will yet be developed. When we reflect concerning what God has said about the latter-day Zion, and the great things which are yet to come, we must see that we have scarcely passed the stage of childhood. We have not reached that maturity in which our greatest strength will be exhibited. Notwithstanding this, in comparison with the religious world at large, we are in the brilliant sunshine. In spiritual things the Saints lead the van of progress. In other things we, as a people, occasionally are very deficient. We have not learned how to live as Saints because we have not learned to take care of temporal blessings. We have not yet brought temporal blessings under subjection to the law of God. We are not as just nor forgiving as we should be. We are not as diligent in attending our meetings as we should be. The Gospel plan means temporal as well as spiritual salvation. It relates to time as well as eternity. Unless we learn more fully the temporal lessons of life we will come short of a fullness of blessings. Industries necessary for the future growth and benefit of Zion are not as much encouraged as they ought to be. They languish in consequence of this indifference. It is not possible for Zion to grow and become a heaven to the honorable of the earth unless we take a more consistent course in regard to temporalities. Consider for a moment the financial difficulties passed through of late. It has been deemed necessary to induce capital to come here from abroad to build up the country. Why not put forth our own efforts and establish permanent industries?
In 1875 shortly after the Franco-German war, France had an immense indemnity fund to raise. It was so great that it would seem as if it must crush the nation. Yet it was all paid in an astonishingly short time, and France recently was able to loan England an exceedingly large sum to bridge a financial difficulty. The poor peasantry were able to come to the assistance of their government in paying the indemnity, and the latter pay the interest to their own people. Thus they build up their own country. Why cannot we emulate such an example? The time is foretold in relation to Zion that her people will yet become lenders and not borrowers. These thoughts have come to me while listening to the brethren.
Some people have predicted that the destruction of the Church is near. A greater error could not be made. Those who take this view have not read aright the history of this community.
The speaker went on to state that those who assert that the Church is going to decay, point, as an evidence in that direction, to what they conceive to be the mistakes of the authorities. What they hold to be mistakes are, however, only what was proper should be done under existing conditions at the time the steps were taken. The same class of pessimists regard the act of Adam and Eve in partaking of the forbidden fruit as a calamity to humanity, when it was a part of the divine plan whereby man could be brought to a knowledge of good and evil, and gain an experience that would advance him in the scale of being. A certain class of the contemporaries of Moses condemned the leading of the Israelites out of bondage into the wilderness as a mistake. But the glorious results of the exodus is a manifestation of divine wisdom. The lowly character of the birth of Christ has been regarded by some as a mistake, as it would, in their estimation, have been better for Him to have come into the world under affluent circumstances, so that he might have been received by the rich and the noble. It was deemed a mistake for him to be nailed upon the cross, and even His disciples imagined when it occurred that their calling was gone. Yet that glorious act of sacrifice constituted the atonement of a God for the redemption of humanity. It is the judgment of men not illuminated by the Holy Ghost which commits mistakes. Men's thoughts are not as God's. The men who have led this Church in this dispensation do not make mistakes, although, viewed by individuals devoid of the Holy Spirit, some of their acts may assume that appearance. I testify that President Woodruff who stands at the head of the Church is directed by the revelations of God. So with those associated with him. They may make mistakes in their personal concerns, but the affairs of the Church of Christ are moved forward by the power of inspiration of the Almighty. The Church will not diminish in power, but will increase in every gift and grace and in the power of salvation from this time forward.
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President George Q.
Cannon
said: The allusions to temporal matters which have been made by previous speakers suggest a subject which I think should come before this Conference. You are all doubtless aware that the residents of this neighborhood and Utah County, and also those in the north, have engaged in the erection of a sugar factory-the largest enterprise that has ever been attempted among us in the shape of home manufacture. Our leading men are making great exertions to have this industry established in our midst, and to have the contract which has been made for machinery, etc., carried out in season. It is a business which has been thoroughly approved by those who have taken it into consideration.
There were some doubts entertained at first concerning the practicability of this undertaking, and likewise as to whether or not it would be remunerative. A number of practical men were selected to examine into this. They visited California and other places, and made inquiries into the question of the manufacture of beet sugar. They were perfectly satisfied that it was an industry which could be established here, and made to pay if properly conducted.
Some doubts were expressed concerning the raising of beets in this part of the country of a quality suitable to the production of sugar, as it was feared that there was too much alkali in our soil. Experiments were made in various places as to the raising of the beets, and samples of these were sent to California for analysis. Some were also analyzed here. These analyses set at rest whatever doubts might have been entertained before on this point. Indeed many of the beets were found to exceed in richness of saccharine matter those raised in California. The plant, as you no doubt know, has been located in Utah County.
Now, it is very desirable that we should take hold of this matter as a people; that we should unite in our efforts, and not leave the burden upon the shoulders of the few. The First Presidency have been much exercised, as well as the Twelve, in relation to this business. We started into it before the stringency occurred in the money market. We had gone too far to retreat without loss of prestige, and it was therefore determined to push the affair through.
All our people should take an interest in this question, and it is perhaps necessary to say here that none of those directly concerned in the enterprise have any misgiving as to its success, providing the beets can be raised. But from what we can hear, there is a supineness and indifference on the part of many in this matter that is to be deplored. We could have put the plant in Cache Valley and had a $50,000 bonus, independent of the stock subscribed. The people there were actually willing to give $50,000 to have the sugar factory established in that place, and take stock in addition. But for reasons which seem to be weighty in the minds of those who had the project in charge, it was decided to build the factory where it is now, promises having been made by the people of Utah County which encouraged those taking the initiative. It appears to me that there should be a disposition manifested to carry out those promises now, and that men should be willing-even if at a sacrifice, as some anticipate would be the case-to raise the beets at the price proposed.
We are told by those building the factory-men familiar with the business, and who have been engaged in the manufacture of sugar-that beets can be raised half a dollar cheaper on the ton than has been offered, and persons make a good living at it. The company felt, however, that they should put the price a little higher, and did so; but, no doubt, if the undertaking proves remunerative, and when it gets beyond the experimental stage, the company will be willing to divide any profits there might be with the farmers who raise the beets. But we feel that something should be done energetically. It would be a disgrace to this Territory if we had to import labor here to raise beets for this factory; and yet that will be the necessity to which the company will be driven unless they can make contracts for raising the roots by our own people at home.
We appeal to you-I do so personally on behalf of the company-to the farmers of Utah County, Salt Lake County and of all places within reach of this factory, to devote a portion of your land to the culture of sugar beets this coming spring. It is time that steps were taken in this direction. The only cause for fear we have is of there being a lack of beets. If these can be produced in sufficient quantity, the success of this enterprise is assured.
The contractors can furnish machinery to crush 300 tons of beets per day, and it is thought at a push 350 tons, by an additional expense on their own part. This will require a good many beets, and the employment of a good deal of labor. We should try and keep the money at home and help to keep in our own hands that which we shall otherwise have to send elsewhere.
A committee has been appointed who have the seed, and Bishop Thos. R. Cutler, of Utah County, is the manager. Anyone can also go and make inquiries of Brother Elias Morris, who is the president of the company; and those wishing to subscribe for stock can easily do so by applying to Brother Heber J. Grant, Brother Moses Thatcher or Brother Thos. G. Webber. All further information needed can be obtained on application to Brother Francis Armstrong, chairman of the executive committee, or Brother Leonard G. Hardy. The beet seed that has been imported is now for sale at the store of Hardy, Young & Co., Main Street.
The choir sang the anthem: "O Give Thanks unto the Lord."
Benediction by Apostle Moses Thatcher.
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[4 Apr, 7:30 pm]
[DNW 42:500, 4/11/91, p 20]
Priesthood
Meeting.
At half-past 7 o'clock in the evening a meeting of the Priesthood was held in the Tabernacle. President George Q. Cannon was the opening speaker. The chief points of this discourse were: The responsibilities and duties of those whom he addressed, the falling off from the early practice of the missionaries going out into the nations without purse or scrip, to prove the world; the opportunities for all to do good at home, the importance of attending fast meetings and the payment of offerings for the support of the poor. He concluded with some clear and practical instructions regarding the important duties of Teachers in the Church.
President Woodruff followed. He dwelt for some time upon the responsibility of the brethren in carrying the Gospel to all peoples. In the bestowal of the Priesthood upon men, the Lord had said many were called but few should be chosen, the reason for many not being among those of final selection being that they set their hearts too much upon the things of this world to the neglect of their higher duties. He explained the importance and power that could be exercised in prayer, and exhorted those present to take a wise and progressive course in matters pertaining to the temporal welfare of the people.
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[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 42:500-503, 4/11/91, p 20-23]
SECOND DAY.
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SUNDAY, April 5th.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation, ye
Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word.
Prayer by Elder John Morgan.
The choir sang:
Hark, listen to the
trumpeters! They sound for volunteers;
On Zion's bright and flowery mount Behold the officers.
President Wilford Woodruff.
After a few prefatory observations, said he never wished to address any body of people upon the Gospel of Christ unless he could do so by the Spirit and inspiration of Almighty God; and that was his feeling this morning.
Those who were at Conference yesterday listened to some very strong testimonies presented by the Apostles. There was one discourse in particular to which he desired now to refer; that of Brother Abraham H. Cannon, who alluded to the views of certain persons as to the great mistakes which had been made in this world, some of them by people calling themselves Prophets, Apostles, and Saints of God. One of these alleged mistakes was in God permitting Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit; another was the mistake made in the Savior being born in a stable and cradled in a manger, instead of his coming as a conqueror, as the leader of the inhabitants of the earth; another was that the Apostles and Prophets ceased to have revelations when Joseph Smith died. It was to these principles that he wished to refer.
When the Prophet Joseph was called of God to lay the foundation of this Church and kingdom he was a mere boy. His first prayer to the God of heaven was offered when he was only fourteen or fifteen years of age. He had read and studied the scriptures previously and was anxious to know what religious sect to join. An answer came to him from the Lord thereon. The heavens were opened; God the Father and God the Son appeared to him, and the Father said, "This is My beloved Son; hear ye Him." The history of Joseph Smith from that time until he organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on the 6th of April, 1830, was a constant scene of revelation and visitation. His counselors were the angels -- those who held the Priesthood in the flesh while on the earth and administered upon this continent to the sons of Adam, to the children of Israel who dwelt here. They were his teachers and continued to be so until he was called to organize this Church and Kingdom upon the foundation laid by the ancient apostles and prophets, "Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone."
The speaker said he would like to ask that assembly of Latter-day Saints what power would the Prophets of God in those early days have had to organize and build up the Church of Christ upon earth unless they had been taught either by the angels of God or the Lord Himself? There was no other way; and every step that the Prophet Joseph took, up to the very day of his death, was a proof of this.
Any man or woman who read the Book of Doctrine and Covenants would find there a code of the most sublime revelations ever given by God to mankind True, Joseph Smith was illiterate, in a measure, so far as learning was concerned; but those who had read those revelations could see that no ignorant boy, without inspiration, could have prepared such a code. It required revelation almost every day. When this code of revelations was given, after the Church was organized, with Prophets, Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, High Councilors, Elders and Teachers, it was not particularly necessary while those revelations were before the people that the Lord should give special written revelation to President Young, though the latter had revelations. He had the power and Spirit of God with him; it was a living witness day by day to guide and direct him in all the works which he had to perform here in the flesh. What he accomplished had shown this. He (the speaker) wanted to make these remarks because he did not know to what extent the minds and feelings of the Latter-day Saints might be led in these channels.
The God of heaven had not forsaken the Presidency of this Church. He had not closed the heavens against them nor those associated with them. His Spirit and power were with this people, and would never be withdrawn from them up to the time of the coming of the Son of Man.
President Woodruff next adverted to some of the early missionaries of the Church, including Orson Pratt, Parley Pratt and Orson Hyde, who were ordained Elders and sent forth to work in the Lord's vineyard and to warn the world. They held the Priesthood, they had authority to preach the Gospel of Christ to the children of men. He asked the congregation, had not Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, backed up the testimony which had been borne by these men and scores of other missionaries since their day? Where would Utah and its inhabitants have been today but for Latter-day Saints? It would have been a barren desert, just as they found it on the 24th of April [July], 1847.
Turning to the subject of the Priesthood, the speaker remarked that they could trace the history of Israel, the dealings of God with men, from the time of Father Adam down. Not an iota of evidence could be adduced proving that a man ever went forth, called of God, and successfully preached the Gospel of Christ without he bore the Holy Priesthood. The Lord had chosen the weak things of the earth to confound the wise. This had been the nature of His dealings with men in every age, and thus it was that humble men had been called in this last dispensation of the fulness of times to go forth and warn the generations in the midst of which we stood today.
Great responsibilities rested upon the shoulders of all Latter-day Saints, and the leaders of Israel would be held responsible before high heaven in the day of judgment for the manner in which they exercised their Priesthood. He advised the Saints to read section 121 Doctrine and Covenants, relating to the Lord's answer to the Prophet Joseph's prayer. This was, he said, one of the mightiest revelations that God had ever given to man, and it has been fulfilled. The Lord had said, "Many are called but few are chosen." Why was this? Because their hearts were set so much upon the things of this world. The rights of the Priesthood were inseparably connected with the heavens, and the heavens could be controlled only on the principles of righteousness. The people would understand this. The Lord would not withdraw himself from this work, for He had set His hand to fulfil the promises made through the mouths of inspired men.
Some of the brethren on the previous day bore testimony that this Church was the work of God. They certainly would not be qualified to preach the Gospel and undertake to build up Zion if they did not know this. And how did they know it? By the revelations of Jesus Christ, by the inspiration of Almighty God, that Spirit which belonged to every man who was faithful to his covenants. The testimony that we had in our day and generation was the same as was given in every age of the world.
Speaking next of the gifts and graces which had attended this Church and those who labored in it both at home and abroad, President Woodruff said he did not refer to this in any mere spirit of boasting. No member of the Church could undertake to preach to the people unless moved upon by the inspiration of God. What man was there that ever arose to speak on the stand who knew before hand what he was going to say? If anyone else did, certainly he himself did not. These principles were before them, and they knew them to be true. He prayed to God his Heavenly Father that their hearts might be united. He could say for himself that if the inspiration of the Holy Spirit had not been with him, he would have been in his grave years ago, and hundreds more with him. If the Lord had not been with him in his travels many a time he would have been lost. President Woodruff in this connection, mentioned a remarkable incident. On one occasion he said he was in charge of a company of Saints numbering upwards of one hundred. They had engaged passage on a steamboat at Pittsburgh; but the Spirit of God said to him, "Do not go," and but for that the entire company would doubtless been lost. They did not go, but went by another boat. The one by which they were to have gone took fire at night some five miles down the river and all on board were lost either by fire or water. So the Spirit of God had been with them all through this work.
It was the duty of all to pray, and one of the requests which he had to make of the Latter-day Saints was to be a prayerful people. They did not pray enough. They should go before the Lord in their secret place and plead with Him to guide and direct them in all the affairs of this transitory life. When the prayers of 100,000 Latter-day Saints reached the Lord they were always heard and answered.
The Lord would build up Zion. He would establish His work and gather Israel together. They had to warn the world, so that all would be left without excuse in the day of judgment. The earth was heavily burdened with the sins of its inhabitants, and they were even increasing, causing pain and affliction on every hand. But before the judgments came the Lord had raised up men to warn the world, and he prayed that those warnings would not be without effect.
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Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
was the next speaker. He greatly rejoiced to hear President Woodruff speak with such vigor and power in his great age, and that he was spared in the providence of God to give counsel unto the people. The labors of such men are needed among us; for the powers of darkness are tremendous in their opposition to the Church of God. This work, which seems now so great, is still in its infancy, and the latter-day Saints have need to cultivate every grace and virtue of the Gospel.
We have been complained of as being exclusive. We have been made so because those who have not known us have been filled with such falsehoods that the very name of a "Mormon" has been odious to them. They have thought themselves holier than the Latter-day Saints. But the Lord is making His Gospel and its power felt in the earth. The Gospel is true, and this is being demonstrated by the people of God. We have learned by practical demonstrations that this is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as the ancient Apostles taught and practiced, and for which they laid down their lives. It is the same Gospel that the Lord promised Adam should abide in the earth until the end of the world. The leaven of this Gospel is being placed in the earth, and it has got to stay here till it shall leaven the whole lump. None need flatter themselves that they will get us out of the way. The Lord has put us here and we are here to stay. The spirit of the work is increasing upon us. The more intense the strife, the more determined does it make every Latter-day Saint feel that he will stand to the truth.
Latter-day Saints should strive to the uttermost to sanctify the Lord God in their hearts, and live so as to make every desire of our heart to be subservient to His honor. In the providences of God we shall be mixed with the human family, and we should have within us the leaven of righteousness and charity, so that these qualities may be manifest to those with whom we come in contact. We are apt to have small notions regarding some things. The Lord says His ways are not as our ways, and His thoughts not as our thoughts. This is exemplified in our daily lives. How many have laid plans and devised means to accomplish certain things, and have found themselves thwarted in their narrow plans? But by and by they find themselves coming out beyond where they expected. This is the way the Lord deals with His children. A notable illustration of this is found in the Scripture. A certain woman came to the Savior and asked that one of her sons should sit on His right hand and the other on His left, in His Kingdom. She felt, doubtless, that if that could be granted her she could depart in peace. What was the outcome? Why, the Savior declared that these two sons should be among the twelve men who should sit on thrones, judging the whole house of Israel. What she had asked was a small matter compared to this.
The speaker bore a strong testimony to the truth of the work of God. He testified that the truth will triumph, and that the blessings and gifts which have been promised will be realized by the faithful. In the hearts of those who are righteous the light of the truth will be increased and intensified, and their pathway will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. New revelation is not needed every week and every month concerning the order of the Church. The Lord has established that. but we need revelation for ourselves. We need to have the Spirit in us day by day, keep the commandments of God, walk in His statutes, and subdue our wayward ways and feelings unto Him. We should seek diligently to increase in knowledge, in faith, and in good works, so that we may glorify our Father in heaven. Then when the salt comes to be scattered abroad it will exert its saving and hallowing influence. having retained its strength, it will have the effect to season and bless all with whom we come in contact. But if the salt loses its savor, it becomes good for nothing but to be trodden under the feet of men. How thankful we ought to be that these things are revealed to us. While the world is going headlong to destruction, our eyes have been permitted to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand the truth. The work of God will prosper, and when we go hence we shall rejoice with those that have gone before, and shall be glad for that which we leave behind.
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Apostle Moses Thatcher
was the next speaker. He said in substance:
I have listened with great pleasure to the remarks made by the speakers at this conference and have been highly vilified by the remarks of our President and the testimonies that have been borne. It does not appear that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is at the point of decay. I believe the presence of this vast audience is a testimony that the work of God is not going to decline. The great distinction between the work of God and that of man is, that His works never decay, while mortal man's work bears in it the elements of destruction. God's works are eternal.
I have been reflecting lately, upon the accusation which the Saints have been subjected to by those who know them not, with reference to their loyalty as citizens. We are told in the public print that we advocate the union of church and state; that our doctrines tend to form the idea that the Church must be dominant, and that the allegiance of its members is given to the Church. Now I do not see how an individual can feel loyal to any government unless he is loyal to the maker of that government. He is most ready to defend the constitution of the land, who is ready to conform to the laws of the Maker of the world.
We should not be judged by those who know us not and whose object is to vilify us. No person jealous of our prosperity can be a just judge. I recently read in an anti-Catholic paper a serious charge made by an apostate from the Catholic church, intending to prove that President Lincoln was assassinated by Catholics, and that the deed was sanctioned by the Pope. I merely refer to these statements, but I have long since learned that assertions from apostates must be received with great allowance. I am not prepared to believe that the Catholics would have a priesthood guilty of a crime so damnable. I do not wish to dwell upon this except to show that there is a tendency among apostates to speak evil against their former associates.
I now wish to refer to the doctrines of the Church, and to show that the revelations do not teach a union between Church and State. We should be judged by our own writings, and not by those who are prejudiced against us.
The speaker quoted from the Doctrine and Covenants, section lviii, 29 and following, and also Sec, ci, 76, 80. There is not space at command for the insertions of the quotations.
Here the Lord says distinctly that He established the constitution of the land, in order that liberty and freedom should be extended to all. His command to the people is to obey the laws of the land. God has clearly drawn the line between the boundaries of civil government and freedom of worship.
The speaker proved this from Jer. 27, where it is stated that God had made the king of Babylon the ruler over the kingdoms of the world. Now there were among the rulers of the empire, three young Hebrews. These, we must presume, knew that the king held his authority from God. And yet, when the monarch commanded them to worship the image he had erected, they refused, and the event has been recorded in order to show us that there was a clear distinction between the freedom of worship and civil government. The king was told by these young men that they did not know whether God would protect them or not, but this they knew, that they would not worship the image. They felt that the king in commanding them to do so had overstepped his bounds. Well, the heat of the fiery furnace was intensified, but the three young heroes were delivered and the result was that the haughty king praised and glorified God, who was able to deliver his faithful servants from the greatest peril.
Daniel, too, was cast into a lion's den, having been entrapped by those who were jealous of his prosperity, but this king was soon led to recognize the true facts in the case, and he decreed that the vile plotters should receive the penalty which they had intended for Daniel. They were, therefore, with their whole families, cast before the lions, and the bones of the wicked were crushed between the teeth of the wild beasts.
Our Savior, also, when his enemies sought to entrap Him in order to put Him into the clutches of the law, distinctly defined the difference between that which belongs to God and the civil government. He was asked if it was right to pay tribute to the emperor, and his answer was, "Render unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's and unto God the things which be God's."
When in the fourth century Constantine attempted, by imperial decree, to unite church and state by making the Christian religion the State religion, the evil effects of the unauthorized alliance commenced at once to appear, and finally culminated in the bloody Inquisition, in which, it is said, sixty millions of people fell victims to religious persecution. The history of the Paulines, Waldenses, Huguenots, Covenanters and others, show how tragic and cruel that persecution was. In the establishment of this government, with its inspired national charter, God put a check to the fruit of that unholy alliance, and reaffirmed the divine words of Christ, "Render unto Caesar the things which be Caesars and unto God the things which be God's." Should the first amendment of the Constitution ever be over-ridden, sorrow and bloodshed cannot fail to follow and the history of the past will be repeated.
We are not disloyal to the Constitution, the greatest charter of liberty ever given to man, for we know that it was given by inspiration, and this grand instrument prohibits the enactment of laws against liberty of worship.
Yet there are associations in this republic which ask for that which we are accused of doing.
The speaker related some incidents connected with the Sunday laws which have been framed especially to invade the rights of one class of people
"Let the eyes of the nation," it has been said "cease to look at the mote in the eye of Utah and turn to the beam in the eyes of others." For the question of Church and State is really before the nation.
The following extract was read to illustrate the situation.
"Again the national Reform Association propose to turn this government into a Kingdom of Christ, and the woman's Christian Temperance Union in national convention 1887 said: "The Woman's Christian Temperance Union local, State, National and world-wide, has one vital organic thought, one all-absorbing purpose, one undying enthusiasm, and that is that Christ shall be this world's King in its realm of cause and effect, King of the courts, its camps, its commerce -- King of its colleges and cloisters -- King of its customs and constitutions. . . . The Kingdom of Christ must enter the realm of law through the gateway of politics. In conformity with the above ideas national reformers have bestowed upon the Savior the title of The Divine Politician."
Here we see that the Women's Christian Temperance Union endorse the idea of the National Reform Association, to turn this government into a kingdom of Christ.
God has given the laws of the Church, and in them He commands us to obey the law of the land. We have proven our loyalty in many ways. We know that God lives, that Christ lives and that He stood on the pulpit in the temple at Kirtland, proclaiming that He who died now lives. It is because we believe this and are willing to bear testimony to the truth thereof that we are accused of disloyalty. But we are not disloyal. We were driven from Kirtland, from Jackson County, Missouri, and from Nauvoo, and we came out to this wilderness, then Mexican territory, and planted the flag of our country, the emblem of liberty, on Ensign Peak. We then knocked at the door of the nation for admittance into the Union. The speaker depicted the loyalty of the people and predicted the triumph of truth, of liberty and the glorious work and destiny of the Saints. It will yet be shown when millions flock to the banner of liberty, that our hands never wavered. Then we will no longer be objects of suspicion, and may God speed the day; And then we will not retaliate, but like Joseph of old, we will throw our arms around those who sold us and weep for joy at the re-union between us.
The choir sang:
Let the mountains shout for joy,
and the whole congregation afterwards joined in singing the Doxology.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 42:503, 4/11/91, 23]
Afternoon
Session.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Praise to the man who
communed with Jehovah, Jesus Anointed that Prophet and Seer,
Blessed to open the last Dispensation, Kings shall extol him and nations
revere.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
The choir sang the anthem:
How beautiful upon the mountains.
The sacrament was administered, the Priesthood of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth wards officiating.
President George Q. Cannon
addressed the conference. He read from the writings of Abraham -- as they appear in the Pearl of Great Price -- the passage showing how the father of the faithful was called of God and the feelings that animated him, his great desire being to become a producer of righteousness. Among the points of the discourse were the covenants of God, through the Priesthood, with the fathers and their effects upon the latters' posterity; the origin, earthly mission and destiny of man, as made clear to the Saints by revelation; the objects of the Saints in building holy temples, chief among them being the performance therein of sacred ordinances which would, as the work progressed, bind the human family together from Adam to the latest generations; the fulfilment of the covenants made by the Lord with ancient Israel concerning their descendants in these days, which were about to begin to be fulfilled; the comprehensive nature of the Gospel; its saving power reaching the dead as well as the living. The concluding part of the remarks was devoted to showing the necessity of young men in the community marrying, and of the ordinance of marriage being performed in the way in which God has appointed -- by His authority. A synopsis of the discourse could not give an adequate idea of it, therefore there is no attempt to present one.
_____
Apostle Heber J. Grant
said he rejoiced at the testimonies which had been borne by his brethren during this conference. There was no joy that the Latter-day Saints had ever felt equal to that experienced by those who, while abroad, proclaimed the principles of the Gospel. The bringing of souls to a knowledge of the truth, laboring for the upbuilding of God's Kingdom, was the greatest work that they as Latter-day Saints could be engaged in. If the Elders of Israel were as ready and willing to respond in all matters as they were to go forth and preach the Gospel to mankind, no power on earth or in hell could retard the onward progress of this work. Indeed, there existed no power that could check it now, even though they might be negligent in some things. But they, as a people, would move forward with greater rapidity if they were as faithful in all other directions as that in which he had mentioned. Call on a Latter-day Saint for a donation of a few hundred dollars, and he would sometimes hesitate, and many a time refuse, to respond to the call. Ask the same man, however, to make a sacrifice of his time for several years, and neglect his business in order to enable him to proclaim abroad the principles of the Gospel and, as a rule, he would yield cheerfully.
It had been remarked that some persons felt that the work of God was decaying, that the Church had not the same power it formerly possessed, and that those holding responsible positions in it had not the same influence. He wished to bear his testimony that this assertion was not true, and in proof of his refutation the speaker pointed to the crowded condition of the Tabernacle that day, as well as the overflow congregation in the adjacent building. People were occasionally heard to say, "Oh that we could have the meetings of former days and the same joy that accompanied them." When he heard an individual making a remark of that kind, he at once recognized that the Spirit of God no longer dwelt with him. He himself had never known the day when he rejoiced more in the principles of the Gospel than now; and this should apply to all who faithfully kept the commandments of God. There was no stronger evidence of neglect of Christian duty than for a man or woman to be longing for the testimony of the Spirit previously enjoyed.
A man might now and again be heard to say "Tithing -- I an sick and tired of hearing about it; why cannot they talk of something else?" Such a remark as that plainly told the nature of the individual who uttered it; for he defied them as Latter-day Saints to find the man who lived strictly up to what was required of him in a religious sense, and who was himself obeying the law of tithing, that was ever tired of hearing that principle talked of.
There were some persons who asserted that they did not believe in the existence of a God; but no man on the face of the earth could say this in all honesty. There was something in the heart of every man that told him there was a God; no human being was ever born without a spark of divinity in his nature. A man denied his own very existence when he undertook to declare "There is no God." The apostate "Mormon" -- he who had once received a testimony of the truth and then turned away from it -- realized that there was but one hope for him, and that was to destroy the work of God. In the course of conversation some time ago a gentleman said to him, "Mr. Grant, the great objection I have to your religion is that when a man has once been a Mormon, and then turns away from it, he can be nothing else. Outside of your church he can be a good Methodist or good Episcopalian today, tomorrow he can be a good Congregationalist, and next day a good Baptist; but if a man turns away from Mormonism, why he has no religion, he has no faith, and he is a pagan." His reply to this was,"My friend, the strongest testimony on earth to the reasoning faculties that I possess as an individual, as to the truths of Mormonism so-called is this very condition of the apostate Mormon." It was a fulfilment of the scriptures. When men had received the light and that light went out, how great was the darkness!
When men had once known that the Gospel was true, and then through sin and iniquity lost the spirit, their lives were beclouded; they realized that they had left the truth; and that was the reason why they would not join with any other religion. When men proclaimed against the gospel and displayed a feeling of vindictiveness against others their minds were lit up not by the Spirit of God, not by the light and intelligence which came from heaven, but that which came from beneath.
He prayed to God to help the Latter-day saints to be true to their covenants and to direct their steps aright.
The choir sang the anthem,
Grant us Peace, O Lord.
Benediction by Apostle John Henry Smith.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 42:503-505, 4/11/91, p 23-25]
In consequence of the Large Tabernacle being unable to accommodate the general assembly of the Saints an
OVERFLOW
MEETING
was held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, April 5, 1891, commencing at 2 o'clock p.m.
Apostle F. M. Lyman presided.
The choir sang:
Zion stands with hills surrounded.
Prayer by Bishop Geo. H. Taylor.
The choir sang:
'Twas on that dark, that solemn night.
The Nineteenth Ward Bishopric and Teachers administered the Sacrament.
Elder John Morgan
spoke concerning the favorable circumstances surrounding the Church at the present time -- sixty-one years after its first organization -- considering the hardships and persecutions to which its members had constantly been subject in times past. Our settlements, which extend from Canada in the north into Mexico in the south, teem with their tens of thousands, many of whom have been gathered from the different nations of the earth. Though so many different nationalities are represented in the Church, there should be no division or class distinction among us on national lines; all sectional organizations, representing classes and nationalities, should be discouraged wherever and whenever they tend to divide the people and create clannishness. One object of the Gospel of Christ is to make all true followers of the Redeemer one, and to establish a common brotherhood in which all class distinctions and national differences should be forever obliterated. One should not feel himself above another, because of the land that gave him birth, and no derision on account of nationality should be tolerated in the midst of the Saints. We should share all our privileges and rights on equal principles, the same as we enjoy certain rights and benefits as citizens of our great common country, whether we are American born or have become citizens by adoption.
We should also be kind and forbearing to those who are not of us, even to our enemies who persecute us, and are endeavoring to bring trouble upon us, for in many instances they do not know what they are doing. Christ and His disciples were also derided, slandered, persecuted and martyred, but the virtues of these Former-day Saints have been recognized by following generations, and today they are honored among the children of men; so, also, will the Latter-day Saints, in course of time, become known throughout the world and be accepted on their true merits for what they really are, and not for what their enemies represent them to be at the present time.
_____
Elder Joseph M. Tanner
referred to what the Gospel had already done towards destroying national feelings and sectionalism among the Saints, and thus we have been enabled to accomplish by our union that which otherwise would have been impossible. The Saints are looking forward to the great reward promised the faithful, in which they have implicit confidence. Their aim is set high, their aspirations are noble and good, their ambition is commendable, and their hearts are bent on possessing the eternal riches of heaven. While many ambitious men of the world have set their aim high and through their perseverance and determination have succeeded in obtaining power and dominion on the earth, the Saints are patiently awaiting the results of their labors of love and look with much interest to the final outcome of the great war which is continually raging between the powers of darkness and the intelligences of heaven. And they will obtain all they desire in righteousness if they continue faithful and true to the end.
_____
Elder B. H. Roberts
said that the presence of so many thousands of Saints at this annual conference of the Church was in itself great evidence to him of the truth of the great Latter-day work: The Spirit of God is certainly moving upon the people and inspires them to gather together to learn of the ways of the Lord. So far we have not, as individuals, nor as a people, passed through any experience or difficulty that has not been calculated to benefit us. The Lord will cause His people to pass through such ordeals as will do them the most good, and give each one of us the experience most needed. by this means only will we be able to attain to that exalted position for which we are aiming. At the time the Saints were being driven out of Missouri Joseph the Prophet passed through most trying scenes, but as he lay incarcerated in a dreary dungeon, together with several of his brethren, the Lord spoke comforting words to his soul, and explained to him, at least in part, why He allowed His servants thus to suffer. Says the Lord (Doc. and Cov., 122:3-8):
"The people shall never be
turned against thee by the testimony of traitors; and although their influence
shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in
honor and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the
midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and
thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass
through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in
perils among robbers, if thou art accused with all manner of false accusations;
if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy
father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine
enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife and of thine offspring * * * * And
if thou shouldst be cast into the pit or into the hands of murderers, and the
sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the
billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if
the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way,
and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after
thee, know thou, my son, that these things shall give thee experience, and
shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all; art thou
greater than He?"
Of the many great and glorious revelations given to the Prophet Joseph perhaps none of them contain greater promises than this one. In that time many prominent men in the Church turned against the Prophet, and became traitors to him and the work of God, but they did not succeed in turning the hearts of the Saints away form him, nor did their opposition to him harm in the least degree in the final outcome. As it was with the prophet Joseph so will it be with all the Latter-day Saints, who prove faithful to their God and His cause. Then let persecution continue to rage and bring what it will; let there be another exodus and another breaking up of homes and sacrifice of worldly possessions, yea let death come in its worst forms, or chains and slavery, it will all be for our good, and we have no grounds for fear.
The speaker then read an extract from another revelation , in which the Lord commands his people to "renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children" (Doc. & Cov. 98:16-17), and then said it was a strange fact that notwithstanding the peaceful mission of the Latter-day Saints in behalf of both the living and the dead, they should be defamed and denounced as a wicked and bloodthirsty people, and be accused of disloyalty and numerous other crimes entirely unknown among us. Peace on earth and good will to man is and has always been our motto, and nothing could be farther from the truth than the accusation that we are a rebellious and war-like people. Truth, however, though slow in its progress, will prevail at last, and establish itself on the ruins of falsehood. And where revolution may succeed revolution, society be destroyed and virtue and truth be trampled under foot by the wicked and ungodly, these mountain valleys shall preserve the virtues, strength and elements of truth which shall finally renovate the earth and restore its inhabitants once more to their original purity and happiness.
_____
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
said he had learned to acknowledge the truth of the saying that there needs be opposition in all things, trials and difficulties are necessary to purify the Saints, and it is a positive fact that the work of God has made the greatest progress in the midst of persecution, and opposition. It is very doubtful whether our missionaries who have gone abroad would have made much progress in their various fields of labor, if they had not encountered opposition. It is said that when the first Elders who brought the fullness of the Gospel to the nation of Great Britain reported the opposition they met with there, both from the seen and unseen world, the Prophet Joseph rejoiced and declared that he knew the mission would prove a success, which it did. Likewise in Scandinavia, where so many have joined the church, and in other lands, where the Gospel has been successfully preached, did the Elders meet with opposition in their endeavors to establish the banner of truth, and in many instances they were imprisoned and suffered much for the testimony they bore; but all this brought most glorious fruits. The Saints therefore, should not regret the fact that their enemies oppose them or that they are called upon to pass through persecution and sufferings for the truth's sake; only weak minds yield to opposition; the strong persevere and gain the victory. Most of the scientific truths which have been introduced into this world have met with bitter opposition at first, and their advocated have in many instances been looked upon as madmen, and have been derided and persecuted; but as years have rolled on, their truths have been accepted and their inestimable benefits to mankind recognized. Thus will truth always triumph in the end.
We should not discourage those among us who set their aim high and who are ambitious to do good. There is no height and no position that can not be reached by the Latter-day Saints if they are faithful, persevering and actuated by good motives.
The speaker then referred to the position taken by Abraham of old in refusing to worship the idols of his native land, notwithstanding his father's displeasure, and the king's reprimand; and when he was encouraged to worship fire, water, and the clouds, the winds, and other powers, he chose to worship the true author of these elements -- the great God of heaven. If Abraham could take this noble stand in the midst of heathen opponents, should not the latter-day Saints be able to cope successfully with the opposition placed in their pathway and serve the true and living God amid trials and persecutions?
The choir sang the anthem:
How beautiful upon the mountains.
Benediction by Elder Andrew Jenson.
_____
[6 Apr, 10 am*]
[DNW 42:505-506, 4/11/91, p 25-26]
THIRD DAY.
_____
April 6th.
MORNING SESSION.
We thank Thee. O God, for a
prophet, To guide us in these latter days:
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel, To lighten our minds with its rays.
Was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
The choir sang:
Sweet is Thy name, my God,
my King.
To praise Thy name, give thanks and sing.
THE
AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
Counselor to to the Twelve Apostles -- John W. Young.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, with their Counselor, as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Henry Herriman, Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynonds.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as General Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amos Howe, Anton H. Lund, James Sharp.
The voting in every instance was unanimous.
_____
President
Wilford Woodruff
said that as the report of only one of their societies was complete, that would be the only one read to the congregation this morning. To give incomplete reports would be misleading.
In submitting the report of the Ladies' Relief Society he would like to remark that credit was due to that body of the latter-day Saints for the work which they had accomplished. They had done an immense amount of good for many years in feeding the poor, administering to the necessities of the needy, assisting the Bishops, and the church and Kingdom of God in many ways. The blessings of the Lord would rest upon them, as it would upon all the Saints who did their duty.
THE LADIES' RELIEF SOCIETY
report was then read by President George Q. Cannon. It gave the following exhibit:
Disbursements for charitable
and other purposes $ 13,672.86
Cash, real estate and other property now on hand 41,217.09
In addition to above property there are 45,485 bushels of wheat on hand.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
delivered a discourse in which he showed that the Church had been led by the revelations of God from the time of its establishment in this dispensation, on the sixth of April, 1830, until the present. He supported this position by explaining some of the glorious principles which had been revealed, and historical facts which showed plainly that the Almighty was directing His work, constantly inspiring His servants at the head of it on earth with the revelations of His Spirit. He predicted that the Lord would continue at the helm of His Church and would never forsake it. It would not be appropriate to give a synopsis of the discourse.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 42:553-555, 4/25/91, p 1-3; CD 2:206-211]
DISCOURSE
Delivered by President Wilford Woodruff at the General
Conference,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Monday Morning, April 6, 1891
_____
I have a
few thoughts and reflections I would like to present to my friends, the
Latter-day Saints. Fifty-two years ago the twenty-sixth day of this month I
stood upon the Temple Block in Far West. Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Parley P.
Pratt and others were in prison. The Lord had given a revelation and commanded
us, as the Apostles, to go there upon that occasion to lay the foundation of
that Temple. He appointed a day and a date on which we were commanded to
perform this work. Then all was peace in Caldwell County, where we dwelt. The
Lord perfectly understood what would take place before that time came. When the
time came to fulfil this revelation the Latter-day Saints were in Illinois,
they having been driven out of Missouri. The spirit of opposition was so great
that our lives were in jeopardy in returning there to perform the revelation.
When the day came for us to go there our Prophet was in prison for the Word of
God and testimony of Jesus. When we conversed with our patriarch and leading
men, they said the Lord would take the will for the deed. They did not think it
was wisdom for us to go; for Missourians had sworn by all the gods in existence
that if all the other revelations and prophesies of "Joe Smith" had
been fulfilled, that this one should not be, because there was a day and date
to it. After hearing the views of Father Smith and others of the brethren,
Brother Brigham Young asked the Twelve what their feelings were with regard to
this. We told Brother Brigham that the Lord God had spoken and we were ready to
obey, and leave the event in His hands. We did. We went there. We arrived at
that place, according to that revelation and commandment, on the 26th day of
April, 1839. We laid the corner stone of that Temple, with Father Cutler, who
had been appointed to oversee that building. After that stone was laid we knelt
upon it, and Brother Geo. A. Smith and myself, who had been called by
revelation to fill the places of some who had fallen, were ordained Apostles
under the hands of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Pratt, John Taylor
and John E. Page. There was a number present. But they are all today in the
spirit world, excepting myself, so far as I know. I name this, because I wish
to say here to this congregation that during these fifty-two years that are
past and gone I have had the opportunity of bearing my testimony to many of the
nations of the earth and islands of the seas and to the Latter-day Saints. And
as I know not how long I may still have this privilege in the flesh, I feel it
my duty to bear my testimony today to this people upon a few principles, and
one is the subject upon which I treated a little yesterday.
There are
a few people who profess to believe that the Church has not had the living
principle of revelation from heaven and the blessings of God with it since the
death of the Prophet Joseph as it had while he lived. I want to say to these
Latter-day Saints that I traveled with Joseph Smith a thousand miles in 1834
for the redemption of our brethren in Missouri. There are perhaps half a dozen
men in this congregation today who were in that camp [Zion's camp]. We were
with that Prophet of God. We heard his testimonies. We saw his revelations
fulfilled. I was with him when he received that revelation given on Fishing
River. Of course, we know that he was a Prophet of God, and that he held the
keys of the kingdom of God. We knew the inspiration of Almighty God was with
him, and that when he prophesied it came to pass. Those who are here today,
Brother Gates, Brother Noble, and perhaps others, who were present on that
occasion, will remember the day that Joseph Smith called the camp together. We
were all well. There was no disease nor sickness in our camp. But he told us
what awaited us. He gave us to understand that there was to be a chastisement
visit our camp. He told us the reason. He had given counsel to the brethren
with regard to many things, and a number of them had disobeyed that counsel.
They did not understand and appreciate fully his position and standing as a
Prophet of God. "Yes," says he, "you think of me as a boy, like
the rest of you, but you will understand soon that I occupy a position where
God governs and controls me." Those who were present know the feelings
that we had. There was not a dry eye in camp. He stood upon a wagon and told us
the judgments of God would visit our camp and we would be chastised. These
things came to pass. The day that we landed the destroying angel visited our
camp, and, of course, there was sorrow. I do not know the number that went to
the grave, but somewhere about fourteen, I think. Then we understood that we
had a Prophet in our midst. We knew very well that what he said would come to
pass. Well, everything that was done in that camp, going and returning, a
record of it, in a measure, has been kept. During that thousand miles journey
the word of the Lord was given unto us, and we fully understood we were being
led by a Prophet of God. We realized that all the way through that mission.
Now, I
want to say that I have traveled with Joseph Smith a good deal in my day. I was
associated with him more or less from the spring of 1834 to the day of his
death. I know, as do my brethren who were associated with him, that he was a
Prophet of God-one of the greatest prophets God ever raised upon the earth. As
I said yesterday, he received revelations upon every subject necessary for the
organization of the Church-the organization of the Twelve Apostles; of the
Seventies, of the High Councils, of the Bishops, etc. The Lord gave revelations
upon all these things, until we had the pattern set before us. He laid the
foundation of a great work in this the greatest dispensation God ever gave to
man. So much in testimony of Brother Joseph Smith.
In 1847 I
likewise traveled one thousand miles with Brother Brigham Young, the man who
was called to lead Israel after the Prophet Joseph's death. There is a number
in this house who came in the pioneer company. We had in Zion's Camp two
hundred and five souls. We had in the Pioneer Camp one hundred and forty-five,
I believe. And I can testify before God, angels and men that the same power,
and the same spirit of revelation were manifest in his work up to the day of
his death as were manifest in the work of the Prophet Joseph. It is true,
Joseph Smith's life was short. The Savior labored only three and a half years,
after He entered into the ministry, before He was crucified. The Prophet Joseph
labored fourteen years before he was martyred. President Brigham Young lived
longer. He led this Church quite a number of years. I was with him when he came
into this valley. I was in the same carriage with him. He was taken sick on the
Weber. A number of the camp were taken sick, caused, no doubt, by the change in
coming to these mountains from the region we had left. He began to recover from
the hour that he entered into this valley. He came here, and what did he do? I
will name a few circumstances. He pitched camp some distance southeast of here.
The next morning he and the Twelve who came with him took a walk. He had been
quite feeble, but he was then able to walk with the assistance of his staff. We
walked along until we came to this Temple Block. It was covered with sagebrush.
There was no mark to indicate that God ever intended to place anything there.
But while walking along Brother Brigham stopped very suddenly. He stuck his
cane in the ground and said, "Right here will stand the great Temple of our
God." We drove a stake in the place indicated by him, and that particular
spot is situated in the middle of the Temple site. One of the first things
President Young did after he got here was to order the preparing of a block
down here, called the Old Fort, where the camp could gather to. This country
then was very desolate, covered with wild sage, and that pretty near dead, too.
There was hardly anything here with life, owing to the excessive dryness. We
went to work and surrounded this ten acre block to preserve ourselves; put
adobe walls on three sides and log cabins on the east side. This was the wisdom
displayed by President Brigham Young all his life-care and caution, and safety
for the people. He then went to work and laid out this city. There was not a living
soul in this valley excepting a few Indians who would eat roasted crickets for
their dinner. He laid out these streets, these sidewalks, these blocks. He laid
out this Temple block here. A number of councils were had with regard to it.
Brother George A. Smith was very anxious that we should have forty acres
instead of ten; so much so that there was a vote taken to lay forty acres out.
Afterwards President Young thought ten acres in a city of this kind was all
that should be devoted to an interest of this character. So Brother George A.
Smith surrendered his views, and we all voted for ten acres. When the city was
laid out and these other arrangements made we returned to Winter Quarters,
where President Young got his family and returned with them and some of the
Saints; and two or three companies followed the same season.
I name
these things for the benefit of those who consider that there has been no
growth in the Church and Kingdom of God since the death of the Prophet Joseph.
President Young laid the foundation of four Temples in this Territory. Three of
these Temples are now in operation, and the other is being built right here.
The Latter-day Saints have gone to work and labored in these Temples by the
commandment of God, for the blessing of the living and redemption of their
dead, and a million of men and women, whose bodies are returned to dust, and
whose spirits are in the spirit world, have received the benefits of the Gospel
by the power of God and the work of the Elders, under the direction of President
Young. Is this a loss of prestige? Is there no hand of God in this? Is there no
progress in this? These things certainly were not accomplished in the life of
Joseph Smith, although Joseph Smith received revelations with regard to
Temples, and the ordinances and endowments afterwards administered in the
Temple at Nauvoo. He also built the first Temple, in Kirtland, and many
blessings were revealed in that Temple, and this work was continued while he
lived, as far as he had the power. I remember well the first time I read the
revelation given through the Prophet Joseph concerning the redemption of the
dead-one of the most glorious principles I had ever become acquainted with on
earth. To think that I and these Latter-day Saints could go forth into the
waters of baptism and redeem our fathers, our mothers, and those that have gone
before us, in the lineage of our father's house, and they come forth and
receive a part in the first resurrection! Well might the Prophet say God has
fulfilled His promise that in the last days He would raise up saviors upon
Mount Zion, and the kingdom should be the Lord's. Never did I read a revelation
with greater joy than I did that revelation. I have often referred to the
course we pursued in connection with that. Joseph Smith himself (many of you
may recollect the time) went into the Mississippi river one Sunday night after
meeting, and baptized a hundred. I baptized another hundred. The next man, a
few rods from me, baptized another hundred. We were strung up and down the
Mississippi, baptizing for our dead. But there was no recorder; we attended to
this ordinance without waiting to have a proper record made. But the Lord told
Joseph that he must have recorders present at these baptisms-men who could see
with their eyes and hear with their ears, and record these things. Of course,
we had to do the work over again. Nevertheless, that does not say the work was
not of God.
Well, the
Lord manifested a great work in the labor of Brigham Young. He filled these
mountains here for a thousand miles, under His direction, with cities, towns
and villages. He gave counsel in all these things. Brigham Young was the
architect of this building (the Tabernacle). He was the architect of the Temple
that we are building here. I say to the Latter-day Saints that God was with
him. He was with John Taylor. He has been with Wilford Woodruff. He will be
with those that follow me; for the Lord will never permit this people to be led
only by the revelations of Jesus Christ. He will be with these Apostles of the
Lord, and will continue with them until the coming of the Son of Man. These
things are true. Zion will arise, and grow, and flourish; the glory of God will
rest upon her, and the Lord Almighty will fulfil all the promises that He has
made concerning His work in the last dispensation and fulness of times. The
spirit of inspiration was with Brigham Young from the day that he entered into
this work till he laid down his life here upon his bed. I bear my testimony to
these things. There never has been a time, either in these Temples or anywhere
else, but the Lord has made manifest His will on any point on which light was
desired. To my certain knowledge the Lord gave revelations in St. George Temple
to His servants there, upon points of doctrine we did not understand. President
Young was there. I was there. Brother McAllister and others labored there; and
we knew these things. So I say there is no man that goes into these Temples to
labor, or goes into the vineyard of the Lord to labor, who, if he will live his
religion and do his duty, will fail in receiving the mind and will of God. Yes,
the Lord has raised up saviors upon Mount Zion, and the kingdom is the Lord's.
It is His work. And we have the great power as Latter-day Saints to go into
these temples and redeem our dead, and attend to ordinances for them that they
never heard of in their day and generation. What will be the condition of these
saviors upon Mount Zion? These Saints of the Lord will hold the keys of
salvation to their Father's house to the endless ages of eternity. There never
will be a time when that power will be taken from them. We ought to realize
these things, and we ought to prize the blessings which God has put in our
hands. I had a great desire, when that revelation was given, for the redemption
of my Father's house. Father Smith was the first patriarch to the Church. He
was a literal descendant of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. When he laid his
hands upon men's heads the spirit of blessing and of prophesy rested upon him.
He told me that I should bring all of my father's house into the Church. I
dwelt upon that with a great deal of interest; and the first time I visited my
father's house, although it was several years after this, I baptized him into
this Church, and my stepmother, and my sisters, and everybody that was in my
father's house, even a Methodist class-leader who was boarding there. I
organized a branch of the Church in Farmington, Connecticut, and almost all of
the members were my relatives. I afterwards brought my father up here, where he
died, and his body lies in the cemetery.
There are
a great many things connected with these matters that I feel to rejoice in. The
more light we have, the more revelations of God we have, the more we shall
prize these privileges. It is a great blessing that we stand in the flesh in
this last dispensation and fulness of times; and where we can open our hearts
to understand these blessings, all of us will labor, as far as we have
opportunity, to attend to this duty for our dead. I do not want to go into the
spirit world and meet with my progenitors and have them say to me, "You
held the keys of my redemption and my salvation and you neglected to do this
work, and I am not redeemed." I have labored, with the assistance of my friends,
in the St. George Temple, for three thousand of my dead friends of my father's
house and my mother's house, and have done all that I could for them. This is
the greatest joy of my life, when I look upon these things and realize that I
have had this privilege here on the earth. And when I lay my body in the tomb
and my spirit goes into the spirit world, I shall rejoice and have glory with
them in the morning of the resurrection, inasmuch as they receive these
principles. "Well," perhaps you may say, "what if these people
whom you have been baptized for do not receive the Gospel?" That will be
their fault, not mine. This is a duty that rests upon all Israel, that they
shall attend to this work, as far as they have the opportunity here on the
earth.
Brethren
and sisters, I felt as though I wanted to bear this testimony to the Latter-day
Saints. The Lord has manifested this work from the day that Joseph Smith
received the records of the stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim-the Book of
Mormon. From that day until this there has been no time that the Lord has
forsaken His Church. We have been persecuted, we have been afflicted, and we
have passed through serious trials in our day; but the Lord has carried us
through all these things. And we are here in the midst of the everlasting
hills, given by revelation to old father Jacob, who laid his hands upon the
head of his son Joseph and said that he was "a fruitful bough by a well,
whose branches run over the wall," and that his blessings prevailed above
those of his progenitors "unto the utmost bound of the everlasting
hills;" and these blessings were to rest upon him and his posterity. These
things have come to pass. The majority of the Latter-day Saints are through the
loins of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. Ephraim is "a mixed cake." He is
mixed among the nations of the earth, and it is those who have the blood of
Ephraim in them who, when they hear the word of the Lord, receive it; and all
that God has promised through these Patriarchs and their posterity will come to
pass. So with regard to Judah. Moses told the Jews what would befall them. He
told them what would take place in their Temples and in their cities. They
built altars to Baal and broke their covenants, and he told them they would be
scattered and peeled, and destroyed by pestilence, by famine, and by the sword;
women would eat their own children, and a remnant of them would be taken from
Jerusalem and scattered among the whole Gentile world, and be trampled under
the feet of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled. Those
words have been fulfilled to the very letter as fast as time would admit.
We are in
the hands of God. Our responsibilities are great, and we should try to magnify
our calling, and not set our hearts so much on the things of this world that we
neglect any of the oracles of God or the work of God for the living and the
dead. God bless you all. Amen.
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Apostle John Henry Smith
said he had enjoyed exceedingly the proceedings of the Conference thus far, and had listened with pleasure to the remarks made by the brethren. Almost every topic in which they were interested had been dwelt upon in some form or other. The Spirit of the Lord had rested in great abundance upon the entire congregation, as well as those who had addressed them, so far has he had been able to judge. Points of doctrine, matters pertaining to our temporal concerns, our fidelity and faith in the discharge of the duties devolving upon us had received due consideration.
None among us should fail to recognize that there was ample room for improvement. We all had our weaknesses and made our mistakes. We daily appreciated the truth of the words, "Man is prone to evil as the sparks to fly upward;" therefore, it was our duty to remain constantly upon our guard, and not to become unmindful of our responsibilities in the least degree. Our movements must be either backward or forward; hence every possible effort should be made to advance in the direction of truth and righteousness.
In regard to the rising generation today we found ourselves somewhat peculiarly situated. In some parts the instruction of our children was in the hands of those who were not of the faith of the Latter-day Saints. From the conditions which existed around, it behoved us to be more watchful to this matter than was formerly the case. Not that he desired to say one word which would reflect upon those who were in the field as teachers in the district schools, and against whom he had never heard a word leading toward the supposition that they made use of their positions to impress any particular faith or doctrine upon the minds of the scholars; yet the tendency of mankind was to create an impression upon others which was characteristic of the man himself. It should be our desire [to] foster education in every possible way -- that which tended to enlighten and prepare a man for the discharge of his obligations both toward God and his neighbor. In sending their children to school, parents should look well to it that their spiritual training was not altogether neglected, and let them seek to inculcate in the minds of the young of correct principles.
Associations should be conducted in our communities to aid in this work. Our Sabbath schools accomplished a great deal -- they were probably the most active agencies outside the influence of home in directing the minds of the children for good. Then in addition to the Sabbath schools there were the Primary Associations, wherein little children were instructed by good and faithful sisters. The speaker also made mention of the Young Men's and Young Lades' Mutual Improvement Associations, which he feared, however were not always made so potent for good as they might be. He meant by this that parents were frequently neglectful in not urging upon their sons and daughters the great importance of joining such associations and being regular in their attendance at the meetings. There was no subject fraught with greater consequences to the Latter-day Saints than that of the conditions now surrounding our children.
The world presumed that "Mormonism" was designed to stultify men and women, and to restrict their liberties; but when people became conversant with the principles of the Gospel which the Latter-day Saints had received, they would soon see the error into which they had fallen.
In conclusion he urged those present to remember the instructions given during Conference, carry these with them to their homes, and seek to profit by the testimonies which have been borne.
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Elder Seymour B. Young
Addressed the Conference briefly. He referred to the organization of the Church sixty-one years ago today, with six members, and said that the gratitude of the Saints should be great for the blessings they enjoyed. God would not only judge and chastise the Saints for omitting to do His will but would condemn and punish those who oppressed them. The speaker concluded by bearing testimony to the divine inspiration by which the Church had been led from its organization until now, manifested through the chosen servants of the Lord.
The choir sang an anthem,
Praise ye the Father.
Benediction by Elder C. W. Penrose.
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[6 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 42:506-509, 4/11/91, p 26-29]
Afternoon
Session
The choir and congregation sang:
O, ye mountains high, where
the clear blue sky Arches over the vales of the free.
Where the pure breezes blow and the pure streamlets flow How I've longed to
your bosom to flee.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
Behold the mountain of the
Lord In latter day shall rise,
On mountain tops, above the hills And draw the wond'ring eyes.
was sung by the choir.
Elder Jacob Gates
said, substantially: I am glad of the opportunity of bearing testimony to the divinity of the work we are engaged in. I have been much interested in what has been said. I am assured of the great final triumph of this latter day work. I can bear testimony to what Brother Woodruff said this morning regarding the care the Lord has exercised over His Church. It is the work of the Lord, which has been a triumph all the way through. Many of the young never saw the Prophet Joseph. They do not appreciate him as they should. If they would live more closely to his teachings they would value him more. I was present in Zion's camp in 1834, when the revelation predicting a scourge upon the brethren was received by the Prophet. During that journey I listened to the Prophet, noting carefully his teachings and admonitions. One evening I had occasion to pass his tent, when I heard him say, in conversation, The brethren have not listened to my counsel and the scourge must come. Before we arrived at our destination the scourge appeared and the words of the Prophet were verified. The sympathies of Joseph were wrought upon, and he asked the Lord to take away the affliction, but the Lord said to him, You have predicted the scourge, and if you insist that it be turned away, it will fall upon you. I knew the character of that man. I knew him in life and I saw him in death, and I testify that he was one of the greatest prophets that ever lived on the earth. This is proved by the principles he enunciated and the work he accomplished in a brief space of time. I also testify that the successors of Joseph in presiding over the Church have been and are now led by the same Spirit that directed him.
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Elder John Morgan
said he rejoiced that they had been enabled, through the blessing of God to meet together at another Conference in peace and quietude, to listen to the words of admonition and counsel of their brethren. He expressed his great satisfaction at the prospects before them, as a Church and people, at the present time, and pointed to the responsibilities resting upon those in positions of authority. Hundreds of our missionaries were today laboring in the mission field, but this portion of the Church's work would not be finished until the Gospel message was carried to all the nations of the earth.
This was the work of God, and His hand was over it; the course of His Kingdom was onward and upward, and today this work was moving grandly on, as God in the beginning designed that it should.
May God bless Israel and hasten the day when the nations of the earth shall be one, when His Kingdom shall be established in its fulness, when Zion shall arise and shine and become the glory of the whole world.
_____
President George Q.
Cannon.
There is one thought that has weighed very much upon my mind during our Conference, and probably it is because of the peculiar circumstances and the changed conditions which surround us. It is the supreme importance of members of this Church living in close communion with God-the necessity for a living testimony in the breasts of everyone of us, that each may know for himself or herself that the course which is being pursued is in accordance with the mind and will of God.
If the officers of this Church were dependent upon the people, upon their sustenance, upon their confidence, and the people themselves did not know by any means except that which human wisdom would impart or human judgment justify, that they were taking the right course, we would be in a most unfortunate position, because constant changes are occurring. I need hardly refer to that which took place at our last Conference in order to bring this home to the minds of all. I allude now to the manifesto.
If the Lord were not with this Church, if he were not directing His servants, and the people themselves did not have the testimony of Jesus concerning this work, the issuance of that manifesto would have had a fatal effect upon thousands, perhaps, in the Church. I can say for myself that I never shrunk from anything in my life as I did from that. I know it was God who dictated it-that it was issued in accordance with the requirements of the Spirit of God; and I also know that every member of this Church who is living in close communion with the Lord has had a testimony-notwithstanding their natural feelings with reference thereto, notwithstanding the painful consequences which followed its adoption in relation to existing family relations-that it was the right thing to do. The outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the people at the time, upon the people who have come since to this conference-the Spirit which has been bestowed upon us since we assembled, are all evidences to my mind that the Lord has borne a testimony to the Latter-day Saints concerning these matters.
There are many things connected with this subject that no doubt, if time and opportunity afforded, might be talked about to the satisfaction of many present. I was much impressed by the arguments made yesterday as to the duties which we owe to our Government; and the line of distinction was drawn between religious and civil obligations. That distinction was made very plain, I presume, to every mind. While the argument was in progress the idea suggested itself to me that perhaps there might be some who would say, in listening to it and the revelations which God has given to us concerning our duties in regard to civil government, "Why, then, did you as a people place yourselves in an attitude of resistance to the laws which have been enacted?" For it is a well-known fact that many of our people have gone to prison, when by saying they were willing to obey the law-they were told, at least, in some instances-they might have escaped punishment. Now, to some persons there seems to be something irreconcilable, or that needs explanation, in this matter.
You may remember that yesterday afternoon a distinction was drawn-though this was not dwelt upon-particularly in favor of constitutional law. We have held for many years-in fact since 1862-that any law directed against our marriage relations-which we believe to be a part of our religion-was in violation of the first amendment to the Constitution. In that view we have been sustained by very many good judges. There was the law of God on the one hand and the law of the land upon the other, the latter, as we believe, enacted by prejudice and leveled against our religion to destroy us. We considered it necessary, however, that this law should be obeyed to the very uttermost. This was explained to some extent during our last Conference. But these are the reasons we have had: We felt as though we would gladly go to prison, that we would endure all the penalties that could be inflicted upon us legally to vindicate the principle of religious liberty; we felt that our principles were being infringed upon by laws of this description. Whether our fellow citizens appreciate what we have done or not, we certainly feel that we have done a good work in thus standing in passive resistance-not active resistance-to the law which we regarded as an encroachment upon religious freedom. Every patriotic man in this country ought to applaud a people or an individual who stands up in defense of any principle that pertains to human rights. We have done this-we intended to do it-to call attention to what we looked upon as a wrong.
We endeavored by our sacrifices to arrest the progress of this crusade against our religious liberty; we honestly believed that we had a right to act as we did. That we have failed, however, in persuading the nation, that we have failed in making apparent to the people and convincing them of this, is very clear at the present time. We have utterly failed. We have carried this to such an extent that the Lord himself has signified His acceptance of the sacrifices and offerings of the Latter-day Saints. He has said to us, "It is enough now. You having done your duty, this matter must rest with Me;" and we have, in consequence, sustained the issuance of that manifesto, undertaking to comply with the law-that we will do our best to carry it out, having done all in our power up to the present to vindicate our rights. But the day will come-and I am not afraid to risk my reputation, if I have one, as a prophet-when that which we have done will be recorded with admiration and praise. When a people can make a sacrifice such as we have, when by the mere expression of a few words we could have saved ourselves ignominy and pain of imprisonment and the sad consequences involved to the wives and children of those called upon to suffer, it will be written in history that what was offered to us we declined, preferring to endure all these things to vindicate our rights.
Now the question arises, "What is going to be done?" It has seemed to me that a magnanimous Government like ours might cease its operations against those who are involved conscientiously, who believed that they were acting according to the command of God. I have hoped for this. I hoped at one time that our persecutions, and the manner in which the courts were proceeding against us, would have the effect of calling the attention of the nation to those wrongs under which we were suffering. But it is a lesson of history, repeated in our case, that persecutions only increase by the addition of victims. Every victim adds more to the flame of persecution. This is the history of the past; it is illustrated and confirmed in our own history. Every fresh victim, instead of arresting or lightening the persecution, only serves to intensify the feeling of determination that this must be crushed out at all cost and hazard. Every man that went to prison only seemed to be an evidence of our obduracy and our determination to defy the law, and to strengthen the opinion that we must be subdued and broken down.
Well, now, a serious question presents itself before us respecting the present condition of things. Here are women-very many of them-and children placed in a sad position. These women are bound to their husbands by ties that have been considered the most sacred, and among us they have been honored quite as much as though they occupied the position of legal wives. What shall be done in reference to them? It is a serious question-one that comes to us constantly. It is one that I hope will be answered by the action of the Government. When it becomes convinced of our sincerity in issuing this manifesto declaring that plural marriages should cease, let us hope that some favorable action will be taken in regard to existing relations.
I am not certain yet that we shall be disappointed in this. I believe we have already seen, in effect, a great softening of feeling upon these points, and the people must understand-they should understand-that what we do shall be done in good faith; that we do not deal in deception. Each one must seek to accommodate himself to affairs so that we shall not create a feeling that will be a continuation of the antipathy manifested through this doctrine. So far as our sincerity is concerned, I think it is of the utmost importance that the world should know that when we make a promise of this kind we mean exactly what we say-that we are not dealing falsely, that we are treating this matter in good faith, leaving the result with God our Eternal Father; and that we will to the best of our ability accommodate ourselves to the changed condition of affairs. I have no doubt if we do this that, in the end, the result will be all we can desire.
None of us doubt that God is controlling this work to suit His own purposes and to fulfil His own designs. I have been compelled to acknowledge my own blindness; I never had such a feeling concerning my own ignorance and inability to comprehend the plans and purposes of God as I have had of late. But I bow to His Supreme wisdom; it is infinite. He understands the end from the beginning; He has laid the foundation of this work.
I have testified, I might say hundreds of times, before public men, that I believed if I had not done what I did in reference to plural marriage I would have been damned utterly. I have said this before leading men; I have said it before the President of the United States; I have said it wherever I have talked about the subject. I can only speak for myself; but the command came to me in such a form from my God that I believe I would have been damned if I had not obeyed it. Having this belief embedded in my very nature, what could I do but obey? It was either obedience on the right hand or damnation on the left. Yet, notwithstanding this, I obeyed the law; and hence it is, I say, we need the Spirit of God to be with us, because all these things come in conflict with all our pre-conceived ideas and that which we have framed in our own minds. We have to trust to our God for the results. He has laid the foundation of this work; He has carried it forward to the present time, and He will take care of it in the future.
I say now publicly that it is the intention of the Latter-day Saints to obey the law and leave the results with the God of heaven. But some of our brethren have asked this question: "How can you reconcile it with consistency that our brethren who go into court now and say, `We will obey the law,' whereas before all felt this to be wrong?" The conditions are entirely different, as you will see. It needs no deep penetration to perceive how differently we are situated now from what we were then. Our position is not at all what it was. We now say, "We bow in submission to the law." It would have been almost a betrayal for some of us to have done this before.
Suppose that a number of men were holding a citadel and the enemy on the outside demanded a surrender, the great bulk of those within would perhaps say, "No, we shall not surrender; we will maintain this citadel," whereas the few would exclaim "Yes, we will surrender it," and hoist the flag. Now the rest would feel that to be a betrayal on their part. But suppose, on the other hand, that the whole body inside had been beleaguered for some time, and, finding it of no use to stand longer on the defensive, agreed to join in the surrender, then it would be no discredit to hoist the flag. This example may not exactly illustrate our position, but to my mind it has some features bearing upon it. Everyone can now join in the surrender honorably. We have made covenants it is true; but each man must arrange his affairs so that he would not violate those covenants, thereby bringing down the displeasure of God. But he must honor the law of the land. I do not know whether it is wise to talk too much upon this question, but I think we had better deal with it plainly and meet it squarely as it presents itself to us rather than dodge it. That is my view.
I want to save this people if possible from distress, from sorrow -- to save ourselves from the evils that the enemy would heap upon us if they could take the advantage. This they are trying to do by asserting that we are not honest, and so seeking to get us in continual trouble. This is not at all necessary. This people have suffered for several years now as no people ever have before within the confines of the United States. We have suffered quietly, and our grief has not been much known. It has been concealed from the world to a very great extent. The anguish and misery that have been inflicted upon families have been borne silently. We have passed through very serious trials, but I believe with all my heart that there is a brighter day dawning upon Zion.
I would like to refer to the remarks made by President Woodruff this morning. He said that a short time ago there were no Apostles upon this stand. I do not know how you felt at that time -- I had not the privilege of being and meeting with you; but I know how I and the brethren felt who were deprived of that opportunity. This is changed; glory be to God every day! We have freedom and we can meet with you and speak to you, and give you counsels as the Lord requires of us. We can entreat you so to live as to have a testimony in your hearts concerning this.
I wish to allude to another point; I mentioned it yesterday. Some have said to us they believed that if we had taken the course Daniel did when he was put in the lion's den, and the three Hebrew children when put in the fiery furnace, perhaps it would have been more heroic and more consistent with our profession as Latter-day Saints. A person looking at this superficially might think there was something in the spirit of it. I have no earthly doubt that if President Woodruff had been required to go into the lions' den or into the fiery furnace, or to do anything else in the way of sacrificing his life in order to save this people, he would have done it. I have not a shadow of a doubt that President Taylor would have done the same. All of us knew his courage and firmness. I will not speak of myself; but I do not believe there is one of these men holding the apostleship who would not gladly, had it been God's will and the sacrifice would have sufficed, have given up his life to save this people. The three Hebrew children in taking the course they did involved only their own lives; their action did not involve the lives, liberties, and future of a great people. Therefore you can see that the analogy between their case and ours is not a complete one.
When Daniel went into the lions' den he himself was the sufferer; it was his own life only that was jeopardized. But suppose just for a second that the leaders of this people had said, "We will stand and resist this we will carry out this command of God in the face of the whole world"? What would have been the effect? Why, it would have involved this entire people, every member of this Church, every man and child in it. And how many are there who would have obeyed that doctrine and shown their faith? How many would perhaps have said, "You have no right to drag us into this -- to involve us and our lives and our future, and everything that we have on earth in a sacrifice which only you yourselves are concerned in." Can you not see the difference between the three cases I have quoted? It is as plain as it can be.
God guided those men of old to do as they did. God has guided His Church until now; He guided us to do what we have done, and in the history of His dealings with the children of men it will be recorded that we have made as great or greater sacrifices than any people that ever lived.
Now I wish to say this much because I have heard expressions such as those to which I have referred; I have heard them too many times from those who themselves have shown their faith in the doctrines sufficiently to obey them. Well now, brethren and sisters, this is the great point of all I have said this far: Each one of us should have the light of the Spirit of God shining in his heart so that he may know for himself that which is right, that when we hear the voice of the true Shepherd we will recognize it. We may not be able to tell all the details, but we will know by the testimony of the Spirit of God within us that which is right. This is the testimony which it gives to the Latter-day Saints. They know when they hear the voice of a servant of God, and they understand it. They may not be able to explain all of the reasons connected with this, but they have a living testimony of the truth within them.
Go and plead with the Lord; ask Him to remove the darkness from your minds, to give you the light of the Holy Spirit, that it may shine upon your understanding, that you may comprehend it, and you will not wait upon Him in vain. I can assure you that He will hear your prayers and answer them; He will fill you with peace and joy, and you will know for yourselves that this is God's work; you will know that all your wisdom, the wisdom of men, of those standing at your head, is not alone sufficient to guide this Church. We may mark out paths for traveling, but the Lord directs our ways, and we cannot walk safely without. We may have our ideas as to how this work is going to be built up and established, but the Lord will show us, as has been quoted in our hearing by Brother Franklin D. Richards, that "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God's ways higher than man's ways." We would never have reached these valleys had not the Lord guided us; and we can look back and see how wonderfully His promises have been fulfilled in our behalf. Scarcely a step could have been taken of our own choice if we had not been upheld by God and had He not sustained us in all our doings. So it will be to the end, and we will be obliged to confess that his wisdom has done it all.
_____
There is another subject that I would like to mention before we adjourn this Conference. Remarks have been made to us concerning home industries and their importance. Talk about revelation! You go and read the sermons of President Young, and if you do not believe now that he was a prophet, I think after you have read them you will be sure he was, because he talked as a prophet to this people concerning their future, and his words were full of godlike wisdom, and he poured them out in a constant stream during his lifetime. One of his great themes was that we should become a self-sustaining people. Our minds have diverted from this to a great extent. I believe, however, that circumstances will be so arranged that we shall be compelled to pay attention to these matters. It should be the aim of every man to try and become self-sustaining, and to have his family self-sustaining. It is my desire to raise everything that is eaten and drunk by myself and my family. I have striven for this. I would like to have it so that I could have everything we wear produced here also. But what I wish to refer to now is this:
We are allowing our young men throughout these valleys, by hundreds, to grow up in ignorance of skilled industries. I was recently at a conference in one of our Stakes -- a large Stake, noted for the thrift of its people -- and upon inquiry I found that there were only two boys in the settlement in which the conference was held learning trades, and very few anywhere else in the Stake. This to me is ominous of trouble, ominous of poverty -- our young men growing up destitute of knowledge concerning skilled branches of business. I am in favor of education. I think no one who knows me will discredit me when I say that. But I am not in favor of book education at the expense of education in skill at manual labor. I have a number of sons, and I would rather they should be destitute of book learning, much as I value it, than be destitute of a knowledge of using their hands and their bodies in earning their living. I believe they would be better citizens if they would learn how to work than they would be, with all the learning that they could get, if they did not possess these other qualities. But there is no necessity that our children should be taught one branch alone. They can be given a good education, and at the same time be taught some skilled branch of labor. I think it is an error for us to send our young men to school till they are eighteen, or nineteen, or twenty years of age without teaching them some industrial occupation, because it is from fifteen to twenty that boys learn to use their muscles and how to toil without it being burdensome to them. But you take a young man after then, if he has learned nothing but what is in in books, and put him to hard manual labor, and he shrinks from it. Very few men can stand it. They want to get easy employment. While I do not think it necessary that all should follow manual labor, it is necessary that all should be taught these branches, so that they can be useful. Then if they can make their living by following some lighter occupation that will be more congenial to them, they can do so. But it seems to me, brethren and sisters, that this is a subject that ought to receive our attention. We are importing skilled laborers from abroad-carpenters, brickmasons, etc., to supply the demand in this city and Territory. It think this is deplorable. We should be in a different condition.
Pardon me if I allude to my own case in this matter, as I happen to be familiar with it. I have several sons, and I have offered each of them for one year to any of our brethren who would teach them mechanism. I have done this with all the sons that I have grown up, because I thought an education of this kind was very valuable. I would like my boys to learn every kind of trade. I would like them to be skilful. I would like them to use these glorious hands that God has given us, and this glorious brain, in a skilled manner. The man who can do this is a much more useful citizen. It is bad to see so many learning to drive a team and following teaming as an occupation. Almost anybody can learn to drive a team. A girl can learn it. I have seen girls that did it excellently. There is very little skill about that. Of course, a good teamster is a rare article; I am aware of that. Then we have men following farming who do not study farming and make a business of it. If you are going to make your children farmers, give them that knowledge that will qualify them; give them a knowledge of agricultural chemistry, so that they will understand the nature of soils, and how to improve soils, and the best manure for soils, and the best soils to produce certain articles. Give them skill in this direction. Let us take advantage of the opportunities that God has given us. There are no brighter intellects in this world than are to be found among the Latter-day Saints -- young men of capability, young men who will make their mark if you will give them any kind of a chance. These young men will grow up and be a mighty race, if we will take the course that we should do with them. I feel that when a child is born the parents are indebted to that child. To bring it into the world as a waif; to launch it upon society without giving it a proper education and proper training and assistance is a great wrong. If we did this we would be like animals. It is the duty of every man and every woman who has a child to do everything in their power for that child, to qualify it to be a useful man or woman, and no pains should be spared in this direction. We live in our children. After we are gone we will live in our offspring, and our good qualities will be perpetuated in them if we will take the right course.
This is a subject that admits of a great deal of talk, and it ought to be spoken about in our settlements and impressed upon the people. We should take pains to teach our boys and our girls everything that will make them useful, and help to give them a knowledge of the principles that God has revealed. In this way we will be a blessing to our children. They will rejoice in us, and they will arise and call us blessed. What a glorious thing it is to think that our posterity will honor us, and that they will say, "I know that my father was a good man; that he did all he could for me." "I know my mother was a good woman; she loved me and did all in her power to give me a good start and to furnish me with all the knowledge that she could to make me a useful woman," and to have those children quote the example of their parents to their posterity, and let it go down as a heritage from one generation to another, until we shall arise up a generation that will be accepted of the Lord, and upon whom His blessing and His power will rest. We will soon enter upon the millennium. God has told us this; and it should be the desire of every man and woman in this Church that their posterity may live, not only for a generation or two, but throughout the entire millennium, and then throughout that period when Satan will be loosed again; that as long as time shall endure some of our posterity may be found among the friends of God, bearing the holy Priesthood, honoring God, keeping His commandments, not only through the millennium, but during that period when Satan will be loosed again to go forth and tempt the nations; that even then some of our descendants will be found numbered among the righteous, and continue to be numbered among them as long as time shall last. I think this is a desirable wish for every man. And let us lay the foundation now. Let us, as parents, influence our children.
Let us make our mark upon our children, and give them a fair start; endow them with all the power that we have, to make them all that we desire them to be. Every parent should have this ambition. Every man and woman ought to live for their children, and not neglect them. I feel condemned sometimes because of public duties I cannot attend to my family as I would like; and my constant prayer to God is that He will give more of His holy Spirit to them, to make up for my lack of time with them. I think this is a good prayer. Let us try to make our children all that we would like them to be, as far as our influence goes. I say to you parents who have children in the covenant, if you will pray for them God will feel after them, and He will save your posterity. He has made promises to this people, and you cling to them, in the meantime doing all you can yourselves to have those promises fulfilled, so that there will be no neglect on your part. Your children may err, and do things that are sinful and are painful and sorrowful to you. But cling to them. Pray for them. Exercise faith in their behalf. Treat them with kindness; not, however, condoning their sins and their transgressions. But be full of charity, full of long-suffering, full of patience, and full of mercy to your children. Don't drive them away by your severity, or by being too strict. But be kind and merciful to them, correcting their faults when they need correcting, at the same time showing them that your corrections are not prompted by anything but love for them and for their happiness. God bless you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang:
Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered.
The closing benediction was pronounced by Elder Joseph E. Taylor.
Adjourned till October next.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
4-6 Oct 1891, 61st
Semi-Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 43:497, 10/10/91, p 17; Millennial
Star 53:689, 705, 721, 737, 753, 769, 785, 801, 817]
[4 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 43:497-499, 10/10/91, p 17-19]
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
_____
The Sixty-second [61st] Semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, convened at 10 a.m., on Sunday, October 4th 1891, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
There were on the stand: Of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch, John Smith; of the Presiding Council of the Seventies: Se[y]mour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric: William B. Preston and John R. Winder.
There were also numbers of Presidents of Stakes and of other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and surrounding region.
The Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn commencing:
How firm a foundation, ye
Saints of the Lord
is laid for your faith in His excellent word.
The opening prayer was offered by Apostle M. W. Merrill.
On the mountain tops appearing, Lo! the sacred herald stands!
was sung by the choir.
The conference was addressed by
President Wilford Woodruff,
as follows: I want to say to my friends this morning that I am a very happy man. My heart is filled with gratitude to God my Heavenly Father for the blessings I enjoy. It is over seven years since the Presidency of this Church and as many of the Twelve Apostles have occupied this stand until today, and I feel that we have all reason to thank God and rejoice in His name for the blessings and privileges that we enjoy this glorious morning. Turning to Apostle Snow the speaker asked: Is there any law against a man telling what is in his heart if he has no evil in it?
Apostle Snow replied that he knew of none.
President Woodruff -- Brother Snow says that he does not know of any such law, and therefore I say God bless President Harrison for exercising his official clemency in liberating President Joseph F. Smith, and I am thankful that Brother Smith is with us today. I say also God bless every other man, whether he be Jew or Gentile, Catholic or Protestant, judge or juryman, who has lent his name to this and not only liberated President Smith but many of our brethren who have the privilege of sitting here with us on this occasion. I hope there is no harm in that thought or feeling; for that is the way I do feel at this time. My heart is full of gratitude and blessing to my fellowmen for all the good they have done. Everything that leads to good and to do good is of God, and everything that leads to evil and to do evil is said to be of the wicked one. I feel that all of us have reason to rejoice before the Lord for the deliverance and blessings which He has wrought among us. I rejoice in the union which exists among us as a Presidency of this Church and the twelve apostles. These are bodies of men who of all men under heaven should be united in the work of the Lord in which we are engaged. I do not believe there ever has been a body of men in any age of the world who, as a general thing, are more united and happy than are these today; and while we are here assembled together I hope and trust that we may have the inspiration of Almighty God with us in our teachings, in our instructions, in our counsels. We shall call upon our brothers to address us, and I say in the name of the Lord, let us all have peace.
_____
President Joseph F. Smith
next addressed the assemblage. He said that, agreeable to the request of President Woodruff, he arose to speak to the Saints for a short time that morning, according to the inspiration that he might receive and the strength and assistance that might be given him of the Lord. Of himself he felt very weak and incapable of addressing so vast a congregation as he now saw before him; he felt exceedingly humble in the sight of God.
He desired to add his acknowledgements, and also his thankfulness, to those expressed by President Woodruff, in that he was permitted to meet with the Latter-day Saints that morning. He was deeply grateful to his Heavenly Father for the privilege of meeting with them in conference in that Tabernacle for the first time in seven and a half years. To Him be given the glory and honor for every blessing that they had received; and he was also thankful to the President of the United States for exercising clemency towards him and again giving him his franchise and his citizenship in the community in which he lived. He was also most grateful to his friends who gave their influence and their assistance to this end. He need not name them, for they well knew the work that they had done. He fully acknowledged their kindness under God, and would endeavor to act consistent with the circumstances in which he was placed, and the condition in which the people of God were placed, in order that he might be able to continue his usefulness in the midst of the people at large.
He desired to say that his faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ had undergone but one change since he met with the Saints there before. They might ask what that change was. His answer was this: "The change that has come upon my faith since I had the privilege of last meeting with you is that my faith is as much stronger, as much more fervent, as much more determined as it is possible for it to have grown in the lapse of seven and a half years. That is the only change that has come upon my faith in regard to the principles of the Gospel." He loved the Gospel a little better than he did few years ago; he loved his brethren a little better; he was trying a little harder to be a better man today than was the case a few years go; and he was endeavoring to the best of his understanding and ability to live a little nearer unto the Lord now than he did a number of years ago. These were the changes that had come upon him during his exile, during his absence from the people and from his home. He trusted that he might continue in this direction, to grow and develop in faith, in understanding, in humility, and in all the graces of the Gospel until "the perfect day."
He desired to exhort his brethren and sisters to do likewise, to be just as faithful as it was possible for them to be, from this time henceforth and forever. They had received the truth, inasmuch as they had embraced the Gospel that had been restored to the earth in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith. They were engaged in the right cause, they were walking in the right path, inasmuch as they were endeavoring to follow the precepts of that Gospel. Let them continue in that path; let the Spirit of the Lord expand their hearts and minds, enlarge their understanding, quicken their perceptive faculties, extend their perceptive faculties, extend their sympathy and love, and increase their faith and diligence in the performance of all the duties which devolved upon them as Latter-day Saints. All would then be well with them. The Kingdom of God was the kingdom of righteousness, Christ Himself being the "chief corner stone," and the Latter-day Saints were his subjects; for they acknowledged no king but King Emmanuel. He was their King, Lawgiver and Ruler; He was their Dictator; because He dictated to them by the influences of His Holy spirit. He inspired their hearts to do that which was right and righteous in His sight; He reproved them when they did wrong; He showed them, through the influences of His Holy Spirit, the right course -- the righteous way, and He inspired their hearts to walk in that way. The Kingdom of God was established upon the earth and Christ, their head, was King. He had said that they should be subject to kings, and to emperors, and to presidents and rulers in the midst of the children of men, and to the powers that be, and to the laws that are, until He comes "whose right it is to reign, " and "subdues all things unto Himself."
This was the work in which they were engaged; this was the hope that inspired their hearts; this was the desire that was before them -- that they might be subject to the powers that be, that they might work righteousness in their day and age, that they might be faithful in the discharge of every duty devolving upon them as men and women occupying a position in the community in which they lived; that they might be pure-minded, honorable, truthful, honest and sincere in all they undertook.
While they acknowledged God as their head, while they acknowledged Christ as their Ruler, King, Lawgiver and Preceptor, still they were subject, and always had been subject to the governments under which they dwelt, and they expected to yield obedience unto the laws which existed, when those laws were made for the government of the children of men and for the establishment of peace and good order in the midst of the world. Where good government did not exist in this their great and glorious country it was not because the form of government was not good. It was not because, as a rule their laws were not intended to be good; but it often happened because those laws were not properly administered, or because the administration of the law was entrusted to those who were not just in their hearts.
These were circumstances that they could not control. They were creatures subject to these conditions, and must yield obedience to them. They must honor this law of God and also the law of men, and seek to be good citizens. It was the right of every individual within the sound of his voice, and throughout the world, to exercise his or her own judgment as to what was good and what was evil; and so long as every man or woman did, according to the light which he or she possessed, that which was right and avoided that which was wrong, they might continue to plead with God that the errors and evils and wrongs which existed amongst us might cease and righteousness reign in their stead. It was the duty of every one to pray to God that justice might be administered and truth upheld and sustained in the midst of the children of men everywhere.
As Latter-day Saints they believed in the Son of God, for they were Christians in every sense of the word. In believing this they did not alone depend upon that which was written in the Bible; they had not to depend entirely upon their faith in this matter. It was true they read the Bible, that they read the testimony of the ancient Apostles in the New Testament; they read the record of the Nephites on this continent, and they believed their testimony. But over and above that, greater than all this, they had in their hearts the inspiration of Almighty God, the revelations of God to man, teaching us that these things are true and that God lived, that Jesus is His Son, that He died for the world, that his blood cleanses us from all sin, through our obedience to the principles of the Gospel, and through our fidelity to the principles of righteousness in our lives. That was why it was impossible for a man who had once received the testimony of Jesus Christ to forsake God and join the various "isms" which existed in the world today. They might depart from this Gospel, from religion, from Christ, from the knowledge of God, from the faith of the Gospel of the Son of God, but they became infidels. This had been proven, and was known to be the fact. How careful then, they ought to be who had the privilege of knowing the truth for themselves.
After enlarging upon the subject of faith in God, the speaker went on to say that during his exile he enjoyed perfect liberty; because the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the Gospel of liberty, and whoever received it was free indeed, though he be in chains, in bondage or in prison. It made no difference as to that. He was free because God had made him so, and there was no freedom greater than this. Those of their brethren who had been in prison for conscience sake were free men, even though restricted of their liberty for the time. Why was he free? Because he owed no man, so far as he knew; because he did not entertain malice in his heart toward any man. He was no man's debtor to his knowledge, and, according to the best of his ability he never wronged or injured anyone. If he had, let that man come and show him wherein he had wronged him, and, God being his helper, he would make it right to the last farthing. He had endeavored to live within the pale of the kingdom of God -- the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that would make all men free, inasmuch as they would receive the truth.
His brethren and sisters would excuse him if he displayed a little fervor and enthusiasm -- they might call it fanaticism if they pleased. What did he care. So that he was satisfied and knew that God had spoken to him, that he had received the truth, it made no difference. And if they had received the truth, could they be less fervent than he? No. Yet with all his thankfulness, with all his fervency, faith and confidence in the work in which they were engaged, he was not as earnest, devout, and thankful as he should be. There was still room to grow, to improve and enlarge his usefulness from day to day and from hour to hour, and he intended to try and improve upon each opportunity.
They must be subject to the powers that be, subject to the authorities of the Priesthood and of the Church; subject to their counsels of righteousness, subject to their directions in righteousness. They would only counsel them in that which was good in the sight of God. It was not an exhibition of freedom or manhood for men to disobey the words of God and the righteous counsels of His chosen servants. A man was a coward indeed who would do so. There was no cowardice in a man obeying at all times righteous counsel when it came from the Presidency of the Church, from the Apostles, from their Presidents of Stakes, from their Bishops, and Teachers, and from those who were authorized to teach, instruct, and counsel the people of God. It was manly, it was noble, it was independence of spirit for a man to hearken to such counsel and to be obedient to such men. It was brave; for the world was against the people of God. The world looked upon the Latter-day Saints with scorn and contempt, and though they were deceived. But they were not. The finger of scorn was sometimes pointed at them because they said they were not ashamed to listen to the counsels of those good men who led and instructed them. But the people had proved them; they knew their principles, how they had guided the Saints in the past, they knew their integrity, their honor, their worth, their fortitude; and could therefore well afford to be guided by them in all things and be united with them. It was manly and Godlike to do so; not to do it was cowardly.
Would any man dare to tell him he was a coward when he listened to good counsel, no matter from whom it came? It took courage to do as they had done; and that was why the Latter-day Saints were independent men. They were chosen and uplifted of God because they dared to obey the truth, to acknowledge in the presence of the whole world that Jesus was the Christ and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the living God. They dared and proposed to continue to do this to the end of their time, knowing that it was right, and did not intend to shrink from that duty, God helping them.
In conclusion the speaker exhorted the Saints to be faithful, humble, and diligent in the performance of all their duties, never wavering nor faltering in the least, but remaining steadfast in the principles of the Gospel. Then God would bless and prosper them and their children after them, from generation to generation.
_____
President George Q. Cannon
said he had listened, as no doubt all present had, with exceeding great pleasure to the testimony borne by President Joseph F. Smith. He felt that this was a time when they, as a people, could rejoice and be thankful unto God. This Conference would be a memorable one; for when they thought of the many changes that had occurred there was great reason for thanksgiving and giving praise to their Father in Heaven for His kindness and mercy unto them. He was satisfied that no power but that of God could have wrought the changes they had witnessed or delivered them as they had been delivered. Hence it seemed to him that this general Conference was a fitting occasion on which to join with all their hearts in thanking God, as a people, for that which He had done for them; and they might rest assured that He would yet continue to fulfil the many promises given unto His chosen ones.
It was a glorious thought that in the midst of affliction, sorrow, and trial that they had a Friend so powerful as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whom they served. It would be a dreary prospect before them, indeed, if it were not for the consolation that God had given them upon this point. God had called them to endure trials and to pass through tribulation. The hearts of His people had been wrung in anguish; their faith had been tested to the fullest extent; and had it not been for the promises of God and the faith given unto them they would have fainted by the wayside. But in the midst of their peculiar circumstances He had been near unto them; He had comforted their hearts, He had whispered peace, He had been on their right hand and on their left, and they had proved Him to be the God whom they declared Him to be; and those who were faithful would yet see the outpouring of His power, a bestowal of heavenly gifts, and an increase of heavenly manifestations such as they had never before witnessed.
He knew and could bear testimony that God was pleased with the Latter-day Saints and had accepted of their offerings; He had recognized their fidelity to His cause, their determination to do that which was required of them. There were many things yet to be accomplished and they would be done in the good time of the Lord. Brother Joseph F. Smith had told them that morning that he thanked God for the testimony he had received. It was something they should all be thankful for -- that their great Creator, in the midst of the darkness, gloom and uncertainty which prevailed over the earth had condescended to reveal Himself to a few humble individuals who had sought to do His will; for though the Latter-day Saints numbered thousands, yet they were but few compared with the great family of man. They could not, however, pride themselves with the reflection that this blessing was for them alone; God was just as willing to remove doubt and uncertainty from every other heart as He had been to remove it from theirs. He was not a partial God; but when they saw how the inhabitants of the earth wandered and indulged in all manner of speculation concerning God and eternity and then reflected upon what God had revealed to the Latter-day Saints, it should fill them with inexpressible joy and thanksgiving for the mercy that He had shown unto them, and for the light and intelligence which he had poured out upon them as members of His Church.
The great bulk of mankind at the present time seemed to have very little hope concerning the future. He was very much struck with the writing left by Boulanger, the French general, who suicided in Belgium a few days ago. His closing words were that he "went to nothingness," died without hope, looked upon himself as going to annihilation. That, at least, was the only interpretation that could be put upon his last expressions. What a future for a man to contemplate -- a man in the image of God, full of the attributes - though perhaps undeveloped -- but still the attributes of Deity! Only imagine that by blowing his brains out he thought to end his existence for ever and become a clod of the earth! This was not, however, an exceptional belief; it was too general in the world today. God had not left the Latter-day Saints to be a prey to these dreadful feelings, but had implanted within them principles which gave them correct ideas concerning the future, the object of their creation, the purpose which our Father had in sending us here. With them it was life eternal; there was no limit to the blessings that God intended to bestow upon His people if they would only continue faithful. But He would still try them; they would still have to pass through the furnace of affliction, as many had already; and be tried as gold that was seven times purified; they would have to pass through the deep waters. Poverty, privations, and persecutions might yet be their lot; but if they endured these things and remained faithful to the end glory and blessings unlimited would be their share. He besought them to have unwavering confidence in God and let their faith be strong, for by the exercise of faith they could accomplish wonders. The things they had endured of late should increase rather than diminish their faith in God and His willingness to save them.
When they sought for gifts and blessings from God, let them not do so in order to satisfy their own requirements merely, and that they might be able to say "I am better than my fellowmen" If they asked for gifts, let them also pray for grace and strength commensurate therewith, so that they might bear them meekly and humbly, realizing that they were not ours, after all, but the gift of God, who could at any moment withdraw them from us. The nearer we lived to God the more the spirit of testimony would rest upon us, and everything connected with our religion was then made simple and plain. No man or woman in this Church could grow in the work of God who did not constantly commune with Him and constantly have answers to their prayers.
President Cannon next remarked that there were many subjects which might be talked upon at this conference, and many upon which the Saints needed instruction. The two or three days now before them were scarcely sufficient to get their hearts as mellow as they should be. They came to Conference with their minds absorbed and clouded with various business affairs. They should forget these, and enter heartily and prayerfully into the important work in which they professed to engage. Let them forget their anxieties and business cares and concentrate their thoughts entirely upon the work of the Lord.
That was the first day of their Conference, and he hoped to see it close as it had begun, with crowded congregations -- the people hungering for the Word of God and desirous to hear the counsel of His servants. If they came together in that spirit, he knew that they would not go away unsatisfied, but would be thankful for the good they had received.
The choir sang:
Pilgrims Chorus.
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[4 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 43:499-500, 10/10/91, p 19-20]
Afternoon
Session.
Sunday;, Oct. 3 [4].
The choir and congregation sang:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation, No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
Singing by the choir:
Jesus, once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth;
Once He suffered grief and pain, Now He comes on earth to reign.
The sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered, the priesthood of the First ward, Salt Lake City, officiating.
_____
President Lorenzo Snow
addressed the conference. He said, in substance, that as his voice was not sufficiently strong to make all the vast congregation hear, his remarks would be brief. He would at least bear testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had realized their anticipations regarding the manifestations they expected when they embraced the Gospel. There might be a few however, who had not to the fullest extent they had wished. There were some that could bear testimony that they received a knowledge of this work before they obeyed it. But as a general thing, this understanding had come subsequent to obedience. This was the case with him. He had a good opportunity to investigate and satisfy himself of the truth of the Gospel. He was acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, the Patriarch, and others over fifty-five years ago. He became satisfied that if there was any truth in the claims of any religion, the principles taught by those men were correct. Consequently, he acted upon this belief, although he knew he would have to face opposition. The bright worldly prospect then before him would have to be renounced. But he concluded that if the ancient Gospel and its powers and gifts had been restored, it would be an excellent thing to obey the divine message. After having been baptized and received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those having divine authority, he obtained a most perfect knowledge. The heavens were opened above him, and so long as memory lasted he could not forget that testimony or have any doubt as to the divinity of what is called "Mormonism." His faith, however, did not rest alone upon the manifestation he had described, but for fifty-five years and over he had received many demonstrations of the divine character of the work of God. All faithful Latter-day Saints who wished to know from whence they cane, what they were here for and whither they were hastening, these matters would, if they diligently searched, be made perfectly plain to them. They would realize the force of the parable of the Savior in reference to the man who found a treasure and sold all he had to obtain it; also the saying of Christ to the young man whom he told to give up all his worldly possessions and follow him. When Zion existed in its glory its people would be one. The time was near at hand when the Saints must again endeavor to do away with the class distinctions which have grown up in their midst, and become one in all things.
_____
Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
was the next speaker. He expressed his desire to bear his testimony to his fellow-men concerning the truth of the Gospel as given to the world in these last days. He rejoiced exceedingly that God had sent His servants to the land of his nativity to testify of the glorious work that had been established. It was fifty-three years ago last June that he obeyed the message. The speaker had previously commenced the work of searching the scriptures in order to learn the truth and he had not had to wait long till he found it. In the latter part of the same year the Lord had revealed it to him, and from that day till now, he had never, not even in the darkest hours of trials, had a doubt as to its genuineness. He had found it out through obedience to the principles laid before us this morning and by the reception of he Holy Spirit and the experience of His power, both in soul and in body. He was sorry that he had not been able to do more than he had for the advancement of the kingdom of God and the salvation of his fellow men. The Lord had blessed him from time to time with spiritual gifts and he knew certainly that the work in which he was engaged was the work of the most high God.
We need never have any doubt concerning this work. The man who was honored as the instrument of introducing it into the world was a servant of God. He received it from Jesus Christ, our Savior.
The speaker testified that he knew that the Redeemer lives and that He will stand on the earth in the latter days. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He appeared in his spiritual body to the brother of Jared and to Moses, and he came in the fulness of time and took upon him a body of flesh and bones, and became like man in all respects, but he was a perfected type, and He is the great and glorious Being who has the control of the affairs connected with this gospel. The inhabitants of the earth will have to hear Him. Blessed be God our Father, for the knowledge we have received of Him. There is not an earthly monarch from Nimrod to Nebuchadnezzar, and the old Roman Emperors, or the Czars and Sultans and Pharaohs and other mighty men who have ruled with power in the world and who have gone to the spirit world but will have to acknowledge that Jesus came to save the human race, when He brings them out of their graves.
He said that he who believes in the Father also believes in Him, and, "if you do not believe, you shall die in your sins." That has been the condition of the past ages. But Christ came to save them. We must all lay our bodies down in the dust, but the day shall come when we shall rise again, and then shall every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. Blessed are they who have already received this knowledge. We do not know how to be thankful enough for this great blessing. We have all to be tried. Abraham was tried till every hope seemed to be cut off. His only child was laid on the altar, but the Patriarch still believed that God was mighty to raise him from the dead. Many of us have been similarly tried, when we have seen our children on a bed of sickness. We have called the Elders to administer to them, but all hope seemed gone and we thought all was over, when God finally restored the beloved ones to us. God's children are of little account before they have been tried and have faithfully endured. When we have learned to take everything as it comes and yet have the firm determination, "I and my house will serve the Lord;" when we can give up everything and do this as it behoves the servants of God, then we are prepared to receive all things back again as ours, which are not so now. Let us, then, go on and keep the commandments of God. We need more of the Spirit of the Lord, if we wish to see our way through all trials and difficulties. May God grant us the glorious privilege to attain unto perfect manhood and become like our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The choir sang an anthem.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
then addressed the congregation. In the year 1833 he had heard the first Gospel sermon. In the first year after having embraced the Gospel, he had held the office of a Teacher. In the second year he was ordained a Priest. The following year he became an Elder and the next he was ordained a member of the quorum of Seventies. For about fifty-two years he had been a member of the quorum of the Twelve.
The speaker would say that during this time, he had endeavored to preach the Gospel to the world, and in so doing had traveled enough to go round the world six times, yet he had not tried to preach or to minister in the ordinances of the Kingdom of God, except by the power of Jesus Christ. And now after having labored so many years he felt still as much dependent on the Holy Spirit as ever, and on the faith and prayers of the Saints. There never was a Prophet on the earth who could instruct the children of men except by the power of the Priesthood.
The speaker then very strongly refuted some of the slanders that have been hurled against the people of God, even by prominent men who have visited the Territory. He made an eloquent appeal for liberty of conscience. The Latter-day Saints accord to all men freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences, and we ask for ourselves only what we are willing should be enjoyed by others. The speaker wished the blessings of God to rest abundantly on the Conference, and all the people.
_____
Apostle John W. Taylor
was the next speaker. He was grateful for the privilege of meeting with the Saints in Conference, especially as he was in a position to hear all that had been said, to the truth of which he could bear testimony. He had also greatly enjoyed the musical exercises. This is one of the most pleasant parts of divine worship. We flatter ourselves that we are growing in grace. But let us ask where are many of our sons and daughters today? Do they honor the Sabbath day? Those who did observe this ordinance will be blessed. We should comply with this sacred law. The Apostle Paul, referring to our day, said that many people would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. The pleasure resorts in this country were more numerously patronized on the Sabbath than any other days. This practice was not confined to Salt Lake City. The same condition existed largely in the various towns and settlements throughout the Territory. The Lord would overrule and sanctify to the good of the young people many things which they could not now understand, if they would be diligent and faithful. They had a great work to perform. God called upon all men to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Those who bore this message should keep themselves in purity. If the young have sinned let them repent and the Lord would forgive them. They should keep out of saloons, for it was sinful to eat and drink with the drunken. They should refrain from the use of tobacco and other things which the revelations of the Lord said were not good for man. The revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ were given daily through His servants to His people. The greatest desire of the saints should be to do the will of our Heavenly Father and keep His commandments. May we have wisdom, firmness and faith sufficient to enable us to endure unto the end. The day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was at hand. Those who should stand at that time would be those who are free from the dins of the world. The speaker bore testimony to the work of God and its final triumph.
The choir sang:
Awake! O my soul.
Benediction by Bishop William B. Preston.
The Tabernacle affording insufficient room for all the people, an overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall, beginning at 2 p.m.
_____
[4 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 43:500-501, 10/10/91, p 20-21]
OVERFLOW
MEETING.
An overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall at 2 p.m. Apostle F. M. Lyman presided.
The choir and congregation sang:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation, etc.
Prayer was offered by Elder Thomas E. Taylor, after which the choir sang:
Jesus, once of humble birth, etc.
_____
Apostle Heber J. Grant
was the first speaker. He said. It is a source of extreme satisfaction and comfort to meet with the Latter-day Saints in general Conference. The fact that so many people have been turned away from the doors of our buildings of worship today because of their overcrowded condition betokens a steady growth, expansion and interest in spiritual matters. At our morning services we were greatly blessed by the spirit of the Lord. I trust that we may be similarly favored this afternoon. It is impossible for us to worship properly without the Spirit of God. There is but one way to obtain and retain this invaluable blessing, and that is to obey the Father. There are trials and tribulations in all the walks of life, but they can be made easier by the comforting influence of the Holy spirit. We sometimes are wavering and doubtful; this is because of the lack of proper exertion on our part. Much of the trouble we have to endue is self inflicted, and that carelessly. The pleasures of this life are but fleeting. We should seek for something more substantial and enduring -- something higher and better. When we are brought before our heavenly Father on the day of judgment we should be able to say that we have increased our talents a hundred fold. The talents which have been entrusted to our keeping are exceedingly valuable. We will be held responsible for the use to which we put them. Do not be deceived in believing that we can obtain any blessing without working for it.
_____
Bishop O. F. Whitney
said: It is certainly an inspiring sight to see a congregation of this magnitude and kind assembled to worship God; and the inspiration is increased when we reflect that this gathering represents nearly all of the civilized nations of the world. There are men and women in this audience who have come from the north and the south; the east and the west, with one common purpose in view -- that of serving God. Like streams that flow to the ocean, they have found their way into the Church of Christ, which may be compared to a huge reservoir that is fed by mountain rivulets.
Snow falls from the heavens pure and white, and by the warmth of the earth is melted and formed into little rills which seek their level, but in so doing they become stained by the traces of the soil they carry with them to the reservoir. So with the Latter-day Saints, they came from heaven pure and stainless like the snow-flakes. Joseph Smith taught that the spirits of men were originally pure. It is coming in contact with the earth that stains and discolors our lives.
We profess to be, and are, the children of Abraham; not in a mystical or figurative sense, but in reality. Our progenitors were scattered through many nations, and we believe that God had a purpose in view in sprinkling the nations with their blood. The question may be asked: why was it necessary to sprinkle many nations with the blood of Israel? The answer is, that this blood might be a preservative. The children of Abraham are the salt of the earth. Salt is a preserving element. The children of Abraham, though widely scattered, are being steadily gathered. In response to the call of the servants of God, they come to Zion, "one of a city and two of a family" in fulfilment of prophecy. Why is this? It is because the spirit of God rests upon their minds and finds response in their hearts no matter to what nation they belong. This sprinkling of the blood of Israel among all nations, though a seeming calamity, will be the means of blessing all nations. God promised that through Abraham all the nations of the earth should be blessed. This was chiefly fulfilled in the birth and mission of the Savior, though only in part. If we are the children of Abraham we must do the works of Abraham. "We are the salt of the earth, but if the salt hath lost its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." We are also "the light of the world," and "a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Men do not "light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, where it gives light unto all that are in the house." These are deep sayings, and worthy to ponder over in our most serious considerations. They are filled with the spirit and force of truth. Being Abraham's children, we must do the works of Abraham. He was required to leave kindred and country and all the associations of youth. In this respect the Latter-day Saints have done the works of Abraham. Here are men and women from all parts of the world who have left their native lands, their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and other loved ones, to gather to Zion. Those of us who would not do this are not worthy of the blessings of the Lord. Many of us who have been born and reared in this mountain region have not been tried in this respect, but rest assured, those of us who have not been thus tried, will have the test applied in some other manner. God will pass us through the mill, that our harsher feelings may be ground away.
Abraham was given a child of promise. All his hopes were centered in that son; and yet he was called upon to sacrifice him. We read this flippantly, not understanding its full significance. The history we have of it is only brief. The Bible is but an abridgement of great events. We are not told of the terrible struggle this command cost Abraham; we do not read of the pathetic account of Sarah's breaking heart while passing through this ordeal. Some will say, it is easy enough to do as Abraham did, when you know that God has commanded it. I do not believe but that Abraham was tested in this matter just as you and I might be now. How was he able to tell that his informant was not an angel of the Evil One? Satan can appear as an angel of light, and can deceive the natural eye. He can speak with the tongue of an orator, and thus deceive the natural ear. It was doubtless the Holy Spirit that convinced Abraham.
The strength of a chain was its weakest link. A shrewd general marshals his hosts so as to attack the enemy at the weakest point in his fortifications. Satan is a wily and skilful general and attacks the human family where they are least able to repel him.
The speaker closed by saying that a day of sacrifice and consecration was coming. A day of unity and equality would follow. The faithful alone would be able to stand when the Lord of Hosts should appear, for he would be "like a refiner's fire and as fullers' soap." and would purge men from their iniquity, and all those who were purified would go back to heaven whence they came.
_____
Apostle A. H. Lund
said: I earnestly desire that I may be able to address you with the same spirit as the preceding speaker. The work of God is spreading, and the people are improving. They are securing testimonies for themselves, and are thus learning to know God, whom to know is life eternal. Most of this congregation has received the testimony that God has restored His work in this age. The knowledge we have received is not enough. We are not warranted in sitting supinely down and neglecting our duties. Life, with all its battles, is before us. If we do what is right victory is assured us. It is good for us to have struggles.
The gathering was a theme on which the prophets of God in ancient days loved to dwell. Israel was scattered, and the country made desolate. The curse of God was upon the country. For a long time it was incapable of sustaining a population. but a change is taking place. This is the day of the restitution of all things. Since the servants of God were sent to the Holy Land, shortly after the ushering in of the present dispensation, to bless it and dedicate it and set it apart for the return of the posterity of its ancient inhabitants, a mighty revolution has been wrought in the climatic and other conditions of this historic country. The emancipation of the Jews has commenced. The day is hastening toward us when these unfortunate and despised exiles will return with rejoicing to the land of their forefathers.
_____
Elder B. H. Roberts
addressed the meeting as follows: In attending a quarterly conference in an adjacent Stake of Zion recently I took occasion to remark that the gathering reminded me somewhat of a sight I once witnessed in the House of Commons in Great Britain. The house had resolved itself into a committee of the whole in order to more successfully discuss and consider certain problems which confronted the English nation; that laws might be legislated and instated that were calculated to advance the best interests of the people. So with the people who had assembled in that Stake. They had met to take in to account the questions that interested them most; that they might give and receive such instruction as would be for their best good. This conference is held for a similar purpose. But it differs from the operations of the House of Commons in that it is of infinitely more importance, because it not only concerns our temporal welfare but our spiritual as well. The instructions given will not only effect men in time, but in eternity also. This comparison may sound like egotism to strangers, but it is nothing more than the declaration of a truth. In making this statement we are not indulging in boastful talk. In proof of this, I refer them to the principles taught in our meeting this morning. Our instructions may cause a smile of derision and contempt to flit across the features of the unthinking, but we care not for that. We are ever ready and willing to defend that which tends to the temporal or spiritual welfare of mankind. The importance of the work of God does not depend on individual testimony. We point to results and ask the world to ponder. The achievements of the Saints in these mountain valleys are such as should strike the world with admiration. Poverty-stricken and weary they entered these vales, but by complying with the principles taught in this conference they have been made the most prosperous and contented people on the globe. On the arrival of the Latter-day Saints on this valley nothing but arid wastes were seen. But the streams were taken from the mountains, the wastes were watered, and today happy homes are surrounded by productive vineyards, heavily laden orchards and fields that yield astonishing returns.
There is to my mind no grander philosophy than the Gospel of Christ. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those what diligently seek Him." As a logical sequence, repentance follows. In its proper order comes baptism, after which we stand cleansed of our misdeeds. Our bodies, which are the tabernacles of God, and are then ready for the reception of the Spirit of truth which makes us children of light. These principles are true and it is important that the world should know them. The knowledge of these doctrines must eventually flood the earth.
Statesmen may devise means, nations may seek to bring about certain conditions for the welfare of man. But it is necessary to work from within;, not from without. I know of no other scheme that will ameliorate the condition of man as well as the Gospel of Christ.
The choir sang the anthem:
Let the mountains shout for joy.
after which the congregation arose and joined in singing the "Doxology."
The benediction was pronounced by Apostle F. M. Lyman.
_____
[4 Oct, 7 pm]
[DNW 43:501-502, 10/10/91, p 21-22]
A
PRIESTHOOD MEETING
was held in the evening beginning at 7 o'clock. It was probably the largest gathering of the kind ever held since the organization of the Church in this dispensation. The speakers were, in the order in which they addressed the assemblage, Presidents George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith and Wilford Woodruff. The themes dwelt upon were the nature, powers, duties and responsibilities of the Priesthood. Those on whom it is conferred are measurably responsible for the salvation of the people, and will be held accountable to the Lord for the manner in which they use the authority confided to them Business cares will not stand as an excuse for not responding to the calls of duty in connection with the calling of the Priesthood. We are living in a time when the love of the world prevails, and great care has to be taken lest the callings of the Priesthood be lost sight of by this feeling. Greater care should be taken in providing employment for the people, and means should be adopted for that purpose. It would probably be a good thing to have missionaries called to devote their time to laboring among the people in Zion, visiting them at their homes and looking after their spiritual and temporal welfare. Those who hold the Priesthood should refrain from all conduct that is improper, and should exercise an influence for peace, acting in all kindness and brotherly love. It is not in keeping with the genius of the Gospel to indulge in anger, which leads to wrong and sometimes breaks up friendships that have existed for years. The brethren should govern their families in love, avoiding all forms of harshness. The instructions and ideas presented were clear and pointed, and a good spirit was present in the meeting.
_____
[5 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 43:501-503, 10/10/91, p 21-23]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Morning
Session.
MONDAY, October 5th.
The choir and congregation sang:
Do what is right; the day
dawn is breaking, Hailing a future of freedom and light;
Angels above us are silent notes taking Of every action; do what is right.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Singing by the choir:
Lo! the mighty God appearing, From on high Jehovah speaks!
_____
Apostle Francis M. Lyman
was the first speaker. Following is a brief outline of his discourse:
This is one of the most important conferences that has ever been held. The people are more numerous than they have ever been before. Yesterday they were well instructed. Doubtless they are well prepared to make good use of the instructions they have received. The Saints have been in long training. They have been tried in a great variety of ways. Their determination and fidelity have been manifested up to the present time. The gospel they have received commends itself to the honest, courageous and independent everywhere. It embraces all truth. It requires courage to believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and repent of sin. A coward will not repent. It needs a force of character to live right, combat sin in himself and do the will of God. We seem to be inclined to love evil and gratify ourselves. The Gospel requires self-denial, taking up the cross and following Christ and being like Him. We are apt to conclude that it is impossible to do right. But the Gospel requires that we should be honest, virtuous and charitable. The Lord has bestowed upon us His Priesthood, which cannot be too highly appreciated. Through it we obtain salvation, which cannot be achieved without honoring it. Are we honoring the Priesthood by discharging the duties it demands? Each should put this question to himself. When this is done, as a rule there will be some dissatisfaction among the brethren with themselves. Some imagine that the laws of the Gospel are too exact for human nature to comply with them. When Christ commanded his disciples to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect, He meant exactly what He said. Is there one thing that is right that we cannot do? Can we not deal justly and honorably one with another? The Church is sixty-one years old and most of its members have been within its fold over twenty-one years. Should we not now be able to show the results of maturity, and exhibit an example to all people that would be the admiration of the whole world? Rectitude of conduct is admired by all people. We are clothed with authority to preach the Gospel to the world. Are we doing this at home by word and deed? What are the presiding Elders in the Stakes and wards doing? What are their labors today? The Lord requires that they be workers and teachers of righteousness, both at home and abroad. An exemplary man is one who sets good examples and no bad ones. Occasionally men who are in leading positions take a course to weaken the faith of the people who are under their guidance. Our children as well as the people look to us for examples, which is the strongest exhortation of teaching that can be given. It takes a good man to do good things. We will not be judged by our profession but by our works. We are not expected to make excuses when we are required to perform any duty, but to do what is required by the Priesthood. The Elders should be men who do not need to be exhorted to do right. They ought themselves to be comforters and exhorters, and their conduct should be harmonious with their teachings. The world is looking upon this people, and we are noticed as a community. Many visitors come here to see us. Do they see an improvement among the people in relation to temperance and observing the Sabbath? Do they see a growth of love among us in our families and in all our associations with each other. Families ought to be united. Wives and husbands should live in union and the children should not be alienated from their parents. There should be no harshness exhibited in our families, but every home should be permeated with the genius of affection.
There is here, at home, an excellent field for missionary work, especially among the young. They are intelligences who have come from God to be tried and proved. Every son should seek to become a savior to the family of which he is a member. So ought every daughter. What are we doing in the families of the Saints? How many sons are seeking to labor for the family to which he belongs, to bring salvation to each member? Duties belong to both sons and daughters in this direction. The duties of the Priest and teacher are important. They are required to visit the Saints at their homes and see that no iniquity exists in the Church. I fear that our young men from twelve to twenty-one years of age are not being looked after. They are not labored with and taught in the functions of the Aaronic Priesthood to prepare them for that of Melchisedec. They should be taught to be expounders of the Gospel. When an officer of the higher Priesthood goes around in the exercise of the calling of Teacher a young man holding the lesser authority should be by his side, to receive training and experience. The young men ought to be taught to take part in family prayer. Fathers should not monopolize the performance of this important duty. It is unfair to send young men into the world without some experience. Those who are advanced should teach them their duties. If the young are brought into active service there will be discovered in them the power of God. The Presidents of Stakes and Bishops should give attention to this subject.
Elder Lyman concluded by expressing the prayerful hope that the leaders of the people may always enjoy their freedom and be enabled to minister among he Saints, and that the blessing and power of God might be with them.
_____
Apostle Heber J. Grant
was the next speaker. Following is a brief summary of his remarks:
It is a source of pleasure to meet in General Conference with the Saints. I desire the advancement of the Kingdom of God above all things on the face of the earth. All the Saints wish to know the mind of God, that they may keep His commandments. While we may make mistakes and cause our sincerity to be doubted, if we have the self-consciousness of desiring the progress of the work of the Lord, we still stand firm and will endure. The criticism of a man's own conscience is more exact than that of others in relation to him. It is our duty to bow in prayer for the light of the Holy Spirit to beam upon us as a guide. We should also seek the counsels of those who preside over us. Something has been said about leading brethren being engaged in business pursuits. Criticisms in relation to myself have been indulged in by some people. I have not engaged in anything of this character without the approval of the brethren. Men have various gifts. Some are more spiritual than others. But be this as it may, so long as we labor with an eye to the welfare of the work of God we are in the right path. I do not wish to be misunderstood by the Latter-day Saints. When I have the love, fellowship and confidence of those who preside over me, and a consciousness that my allegiance to the Almighty is unimpeachable, I can endure any misunderstanding that may exist concerning me. The speaker here read a portion of the hymn on page 260, which dwells upon the promises of the Lord to sustain the Saints in all the trials and vicissitudes and ordeals of life. He further said: We know that we are engaged in the work of God. I have shed tears of joy because of the testimonies which I have received form the Lord concerning His cause. Let us learn to be loving, kind and forgiving, for this disposition brings peace and contentment.
_____
Apostle Mariner W. Merrill
addressed the assemblage, speaking substantially as follows:
It has occurred to me that it would be a grand thing if all the brethren could have heard the remarks made last evening at the priesthood meeting concerning the duties of the Elders. The Gospel has done a great deal for us. This can be seen at once when we compare our former situation with the circumstances now surrounding us. Our condition has been greatly improved. As a rule the Saints when ungathered did not own much. They did not possess the farms they cultivated, nor the factories they worked in. Now, as a rule, they are prosperous, through the gathering and the operations of the principles of the Gospel. This material progress has been exhibited at home, as well as in the case of those from abroad. In other respects the Saints have been blessed. Great privileges have been and are enjoyed. For instance, the people have had the opportunity of going into holy places and doing a work for their dead. But many of us have forgotten the pit from which we were dug. We imbibe the spirit of the world and are too eager after riches. We occasionally neglect our prayers and forget to teach our families the principles of light and truth. When we neglect our duties it gives our children license to do the same. Some years ago it was revealed through President Taylor that we should set our houses in order. Have we done so? If so all is well with us and peace reigns in our habitations; the son is willing to look after the father and the daughter to the mother for counsel and advice. Such a condition is a happy one. I remember when people wishing to engage in any enterprise could go to President Young for his advice. Is this done to any extent now? If we do this and can go forth with the blessing of our leaders we would feel great satisfaction and would have greater faith in the ultimate success of our undertakings. The genius of this work is the spirit of humility, and we should aim to do things by common consent, seek humility of spirit and to promote union. It is in keeping with the plan of salvation.
Remarks have been made regarding the young people. Many of our youth have never been ordained to the Lesser Priesthood, and they appear at the Temple without having had any ordination until they were made Elders. They should be graduated in the Priesthood, from the office of Deacon upward. They could be given charge of our meeting houses and assigned other labors. It is not necessary to hire janitors to do this labor. The people should not only be visited by the Teacher but likewise by the Priest. Those who labor in these callings should, before engaging in them, not fail to go before the Lord in private and ask that the spirit of truth may manifest what is necessary to be said at the time when it may be needed. Sisters who are alone should gather their families together and pray with them. Never allow yourselves to find fault with the Priesthood. It is a dangerous thing. Beware of faultfinding with those who are over you. Don't judge each other unless you are appointed to do it. Be honest with each other. All our agreements, no matter who they may be made with, should be strictly fulfilled. If we do this all people will have confidence in us. The Latter-day Saints should not forget their dead, millions of whom are waiting for us to do a work for them. We will meet them in the future, and the question may be asked as to what we have done for them. If we cannot make a satisfactory explanation we will be ashamed. This is an important and mighty work. It pertains to us and our kindred. These things should be remembered, for there is a reality behind the vail as there is here. How joyful we will be if when we meet our dead we have done all we could in their behalf.
The choir sang:
Let the mountains shout for joy.
After which the congregation joined in singing the Doxology.
Benediction by Elder Joseph E. Taylor.
Adjourned till 2 p.m.
_____
[5 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 43:503-505, 10/10/91, p 23-25]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Afternoon
Session
Oct. 5th
The choir and congregation sang:
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
The choir sang:
Lord, thou wilt hear me when I pray; I am forever Thine.
____
Apostle Moses Thatcher.
was the first speaker. He said in substance, that he had no doubt that the Saints had been richly blessed and edified by the remarks of the brethren during the teachings of the Conference thus far. Personally, he had no special subject in his mind upon which to address them; he realized, however, that we lived in a very busy time, and that those who desired to work need not remain idle. In the midst of this condition it became very necessary that we should judge of those things which were most important, and perform those duties which in their nature tended to the glorification of our Heavenly Father, to the advancement of His righteous cause and to our present salvation.
There was no evil in riches, so-called, nor in wealth; but there was great danger in the love of riches, in a desire for luxury, which had a tendency to distract the mind from the better things of God and of eternity.
At no period since he himself had reached years of maturity had he entertained any doubt as to the ultimate triumph of this work; he had never feared as to the outcome of God's Kingdom. The temptations which now surrounded the people were numerous, and perhaps more dangerous than in the past, by reason of the fact that they were somewhat new to them; but if they kept before their eyes the high mark of their calling, proved true to God, to each other and to the covenants which they had made with Him, no danger need be feared. The circumstances surrounding them today, which had largely changed the political status of the people, were not, in his opinion, dangerous. If, instead of being a comparatively poor people, God should bestow upon them an abundance of riches, he did not think that such a condition would be dangerous to them unless they turned their worship to the gift rather than the Giver. The Lord had decreed that He would make the Latter-day Saints the head and not the foot; but the only question which had arisen in his own mind was whether, if the Lord should bestow upon them exceeding great riches, they would still be obedient to His law; would they still be willing to listen to the counsels of His Holy spirit? and would their hearts still be warm in the love of God and in the love of labor? If so, then these things which had been in the Christian world oft regarded as evils would prove blessings to them.
There could be no doubt in the mind of any thoughtful person that the accumulation and centralization of wealth in the hands of any people gave them prestige and power. It enabled them to attain a higher culture; to give their boys and girls advantages which, under conditions of poverty, they could not reach; and, however much men of the world might ridicule the ideas of a Latter-day Saint religiously, if that Latter-day Saint was a man of wealth, he became in the estimation of such persons, in a large degree, also a man of power and influence. God had decreed that Zion should be glorified, and that the kingdom of heaven should become the dominion of the whole world.
The speaker next dwelt upon the self-denial which had oftentimes been exercised both by the leaders in this Church and by the Elders, as the servants of God, in proclaiming the Gospel to the nations of the earth, and also referred to the spirit of gathering. He denied that there had ever been any desire in this Territory to bring the masses into bondage, and said that if the condition of the Latter-day Saints today was better than that of other people elsewhere it was because they had received the religion of Jesus Christ. So long as that religion had full sway in the hearts of this people and of their leaders, Zion was in no danger; but if they should learn to adopt the ways of the world, to concentrate their wealth, form syndicates and trusts, arraying capital against labor, unhappy would be the day for this people.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
said he felt very much gratified in meeting with so large a congregation of the Latter-day Saints upon a working day. It spoke well for Zion and for the Saints themselves. He had made up his mind before Brother Thatcher spoke to occupy a few moments that afternoon in expressing his views upon temporal things, and Brother Thatcher had certainly opened the way leading to that opportunity.
After dilating upon the work of God in the beginning of creation, and showing how our Heavenly Father placed temporal matters in the hands of men, the speaker remarked that the Lord did not call upon their enemies to build their Temples and habitations. The circumstances attending the building of Solomon's temple were referred to, and, turning next to the organization of this Church, President Woodruff observed that when the pioneers came to this alley in 1847, they found it a barren desert, without a single mark of the Anglo Saxon race. The Latter-day Saints upon their arrival here set to work and did the best they could to change its condition. They plowed, planted and watered the ground, built cabins and other habitations, and so went on until that Tabernacle, the Temple adjoining it, and three other temples were reared in the midst of the people. It had taken millions of dollars to rear these holy places, and, he asked, who had to do it? Why the leaders and Elders in Israel -- the Latter-day Saints, the Relief Societies and the women of Zion; all had contributed of their substance which God had given them. Did they call upon their enemies -- those who were opposed to them and seeking their destruction to help them in their work? No, and they would not have responded if they had. Was it wrong for the Latter-day Saints to engage in these things? It was not; they could not carry out the purposes of Almighty God unless they did.
He would say before the Lord that he believed in his heart there was not one among the Presidency of this Church, or among the twelve Apostles, but who, if required to do so, would lay down his life willingly for the Gospel's sake. Moreover, there were thousands among this people who would be ready to do the same. Of course, we should not set our hearts upon the things of this world, nor suffer them to turn us from our duties.
With regard to their position temporally, their history was before the whole world. The United States government required their property -- what was called Church property -- and receivers were appointed to take it. They delivered it up to them, according to their demands, and property that had already been sold and the proceeds of the sales used for the benefit of the people had been included in the seizure.
He thought there was no particular harm in his naming this. President Taylor delivered into the hands of the various Bishops throughout this territory a certain quantity of wheat and other grain as trustee-in-trust. It amounted to considerable; but all this with the other property was required at their hands. The authorities went to work and had to give their notes to the amount of about $300,000 in order to satisfy the government. They still trusted in God; but it took some money to discharge the demands made upon them. They had to borrow some money to meet those notes; and still they owed something with regard to them.
President Woodruff alluded to the many thousands of dollars which it had also been necessary for the Church to expend in order to help the people in some of the settlements, in the erection of school houses, meeting houses, to supply the wants of the poor, etc.
What was the cause of this great gathering of the people? he asked. They heard the Gospel of Christ proclaimed by His Servants, and believed it. They came to Zion without counsel from anybody, because they had the spirit of gathering within them, and it was this that had made Utah what she was today.
Let them be patient, faithful to their covenants with God, full of charity one towards another, and all would be well. He counseled them to go forward in the good work which they had begun, and they would assuredly conquer and overcome the obstacles which beset their path. God would be pleased and soften the hearts of men towards them; hundreds and thousands would yet visit Utah, to behold the work of the Latter-day Saints, and see they were in earnest and meant what they said.
_____
President George Q. Cannon
said he rejoiced exceedingly in the instructions which we had received that day. He trusted that everyone who had attended the Conference that morning and afternoon felt repaid for the time spent there, and that this would be the case as long as their Conference should last. It was a good thing for them to withdraw from worldly affairs for a short time on such occasions, to come here, wait upon the Lord and receive His Holy spirit. It would refresh and revivify them, and they would pursue their various avocations with increased zest when the Conference was over. In a pecuniary sense, too, they would lose nothing by the time so set apart.
They had been endeavoring ever since they came to these valleys -- President Young, his counselors, the twelve Apostles, and those who since the death of some of their leading men had occupied their places -- to convince the Latter-day Saints that the policy which God prompted them to indicate to the people to pursue was the true one, and the one which, in the end, would result in great benefit and prosperity to them. It was that they should remain here in Utah instead of yielding to temptations to go where the prospect seemed more alluring. Especially was this the case in the early days in regard to California, and those who took the counsel of President Young in this matter had since seen the wisdom thereof. It had been so in other temporal things; but it had required faith on the part of the Saints sometimes to believe that the counsel given them by God's servants was the best. There had occasionally seemed to be a conflict between the counsel of their leaders and the inclinations growing out of the traditions of the people; but had the latter pursued a course different to that marked out they would never have prospered as they had. There were now thousands of Latter-day Saints, some of whom had had an experience of forty-four years, since coming to these valleys, who could bear testimony to the fact that in nearly every instance where the people had followed the counsel of God's inspired servants they had invariably prospered and been blessed, and that where they had departed from it they had lost not only in faith frequently, but financially.
Referring to the Irrigation Congress recently held in this city, the speaker remarked that the universal testimony of the many delegates who attended it was as to the prosperity of this people. Every one of them whom he had met had spoken in terms of unstinted admiration of the wisdom and success which had characterized the settlements and the building up of this Territory. Those gentlemen actually admitted that they had profited by what they had seen in operation here, and had returned to their respective homes deeply impressed with the value of the lesson they had learned. They called it an "object lesson." There had been no great monopolization of land and water here, as was the case elsewhere -- men taking up large tracts and occupying them to the exclusion of honest settlers; and in no other part of this great continent did the poor man enjoy such facilities and opportunities as in Utah Territory. He did not believe there was another place in this broad country where, in proportion to the population, so many men occupied their own homes. The testimony of visitors concerning what they saw here is the beginning of the end -- the beginning of that which the servants of God had foretold and the Prophets had predicted concerning Zion. President Cannon mentioned also the abundance of free water for the use of the people, and said it was their privilege to continue under these favorable conditions if they would. If the people would take the course pointed out to them by God through His servants they would see yet grander results in these matters.
President Woodruff had made mention of the expenses which they, as a Church, had had to bear; but they had been growing in wealth all the time, notwithstanding the trials and persecutions which they had had to endure. They did not seem like persecution now, and he had no words of reproach nor condemnation to utter. The Lord had overruled them for good, and such would be the case to the end.
The speaker next touched upon the great changes which had taken place of late years in this Territory, particularly in this city, Ogden and in this county, and said these would probably extend to other counties.
He had a great desire in his heart at this Conference to impress upon the Latter-day Saints the importance of taking steps looking to the permanent relief of the needy or destitute in our midst, that in our prosperity we might not forget the Lord's poor. We were very likely to have an inclement winter, and therefore out of our substance we should see that none of God's creatures wanted for food or shelter.
After a parenthetical reference to the marvelous productiveness of Utah's soil, President Cannon said it was their duty as a people to so organize that the poor in their midst who needed help should have their wants relieved. Bishops and others in authority should see to it; but while doing this, care should be taken to prevent the abuse of charity, and the indolent from taking advantage of it. All men should work to the extent of their ability and not live in indolence. He besought the Latter-day Saints to impress upon the minds of their children that all labor was honorable. They had sometimes been criticized because they had spent too much money in the building of temples and meeting houses, and people had said if they had erected colleges instead it would have been better. He believed that the results would prove the wisdom of the course that had been taken upon all these points. Boys and girls should be taught to labor. College and book education is very useful; but all cannot devote their lives to the acquisition of that kind of education. He would like to see a good university established here to which our young men and women could go, without having to seek a finished education elsewhere, but he desired to see, if possible, manual training coupled with it. He believed the true course was for us to teach our boys handicrafts, instead of their being obliged to earn a livelihood by having some "soft" job. Let them teach their children to be industrious and take their share of daily toil rather than spend their life entirely in the study of books.
The choir sang the anthem:
Look up and put your trust in God.
Benediction by Elder Charles W. Penrose.
_____
[6 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 43:505-506, 10/10/91, p 25-26]
THIRD
DAY.
_____
Morning
Session.
October 6th.
The choir and congregation sang:
We thank Thee, O God, for a prophet, To guide us in these latter days.
Prayer by Elder Daniel D. McArthur.
Singing by the choir:
Praise ye the Lord, my heart shall join In work so pleasant, so divine.
_____
Elder Charles W. Penrose.
We have had an excellent time during conference thus far, as the instructions imparted have done me good, and I hope they will benefit all who have assembled. If we observe these teachings in our daily lives we will be a better people than we have been. We have received good counsel, calculated to make us better in every department of life.
If there are any people in the world who need to exercise Christian charity they are the Latter-day Saints. False reports are constantly spread concerning our actions and faith. It seems that those who are opposed to us cannot tell the truth about us either by pen or speech. If we had not the truth they would not be compelled to resort to misrepresentation in seeking to overturn our position. We are called to exercise charity not only to each other, but to all mankind. God does not judge by outward appearances, but by the intent and motive. If those who make errors design in their hearts to do right, God is merciful to them. When people continually resort to calumny and falsehood it is difficult to exercise charity to those who indulge in it. The world has been flooded with misrepresentations concerning the Latter-day Saints. This has occasionally occurred in high places. But we should possess our souls in patience. We should also lift up our hearts and rejoice that we are made to suffer such injustice for truth's sake. A new assault has been made against the Church. In all the books and articles that I have read that have been penned in hostility, there has not been one that has not contained falsehood. The Utah Commission, sent here under the Edmunds act, have made a majority report to the Secretary of the Interior, in which they do great injury to this community. It may appear in the Deseret News. It might be deemed questionable whether we should publish such things against ourselves. But it appears to me that they should be submitted to the Saints that they may weigh them. It is not necessary to publish everything of a scurrilous character that is said against us, as it would engross too much of our attention to the exclusion of subjects that are more profitable. It is necessary that the Saints should know what is said against them, and that some one should show the other side. When the Church is belied there ought to be a refutation of the misstatements. The majority of the Utah Commission, in the report alluded to, have sought to make it appear that the people are dominated by their leaders in political matters-that they are by them treated as political serfs. The object is that we might be kept in Territorial vassalage and be denied the rights accorded to other people. It may be ungenerous to say so, but it looks as if the Utah Commission were influenced by a desire to retain their places and salaries. They may possibly, however, believe their own statements, although they are false. The report states that forty-one male persons in 1890 entered into the relation of plural marriage. They give no names or other data. The reason is obvious. In the manifesto issued by the President of the Church this statement was denied most emphatically. The action of the head of the Church was endorsed by the people in General Conference. The report says that the commission had had information that in 1891 eighteen such marriages occurred. I know of no such marriages in 1891, and do not believe one has taken place. The commission cast reflections upon the sincerity of the Church in the issuance of the manifesto and of the community in the dissolution of the People's party and the division of the people on national party lines. Any person who witnessed the spirit of the people when this division took place might have imagined that they were a little too intense and zealous on the question. We ought to know whether we are sincere and whether we have been coerced or dictated by the leaders of the Church. I have been in the Church many years, and am acquainted with the leaders of it, and have traveled a good deal among the people. I know that I have not been dominated or coerced in political matters. I have never seen anything of that character. The people have voted as they pleased. We have had the secret ballot, and the authorities of the Church could not know how a person voted if they wished to. The franchise was taken from the women of Utah because it was claimed that they voted as they were told, just as if a woman could be induced to do anything that she didn't want to.
We are a free people, and our leading men have not led us into bondage. The statements to the contrary are untrue. I am sorry for a man who bears false witness against his neighbor, for God will judge him. In the future, as in the past, the people will be free and they will join whatever political party they please to identify themselves with.
The Latter-day Saints are an honest and sincere people. As a citizen of the United States, I protest against my acts and theirs being misrepresented to the government of the United States.
The speaker continued for some time, showing that the charge of there being an amalgamation of church and state in Utah is baseless and untrue.
_____
President Woodruff
said: I want to bear record to this congregation, and to heaven and earth, that what Brother Penrose has said is true; and as a proof of this I will say that I had a great desire in my heart at the last election, that we might have some Republicans in our legislature, and have not got one. Here is Brother Lund. [Brother Lund is one of the Apostles.] I believe he is a Republican. He ran, but did not get elected. This shows that if I had anything to do with it, I certainly had no influence with the people; for we have got no Republicans in the legislature.
_____
Apostle Moses Thatcher
said that, by request, he would endeavor to make a few remarks. He had entertained for years pronounced views on the union of Church and State. Whatever was the opinion of others, he had felt for years that to unite the church and State in authority would lead to anarchy and possibly to revolution. In some periods of the history of the world God had allowed the people to have their spiritual head as their king -- as in the case of ancient Israel -- but at the same time He had warned them of the danger of such a situation. This idea of the Union of Church and State had arisen from our belief and longing for the time to come when Jesus would reign as king of Kings. Did Jesus not say when here, that he would not then rule, but would do so at His future coming? Is there any harm or sin in our looking forward to a union of Church and State under the great Creator of all?
We are citizens of a form of government which we have declared was inspired in its inception, under a Constitution given by the Spirit of God. We understand the necessity of giving hearty obedience to the laws of our country. We say these insinuations and assertions made by our enemies are untrue, and we hereby enter our solemn protest against such injustice.
When troublous times come, as they will, the youth of this people will stand forth on the backbone of this country, from Canada to Mexico and uphold the glorious principles of civil and religious liberty, endowed by the Constitution of our country.
_____
Elder Franklin S. Richards.
said in substance that he was pleased to bear his testimony to the truth of the Gospel. For this testimony he was more thankful than for anything else on earth. He realized his own and friends' weaknesses, but with all he knew they, as well as himself, were struggling with all their strength to live so as to some day be so perfect as to attain to what Paul called the stature of a man in Christ Jesus. He had wondered why it was that our enemies were so persistent in the circulation of such untrue reports as those alluded to this morning. He had many excellent opportunities of knowing the full value of the action taken by the Church in issuing the manifesto, and he knew and hereby bore witness to the honesty of that action. It was done in all sincerity. He was willing to testify to this before men and high Heaven. The chairman of the Utah Commission had told him a year ago that the best and only thing to do was to dissolve the People's Party. He had answered, that if the "Liberal" party disbanded he would insure the disintegration of the People's Party. He was more than surprised to see the actions and words of those who attacked our integrity and honesty of motives. He felt to say Shame upon such actions and upon such men. He had no patience with injustice or untruth. He had never seen the time when he was ashamed of his religion, no matter how high the worldly position of those before whom he stood might be. He rejoiced in the freedom and glory of the Gospel.
_____
Elder John T. Caine
was requested to speak. Following is a brief synopsis of his discourse: In regard to the report made by a majority of the Utah Commission, he would say that many statements made therein were, to his knowledge, untrue. He would not say that the Commission were ignorant, but if they were, they were in that condition because they would not take steps to learn the truth. When these gentlemen came here they inquired if any obstruction would be placed in the way of administering the law, and they were assured there would not. If they said any such difficulty had been met, then they had stated that which was incorrect. They had frequently asked why this people did not divide on national party lines and get rid of further trouble. Now that this had been done, they pretended to doubt the sincerity of the motives that prompted the action. He could say emphatically that no man had ever attempted to dictate his political actions. He had in all his long official experience been perfectly free in his political views and movements. No one had ever sought to dictate to him. The great point, he believed, in these late reports was that these men saw there was a prospect of there being no further use for them, and there would be no salaries for them in the future. The speaker said he had never seen real political dictation until he went to Congress, and there he found how men could be led and dictated to.
At this point President George Q. Cannon asked the speaker whether he did not think that the Conference should stake some action in reference to the misstatements of the majority of the commission. would he advise an expression by appropriate resolutions? Mr. Caine said he certainly did, as we had lain under the lash too long without retaliation in the shape of some strong refutations.
Some one arose in the audience and commenced speaking. It proved to be
BROTHER JOHN CLARK,
the well-known merchant. He was invited to the stand. When he appeared there he spoke as follows:
Reference has been made, my brethren and sisters, to the report of the Utah Commission. I am of the opinion, as the previous speaker, that the misrepresentations that have been placed upon us for a number of years have been passed by too many times in silence. I think that some action should be taken, and that some resolutions, before this conference adjourns, should be placed before the Conference for their action. I have read the report of the Utah Commission, and from my knowledge of the affairs in this Territory, I am satisfied, as has been stated, that statements made in that report are incorrect and maliciously untrue, and have been gotten up for the purpose injuring the Latter-day Saints. I therefore move, if it be in order, that a committee of five be appointed by this conference to formulate such resolutions as will refute, and deny these statements, and set in proper order our views in regard to these matters.
The motion instantly received a large number of seconds. It was put to the audience by President Cannon and carried unanimously with a combined shout of ayes that seemed to shake the building. There was no response for a contrary vote.
In answer to the question as to how the committee should be selected, Brother Clark, who made the original motion, made another to the effect that they be appointed by the President of the Conference. This later motion was seconded and carried unanimously with the same intensity and vigor as the first.
President Woodruff then named the following as the committee on resolutions:
John Clark, chairman, William H. Rowe, Charles W. Penrose, John T. Caine and Franklin S. Richards.
The motion to accept of the committee thus constituted was unanimous.
A question was raised as to when the committee should be required to report. Brother Aurelius Miner moved that two o'clock today be the hour. This motion was seconded and carried unanimously with a tremendous shout of "aye."
The choir sang the anthem:
Praise ye the Father.
Benediction by Elder John R. Murdock.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm*]
[DNW 43:506-509, 10/10/91, p 26-29]
Afternoon
Session.
Singing by the choir:
Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning.
Prayer by Elder John Nicholson.
Behold, the mountain of the Lord, in Latter days shall rise,
was sung by the choir.
_____
President George Q. Cannon
said the first business in order would be to hear the report of the committee appointed at the forenoon session of the Conference to draft resolutions expressive of the views of the assemblage upon certain misrepresentations recently made regarding the community.
The committee not being ready to report, Apostle A. H. Lund was called upon to speak.
Apostle Anton H. Lund
urged the Saints to carry out the instructions they had received in their everyday lives. Since last conference we have reached another station on our journey, and in that time God has been fulfilling his promises. The signs of the times are significant. On such occasions as this it is good to examine ourselves and see just where we stand. Our assurance that this is the kingdom of God should not lull us to sleep. The winter is approaching. I would like to impress upon the brethren to attend their quorum meetings. Our young men have their names enrolled in the various quorums, and they are not so placed to be neglectful of their duties, but that they should be alive to all of their obligations. We should sustain the Sunday schools and Church schools and every institution in the midst of Zion.
_____
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
said he did not know how anyone could have attended this Conference without being profoundly impressed with the testimonies given. There had been a spirit accompanying the words spoken which must have carried conviction to the hearts of all present. He was convinced of the ultimate triumph of this work, for God had established it.
He was sorry to hear of the statements which had been circulated against this people, reference to which was made this morning. His mind went back over his own short life, and he could not remember ever to have heard a single word uttered either by his parents or those in authority in this Church tending to plant in his soul a disrespect for the government under which he lived. On the contrary, all that had been spoken in his hearing went to increase in his breast a love for that government, which God Himself had established, and for the Constitution which He inspired great and wise men to write. His grief was great concerning some of the false statements made against the Latter-day Saints. He believed that there existed a deep-laid plot to drive them from their homes and to take possession of the lands which God had so abundantly blessed. Further, he believed there prevailed to some extent among this people the feeling that they were not destined to remain in this Territory, but that they must seek refuge and freedom elsewhere. Hence, the tendency, which he deplored, to some extent prevailed among the Saints, that they must withdraw from the United States, seek homes in other places, and desert the land to which God had led them through the inspiration of His servants. This was the Zion of our God, these were the mountains of Israel, these were the valleys upon which His blessings had been showered, and this was the spot where they would develop into a great and mighty people. He believed that the temple of the Latter-day Saints, the great temple upon which a pillar of light should shine by night and upon which a cloud should rest by day would be established in Jackson county, Mo., and that it would be built with the aid and assistance of this people, connected with others whom God should call to work. But when the Saints went to Jackson county it would not be with the rattle of the drum, with drawn sword and fixed bayonet, but with the palm of peace waving and calling the nations to come unto the glory of Zion and partake of the blessings which God had in store for the honest in heart. He hoped that our young men and women would feel in their hearts that these valleys were their homes, the places where they were to grow and develop, and not feel to separate and find their abode elsewhere. Here let them concentrate their efforts for the furtherance of God's work, so that the people of all nations might come, feeling that justice would be administered with a righteous hand.
It was announced that the committee on resolutions had entered the building and were ready to report. The Conference voted unanimously to hear the committee.
The following were then read by Hon. John T. Caine:
_____
COMMITTEE
REPORT.
_____
Misrepresentations
of the Utah Commission Denounced.
President Wilford Woodruff and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in General Conference assembled:
Brethren and Sisters. -- Your committee appointed to formulate an expression of the Conference relative to certain statements made by the majority of the Utah Commission in their report to the Secretary of the Interior for the year 1891, beg leave to report the accompanying Preamble and Resolutions, and recommend their adoption by the Conference.
Very respectfully,
JOHN
CLARK,
W. H. ROWE,
CHAS. W. PENROSE,
JOHN T. CAINE,
FRANKLIN S. RICHARDS.
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct 6, 1891.
PREAMBLE
AND RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, the Utah Commission, with one exception, in their report to the Secretary of the Interior for 1891, have made many untruthful statements concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the attitude of its members in relation to political affairs; and,
Whereas, said report is an official document and is likely to greatly prejudice the people of the nation against our Church and its members, and it is therefore unwise to allow its erroneous statements to pass unnoticed.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in General Conference assembled, that we deny most emphatically the assertion of the commission that the Church dominates its members in political matters and that Church and State are united. Whatever appearance there may have been in past times of a union of Church and State, because men holding ecclesiastical authority were elected to civil office by popular vote, there is now no foundation or excuse for the statement that Church and State are united in Utah or that the leaders of the Church dictate the members in political matters; that no coercion or any influence whatever of an ecclesiastical nature has been exercised over us by our Church leaders in reference to which political party we shall join, and that we have been and are perfectly free to unite with any or no political party as we may individually elect; that the People's Party has been entirely and finally dissolved and that our fealty henceforth will be to such national political party as seems to us best suited to the purposes of republican government.
Also, be it resolved that we do not believe there have been any polygamous marriages solemnized among the Latter-day Saints during the period named by the Utah Commission; and we denounce the statements which convey the idea that such marriages have been contracted as false and misleading, and that we protest against the perversions of fact and principle and intent contained in the report of the Commission, and declare that the manifesto of President Woodruff forbidding future plural marriages was adopted at the last October Conference in all sincerity and good faith, and that we have every reason to believe that it has been carried out in letter and in spirit; and all statements to the contrary are entirely destitute of truth.
And be it further resolved, That we appeal to the press and people of this country to accept our united declaration and protest, to give it publicity, and to aid in disseminating the truth, that falsehood may be refuted and justice be done to a people continually maligned and almost universally misunderstood. And may God defend the right.
A motion was made to receive and adopt the preamble and resolutions, when a gentleman in the audience asked if a "gentile and a sinner" might be allowed to make a few remarks. It was
MR. CHARLES ELLIS,
President Cannon -- Yes, we have no objection; you are at liberty to do so; but won't you come to the stand?
Mr. Ellis -- if you can hear me I will talk here.
President Cannon -- You cannot be heard there as well as here.
Voices in the congregation -- Go up to the stand.
After a brief pause Mr. Ellis went forward, and, taking a position on the lower stand, he said: I simply want to say that so far as the resolutions just read go, I endorse them, but would like to see something added to this effect:
"That, whereas the people called "Mormons" have conceded every demand made upon them by the government of the United States, therefore they, as American citizens, loving their country and having the best government in the world, pledge themselves to loyalty to that government, demanding in return that the United States government shall guarantee to them all the rights and privileges of fair-play and equality before the law, to the protection of life and liberty and the pursuit of that happiness which it guarantees to every other sect that is based upon the bible." (Loud applause.)
_____
Elder B. H. Roberts
said: It appears to me that in dealing with the matter to which our attention was called this morning, namely, the misrepresentations that are contained in the report of the Utah Commission, there is one thing that the Latter-day Saints should recognize. That is, that in adopting these resolutions which have been formulated by the committee appointed by the Conference we are acting in harmony not only with what reason would prompt men to do, but likewise in accordance with the expressed will of the Almighty.
In 1839, the Lord saw proper to give instruction to the Saints as to how they should conduct themselves in relation to those who persecuted them. In that revelation, written or indited by the Prophet of God while incarcerated in Liberty jail through the oppressors of Missouri, we find this statement:
And
again, we would suggest for your consideration the propriety of all the Saints
gathering up a knowledge of all the facts, and sufferings and abuses put upon
them. * * * *
And also of all the property and
amount of damages which they have sustained, both of character and personal
injuries, as well as real property;
And also the names of all persons
that have had a hand in their oppressors, as far as they can get hold of them
and find them out;
And perhaps a committee can be
appointed to find out these things, and to take statements, and affidavits, and
also to gather up the libelous publications that are afloat,
And all that are in the magazines,
and in the encyclopedias, and all the libelous histories that are published,
and are writing, and by whom, and present the whole concatenation of diabolical
rascality, and nefarious and murderous impositions that have been practiced
upon this people,
That we may not only publish to
all the world, but present them to the heads of government in all their dark
and hellish hue, as the last effort which is enjoined on us by our Heavenly
Father.
It seems to me that the attention of this conference should be called to this great fact -- that we owe it to ourselves, we owe it to God and to the character that we are establishing not to permit these infamous statements -- either made by design or through ignorance -- to pass out among the people of this nation without a flat and emphatic contradiction. (Applause.) We are enjoined by the spirit and letter of this revelation to say that these things are false. They are untrue in every particular; and further, we should say to the people of the United States that we claim the right to be heard upon this subject; that we have been lied about long enough; that we have been misrepresented to our injury and without protest as long as we intend to be. I conclude my remarks with the closing words of the resolution: "and may God defend the right;" for I believe He will. [prolonged applause and a chorus of voices: "Amen."]
The preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted by raising the right hand and shouting aye.
_____
Hon. John T. Caine read the following
DECLARATION BY THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH:
Concerning
the official report of the Utah Commission made to the Secretary of the
Interior, in which they allege, "During the past year, notwithstanding the
'manifesto,' reports have been received by the Commission of eighteen male
persons who, with an equal number of females, are believed to have entered into
polygamous marriages during the year," we have to say, it is utterly
without foundation in truth. We repeat in the most solemn manner the
declaration made by President Wilford Woodruff at our General Conference held
last October, that there have been no plural marriages solemnized during the
period named. Polygamy or plural marriage has not been taught, neither has
there been given permission to any person to enter into its practice, but on
the contrary, it has been strictly forbidden.
WILFORD WOODRUFF,
GEORGE Q. CANNON,
JOSEPH F. SMITH,
First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Apostle Moses Thatcher moved that we receive, endorse and adopt as true the statement of the Presidency. Unanimously adopted.
Hon. John T. Caine next came forward and said -- I move that the Conference now adopt the sentiments expressed by the gentleman who modestly denominates himself "a Gentile and a sinner."
This motion was carried unanimously.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the voice of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
Brother Cannon stated that a letter had been received from Brother John W. Young, requesting that his name be not presented at this time. Some of his reasons were given. Brother Young's name was not presented.
The counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as General Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education;: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amos Howe, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp.
It was moved by Apostle Francis M. Lyman that Wilford Woodruff be sustained as the Trustee-in-Trust for the Church.
All the voting was unanimous.
_____
Elder Jacob Gates
said he was pleased to bear testimony that God lives, the God who spoke to the youthful Prophet of the nineteenth century. He had been intimately acquainted with the leaders of this Church and he knew they were worthy the confidence of God, angels, and men. He felt to prophecy that we would stay in these valleys until we became a mighty people, who would stretch from the north to the south of this great country, and we would remain, as Brother Abraham Cannon has said, until we reached out to the central location of Zion, and there built the great Temple that is to be erected in this generation. He had been shown by divine power, this people go from Missouri and he had seen them return also in the same vision. He had been told, by the voice of revelation, that we should return in power and glory. Joseph had predicted our coming to these valleys and here we should remain. He wanted to say to those who never knew the Prophet, that he knew Joseph Smith was called of the Lord. Had stood guard over him when he was in danger; had heard him prophecy and seen its fulfillment. Had been acquainted with Brigham Young, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff. He bore a powerful testimony to the worth and integrity of those men. He closed with a prayer that God would sustain this people when they cast a vote to defend our rights and would help us to maintain truth and righteousness on the earth.
_____
Patriarch Lorenzo Young.
said, in substance, that fifty-eight years ago he was with the Church in Ohio. He compared this immense congregation with the people gathered in a little log schoolhouse in Kirtland, at that time. It was no more crowded than was this great building. It was wonderful to him to hear of the machinations of those who sought to crush out the truth. Had associated with the Prophet under many and dangerous circumstances. The speaker related some interesting experience and bore testimony to the greatness of the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The enemy of all righteousness was opposed to all truth. It was absurd to him that any one could imagine we would ever leave this beautiful country. He had heard Hyrum Smith prophesy about this rocky mountain country long before he (the speaker) knew anything about it. Elder Young said he had been an invalid for the last eighteen years. It was marvelous to him that he was here today. Next week he would be eighty-four years old. He felt comforted in spirit although feeble in body. Thanked God for the gospel and that he had posterity here today. He felt to bless President Woodruff and our leaders generally; likewise all Israel, and our sons and daughters.
_____
President George Q. Cannon.
I presume that if we were to prolong this conference the remainder of the week there would be more desire to speak than there was last Sunday morning, when we convened; but we have other cares and labors, and it seems proper that conference should be adjourned to-day.
It would not be doing justice to our feelings not to say something before the close of these proceedings, concerning the changed conditions that have arisen around us as a people. I am sure there is but one feeling among reflecting men and women, and that is, in the first place, thanksgiving to God for causing the clouds of darkness and misrepresentation to scatter, and for putting it into the hearts of many of our fellow citizens to look upon us in something like our true light. I have been profoundly grateful to a great many men in this nation, some in high places, others not so conspicuous. I have felt grateful to many in this city and neighborhood. Many have come in of late and have looked at us with unprejudiced eyes, and they have been willing if there was any goodness in us to admit it. Now, we have many faults. If others are not conscious of this, we ourselves are. Many may think that we are fanatical. I am willing that they should entertain that view, if they choose to do so. But we would like them to believe us to be honest and sincere, however mistaken we may be, in their opinion. And I am very glad indeed to see a better feeling growing up in this neighborhood, and I am thankful to the men who have contributed to this. There has been a great deal of courage shown-more than we could have expected. Men have come out and made acknowledgments concerning us that could not have been expected from them under the circumstances; and they have been willing to take abuse, in many instances, and have borne it patiently.
I feel that as a people we should be very thankful to such men, because when a man comes in our midst as an official, and he does his duty to us, he deserves our thanks, it is so rarely that this has been the course pursued. You would imagine that men ought to do these things anyway; but this has not always been the case. Yet there has been a disposition, I believe, among hundreds of men and women in our community, who have no sympathy with our system or belief, to look upon us, as I have said, in our true light, and to recognize in us any virtues that they may perceive. I would myself like to see that condition grow. I know I speak your feelings, and the feelings of my brethren with whom I am associated, when I say that we desire to see that feeling increase. We do not want to live in antagonism with our fellow citizens. As was expressed by our friend who spoke, we have shown a disposition to meet our fellow citizens, and there ought to be no quarreling between men because of religious differences. We do not want to intrude our views upon them. We do not want to force our ideas down their throats. We never have done so; at least, we think not.
Now, there has been a chasm, so to speak; it commenced many years ago, arraying class against class, and it has been looked upon as something dreadful for the two classes to associate. This is a bad condition of things, in every sense of the word-in a business sense, in a social sense, in a political sense. There should be no chasm between citizens. I hope that honest men throughout this city and Territory, and throughout the United States, who may be mistaken about us, will become convinced that we are sincere and honest. I believe that the day is dawning that will see a recognition of these qualities. Our friends must make allowance for us. There are many things that we say which may be considered improper, but they must recollect what we have suffered that caused these expressions. They must be charitable to us, as we desire to be charitable to them. That is the feeling which should exist between us and among us.
There has been a great deal said about freedom of action and independence, and then there has been much said about taking counsel. I have thought a little about this. I would not like people to get wrong ideas, not even Latter-day Saints, concerning these matters. In political affairs I will tell you how I have always felt. I do not want to influence anybody only to do that which is right. I do not think any of our leading men have any other feeling. I influence others, if I have any right to influence, as I try to control my family. I present things to them. If they see them in a right light they will accept them, and if they do not they won't. So it is in the Church. I think that we should counsel together, and if any man has a good idea, we should be ready to take it. I agree exactly with what Brother Merrill said on this point. I think that fathers and mothers can frequently get good advice and good suggestions from their children. I take pleasure myself in talking with my children; and if I lived in a neighborhood where there was an experienced man, and wanted advice, I would go to him and ask what his views were. I would take his counsel, if it was good; if it was not, I would not want it. That is the principle upon which counsel is given, and it is the principle upon which we should seek advice. No man can govern his family by thrusting his views upon them unless they are willing to accept them. You cannot govern your children that way. Sometimes they will not come up to your standard; they will not see things as you see them. Can you force them to do as you want them? If you do, after awhile you will have a rebellion. You may do it for a time, while they are under your jurisdiction, but when they get old enough to rebel, they will be very apt to do so. As with families, so with communities. This is a principle upon which we should act one to another. If President Woodruff had all the authority that an angel could have, with his disposition he would not want to force his views on this people. He would like them to understand what he thought of various movements, and he would express his views; and if they saw wisdom in them, they would receive benefit by acting upon them. But that is not what our opponents have said. They think that the Priesthood, or the President of the Church, rules the Church and dominates it, and that if the members do not do as they are told, they are placed under a ban. That is not the case; never has been the case. I feel, my brethren and sisters, that we should be thankful in our hearts for our condition, and do all in our power to produce harmony and peace, and to remove wrong impressions everywhere, so far as our influence extends.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff.
Before dismissing this conference, I want to say that to me it has been the most interesting I have ever attended. I have never before seen the Latter-day Saints as ready as on this occasion to spend the same number of days together in listening to the teachings and counsels of the servants of God. The Lord has said: "Whomsoever ye bless shall be blessed, and whomsoever ye curse shall be cursed." I never cursed anybody in my life, and I do not feel like doing so now, for my heart is full of blessings to the Latter-day Saints, to my counselors, to the Twelve Apostles, to the Seventies, to the High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons-all our brethren and sisters throughout the Church.
I entertain the same sentiments as have been expressed here by President Cannon toward those who are not of us religiously. There is a feeling of friendliness toward us, I think, in these valleys, on the part of those outside of this Church; they seem to feel in their hearts to give us those rights and privileges which belong to us, under the laws of God and man. Some of the judges have been ready to receive our testimony, our manifestoes, and have seen fit to give and administer righteous judgment. All such men have my blessing and prayers, and confidence. I feel that God will bless them and all who perform their duties with clemency in righteousness toward their fellow men.
The choir sang:
Let the hills resound with song.
The benediction was pronounced by President Woodruff.
Adjourned till April 1892.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
3-6 Apr 1892, 62nd
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 44:503, 4/9/92, p 7; Millennial
Star 54:273, 289, 305, 321, 337, 353, 369, 385, 401, 417, 433]
[3 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 44:503-505, 4/9/92, p 7-9]
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
_____
Convened at 10 a. m., on Sunday, April 3rd, 1892, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
On the stand were, of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the Council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch, John Smith; of the presiding Council of the Seventies: Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric: Wm. B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also many other leading officers of the Church from various parts of Utah and surrounding States and Territories.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come let us anew our journey
pursue, Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear. His adorable will let us gladly
fulfil.
Opening prayer by President Lorenzo Snow.
Singing by the choir:
come dearest Lord, descend
and dwell By faith and love, in every breast;
Then shall we know and taste and feel The joys that cannot be expressed.
_____
President George Q. Cannon
was the first speaker. He said:
At the request of President Woodruff, I rise to make a few remarks at the opening of our Conference. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there is great cause for thanksgiving this morning on the part of the Latter-day Saints in having the privilege of meeting at the opening our sixty-second annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and meeting together, too, under such favorable circumstances as now surround us, having a comfortable building in which to worship, where we can sit and listen in peace to the words of life and salvation that may be addressed unto us by the servants of God.
In contemplating the past, there can be no soul in this congregation from whose heart thanksgiving and praise cannot arise to God, our Eternal Father, for the goodness and mercy that He has shown unto us. We are never without cause for thanksgiving; for our God has been good, and kind, and merciful. He has not forgotten us. He has not turned His face away from us. He has not closed His ears to our petitions. Neither has he refused to answer the prayers that we have offered unto Him. The evidences of His mercy are around us, are within us. We have received them, and we rejoice in them this morning. And I feel, for one, to lift up my voice, in the congregation of the Saints, in praise of our Eternal Father, our Great Creator. I feel that we can come together this morning full of gratitude, full of humility, with broken hearts and contrite spirits, bringing them as a willing offering unto our God-a sacrifice that He will accept, it being the sacrifice that He requires at the hands of His Saints.
When we contemplate the great changes that have occurred within the past few years, and see how wonderfully God has softened the hearts of the people, how He has turned aside the wrath of man, and given favor, to a goodly extent, to His people, we certainly ought to feel thankful to Him. I have just returned from the East, where I have been for several weeks, and I never in my experience among men, saw a kinder feeling manifested towards this people than I have during this visit. The Lord has softened the hearts of the people of our nation and of the leaders thereof, and they feel kindly disposed to the Latter-day Saints. The misrepresentation, the falsehoods, the mists of darkness which have beclouded us and our reputation, have, to a very great extent, been removed. And I have felt exceedingly thankful to the Lord because there is no power but His that could have done this. Man's power could not have accomplished such results. But God has all power, and He has poured out His Spirit and softened the hearts of the people, and taken away that animosity and removed many of those misconceptions that have existed in regard to us.
The Lord has blessed His people in many directions. We have, of course, our difficulties to contend with. We have many things to overcome. We are still in the world; and being mortal and subject to the vicissitudes of human life, we must expect to have many things to contend with that will try us. But looking at our condition as a whole, at this entire people in all their abidings, I think it can be truthfully said that we are exceedingly favored of the Lord-I mean in temporal matters. I do not believe there can be found an equal number of people in one community on this continent who are so well provided with food, with raiment, with shelter, and with the conveniences and comforts of life. It is true, we do not have a great excess of riches among us. On the other hand, we do not have extreme poverty. We have the poor, but as a rule they are cared for. The cry of the poor and the oppressed, I hope and believe, does not ascend to the God of heaven against this people because of that which they suffer at our hands. On the contrary, I trust and believe that the prayers of the poor ascend in thanksgiving to God, imploring blessings upon their brethren and sisters for their kindness and benevolence. At least, if this is not the case it should be among us. The poor should be made to rejoice. They should be made to feel so glad that when they bow their knees before the Lord they will implore blessings upon their brethren and sisters for their goodness and kindness to them.
The Gospel is being preached with exceeding diligence by the Elders who are now in the field. In some parts of Europe the Gospel is spreading, and the Elders feel greatly encouraged at the prospects before them. News from Turkey is to the effect that the Sublime Porte will grant unto our Elders privileges that are granted to other denominations. This is the latest intelligence that we have from there. The firman has probably not yet been issued, but it will be, and then our Elders will be free from many embarrassments which have surrounded them in the preaching of the Gospel throughout the Turkish Empire. There is a field in those lands for the labor of a large number of Elders; and, no doubt, our attention will be drawn more and more to that quarter of the earth, because of the promises that are connected with the lands under the dominion of the Turkish Empire. The Latter-day Saints have always entertained very great affection for Palestine-the land that was promised to our father Abraham, and to his seed. Our interest has been excited in perusing the words of the prophets of ancient days, and also in the words of God in these latter times, concerning the restoration of His ancient covenant people to the land of their fathers. For upwards of sixty years now, since this Church has been organized, the eyes of that people have been directed to that land, and to the Jews. Probably no people on the earth, not even the Jews themselves, take greater interest in the events that are taking place in that quarter of the earth than the Latter-day Saints do. It is, therefore, a cause of rejoicing when we hear that there is a great prospect of our obtaining liberty to preach the word of God throughout those lands and to those various nationalities that are embraced in that Empire. The Lord has blessed the labors of the Elders in Holland, also, and a good work is being done there. They write that doors are being opened, to a great extent, in the Netherlands. In Belgium the Elders are finding many converts, and are laboring successfully. Throughout the German Empire there is an increased interest being taken in the Gospel. The day will yet come when there will be freedom throughout that Empire, and when there will be thousands and thousands gathered from that nation. In Northern Sweden many effectual doors are opening, and there is also a call for more missionaries from Norway. On the Pacific Islands the Elders have been very successful also. At Samoa the Elders are laboring diligently. It is a hard mission; but they are young men and full of vigor, full of zeal, full of faith, and they rejoice exceedingly in their labors, because they have abundant fruits as the reward thereof. Some of our brethren have gone to the Friendly Islands-to Tonga, and they have learned the language of that group, which is a kindred language to that of the Samoan Islands, the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and the Society Islands. That Polynesian language is divided into dialects, it may be said, and when a man is familiar with the dialect spoken on one of those groups he does not have much difficulty in learning the dialects of the adjacent groups throughout Polynesia. Two of our Elders have gone down to the Society Islands, and are about to commence or have commenced their labors on that group. You doubtless remember that in former days a great many members of the Church were on that group of islands, but through various circumstances they have been left, to a great extent, to themselves. It has been felt, however, by the Elders on the Navigator group that some effort should be made to re-establish the work on the Society Islands. In New Zealand the Elders are laboring with diligence and success. The Book of Mormon has been translated into that language and is being circulated and read by the natives. Throughout the United States our Elders are laboring with all the zeal and diligence that we could ask for. In the northern States this winter has been severe, and there have not been many baptisms. While I was East I met Elder C. W. Stayner, who told me that as soon as spring opened he expected there would be a great many additions to the Church. There was an increase of interest among the people. In many places they listened as they had not done for years to the preaching of the Elders. In the Southern States mission the Elders inform us that they are making efforts to get doors opened in the cities, and they are encouraged by the prospects before them. In the Indian Territory our brethren have commenced to build a chapel. So that, so far as our own land is concerned, there is much to be thankful for, and many souls are being gathered out. The work of the Lord is also growing among the Lamanites, especially in Southern Arizona, under the ministrations of the presidency of the Maricopa Stake of Zion. We are trying to do our duty to this nation-to lay before the people the message of salvation which God has given unto us.
The days of trouble are at hand, and it is our duty, as God's servants, to go and declare to the inhabitants of the earth that these are the last days, and that God is about to bring to pass that which He has spoken concerning His judgments and calamities that should be poured out upon the wicked in the last days, preparatory to the coming of the Son of Man. The Elders, it must be said in their favor, go forth, as a rule, full of this desire to acquit themselves as men and to cleanse their garments of the blood of this generation, by bearing faithful testimony to the truth. It is most gratifying to see our young men respond as they do to the calls that are made upon them to go here and there, wherever the authorities of the Church direct, as missionaries, to carry the message of salvation and glad tidings. And it must be said that the character of our Elders, in some respects, is improving. The pains that are being taken in our primary schools, our Sabbath schools, our young men's improvement associations, are bearing their fruits. I remember presiding abroad and having Elders come whose ignorance concerning the principles of the Gospel they had been sent out to teach was painful to see. There has been a great change in this respect. Therefore, I say the character of our Elders has improved. They now go out, as a rule, well instructed in the principles of the Gospel, familiar with the history of the Church, capable of explaining the doctrines and everything connected with the Gospel, and, when necessary, capable of defending the principles they teach. This is a gratifying improvement; and it will be more and more visible as the years roll by and as our facilities for imparting understanding will increase, as they are increasing on every hand.
Throughout these mountains the Lord has poured out His Spirit upon His people. There is a great deal of union. Still there is much room for improvement in this respect. The Lord is trying us in directions in which we have never been tried before. Did any of you ever think that we should be tried as we are now being tried? These are new trials, and they are going to test the faith of a good many who are called Latter-day Saints. The depths of our love for the truth are going to be sounded, and if we are not built upon the rock and have a living testimony concerning the truth within us we shall be in danger. God is going to have a tried people, and the trials will not always come in the form that we are looking for. They would cease probably to be trials if they came in that way; but they come in forms for which, it may be said, we are partly unprepared. They come to us in unexpected forms; therefore the greater the trial of our faith. I tell you, my brethren and sisters, that I tremble for us and for myself, lest in these trials we should take missteps; lest we should give way to wrong influences and yield to an improper spirit, and be led away from the truth and that union which is so precious, which is so great a gift that God has bestowed upon us to distinguish us from all peoples upon the face of the earth.
I pray that God may give unto us the light of eternity to ever be with us, and that we may watch it and take care that it does not become dim in our hearts, that it don't become obscured by any influence or power; but that having that light shining upon our path continually we may walk undeviatingly forward until we shall attain unto that great glory that God has in store, and be crowned with Him in His presence with those blessings that have been sealed upon us by the authority that He has restored from heaven. I pray God to bless us during this Conference, to fill every man that shall speak with the power of God, and the hearts of all who hear with that heavenly and softening influence, that the words of life may fall like good seed into mellow ground, there to lodge, there to germinate, there to grow, there to bring forth fruit that shall be to the glory of our God and to our own salvation, which I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
_____
Apostle Franklin D. Richards
addressed the Conference. Following is a brief and necessarily imperfect synopsis of his discourse:
He felt the necessity of having the Holy Spirit in attempting to address the congregation. A grand view had been presented to us of the progress of the work of God in the present time, and even in the contemplation of this we are reminded that it is necessary for us to have a sense of our own unworthiness Without humility the spirit of God cannot dwell within us.
There is one principle which underlies the very existence of the Church of God, and that is the necessity of continuous revelation. Against this principle all the world goes out in opposition. But without it the Saints cannot grow in the knowledge of God. The reason why men have been left to form religious systems which have the "form of godliness but deny the power thereof? is this, they had no revelations. They do not believe that there are any, nor that there ever will be any more. This is contrary to the spirit that prevailed among the ancient people of God. When on one occasion someone complained to Moses that certain people prophesied, that man of God said he wished all the Lord's people could prophesy. Peter quotes the promise given through the Prophet Joel, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." We believe that we are living in the beginning of the days here spoken of, and we should therefore nourish and cultivate the spirit of revelation constantly, and the more since we believe that we are living in time of trouble, from which only the righteous can escape, by standing in holy places and immovable.
We are sometimes told, that the Scriptures say we must expect no more revelations, and in support of this, people quote the verse at the end of the Revelation of John, where men are prohibited from adding to or taking from the word of that prophecy. But it is clear that those who argue in this way do not understand the work of God. It was strongly forbidden to add anything to the ancient law or to take anything from it. Yet this did not mean that there was to be no more prophets or revelations after the time of Moses. The prohibition referred to is applicable only to the book in which it is found, and not to revelation in general. All the scriptures extant in Paul's day were necessary for instruction, etc.; so is everything that God has revealed up to the present day.
At the dedication of the temple in Kirtland, the prophet Joseph and the Apostles were sustained as prophets, seers and revelators. That is how the apostleship was looked upon then, and the speaker could testify that the apostles now are cultivating the spirit and are prophets, seers and revelators to the people, if they are willing to receive them. And so with other members of the Priesthood. Every head of a family should live so that he could be a seer and revelator to his household. It is distressing to contemplate the fact that the people can sometimes indulge in strife and contentions. No man has a right to get so interested in his own affairs as to forget what he owes his fellowmen. No one has a right to climb upon another in order to obtain an elevated position for himself. None should speak evil of another. We must be careful in these things and have no animosity towards each other, even if we are of different opinions in some things. If we are not careful in these matters, we are in danger of losing the Spirit of God and thus be prevented from growing in righteousness. However, the work in which we are engaged is the Lord's. If we only will be faithful, He will bear us off triumphant, and build us up in the true faith.
Revelation is continually needed. Even the advancement of the world in science and inventions is a result of the spirit of revelation. The speaker referred to the application of steam and electricity to various uses, as an illustration of the workings of the spirit of revelation. The world ought to know this and to glorify God for what has been accomplished.
God has given us knowledge concerning Him. His will has been revealed to us, but all has not yet been revealed. There is more to follow. The various branches of God's people had kept their separate record, as we are doing, and they will all be brought together and testify concerning the establishment of the work of God. We ought diligently to study what we already have received of the word of the Almighty, in order that we may be prepared to receive what is yet to be revealed. It is a principle of the divine law that in the mouth of two or three witnesses everything shall be established. When the records of Judah and the various branches of Israel are brought together they will present strong testimony. If we only will cultivate a right spirit within us by living righteous lives, being godly in our conversation and pure in our tabernacles, we will know more and more of the will of our Father.
The speaker was glad and felt to glorify God for the work He is doing among us. We live here among the everlasting hills as was predicted of the people of God long ago. The temple buildings in Kirtland, Nauvoo and in Utah, where we soon will have four temples completed, is an evidence that we are accepted by the Lord.
The speaker closed his remarks by referring to the happy condition of the Saints during the millennium, when their age shall be "as the age of a tree" and wished that we all might live so that at the time of translation to glory, we might be able to partake in this most glorious event.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 44:633, 5/7/92, p 1; CD 3:26-33]
DISCOURSE
Delivered by Elder Franklin D. Richards, at the Tabernacle,
Salt Lake City,
(during the General Conference) Sunday morning, April 3rd, 1892
_____
My
beloved hearers, I am most deeply sensible of the folly of man undertaking to
instruct and to edify God's people, except he be filled with the words of life
and faith, and is inspired by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. There has been
presented to us a general review of the condition of the work of God in the
earth at the present time, by which we are reminded of very many reasons we
have for gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His manifold mercies unto us. I
think a realizing sense of His goodness and our own unworthiness is very
necessary for us to entertain, in order that we may possess that meekness of
spirit and that brokenness of heart by which the Spirit shall be able to dwell
freely and abundantly with us.
There is
a principle which is the very life and growth and existence of God's people,
which is entertained by His Saints everywhere, and against which the whole
world rises up in decided opposition, that is, the principle of present and
continued revelation. Without this no Saint can grow and increase in the
knowledge of God. Without this the great latter-day work that has attained its
present proportion would never have reached such a position. It is the life and
vitality of God's people to have the ministrations of the Holy Ghost, which
takes of the things of God and shows them unto mankind. Without them, men have
been left to fashion a great many forms of religion, having, as the Scriptures
said they should have, the form of godliness without the power thereof. As the
body may look nice and lovely even in death, it is impotent and goes back to
mother earth, except the spirit vitalizes it, gives it life and animation,
fills it with its hopes and desires.
When we
go forth to the human family we are confronted with this opposition at once. It
is said to us that there is to be no more revelation, and they try to make us
believe that there shall be no more. Why, it is contrary to the spirit that all
the Prophets have entertained. When men rose up in ancient Israel and began to prophesy,
some of the holy folks went to Moses and said so-and-so is prophesying. What
was his answer? Says he, "Would to God that all the Lord's people were
Prophets." That has been the sense of every true, enlightened Prophet of
God upon the earth. It is according to the promise which Peter set forth at
Pentecost, as had been declared by the Prophet Joel, that in the last days He
would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh: "and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men
shall dream dreams." Let me remind you, my brethren and sisters, that we
live in the dawning of that day; and it is not only our privilege, but a duty
we owe to ourselves, to God's people, and to the honest in heart throughout the
world who have not heard the Gospel, that we should nourish and cultivate this
spirit of revelation within us constantly.
It is the
work of the Holy Spirit to quicken our spirits. If we are washed from our sins,
and live holy before God and in the working of that spirit, which is unto the
sanctifying of our bodies and our spirits, we become filled with that light
which is to grow, and ought to grow brighter and brighter until the perfect
day. As we live in a period of time when troubles, judgments, and sorrows unspeakable
are to be poured out upon the ungodly, and the righteous can only escape by
their faith, and by standing in holy places without being moved, it becomes
everyone that professes the name of Jesus that they should cultivate this
spirit within them continually. "Ye receive the spirit," says the
Lord to us in the latter-days, "by the prayer of faith." So, then, we
ought with constant prayer, diligence and devotion to kindle continually the
fire on the altar of our hearts by the faithful keeping of His commandments and
living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, so that this may
continue to warm and enlighten our minds, that we may become baptized by the
Holy Spirit and by the fire of the Lord.
But they
tell us, when we talk of these things, that the Scriptures say we must not have
any more revelation. By their ignorance and misunderstandings they wrest the
Scriptures, not knowing the Gospel nor the power of God. They say, it is given
in the last chapter of Revelations: "If any man shall add unto these
things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book, and
if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God
shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and
from the things which are written in this book." Very true; so it is and
so it will be. The Prophet Moses left it on record in Deuteronomy that there
should be nothing added to that law which was given unto them. It is written
twice in Deuteronomy, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you,
neither shall ye diminish ought from it." Suppose that meant there should
be no more revelation, what are you going to do with these great prophecies of
Isaiah, of Jeremiah, of Ezekiel, of Daniel, and all the holy Prophets that came
after? If that was a perpetual injunction against further revelation, how could
the Savior come, in contravention of this law that He had given to Moses, and
declare His whole system of salvation to us, which was from before the
foundation of the world, originated in the eternities, to bring life and
immortality to light, and lead us, if we will be led by it, unto the eternity
that shall come after the angel shall declare that time shall be no longer? He
had reference only to that book; they had no business to add to that law. The
Prophets never believed, the Church of God never realized, that there was any
restraint upon the spirit of revelation. But they held, as we hold, that
without it there was no life, no God. And this saying of the Apostle in
Revelations, means adding to that book of Revelations. The people for a long
time had many different books, or rather manuscripts, till they were gathered
up and put together. Paul did not understand that all these old Scriptures were
wrong. He said to Timothy, "From a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." These
scriptures were necessary down to his time. Just so with the Savior. His
inspiration and volume of eternal truth was necessary. And it is just as
necessary now that the people of God should be filled with the light of
revelation, and without it they can make no advancement in divine life.
The
Prophet Joseph, when dedicating the first Temple of this dispensation, in
Nauvoo [Kirtland], March 1836, presented the Twelve Apostles that had been
appointed and consecrated to their work, and they were upheld as prophets,
seers and revelators. That is the estimate which the Prophet Joseph placed upon
the holy office of the Apostleship, and that is the idea and sense that this
people entertain concerning that office and calling; for twice every year they
lift up their hands to sustain the Twelve Apostles as such. I testify to you,
my brethren, that the Apostles improve in this principle, and increase in it,
and they are becoming prophets, seers and revelators unto God's people, if they
will receive them. It should be just so with these men who are High Priests in
Israel. The Presidents of Stakes and their counselors, the Bishops of wards and
their counselors, should so live before God as to be prophets, seers and
revelators to their people. Every man having the authority of the
Priesthood-and we are a whole army of Priesthood, over a hundred quorums of
Seventies existing among us-who is at the head of a family should be a prophet,
seer and revelator to his household. These brethren that are sitting by me have
been in obscurity. These providences of God that have been directing us for
years back have been calculated to place righteous men where they would have to
find their way to their God by the prayer of faith, by the light of the Spirit
and by the power of the Holy Priesthood. It is necessary that these things
should be so understood, and that we should grow up into Christ our living
Head. As a child has to be weaned from its mother's breast, so Elders should
get knowledge and understanding of their duties to their families, their duties
to the Church, their duties to the human family, so that they may stand in the
light of truth and take the same food and bread of life from the table of the
Lord as the child when it leaves its mother's breast and has to sit at the
table beside her and masticate its own food.
It is
interesting to contemplate this, and sometimes alarmingly so when we see
brethren so far forget themselves in any of the pursuits of life as to indulge
in anything like strife, or contention, or animosity. It looks as if we had
come to times when these things were very threatening among God's people; and
as Brother Cannon has nicely put it, they are principles of danger among us.
Men have no right to get so animated and over-anxious about anything, striving
or contending for any matter, as that they can push down another brother to
climb up on his downfall. None of us have any right to speak evil of each other
in order to get a good name ourselves. We have no right to impair the character
of our brethren, or their honest convictions, in order that we may get the
ascendency over them. It is an abomination in the sight of God for any man to
do it, and vastly more that Saints should do it, who have with their lips
professed their belief that it is their duty not to speak evil of each other,
nor of the Lord's anointed. We ought to be careful of these things. I would
exhort you, my brethren, in this, that while you indulge in these things which
look to animosity towards your brethren who may differ from you on any
question, you are taking that course that shall put out the light which should
shine upon your understanding; whereas, if any man would defer to his brother,
in honor preferring one another, the love of God would abound, their souls
would be strengthened, and every man would go on in the growth of the
principles of righteousness. And this course we must pursue if we go forward.
If we do not, we cannot come to a standstill, therefore we shall retrograde. I
would say to all brethren who are anywise addicted to these things, set a watch
at the door of your lips and another at the doors of your hearts, and sanctify
the Lord in all your ways, and not feel that the kingdom of God is going to be
upset or overthrown by your doing, or not doing. The work is the Lord's; and if
we will be true to Him and to the principles of His Gospel which we have taken
upon us to do, He will bear us off triumphant. He knows how to make the wrath
of men to praise Him. He knows how to build us up in our holy faith, if we will
preserve ourselves by our own faithfulness from the powers of sin and Satan.
Then the
spirit of revelation is what we want continually. The world are astounded at
the idea of revelation, when they are getting full of it themselves and they
don't know it. Ever since the time this work commenced, or thereabouts, great
inventions have been coming forth concerning the use of steam. It was about
this time that Mr. Watts heard the tea kettle hiss and the top of the kettle
rattle by the power of steam, and learned to use it and apply it. Others have
used it in their inventions since. Just so it was with other men; Benjamin
Franklin running up a kite, putting a key on it, that he might bring down the
electric fluid with safety and do no harm. Men have ever since been finding out
how to harness the lightning and make it convey intelligence, transport light
and numerous comforts to the human family all over the earth and through the
depths of the sea, until the various nations are becoming much more like one
great family, and we hear from everywhere each twenty-four hours. Revelation is
among them. They ought to acknowledge it and give God the praise. Some of them do.
We all should. Their knowledge is knowledge of science; but the knowledge that
God gives to His people by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Priesthood is
the knowledge that is concerning Him, His ways and will, and what we ought to
do to please Him, to bless and exalt ourselves, to love and glorify Him in all
our operations.
Nor have
we got all the revelations we are to have. The Lord has left precious promises
on the pages of holy writ that He will give us more of it. Although the human
family are wrought up to their present condition of opposition against
revelation, I want to remind them, if there is anybody within the sound of my
voice that thinks we have all the revelations we are to have, they are greatly
mistaken. If you will read the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, you will find there the
Lord spoke through the Prophet and told him to take some sticks. That is
curious we would think nowadays. It would seem a great deal more curious if the
Lord had said to the Prophet, take a book, for they did not know anything about
books. They had the law rolled up on sticks, and He told him to take two
sticks, and write upon one, "For Judah, and for the children of Israel his
companions;" and on the other "For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and
for all the house of Israel his companions." "And when the children
of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou
meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take
the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel
his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make
them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand."
We have
the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and we have the promise that we shall have
another record that will come from the house of Israel. The Lord told us that
when we began to spread this Gospel to the Lamanites and the house of Israel,
we might know that the work of the Lord had commenced among all the branches of
the house of Israel. Well, it has; but we don't know much about it. But there
are the ten tribes in the north, and messengers to them too. The Lord told the
brethren once concerning the Revelator John, "If I will that he tarry til
I come, what is that to thee?" The last that we hear of John's persecutors
is that they put him into a caldron of boiling oil, but he came out unhurt-as
miraculous as when the Hebrew children went into the fiery furnace. And that
John is ministering to the house of Israel in distant portions of the earth, or
wherever they are; and a record is going to come from them to us-the same as
the Book of Mormon and the Bible have come to us, and they three shall become
one. That means they shall contain the same doctrines, the same principles, the
same Gospel of salvation, and these three shall come together and be one in the
hands of God's Elders in these last days; and we or our children will live to
see this come to pass. So that the human family and the Latter-day Saints need
not contract their minds nor limit their faith to think we have got all the
word of God we are to have. It would be a good thing for us if we would read
and study more what we have got. We would then be better prepared for the rest
when it shall come.
The
promise of this union of these records is found in the Book of Mormon, ii
Nephi, 29th chap:
For I
command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the
south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I
speak unto them: for out of the books which shall be written, I will judge the
world, every man according to their works, according that which is written.
And it
shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the
Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall
have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel
shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.
I would
like to explain a certain principle contained in the law. You know that it is
given unto us in the Book of Covenants that in our testimonies before the
tribunals of the Church, by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word must
be established. That was the method that was given by Moses in his law to the
children of Israel. They had to have proof, and by the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word must be established. Now, then, the Lord went and planted
one vine away off in the nethermost part of the vineyard; he planted another in
another part of the vineyard, and that was better than the first; and he
planted another in another part of the vineyard, that was the worst part of all
the vineyard. When the work of the Father commences in all these branches of
Israel, that will be such a work, and similar to, this among us, and they will
write an account of those things, as we are writing them and keeping a history
of God's work, and when they come forth and become united as one people on the
land of promise they will bring their records with them; and these three
records will be three great testimonies to all the branches of the house of
Israel, and the whole human family, concerning His work, and in the mouth of
these three witnesses His great eternal purpose of the last days shall be
established before the heavens and the earth, and all men that contend against
these principles will be placed without excuse.
The whole
principle is life and revelation in each of us, life and revelation in the
Church in these days, here among us and everywhere, in all the regions where
His work is going on. We ought to understand this principle, and cultivate it,
and keep the exercise and love of it growing within us. The more we get to know
the more we see there is to learn, and the greater is our desire to learn. We come
to know more of the things of God, both for time and eternity. Thus by a
faithful, righteous life and godly conversation we can preserve our tabernacles
in such condition that the Spirit can dwell with us, and we can have the
ministration of the still small voice by day and the voice of dreams by night,
and by other means that the Lord is willing to give to His people, that we may
grow up into Christ our living head. For my part, in seeing this and looking at
the work of the Lord in its progress, I feel that we have great reason to
rejoice and be glad and praise His holy name for the work of His doing; to
enlarge our hearts and increase our understandings by the comprehension of His
will and His designs, so that we may be pliant ministers and laborers in His
hands, to do according to His pleasure. He has brought us out unto this land
that was a desert, and made it a choice land-a land which he promised unto
Joseph, and He told him that the land should be blessed with the dew of heaven,
and with the precious things brought forth by the sun, and those brought forth
by the moon, and the precious things of the everlasting hills. And we are right
here among them. These hills are full of nearly every kind of mineral that can
benefit and bless mankind, even to the sulphur.
Well,
this Zion that the Lord has had compassion upon us to establish, is His work.
He has brought us through some little trials, we ought to be benefited, refined
and profited by them, and be willing to employ ourselves, our strength, our
means, and what talents the Lord may give unto us, to the advancement and
progress of His holy work. This is the way I feel about it, my brethren and
sisters, and this is what we want to cultivate and encourage. These works that
He has commenced in all the branches of Israel, what are they? Such works as He
has begun with us here, in establishing the fulness of the Everlasting Gospel
among us. We are preparing Temples. Think of it! A Temple in Kirtland was
dedicated. The Saints received endowments therein. A Temple was built in
Nauvoo, and the fulness of the endowments was revealed just before then, and
many of the Saints received their blessings therein. Then again how the Lord
has blessed us to get four Temples here in Utah, the fourth almost ready for
dedication, and quite ready for the top-stone to be laid, which you are all
filled with interest and anxiety to see accomplished. Now then, if the work of
the Father, begun among the ten tribes and among the other branches of the
house of Israel is very similar to what is here, and they are receiving
knowledge of God, being built up in faith, being established in righteousness,
and these men that have never tasted death-the three Nephites and the Apostle
John-are busy working to bring to pass righteousness and to carry out the
purposes of God; it won't be long till we or our generations after us will see
them and have fellowship with them; when wickedness is moved out of the way and
violators of righteousness cleansed out of the land, and the Lord's Kingdom
established, then it will be glorious. Then holy ones from on high will come
and minister among us. We ought to anticipate these times with a pleasure
increasing with delight, because now is our salvation nearer than when we
believed, and it is growing nearer continually; and if we are diligent and
faithful, so will the influence thereof and the power thereof increase, until
the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The dawning of that day has come, and
Israel's sons and daughters are gathering home.
The Lord
is refining His people, and has us in the crucible, to deal with us, and refine
us, and prepare us that He may get away the dross from us, and that we may
become pure and holy, acceptable before Him; for He has said, by the mouth of
His prophets, that the day shall come when a man shall be more precious than
fine gold. We would think if we had a lump of gold as large as the smallest man
among us that it was very precious. If then, when the Lord has tried us and
found that we will not sin against Him, but will walk with Him, sanctify
ourselves, purge away our dross, and we become more precious than fine gold,
how supremely precious a man will be in the eyes of God, and in the estimation
of his brethren! We ought to try to add this interesting character to each
other, and not to speak diminutively of each other, not try to diminish and
belittle and depreciate the gifts of each other, that we may be lifted up. The
Lord does not delight in such things; but they who are given to working
righteousness, despising the gain of the oppressors, and withholding their
hands from the taking of bribes, they are the class of men that will live and
dwell in the munitions of rocks, dwell in everlasting burnings, and be counted
able to stand, as the three Hebrew children did, and as Father Abraham did, and
as a great many other faithful ones have done that have gone before us at one
time and another. We want to live and get to that standard that we can be able
to entertain these things. Why, we want to live so that the time may come of the
translation-that change from mortality to immortality. The glorious promise is
that children shall grow up to the age of a tree, and then they shall not die
to sleep in the earth, but shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye. The increasing revelation and the power of godliness is going to bring
God's people to a state of union by and by that we will look back upon these
days of trial and smile over them, and be thankful for them, and bless God that
we have been permitted to go through them.
This is
our time, to see how we will use it; to see, whether by the blessings of God we
will sanctify ourselves before Him, and be prepared for something more and
better in the realms of life, and light, and glory, and go into the Temples and
do those things which may enter into the works of futurity and for those that
have gone before us, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
children to their fathers, so that we may rejoice with them when we go to them
on the other side of the veil, and we with them come back and inherit the
earth, the everlasting possession which is promised unto the faithful and the
meek which Christ said "shall inherit the earth."
Brethren
and sisters, I feel as though everything around us, everything above us, is
inviting and beckoning us on to work righteousness, to depart from the
wickedness of the human family and worship God in spirit and in truth,
establish His altar in every house and habitation, and so study the laws of the
Priesthood and the everlasting Gospel that we can become Godly, become the sons
and daughters of the living God, and be prepared for all the great eternal
purposes that He has to reveal, and that He has to carry out for the
regeneration of His people and the earth for them to live upon.
And that
we may be possessed of this Spirit, and animated by it, that we may continue in
it, and that we may love and do the will of God while we dwell here, and be
prepared to come with the righteous when they shall return to live and reign on
the earth, is my prayer, my desire, and my constant labor with you, in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
_____
Apostle Heber J. Grant
was next called upon to address the congregation. He was pleased to meet with the Saints at this Conference, not having had the privilege of so doing for some time. He rejoiced in the testimonies that had been given this morning. The speaker said that his daily supplication was that he might have the Holy Spirit, because he felt this to be necessary in order to make life a success. We have come here on earth to fulfil a certain mission and unless we possess the Spirit we cannot understand what this mission is, or appreciate the future that is before us. We are engaged in a labor that requires sacrifices. There are appetites and desires that must be overcome and subdued, if we will become perfect to some degree in fulfilling the requirements made upon us. If we are meek and lowly and willing to take instructions of those with whom we are associated and seek earnestly for the guidance of the Spirit, there is no danger of failure, but we will reap a reward in the Kingdom of God.
The Saints are in a position that might be envied by other people. The speaker had met men who had expressed their view that there is to some extent a millennium among the Saints. They know of no other people so closely associated and united in their interests.
The government might be able to take away our property, but no government on earth could take away from us the testimony of the gospel, and as we labor for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, all will be well with us.
The speaker endorsed the remarks made this morning. The Gospel teaches us to be united and live harmoniously together. If we are not one, we are not God's people. The principles of the Gospel bind the hearts of the people together, and without union we could not enjoy the Spirit of God. May this Holy Spirit abide with us forever.
_____
Apostle John W. Taylor
said he was thankful to meet with the Saints and he hoped to be directed by the Spirit in what he might be led to say. He felt that the Lord had inspired the brethren who had spoken to touch upon the principles that had been referred to. As Latter-day Saints we are always safe, when we have a spirit of humility with us, and we are always in danger if we have not this spirit. In this condition we are like an engineer running in the dark and not heeding the lights ahead of him. He is likely to run his train into some obstruction on the road. The speaker felt the necessity for each one to look after his own condition. If we are looking after others, we are in danger of being shipwrecked in our faith. The Lord has given us light, which, if we follow it, will guide us into the path of righteousness.
It is necessary to preach the principles of unity and meekness to the Saints. By this they will be kept from the fear that the kingdom of God perhaps is going to break up. The Lord is not displeased with any except those who do not acknowledge His hand in all things. There is anxiety among a certain class of the Saints that the authorities of the Church are in danger of going astray, and they think they have some excellent suggestions to make, if they only had a chance. Such thoughts are idle. God is with His people. The work is spreading on every hand and it shall continue to go on. Let us serve the Lord and cultivate the spirit of Christ who taught Him to say, "Father, not my will but Thine be done."
The speaker testified that he knew that Christ lived and would reward every one according to the deeds done in the flesh. And to the strangers who might be within the sound of his voice he would say, Repent of your sins, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, and ye shall also receive knowledge for yourselves that this work is of God. May the Holy Spirit be poured out upon this Conference.
The choir sang the anthem:
Light and Truth, the World are Waiting.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[3 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 44:505-507, 4/9/92, p 9-11]
Afternoon
Session.
Conference reopened at o'clock.
The choir sang the anthem:
Wonderful Counselor.
Prayer was offered by President Angus M. Cannon.
The anthem,
Unfold ye portals,
was sung by the choir.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered under the direction of the Priesthood of the Fifth ward, Salt Lake City.
_____
President Joseph F. Smith
said it was gratifying to behold so many people gathered together in that Tabernacle at the opening of the Sixty-second anniversary of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He trusted that the blessing of the Lord might be poured out upon all present, and that not one person who attended Conference would suffer in health by reason of the inclement weather. After expressing the hope that the Latter-day Saints in this city would open their houses to the visiting brethren and sisters on this occasion, and extend to them all the hospitality within their power, the speaker remarked that we were not in every respect just as we used to be. There was a time, he sad, when the Saints rejoiced exceedingly in hospitality; it was at a period when there were not many rich among us. Now, however, that we had abundance, when many were rich and had ample homes, our visiting friends at Conference were under the necessity of obtaining lodgings at the hotels. Whether this was because we were less hospitable than formerly, or because the people were growing so numerous on the outside that the few inside were unable to entertain them was a question that they must answer for themselves. But he hoped the day would never come when the Latter-day Saints would feel inhospitable toward their brethren and sisters, the people of God, or towards the stranger within our gates; for hospitality, kindness, charity, and love were some of the characteristics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It behoved the Saints always, and under all circumstances, to be kind to their neighbors, true to their friends, to beware of their enemies, to be humble and submissive unto God, devoted to His cause and alive to their own salvation.
Our salvation was the great object we had in view in gathering to Zion and embracing the principles of the gospel which had been restored to the earth in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brethren. Anything that would detract from that object and from our pursuit in that direction should be carefully avoided, while every principle that tended to advance us should be constantly sought after.
The Latter-day Saints were said to be a peculiar people. In some respects perhaps they were, but in many respects, it seemed to him, they very much resembled the rest of the world. If we had received a knowledge or proof of those principles which emanated from God, and of which the rest of mankind were destitute, then so far as the Saints observed them, lived up to them, and were true and faithful unto them, they were distinct and peculiar from all other people. But with this exception they were like the rest of the world. How far we deserved credit that was not due to all mankind besides would depend upon our adherence to those superior principles of light, truth and knowledge which we had received in this dispensation of the Gospel which the world had not yet received. There were hundreds of thousands of people on the earth today who were as honest in every particular as the Latter-day Saints, who were quite as sincere, just as earnest in their faith, in their religion and as devoted to God. He had, however, in the course of his experience, met many who did not believe at all in Mormonism, who did not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Latter-day Saints believed it, and who were so prejudiced against them that it seemed impossible to open their eyes to the truth; yet they were more consistent according to their faith, according to their ideas of religion, and in their duty to God, more earnest and devoted than hundreds, aye, thousands, of those who professed to be Latter-day Saints and to have received the Holy Ghost. He had seen people who had such faith and such love for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that they would not allow an ornament or an image in their house, nor even a picture to hang upon the walls, for fear that their thoughts, desires, and affections should be drawn from the great object they had in view -- the worship of God. And yet they were not Latter-day Saints; neither could they be convinced as to their error with regard to their religious belief. He had asked himself often what would be the condition of this class of people when they came to be judged "for the deeds done in the body." While they had the privilege of hearing the Gospel preached in their lifetime, yet because of the superstition in which they had been brought up, because of the traditions of their forefathers, of the prejudices that had been begotten in the minds of the people generally concerning the Latter-day Saints, concerning new revelations and new religions, they closed their ears against the truth as revealed by God in these latter days.
The point to which he wished to draw attention was in regard to this thought. How would it be with the Latter-day Saints who had received a fulness of the everlasting Gospel and the ordinances appertaining thereto, but who were not sincere in their religion, who proved by their acts that they were not generous and kind to their brother and their neighbor, who were not honest in their professions and promises, who did not honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy, who used strong drinks and tobacco, who violated the Word of Wisdom and the law of God as revealed unto them, who were not charitable but judged their brother harshly, who were willing under some circumstances and in some cases even to wreck the kingdom of God on earth, as it were, and betray their brethren into the hands of their enemies out of spite, out of a feeling rankling in their bosom, and who were in every sense of the word anything but good Christians, to say nothing about being Latter-day Saints. He asked, what would be their condition when the stood before the bar of God "to give an account of the deeds done in the body." Without attempting to answer this, he would assume that the condition of the heathen and the unbelieving, those who had never known God but had rejected the truth because of ignorance and superstition, would stand higher and receive a greater and more eternal weight of glory than such Latter-day Saints as he had mentioned; because when men and women descended to such conduct they ceased to be Latter-day Saints; they cut themselves off from the presence of the Father, from His mercy, and from the rights and blessings which He had in store for the faithful. Yet some of them had a standing with their brethren. They called themselves Latter-day Saints, and would feel very much offended if told that they were not entitled to all the ordinances of the holy Gospel. We were all weak and erring creatures, and liable to do those things which were displeasing to God; we ought not to do these things with our eyes open, when we knew better. Little acts made up the sum total of our existence on earth. The speaker, in passing, urged a strict observance of the Sabbath day, and said that lying was an abomination in the sight of God. A man must not take advantage of his neighbor to wrong him in order to build himself up at another's expense; he must not try to injure his character or stigmatize him in any way, because the Bible taught him different. Latter-day Saints must not do this, or they would bring down upon their heads the condemnation of God.
The speaker next touched upon the importance of prayer and the keeping of all God's commandments. Zion could only be built up on the principles of truth and righteousness. Men could not help to build up Zion who were hypocrites, liars, thieves, adulterers, whoremongers, or otherwise wicked in their hearts; neither could they have any lot or part in Zion when it should be built up. Therefore it behoved us as Latter-day Saints to remember what we had covenanted with God to do, and to do it.
Some of those who knew him thought that he was a radical sort of person, that he was austere, somewhat harsh, perhaps, and exacting; but he believed there was not another man in Israel who was more ready to extend the hand of forgiveness and charity towards one who erred and made mistakes in regard to the matters on which he had been speaking, than Joseph F. Smith.
The speaker here read from the Sixth Lecture on Faith, (Book of Doc. and Cov.) to show that exaltation in the Kingdom of God is only attainable by strict conformity with the law of self sacrifice -- the giving up of all earthly interests and even life itself if necessary, for the sake of the truth. Only in this way can a man know that he is accepted of God and take hold of eternal life.
Having dwelt upon the subject of love to God and to our neighbor, President Smith touched on that of faith. He instanced the cases of Job and Abraham, both of whom he said stood the severe test made by God in order to prove the sincerity of their love for Him. Later the Son of God Himself was put to the test, and later still the Apostles of Jesus Christ were subjected to torture, and even death, in order to prove whether they had the love of God in their hearts. Let the Latter-day Saints, he said, apply the test also and ask themselves the question, "Am I in a position to endure such tests of faith as these and not flinch?" God help us to live our religion, for it is good, it is righteous, pure and Godlike; for it emanated from God.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
Remarked that as a few moments yet remained before the service of that afternoon closed, he desired to occupy the remainder of the time. He had been very much afflicted during the last three or four days -- so much so that he at one time feared he would not be able to speak at this Conference at all. However, he had some things upon his mind that he would like to say to the Latter-day Saints before the Conference ended, and there were a few he might mention that afternoon. Referring to the subjects treated upon by the preceding speaker, President Woodruff said the Lord had labored from the creation of the world to do all that He could, consistent with the agency of men, to fit them for the highest glory they were capable of receiving; and from the days of Father Adam down to our day, whenever the Lord had a people on the earth who would obey Him, He had raised up Prophets and Apostles and given unto them the Holy Priesthood and the keys and powers thereof, that they might administer to the sons and daughters of Adam and prepare them for celestial glory. But under that law, under the administration of those men, the opposition of the world had been encountered; and whenever men undertook to live righteous lives and keep the law of God they had to suffer persecution.
The Lord had promised through the mouths of the ancient Patriarchs and Apostles, for thousands of years that are past and gone, that in the latter days He would send the fulness of the everlasting Gospel to the children of men; that He would raise up Prophets and Apostles; that He would organize His Church and Kingdom on earth; that He would raise up men to go forth for the last time and prune his vineyard with a mighty pruning, to prepare for the coming of the Son of Man. The sons of Israel today who dwelt in the congregation before him were a class of those men. God had called them from the nations of the earth -- Apostles, Prophets, Elders, Seventies and High Priests, and the Lesser Priesthood, to labor in the vineyard for the last time, to gather out the inhabitants of the earth as far as they would listen to the testimony borne to them, calling upon them to prepare for the great work of God which was at their doors. The Elders of Israel had traveled tens of thousands of miles to accomplish this.
The conduct of the Latter-day Saints should be very different from the rest of the world, who did not profess these things. The Kingdom of God was here upon the earth in its fulness. There were many things belonging to this Church and Kingdom which were not looked for in the world. One of these was union. That was a law of God belonging to the Latter-day Saints. Like the ancient Prophets and Apostles, the modern Prophets and Apostles should be united in their work in the flesh; and we as a people should not deviate from this rule. There should be unity throughout, a unity of heart and mind, from the President of the Church and his two counselors down. The law of God required it; and whenever there was any deviation from this they were in danger. The work of the people of God was advancing, and in this nation there was a great change in public feeling taking place in regard to the Latter-day Saints, than whom no people had been more lied about or misrepresented in the past, since they came to dwell in the valleys of these mountains. The world should learn who and what they were, and what they were doing; and all they asked was that the truth should be spoken concerning them. They had labored in the interest of their fellowmen. As Latter-day Saints they had faith that God would save the whole human family in some kind of glory, if they were not the sons of perdition. But all men under heaven were held responsible before God for their acts, and if they committed sin they had to pay the penalty.
He prayed God that they might all, as Latter-day Saints, live their religion, do what God required of them, remember their prayers, and walk uprightly before the Lord, and when they reached the other side of the vail they would meet with their reward, according to the works done in the flesh. He prayed that God's blessing would rest upon this Conference, that the people would be united together, and that much good would result therefrom.
The choir sang:
Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Benediction by Elder Seymour B. Young.
_____
[3 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 44:507, 4/9/92, p 11]
THE
OVERFLOW.
The Tabernacle did not afford sufficient space for the great multitude of people who gathered to worship in the afternoon; it was therefore decided to hold an overflow meeting in the
ASSEMBLY HALL.
That building was also densely packed, and still many hundreds were unable to gain admission to either building.
Apostle Franklin D. Richards presided at the overflow gathering, when the proceedings opened at 2 o'clock.
The choir sang:
Hark! listen to the trumpeters! They sound for volunteers.
Prayer was offered by Apostle John W. Taylor, after which the choir sang:
Lord, Thou wilt hear me when I pray! I am forever Thine!
_____
Elder John Morgan
was the first speaker. He said that it was with no small degree of pleasure that he mingled his voice in worship with his brethren. He loved to testify to the truthfulness of the everlasting Gospel. When we considered that for sixty-two years the testimony of this Gospel had been sounded in the ears of the human family in all parts of the earth it was no longer a cause for wonder that so many people were gathered on such an occasion as the present Conference. The immense audiences in the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall and the hundreds who had been turned away from both buildings gave some idea of the hosts of Israel. These Conferences were productive of great good. Those who attended them were built up and refreshed and carried away with them the spirit of kindness and love. The instructions given at these great semi-annual gatherings found echo in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints in every ward and Stake of Zion. Thus was Israel benefited incalculably. When contemplating the rapid and wonderful growth of the Church during its sixty-two years of existence we found much over which to marvel. Numerically we were becoming a great people and he felt like echoing the saying of one of God's Prophets, "Give us room that we may dwell." In years gone by it was the custom of the leaders of the Church to call young people to build up settlements and villages and found cities and commonwealths beyond the borders of civilization. This principle was correct and beneficial. Barren and uninviting wastes had thereby been converted into productive farms. The struggles of these young people upon the frontier were oftentimes of a trying nature. But they were imbued with the faith of God and the true spirit of pioneering. The children of parents so called, naturally inherited these gifts, and as they grew to man and womanhood they too went in search of homes in the wilderness. They took up the land, diverted the streams and cultivated the soil. They surmounted the obstacles and overcame the difficulties common to the settlers of a new country. They were brave, industrious and honest and their accomplishments are eternal monuments to their memory.
Today hundreds of young men in the thickly populated districts were without any definite or fixed purpose in life. This superfluous strength should be scattered about. If it was not these selfsame young men and their descendants would become the hewers of wood and drawers of water. By spreading out they could take up land and in time become the possessors of valuable homes. We were surrounded by districts richly endowed both as to climate and soil and other natural resources. In extending our borders we had passed by many such favored spots.
It was wrong, the speaker said, for parents to remain on the little farm at home. They should be allowed and encouraged to extend the borders of Zion and acquire titles to land which would become inheritances of incalculable worth. In our remote settlements the cry was for more strength. In surrounding States and Territories our people were sought after as peaceable and law-abiding citizens. These States and Territories offered all the facilities essential to making a people happy, independent and prosperous.
_____
Elder B. H. Roberts
next addressed the congregation. He said that it was natural in these semi-annual conferences to be somewhat reminiscent in our reflections, especially when the progress of the work of the lord was pointed out to us. His mind involuntarily reverted back to the log-cabin of Father Whitmer, where sixty-two years ago a few men, six of whom were members of the Church, held the first Conference of the present dispensation. What a bold and remarkable prophet a man would have been esteemed on that occasion had he predicted that in little more than half a century the Church would grow to its present proportions, or if he had declared that a great Tabernacle, with a seating capacity of from 10,000 to 13,000 persons, would be built in the Rocky Mountains, and that such a building would be wholly inadequate to accommodate the Latter-day Saints who should go to it to worship. If on the occasion of the first conference of the Church those present did not particularize the building of a great Tabernacle in the wilderness, they did predict a wonderful growth of the Church. An infant had the organs and outlines of a grown person but was undeveloped. Who was there that could stand beside the cradle and predict the possible achievements of that embryotic man? Or who was there that could predict with any degree of accuracy the growth and development of the Church during the next sixty-two years? We could reasonably hope that its development would be much more rapid in the future than in the past. The labors of the Elders had been productive of much good. The most of it, however, was like the iceberg, hidden below the surface. The work of preaching the Gospel to the living was insignificant when compared with what had been done for the dead. In the St. George Temple alone more baptisms had been performed for the dead than the total membership of the Church. For this and other sacred purposes the Latter-day Saints had reared their temples. To witness the laying of the cap-stone of the last and greatest of these structures thousands of people had come to this city. There were those who spoke slightingly of these stately structures, but they did so ignorantly. We were called upon to do a great work, how great we knew not. It had not yet entered into the heart of man how much good would be accomplished in the temples of our God. They were the links between heaven and earth. In them we would be bound to our dead kindred and they to us.
_____
Apostle F. D. Richards
said it was a prevailing idea with a great many people that there were only six members in the Church at the time it was organized. He had entertained the same thought for a long time himself, but learned of his mistake and was now desirous of setting other people aright on the same question. According to the laws of New York a church could neither be organized nor incorporated with less than six members. He could not say authoritatively what the exact membership of the Church was at the time it was organized. It was on the 15th of May, 1829, when Joseph and Oliver were baptized and ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. Between that time and April, 1830 the Gospel had been testified to by Joseph and Oliver, and quite a number had been baptized.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation.
Benediction was pronounced by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
_____
[4 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 44:508-509, 4/9/92, p 12-13]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Morning
Session.
MONDAY, April 45th, 10 a. m.
How firm a foundation, ye
Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said, You who unto Jesus for refuge
hath fled.
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder Charles O. Card.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation, No longer, as strangers, on earth need we roam;
Glad tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
_____
Dr. James E. Talmage
read circular Number Eight issued by the
CENTRAL BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The paper gives detailed explanations as to the nature of the Church educational system, and furnishes specific definitions of the relationships the various institutions and officers bear toward each other, and clear directions as to how each establishment should be organized and conducted.
The following was, by request of President Willard Young, of
YOUNG UNIVERSITY,
read by Apostle Heber J. Grant:
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTION.
Believing that the time is now fully ripe and in every way propitious for the establishment of the Church University mentioned in the circular of the General Board of Education which has just been read, and that no better time than the present, when the Latter-day Saints are assembled in General Conference, can ever be found for taking those preliminary steps which may be proper and right for the carrying out of such a purpose, I therefore respectfully ask that the following motion be put to this congregation, viz:
I move that this congregation unite in requesting the First Presidency to appoint a committee of five persons to consider a general plan for the proper founding and endowing of a Church University by, or in behalf of the whole body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I suggest that the report of the committee be submitted to this Conference at the earliest time practicable.
WILLARD YOUNG.
_____
Elder Willard Young
said: He believed that it was the right of every member of the Church to unite in the action here proposed, looking to the founding of the one Church University. Therefore as it had been stated that steps were being taken for the formation of the university, he wished as a member of the Church to have a voice in this action, in which he hoped every one present that morning would join.
President Cannon announced that the First Presidency would take the resolution into consideration and, at a subsequent meeting, probably name the members of the committee for the acceptance of the Conference.
_____
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
was the next speaker. He said the position which the Latter-day Saints occupied in relation to God and the duties resting upon them were such as required aid which could not be secured naturally; they must be maintained by the Spirit of God. The circumstances in which the Saints were placed and the scenes through which they must necessarily pass in the future were briefly touched upon by the speaker. The Lord had done a great deal for the Latter-day Saints during the last sixty-two years, both as a Church and as individuals. When they looked back upon their past history, both individually and collectively, they were astonished at the great progress which had been made, and the blessings which had been bestowed upon them. When this Gospel first reached them in the different nations from whence they came they knew very little in regard to the things of God, in comparison with their present knowledge; they knew nothing in reference to the relationship in which they stood to our Father in Heaven -- that they were his offspring, that they lived before coming into existence here, moved and had an understanding. Apostle Snow touched upon the subject of revelation, and made reference to the book of Doctrine and Covenants, wherein he said many important things were plainly exhibited to us in regard to having a present knowledge as to our condition and relationship to God. The blessings which He had bestowed upon this people were simply marvelous. When the Gospel reached them in the different nations to which they belonged, their condition and circumstances were very different from what they are now. The speaker illustrated his remarks on this head by showing how thousands of the Saints since coming to the valleys of these mountains had enhanced their condition not only spiritually but from a worldly or temporal point of view. It was God who, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, had brought this great latter-day work to its present degree of perfection. Let them look at the beautiful cities and towns in this Territory at this time. All these things were to be attributed to God and not to the shrewdness or the ability of men, who were only the instruments in His hands. There were thousands of persons now dwelling in the midst of these mountains who before gathering with the Saints here did not know even how to handle a pick-ax, hoe or shovel, and many of whom were now in comparatively affluent circumstances. This was a good deal, but it was nothing in comparison with what the Lord had done for this people spiritually.
As a people we must be perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect. We might not be able to fulfil all the duties pointed out yesterday; still it was incumbent upon us to do our utmost to reach the highest possible state of perfection, having regard to the peculiar conditions by which we are surrounded. God bless the Latter-day Saints. How firm a foundation had the Lord laid for the exercise of their faith. In the time of trial -- trials such as probably they never anticipated and might naturally wish to escape -- let them not be discouraged, but stand firm, endure the ordeal steadfastly, and the outcome would be much better than had been expected.
______
Apostle Moses Thatcher
Was next called upon. The circular just read in reference to the Church schools, he said, was a very important document, and he desired to call the attention of those present to the fact that, in this respect, the Latter-day Saints were not unlike the Roman Catholics throughout this nation. They paid taxes which the State legislature appropriated to various States of the Union for the support of the State universities and schools, and yet they were unwilling to entrust the education of their children to the schools which they sustained under this system of government. Therefore while their substance was used for the education of the children of others, not of their faith;, their loyalty to their religion caused them to comply, not always, however, without finding some fault with the system of the country, and then they educated their children in their own schools. This would seem to an extent, an injustice, yet the Latter-day Saints were not able, nor were the Roman Catholics, to prevent this, even if they had the disposition to do so.
The theory of the government under which we lived was founded on the idea that sovereignty was in the people. In laying the foundation broad and deep our fathers undertook, in order to secure religious freedom, a complete separation of Church and State. The free schools that had recently been established in this Territory, did not under the law permit the teaching of religion. The Latter-day Saints, like the Catholics, realizing the importance of our children receiving a religious education, that belief in and devotion to God were the very foundation of true education, were placed in the position in which they now found themselves in this matter.
Our Territorial legislature appropriated money freely to sustain the University of Deseret, or the University of Utah as it was called, for it was in conformity with the spirit of the time that we must change the name and, as far as possible, obliterate the memory of the past, even as the Roman Catholics sought to do when they introduced their doctrines among the aboriginal inhabitants of this continent. The funds, therefore, that were appropriated by the Territorial legislature from the taxes of the people went to support the University of Utah and the Agricultural College in the north; and while we were no doubt willing that our taxes should be thus used, as those schools in some degree harmonized with the wishes of the nation, yet when we turn our eyes inward and searched the foundation upon which we were building, we were desirous that our children should be educated in the Church schools. But in order to do this we must not forget that the competition would be very severe.
The building and the appointments of these schools would be as perfect as the means within their reach could make them. On the other hand, we were comparatively poor, so far as the means to educate our children were concerned; because what we lacked in this respect must be made up in our union of faith, in our devotion to the work, and in our contributions for that end. The whole matter was not accomplished in the vote of that conference today, but there must be a great deal of work in the future in order to carry out the object in view. Every father in Israel must "put his shoulder to the wheel."
The education of the world largely tended to the development of the intellect without the cultivation of the heart. The Latter-day Saints believed that true loyalty to the country depended to a great extent upon true faith in the Creator of the country. Therefore their foundation was deeper than that of the world, as they viewed it, inasmuch as they made the true worship of God the chief corner-stone of the structure, having in view always the highest liberty of the individual.
He believed that we had here in Utah as bright minds as the world had produced, and that if we would give this great subject the thought and attention necessary, the time was not far distant when our schools would compare favorably with those in other parts of the country. The time would come when instead of our boys going to the universities of the East to complete their education, the sons of others would come to these mountains to complete theirs. There was no reason why it should not be so.
In speaking on the subject of direct revelation from God, the speaker said, a man might have knowledge without having wisdom. No person in this Church was safe for a single hour unless he had the Spirit of God to guide him, and the time was near at hand when every man must stand upon the knowledge which God had given him. Individual intelligence was the glory of God.
We were upon the verge of grave times, and should we because the conditions had recently changed, sell our birthright for "a mess of pottage?" he answered no; and if i the exercise of what he might term his American liberty -- which might be better given as American license -- he should become a stumbling block to his brethren, God would hold him responsible for it.
There were duties which they owed to the State as well as to the Church. Let them as intelligent American citizens render to civil government that which belonged to it, but never forget to render to God the things that were His. The Latter-day Saints, everyone of them, had promised their allegiance to the American government, but they could not afford to give away the fruits of the labors which they had received since the organization of this Church sixty-two years ago for the baubles of the world; "and," said the speaker in conclusion, "I would to God that more of our Elders could give the enthusiasm, devotion, and love to the work of God which they seem to give so willingly to political matters."
The choir sang: Praise Ye the Father. Benediction by Elder B. H. Roberts.
_____
[4 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 44:509-510, 4/9/92, p 13-14]
Afternoon
Session.
The choir and congregation joined in singing:
We thank Thee, O God, for a
Prophet, To guide us in these latter days.
WE thank Thee for sending the Gospel, To lighten our minds with its rays.
Prayer by elder Joseph E. Taylor.
Praise to the man, etc.
was sung by the choir and congregation.
_____
President
George Q. Cannon
said: In response to the resolution presented and adopted by the Conference this morning, the committee of five has been nominated by the First Presidency. Their names are:
Willard Young, Karl G. Maeser, James E. Talmage, James Sharp, and Henry Cluff, Jr.
If this committee be acceptable to this Conference and they confirm our nomination, they will signify it in the usual way.
The nominations were unanimously sustained and President Cannon then said: the committee will report at some time during Conference, at a subsequent session, as to their conclusions.
_____
President Cannon
read from a prophecy of Enoch, contained in the "Pearl of Great Price," in relation to the coming of Christ in power, in the latter days, to reign on the earth a thousand years, and to the gathering of a people to prepare to meet Him when He should appear. He then delivered a discourse on the nature of the work of God, established in fulfilment of the prediction of Enoch, and the divine selection of the men who have been and are engaged in carrying it forward. he dwelt for some time and with great earnestness and force upon conditions now existing among the Saints that are contrary to the spirit of the Gospel, and liable to divide the brethren from each other in their feelings, and destroy the amity that should exist among them. The concluding portion of the discourse was devoted to an explanation of the right of those whom Go had placed to preside in the church to counsel the Saints in everything pertaining to the building up of Zion. As a synopsis would not give an adequate idea of President Cannon's remarks, a condensation of them is not attempted. They will probably be produced in full hereafter.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
next addressed the assemblage, the following being the substance of what he said:
It was his duty as a leader of this Church, as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator as he was called, to bear his testimony to what President Cannon had just said; for he had told the truth. He himself realized the delicate position which any of them were placed in when they touched upon political matters; at the same time he was very glad that Brother Cannon had touched upon that subject so far.
There were the Twelve Apostles. One part of their number -- he did not know how many -- were Democrats, the other Republicans; and it was so with every quorum in this Church and kingdom. He confessed that the spirit which he had seen manifested towards some of the Twelve, and that by other men of high standing in the Church had pained him exceedingly. It might be asked in what way? In the fist place, every man had as much right -- Prophets, Apostles, Saints and sinners -- to his political convictions as he had to his religious opinions. There was no necessity for quarrelling one with another, but there had prevailed a spirit, since the political division, among the Latter-day Saints which was greatly to be deplored. As Brother Cannon had said, that spirit would lead them to ruin, to sorrow and affliction, unless a different course was taken. He had seen some good men in the Church come together on these political matters and display a spirit that they had no business to. A good deal had been said about Brother John Henry Smith, and why he was a Republican. He took it up, and gave his views to the public. The question arose and was put straight out, "Is he going to apostatize? Because a man cannot be a Latter-day Saint and a Republican!" That was the feeling. Others might think that a man could not be a Latter-day Saint and a Democrat as well. Now, a man could be both, and if we behaved ourselves and did what was right as Latter-day Saints they would not have any trouble. He, however, wanted to say to the congregation before him that all the devils in hell and on earth were united together to destroy this Church and Kingdom. Whether it was one individual or a hundred, they labored to that end, and the Saints had to be careful to watch their position in these things. There was an election held recently in the North -- the town of Logan -- where the Republicans were victorious. They (the Presidency) were accused of guiding, directing and ordering, as it were, the operation of this; but such was untrue. He himself had sons who were both Republicans and Democrats, but he had never once in his life told either of them how to vote. God knew he had allowed them to do as they liked. He wanted the Apostles to do as they liked, also every other man in Israel; "but for God's sake don't quarrel; don't throw filth and dirt and nonsense at one another, because of any difference on political matters." Let all present give heed to this. Let them go about their business and attend to their political affairs as they pleased; but do not quarrel. If there were any people on the face of this earth that ought to be full of unity, of faith, of the Holy Ghost and the revelations of heaven it was the congregation before him today.
He thanked God from the bottom of his heart that he had lived to see his day -- to see such vast congregation as this in the valleys of these mountains. He had grown up and lived with the Church almost from its organization, and when he remembered how few were now living in the flesh of those whom he knew in Kirtland or even Nauvoo, and who associated with the Prophet Joseph, he marveled that his own life had been preserved so long. When they passed behind the vail they would find their records there, in the great library of the Kingdom of Heaven, and he would like to have a good account, as he wanted all of them to have.
After pointing out the important responsibility resting upon the people of God, and remarking that the eyes of the Lord and all the heavenly host were constantly upon them, President Woodruff said that God had greatly blessed them thus far in their mission here below and would yet give them the power to accomplish much more, if they but walked uprightly before Him, lived in unity, and carried out the purposes and principles of the Gospel in their daily life. Whatever duties we were called upon to perform, we should fulfil them cheerfully. Today the Latter-day Saints who dwelt in the valleys of these mountains occupied a very important position in the world. A great change was taking place in public opinion toward them, even in our own nation. They had been so derided and misrepresented in the past that people at one time, it would seem, hardly dared to come into Salt Lake City for fear that they would have their throats cut or be otherwise killed! The object of this people was to labor for the welfare of their fellowmen both here and abroad; and this was what they had been doing all the way through. The gospel which they preached would save all the sons of men under the heaven who would embrace it and obey all its laws. The Latter-day Saints were not the enemies of anybody. They believed that every man had a right to his religion, to whatever sect he might belong, and this people only claimed in return the same privilege. That was all they ever had asked.
The speaker referred briefly to the building of temples by the Latter-day Saints, and said they had made this once desert land to bring forth things in abundance for the sustenance of man, through the power of God. Thousands had gone before us here and thousands would come after; but the foundation had been laid and we were building upon it.
In conclusion, President Woodruff alluded to the ceremony of placing the cap-stone on the Temple on Wednesday. A great deal had been said as to people going upon the building on that occasion, but he wished to state that not one-tenth of that congregation could go up there. It was desired that all should remain on terra firma except the very few whose duty it would be to ascend the building to perform the necessary work of the day. He would rather not a soul went up than that one man, woman or child should be injured
_____
President Joseph F. Smith
said he desired to bear his testimony to the remarks which had been made by President Cannon and President Wilford Woodruff. He wished to be understood that he was heart and soul in unison with them in the views which they had just expressed, both in regard to religious and political questions; He joined in exhorting the Latter-day Saints, whatever they might do in the line of politics, to endeavor to bring them up to the high standard that they should occupy among those who professed to be the people of God, and not descend to the low, mean ways and tricks of the world. If they could not be honest in politics as well as religion, and act as men of God, they were not very good latter-day Saints.
In relation to the authority of the Presidency of the Church, there had been a tendency for the last seven or eight years among the Latter-day Saints to disregard to some extent the rights of the Presidency and the authority of those who had been placed over them. This no doubt had arisen from the fact that the Presidency had a great length of time been comparatively out of sight of the people, and the people had been free to act as they pleased. There had been a feeling more or less, growing up, not only among the people, but also with some who were prominent in the Priesthood, which caused them to act as though they considered themselves just about as great, and perhaps a little greater, and that they had just as much knowledge, and perhaps a little more, and equal authority, with the presiding authorities of the Church. In some respects he himself had seen a disregard shown to the counsels of the Priesthood. This was wrong. It was true we had not the Prophet Joseph Smith with us in person today, neither had we the Prophet Brigham Young; nor the Prophet John Taylor; but we had the Prophet Wilford Woodruff and his counselors; we had the first Presidency of the Church, organized and acknowledged by the whole people and by God the Heavenly Father; and the same authority that rested in Joseph Smith and his counselors and that succeeded them in others rested here today with the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and when they essayed to counsel the people -- as it was their right to do -- it was the duty of the Saints to hearken. He prayed that the Lord might guide them in this direction in this matter, give them to understand that the Church of God was organized upon the earth, that the authority of the holy Priesthood was here and that the Priesthood had the right to dictate in all things appertaining to the building up of that Church. God had so far acknowledged the acts of His servants and would continue to do so from this time henceforth; because this was His work.
Great responsibilities rested upon the men who had been chosen by the Almighty and appointed to act in these positions, and they felt the weight of the responsibility resting upon them continually. Not only did they feel this, but they had actually to assume the task of carrying the troubles, burdens, and sorrows of hundreds, he might say thousands, of individuals in the Church; for there was scarcely a man or woman who had any trouble who did not come to the First Presidency for sympathy and counsel. Sometimes he had seen President Woodruff almost borne down beyond the possibility of endurance by these responsibilities crowding upon him, in addition to those which he had to bear in connection with his Presidency over the whole Church. "Try to make his burdens light," implored the speaker. "Let the people go to their Bishops, to the Presidents of their Stakes and to other wise men in Israel to ask counsel, and get them to help bear their burdens; but do not bring so many to President Woodruff. It is weighing him down and shortening his time upon the earth. Keep your troubles i your local organizations as much as you can."
God bless this people, and during this Conference may the spirit of peace and unity dwell in the hearts of all. He besought the Saints to live their religion, to do right and keep all the commandments of God, that they might know of the doctrine whether it was of God or of man, and whether the course they were pursuing was acceptable in His sight.
The choir sang the anthem,
Let God arise.
Benediction by Apostle Francis M. Lyman.
_____
[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 44:510-512, 4/9/92, p 14-16]
THIRD
DAY.
_____
Morning
Session.
The choir and congregation sang:
Do what is right; the day
dawn is breaking, Hailing a future of freedom and light;
Angels, above us, are silent notes taking Of every action; do what is right.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAlister.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
The spirit of God like a
fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth.
The visions and blessings of old are returning, The angels are coming to visit
the earth.
President Cannon read the following communication:
Church
University.
SALT LAKE CITY,
April 4, 1892.
To the First Presidency and Members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in annual conference
assembled:
Dear Brethren and Sisters -- Your committee to whom was
referred the duty of preparing a plan for the action of the Conference,
relative to the establishment of a Church University, respectfully submit the
accompanying resolution; and we recommend its adoption.
Respectfully, your brethren,
WILLARD YOUNG,
KARL G MAESER,
JAMES E TALMAGE,
JAMES SHARP,
BENJAMIN CLUFF, JR.,
Committee.
RESOLUTION.
Being sincerely desirous of fostering education in our
midst, we the members of the unincorporated body of religious worshipers known
and designated as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now in
General Conference assembled, on this 5th day of April, 1892, do respectfully
request the presiding officers of our Church, viz: Wilford Woodruff, President,
and George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, Counselors, all of the First
Presidency; and Lorenzo Snow, President, and Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young,
Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J.
Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H.
Cannon, members, all of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, for us, and in our
behalf, to found upon such trusts, and to endow, in such manner as they may
deem wise and proper, an institution of learning of high grade, to be
officially named "The University of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints," but to be commonly called and designated the
"Church University." We respectfully suggest that the University be
established at the earliest time practicable. We, the Latter-day Saints, hereby
express our willingness and full determination to aid, to the full extent of
our power, the authorities of our Church in building up said University of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The adoption of the resolution was moved by Elder B. H. Roberts, and the motion being seconded, it was put to the Conference and carried unanimously.
On motion of Apostle Lyman the committee was discharged from further duty in the premises.
_____
Apostle F. M. Lyman
was the first speaker. He said in substance, that these were precious seasons when so many of the Latter-day Saints met together to worship the Lord and to transact business pertaining to the building up of our Father's Kingdom in the earth. After expressing the pleasure he personally felt at seeing such a large gathering of the Saints present at this Conference, despite the very inclement weather, he referred to the trials through which the people had passed for the Gospel's sake, not only in this but in all previous dispensations. There seemed to be a power and influence opposed to the purposes of our Maker to try and thwart His designs; and apparently, looking at the matter from a human standpoint, the opposer of the Lord had been successful. At least, a good many things had occurred which appeared to disappoint the hopes and expectations of the followers of the Savior, and he supposed no greater disappointment ever happened in the experience of God's children on the earth than when the Savior himself came to lay down His life.
The revelations and requirements of the Lord had always been, in a measure, trials to the people, -- not to all, but to a great many. Not a few had turned away from the truth indeed, because things did not go exactly as they wished. The speaker pointed out that the Saints had in some respects been too neglectful of the duties and obligations resting upon them; they did not order their lives as they should. They had, he feared, been careless in regard to their prayers, and in regard to the payment of tithing, notwithstanding that the Lord had blessed them abundantly with the earth's riches. The Latter-day Saints were increasing in numbers, they were prospering in their business enterprises in these valleys, and should therefore give the Lord according to their substance. Their tithing should increase year by year, and their disposition to serve God should grow greater day by day. Let them act in full obedience to the Word of Wisdom. There should be no occasion for such admonitions against contention as were given by President Woodruff and Presidents Cannon and Smith yesterday. There should be no such feeling existing among the Latter-day Saints as was then referred to, but it was the duty of the People to honor the Presidency and the authority of the Holy Priesthood in all things. President Woodruff as the mouthpiece of God, should have the obedience of all the Latter-day Saints in all that pertains to the building up of Zion. The truth of the Gospel should be so grounded in their hearts that it could not be shaken, and they should discard politics and everything else that would tend to divide them in the spirit of the Gospel and against their brethren. They were expected to be one in the spirit and labors of the gospel, and while there was division on party lines, it ought not to create one particle of bitterness among the people. Whenever any of the Saints had a feeling of that kind within their hearts toward their brethren and lacked the spirit of forgiveness, they must know that they were in error. The revelation in regard to plural marriage, the issuance of the Church manifesto, politics, and other things had, no doubt, in turn tried the hearts of many of them, but he was thankful to say that very few had left the Church on account of what had taken place. In closing, the speaker asked God to bless the various officers of the Church. He also touched upon the ceremonies at the Temple tomorrow, which, he said, would be a grand occasion.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[DNW 44:625, 4/30/92, p 25; CD 3:34-39]
REMARKS
By Elder Francis M. Lyman, at the Tabernacle, Salt Lake
City,
(during the general Conference) Tuesday morning, April 5th, 1892
_____
While I
attempt to speak to you, my brethren and sisters, this morning, I feel more
than ever in my life the necessity of your faith and prayers, and I suggest
that it is good discipline for the mind, whenever our brethren rise to speak or
pray in our behalf, that we offer up a silent prayer, asking God to bless our
brother in his speaking and in his praying.
These are
precious seasons where so many Latter-day Saints meet together to worship the
Lord and to transact business that pertains to the building up of our Father's
kingdom in the earth. The Lord has been very gracious to all of us during this
conference, and in spite of the bad weather the people have had faith enough to
gather together in great numbers, manifesting their deep interest in the work of
the Lord; and our brethren have been greatly blessed in speaking to us the
words of truth and of instruction suited to the requirements of the Latter-day
Saints.
We find
that from the beginning the children of God have had seasons of trial. All the
changes, all the revelations, all the movements of the people have in a measure
tended to try some of those who profess faith in the Lord. The trials of the
people go as far back as we are acquainted with their history, not only in this
dispensation, but in all dispensations. There seems to be a power and an
influence opposed to the purposes of our Maker, trying to thwart His designs;
and, looking at it from a human standpoint, the opposer of the Lord has been
apparently successful; at least, a great many things have occurred that would
seem to disappoint the hopes and expectations of the followers of the Savior;
and I suppose that no greater disappointment ever occurred in the experience of
God's children on the earth than when the Savior Himself laid down His life.
With all that He had said, with all the references that He had made to the
laying down of His life, and with all that had been said in the revelations to
the Prophets of old, no one was prepared for the death of the Savior. With all
that had been said by the Prophet Joseph to his brethren and the Saints of God
in early days, there was not one soul, save it might be the Prophet himself,
that was prepared for the sacrifice of his life. No one ever thought that he
would be slain. No one ever thought that his brother Hyrum would be slain. They
were not prepared for it. Neither were they prepared for many of the
revelations that the Lord gave. Although we are a people of revelation, founded
upon the rock of revelation, yet there is hardly a revelation given by the Lord
to the Latter-day Saints but takes them unprepared. They had not thought it
would be just that way, but that something else would have been revealed. And
these revelations and requirements of the Lord have always been, in a measure,
trials to the people; not to all of them, but to a great many. Many people have
turned away from the truth because things did not come exactly to suit them.
Now, the instructions that the Latter-day Saints have had from the beginning
have been to the effect that they should live their religion, keep the
commandments of the Lord, and so live that they might have the testimony of the
Holy Spirit abiding in their hearts. If these instructions had been followed
very closely and carefully by all the Latter-day Saints, I believe that they
would have been fairly prepared, at least, to receive any order, any revelation
and any changes that were necessary for the accomplishment of the Lord's
purposes in the earth. But we are a little careless and neglectful of the
duties that devolve upon us, and we do not order our lives as carefully as we
ought to do. We are not as particular in regard to the worship of the Lord; we
are not as particular in partaking of the sacrament; we have not learned to
love the sacrament and to comprehend it as we ought to do, so that all Israel
are gathered together on the Sabbath day to partake of the sacrament. We have
not yet learned to comprehend the importance of prayer so thoroughly and
perfectly but what we forget and neglect our prayers. They are neglected in the
father's house, and in the son's house, and in the daughter's house. We are
careless also in regard to our tithing. Although the Lord blesses us
abundantly, and provides us with fruitful seasons as He did last year, yet the
Latter-day Saints become careless in regard to their tithing. And I suppose
there is always an excuse in the heart of every brother and of every family
where there is a falling off in regard to tithing, in regard to prayer, in
regard to attending meeting and the conferences and to the worship of the Lord.
I wonder what excuse we can make as Latter-day Saints for the neglect of our
tithing. The reports of this year from many of the Stakes of Zion would
indicate that the people are becoming poorer; that our increase and our
interest have not been so much during the last year as in years before. Yet the
fact is, we are increasing in number; we are extending our farms; we are
increasing our merchandizing; we are engaging in more business enterprises; and
if we feed as well, and clothe as well, and lay by a little every year, as we
ought to be doing, our tithing fairly and honestly paid, should have been a
little better. If you and I do not pay more, there ought to be others coming
up, for there is a little generation of young men coming to maturity who should
have become tithepayers independent of their fathers; and the tithings of the
people should increase, unless there is a famine or some great reason why there
should be a falling off. I desire to emphasize this before all Israel, that our
tithings ought to increase year by year, and also our disposition to attend the
worship of the Lord, to attend to our prayers, to observe faithfully the Word
of Wisdom, and to increase in good works year by year. We ought to be better
men. We ought to be more careful, more circumspect, more faithful and devoted
to the Lord than we have been in the past. This is as necessary as it is that
the child should grow from childhood to youth, and to manhood and old age. We
ought to grow and improve in our morals, in our faith, in our integrity and in
our humility day by day. There ought never to be a necessity for the remarks
that were made yesterday by President Cannon and President Smith. There ought
not to be any feeling among the Latter-day Saints to question the authority of
God's priesthood-the authority of the Teacher, or the Priest, or the Bishop, or
the President of Stake, or the Apostle, or the First Presidency. From the First
Presidency and the Apostles through all the other quorums there ought to be
that proper regard for authority and seniority in the midst of the people and
amongst the Priesthood that would be pleasing to the Lord. The Priesthood that
we bear ought to be respected. Men may be weak, and have their failings; but we
ought to honor the Priesthood that they bear and the authority that they
exercise. I love to honor and respect a man that God honors. If the Lord can
trust the Priesthood with His servants, I feel that I can afford to honor them.
I care not what the degree of Priesthood is that a man bears; in fact, I can
honor the man that has made covenant with God to keep His commandments and is
humble before the Lord. I can love and respect such persons for the humility
that they have before God; for they have the friendship and favor of the Lord,
and I feel that I can honor and treat them kindly. And when it comes to my
brethren who preside over me and who are associated with me in the quorum to
which I belong, and my brethren the High Priests and the Seventies and the
chief Elders, why it does seem to me that their words, their counsels and their
exhortations should be so sacred that we could all honor and respect them. I
know that in the quorum of the Apostles and with the Presidency there is a
feeling of respect, of honor and of obedience to those who preside over us. We
defer to our seniors, and we honor and respect them in their presidency. If
there is any lack of respect for the Presidency of the Church, in the Church or
in any of the quorums of the Holy Priesthood, I should be very sorry to witness
it. I have always felt that President Woodruff was to me the same as President
Taylor was-the vicegerent of God. I have felt that President Woodruff and
President Taylor were the same to me and to the Church as President Brigham Young,
and they as the Prophet of God; for these men have walked right into the same
authority and the same power, the same blessing, endowment and responsibility,
as leaders of Israel as was held by the Prophet Joseph Smith. And in the
absence of President Woodruff, I have always felt-I trust I may ever so
feel-that President Cannon, or whoever may stand in the place that President
Cannon does today, is to me the same as President Woodruff, as the President of
the Church and as the President of the Conference; and in the absence of the
President and his first Counselor, I look upon the second Counselor as the man
who stands as the mouthpiece of God to the people. For these are three
Presidents, as I understand it. I understand that in the days of the Prophet Joseph
Smith he was the President of the Church, and that he had associated with him
other two Presidents-a presiding quorum of High Priests-and that either of
these in the absence of the others was perfectly competent to give forth the
word of God to the Latter-day Saints. And I have always looked upon my brethren
of the Apostles, from President Snow to Elder Abraham H. Cannon, the last of
the Apostles, as being perfectly competent to give forth the word of the Lord
to the Latter-day Saints, to teach them, to counsel them, and to instruct them
in the ways of life, while the Lord inspires them to do so. I felt yesterday
that the word of God was given to us through President Cannon just as perfectly
as though it had been through President Wilford Woodruff. And President
Woodruff said so. He knew it as well as we knew it. You Latter-day Saints who
heard his voice understood it, and felt the spirit with which he spoke. It was
so in regard to what President Jos. F. Smith said; and it is so with the word
of the Lord given through the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ; for they are
anointed with the same power and authority, and you sustain them as prophets,
as seers, and as revelators; and they are competent, when the spirit of God is
upon them, to bear testimony, and to instruct, and to admonish, and to warn,
and to counsel, and to direct the Latter-day Saints. That is the nature of the
authority and power that is conferred upon them, and it ought to be respected
just as we respect each other; and as we respect each other, so I think the
people will respect us and honor the Priesthood and authority which we bear.
These men are called to labor in all the world, with all the churches and all
the people, to teach, to instruct and to set good examples. I hold that these
chief brethren in these quorums and these Seventies, are expected to set good
examples, that the people cannot reasonably and truthfully find fault with
them. They are expected to set good examples in their lives, in their families,
in their neighborhoods, in business, and in all their ways, and to be filled
with the light of revelation and the word of the Lord on all occasions, to
speak forth those counsels that the people require, so that the people may be
warned of dangers and evils, just as we have been warned of the danger of the
people going into trouble. Some of the brethren have expressed some fears. Now
I want to say that I have but very few fears. I have great confidence in these
Latter-day Saints that have had a long experience, from the early days of the
Church. We are mixed up now. We have a few brethren that have been here from
the very beginning. Then we have some that came in the next stage, and a few
later, and some still later; and the Latter-day Saints are so thoroughly proven
that what turned men from the Church and made them enemies to the Presidency of
the Church in the days of the Prophet Joseph will not do it today. They have
too good sense, and have been too thoroughly taught and schooled. We have the
same feelings and spirit sometimes that men had in former times; but when in
our sober sense, and when we exercise a little reason and judgment, the
knowledge of the truth is so grounded in our hearts that we cannot be shaken.
We will discard politics, we will discard everything that would make us bitter
towards our brethren and divide us in the spirit of the Gospel. We are expected
to be one in the spirit of the Gospel and in the labors of the Gospel; and
where division on party lines is necessary and occurs, it ought never to make
one particle of bitterness between brethren. And I want to say to all Israel
that if you feel that kind of bitterness in your heart toward a brother, and
lack the spirit of forgiveness, you are in error, because we cannot allow
bitterness in our hearts toward our brethren; in fact, bitterness ought not to
be in our hearts toward any person. If the world be pitted against us and feel
opposed to us in their sentiments and feelings, and in their religious and
political organizations, why should we not be friendly to ourselves? We ought
to be. Therefore, judge yourselves. No man need to be judged by anyone else.
Let every man judge himself in regard to the feelings in his own heart. We need
not become excited. We need not become over anxious, or troubled, in regard to
the Kingdom; for the Kingdom is the Lord's, and He will maintain it, whether
you and I are faithful or not. And it is increasing year by year. Though we may
not seem quite so fervent; we may not feel as anxious in regard to the
sacrament as we ought; we may not be quite as careful in regard to our tithing,
the word of wisdom, etc., yet you will find that the Spirit of the Lord is
working among the Latter-day Saints, and it is telling upon their hearts, and
it seems to inoculate their systems and their blood, and they have the spirit
of the Gospel more or less in them, and they become so established and firm
that they will not altogether let go of the faith. They may have seasons of
carelessness and indifference, and they may be overtaken with anger sometimes
and be profane and vulgar; but I tell you that the Lord is working, and He does
put His spirit in the families of the Saints, and in the meetings and
gatherings of the Saints, until the Latter-day Saints are becoming so strongly
impregnated with the Spirit of the Lord and with the doctrines of the Gospel
that they are not apostatizing as they used to do in great numbers. The
Presidency here do not fear the Apostles turning against them. They do not fear
their joining with the ranks of the enemy, as was the case in the days of the
Prophet Joseph. Have we any fears in regard to these Seventies? Have we any
fears in regard to these Presidents of Stakes? We never think of one of them
turning away, leaving the Gospel, and joining hands with the enemy. The revelation
of plural marriage, no doubt, tried the hearts of a great many people. The
Manifesto tried a great many people. But not many have left the Church on
account of it. The evidence of the brethren before the Master in Chancery tried
some of the people, and politics tries the people; and I tell you that
everything that comes along will try some of the people. But I say that we are
today a tried and proven people so far that there will not be the apostasy, in
proportion to our numbers, that was witnessed in the beginning of the Church.
Some will apostatize, no doubt, and lose the faith, and die in that condition.
But I tell you the very best and choicest, the most independent spirits that
could be found in the earth, have been gathered-the choicest of families, and
of cities, and of nations; those that were not afraid to have their names cast
out as evil. These are the ones that have been gathered in this remarkable
gathering, the like of which cannot be found anywhere else. No other people
gather together as we do. And the Lord has tried and proven us. Not only this,
but the strength of the trials that we have endured, and the faith and power
that we have, tinctures our children, and they will walk measurably in our
footsteps, though some of them may be lost.
I pray
God to bless this Conference. My heart is full of rejoicing. I love my
brethren. Oh! I feel to say God bless them. God bless President Woodruff and
his counselors. God bless Brother Lorenzo Snow, and Brother Franklin D.
Richards-these aged men. God bless these younger men, who need a blessing more
than the older ones do, because we lack the experience, and we need to be
proven and tried yet as they have been. God grant that we may be as faithful as
they have been. God bless Israel. God bless this First quorum of Seventies. God
bless Brother Jacob Gates, who now lies near his death, apparently, and
preserve his life as long as it shall please the Lord that he shall live-a man
full of faith and integrity. God bless these Presidents of Seventies. I love
every one of them. There is not one without weaknesses, but their weaknesses
are about the same as mine, and I sympathize with them. God bless the Bishops,
who, of all men in the Church, have heavy loads to carry and are the servants
of everybody. God bless the Bishops of the big wards and the little wards, and
all Counselors, and all men in Israel who are laboring for the building up of
God's Kingdom. May we tomorrow, with the favor of heaven, place the capstone on
that Temple. Oh, what a day! I was here when the cornerstones were laid. I was
about thirteen years old. I thank God I had that privilege, and I want to see
this tomorrow; and then I want to live to see the building dedicated and the
people have the privilege of going in, tens of thousands of them, to perform
their labors for the dead. God bless Israel and all the interests of Zion, at
home and abroad, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
_____
Apostle John Henry Smith
said he knew of no people in the world who were so amply taught in everything that tended to make up the sum total of the human life as the Latter-day Saints, and he rejoiced in the knowledge of the truth, in the testimony of Jesus Christ, and in the testimonies which had been borne by the brethren during this Conference.
He had been requested to state that an effort was on foot to erect a monument in honor of the late President Brigham Young, that hero in the settlement of this western country and the body of heroes and heroines who came with him here and loyally planted the American flag upon this soil. He appealed to those present to contribute as far as their means would allow towards the accomplishment of this grand work. He trusted that every man, woman and child would help the undertaking forward -- that every "Mormon" and non-"Mormon" throughout the land who respected the work that had been done in the interests of the Gospel in this part of the world would throw in his mite. When the visitors to this Conference returned home to their respective districts they should exercise their endeavors to induce others to contribute, that their names might be recorded as having taken part in so noble a cause.
_____
Apostle Marriner W. Merrill
said, in substance, that he had enjoyed this Conference exceedingly, and considered the counsel already given as timely and fitting. He had been led to reflect on the conditions of the past in the history of this Territory. He was not here at the time of the laying of the corner stone of the Salt Lake Temple, but came shortly afterwards. He thought of the amount of means that had been expended by the Saints in erection of houses to the Lord. It was an evidence that God was with them. The Prophet Joseph said that whenever the Lord had a people on the earth he commanded them to build temples. The Nephites were only a few years on this continent when they were commanded to erect a holy structure of that character. This was a temple-building dispensation. The Salt Lake building would soon be completed, making the fourth on this Territory. Others would be constructed, and the people would enter those sacred edifices and do a work for their kindred dead. All Israel desire that President Woodruff should dedicate the Temple in this City. He had assurance that when it was dedicated President Woodruff would be there, President Brigham Young would be there, and President Heber C. Kimball would be there. He knew that Brother Kimball had been in Logan temple because he had seen him in that building. It need not be supposed that the servants of God who had passed behind the veil were not interested in the work of God and its progress on the earth. They were all interested in the subject. The Prophet Joseph, the head of this dispensation, was watching and aiding it, together with his associates.
The speaker touched upon the subject of faith. We might know the things of God by the Spirit of God, and no man or woman could understand these things unless he or she possessed humility of spirit and a contrite heart. He knew that this great latter-day work was true and came from God, having received a testimony thereof. The Latter-day Saints should not entertain animosity or hard feelings towards anyone. They come to these Conferences for the purpose of having their minds and spirits refreshed, that they might return to their homes prepared to do better than in the past and to live better and purer lives. How many would follow out the good counsels to which they had listened at this conference? He besought the Saints to go forward with the best resolutions to serve God faithfully henceforth, and to let nothing turn them aside from the truth.
_____
Apostle Anthon H. Lund
followed. He endorsed all the remarks which had been made by the previous speakers, and said there had been no division in the faith of the Latter-day Saints. The principles which God had revealed to them they had believed alike, whatever else might have happened. In the past intolerance had been productive of much evil. If we, as a people, were tolerant in religious matters, why should we not be so in regard to things which were not nearly so important as those which belonged to the salvation of the soul? When we engaged in political affairs let us be forbearing, and not think because another person did not hold the same opinion as ourselves that he was necessarily in the wrong. Let not our opinions on earthly matters divide us in our religious views, but seek to love one another as the Gospel demanded. The Lord had been with this work from its inception, and he would carry it to a successful issue.
This Conference would be remembered as a very important one. The circular read yesterday in regard to the establishment of the Church university was a most interesting matter and he was very pleased that such a system had been inaugurated in our midst -- that the servants of God had been led to lay this subject before the Saints and counsel them to remember the education of their children. Let us, he said, give our children that which no one can take away from them, and that is an excellent education. He hoped the Church university would so prosper that the time would come when the children of the East would come here to finish their tuition instead of the youth of Zion going there for that purpose. Might God bless the Latter-day Saints and help them to choose to walk in the path of righteousness.
_____
President George Q. Cannon
then said that it would be appropriate for him to say a few words before the congregation was dismissed, in regard to the subject of the proposed monument to the memory of President Brigham Young. This matter had been carefully considered, a committee appointed, and the services of a sculptor secured. It was at first thought that comparatively few would contribute to the fund, but upon more mature consideration the opinion prevailed that this was an undertaking in which probably all the Latter-day Saints would like to engage. It was therefore decided that they should be able to contribute $1 each. It was not expected that contributions should be limited to that amount; any one who chose to give more could do so, and it would perhaps become necessary to go beyond the sum named. But it was felt that each of the Saints might put in one dollar. There might be many of the children, too, who would like to add their mite, if not more than a dime or a quarter, so that they might be able to say, "I helped with what little means I possessed towards the fund for the building of that monument." This was a good time to take the matter up in earnest. Judge Elias A. Smith was treasurer of the fund, and the contributions of as many of the Saints as could donate during the Conference would be gladly accepted. When those present returned home they could tell their neighbors what was going forward and they to induce them to help also. In the days to come everything of this character - in which they took part now, every such movement in which our children took part -- would be remembered with feelings of gratification. On this account it was well that the subscription should be a general one. This movement had its origin with the authorities of the Church. When the proposal was made to them they heartily approved of it; what was now being done was with their sanction.
President Cannon continued -- In my remarks yesterday afternoon I alluded to Brother John Henry Smith. A member of my family afterwards called my attention to what I had said and observed that I did not explain myself fully, but that I left myself open to misconstruction. Lest there should be any misapprehension on this point I wish now to explain what I really meant. What I said was quite clear to myself, though perhaps it was not so clear to some who heard me. It appears to have been thought that we (the First Presidency) told Brother Smith do do what he had done.
Now the explanation of this is very simple. John Henry Smith came to the First Presidency when this division on party lines took place and said to us, "I am a Republican; I would like to give my voice to my brethren on republicanism. Can I, being one of the Twelve, do it; am I at liberty; will I be transcending my bounds or doing anything improper?" We told him that we saw no impropriety in his doing this. Now that is what I meant by the remark I made yesterday, and I take this opportunity of explaining it, because I was told by two or three last evening that they were afraid somebody would put a wrong construction on what I said. I take pleasure in explaining this, though to the First presidency it was quite plain at the time.
The choir sang:
Let the mountains shout for joy.
Benediction by Elder John Nicholson.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 44:512-513, 4/9/92, p 16-17]
THIRD
DAY.
_____
Afternoon
Session.
The choir and congregation joined in singing:
Our God, we raise to Thee Thanks for the blessings free, We here enjoy.
Prayer by Elder Charles W. Penrose.
Singing by the choir:
Lord, Thou wilt hear me when
I pray, I am forever Thine;
I fear Thee all the day; O, may I never sin.
There being a great many more people in and around the Tabernacle than could be accommodated with sitting room within the building, it was announced, by President George Q. Cannon, that an overflow meeting would be held in the Assembly Hall, over which President Lorenzo Snow would preside.
_____
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon
addressed the congregation. He said it seemed a long time -- sixty-two years -- since this Church was organized, and especially was this the case when they considered the marvelous work which had been accomplished. God had indeed been with this people, and had performed that which we today witnessed. But with all that had been carried out already, there was still a great deal to be done in the accomplishment of the mission which God had assigned to the Latter-day Saints. He had placed upon us the duty of preaching this gospel of the Kingdom to the world. True, we had done this to a very great extent already. Every quarter of the globe had been visited by the Elders and in almost every language had the truth been proclaimed; but a stupendous work yet remained to be done. Touching upon the question of dissension, the speaker asked what good would it do, if discord was sown to bring emigrants here -- if they were placed in the way of following the example which was too frequently set them by some of those who professed to be the people of God? It would perhaps be better, under such circumstances, to leave them in the lands where they now dwelt than have them here to make them apostates to the truth and perhaps send them forth again to spread falsehood and circulate improper rumors concerning the Saints in Zion. He counseled the people to look after their brethren and sisters who arrived here from abroad, and urged that suitable employment should be provided for them as soon as possible, in order that their minds might not be kept idle and filled with idle thoughts. In this Territory there was ample work for all, and it was well that the people should be kept employed, thus keeping them out of the way of that evil which prevailed to too great an extent in our midst. Let us seek to beautify Zion by the industry of our own hands, and work unitedly for the salvation [of] our fellowmen.
_____
President A. O. Smoot.
of Utah Stake, was the next speaker. He said it afforded him exceeding pleasure in having the privilege of addressing that vast audience, and of bearing that testimony to the truth of the great work in which the Latter-day Saints were engaged. If they carried out in practice those things which had been pointed out to them during this conference Zion would go upward and onward, and no power beneath the heavens would stay her progress. He had been a member of this Church from his boyhood, and he had been acquainted with the Latter-day Saints for fifty-seven years, having embraced the Gospel under the administration of Elder David W. Patten and President Wilford Woodruff.
The speaker drew a picture of the lives of the Saints in the early days, referred to the experiences through which they had since passed, described the condition of this western country at the time the pioneers first reached it and compared it with the present. After saying that he had done his utmost in his own humble way to preserve unity among the Saints, and to improve their spiritual condition, the speaker deprecated the feeling, already dwelt upon, which he had observed here in regard to political affairs. This should not be; let them rather give heed to those things which would build up Zion and make her happy and prosperous. Might peace be with Israel.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund, and Abraham H. Cannon.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Jacob Gates, Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, and Jonathan Golden Kimball.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as General Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amos Howe, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp.
As Trustee in Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
All the voting was unanimous.
President Cannon instructed the general assembly with regard to the order of exercises to be observed on April 6th (Wednesday) in connection with the laying of the capstone of the Temple.
_____
Elder John Morgan
said he desired to bear his testimony to the truth of the work in which the Latter-day Saints were engaged and to the teachings that they had received during this Conference. which had been a most happy and successful one. There must needs be an opposition to all things that were excellent; such had been the case through all time, from Father Adam down to the present; and this great latter-day work was no exception to the general rule. It had met indeed with bitter and unrelenting opposition at the hands of their enemies. This Church throughout its existence, however, had been undergoing a process of discipline; but yet we were not perfect. It was evident to anyone conversant with the situation in the midst of the Latter-day Saints that while they had been drilled and trained to a certain degree of discipline and a kind of experience which had been invaluable to us, yet in the kind providence of God it should be necessary for us to have better drill and better discipline even than before. He verily believed that as this work went forward and grew, and spread on the right hand and on the left, the waves of opposition would roll higher and higher, and men would be tried as they never had been before. It was natural that this should be so, in order that we might be fitted and prepared for our future life. In speaking against division, Elder Morgan said the grand object which the Saints should keep in view was the establishment of righteousness and of the Kingdom of God, nevermore to be thrown down.
_____
Elder B. H. Roberts
said that "Mormonism," so-called, carried to the world a peculiar message -- a message of warning. In several of the early revelations given to the Elders the Lord told them that they were called to labor -- that it was not a day of many words but a day of warning to the inhabitants of the earth. That warning found expression in nearly all things in which the Saints engaged. It found very sympathetic expression in the labors of the Elders abroad. Upon them was laid a strict charge that they warn the world of the judgments to come. In several of the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph in his day it was expressly said that after the warnings which should be sounded unto the nations by the voice of the Elders would come the judgments of God. In the erection of the glorious temples in these valleys of the mountains, too, was sounded the message that "Mormonism" was carrying to the world; and tomorrow let the world take note that this was a warning to them that the judgments of God sleep not -- that they slumber not not, "neither hath He forgotten the necessity that there will be to cleanse the earth from wickedness and corruption. Let them hear when that stone strikes its place the note calling upon them to repent of their sins, for the hour of God's judgments is nigh."
The choir sang the anthem: "Heavenly Father, we will worship Thy great name."
Benediction by Elder W. C. Dunbal.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 44:513-514, 4/9/92, p 17-18]
OVERFLOW MEETING.
The congregation sang:
Do what is right, the
daydawn is breaking, Hailing a future of freedom and light,
Angels above us are silent notes taking Of every action, do what is right.
Prayer by Apostle M. W. Merrill.
Singing:
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet To guide us i these latter days.
____
Apostle John Henry Smith
was the first speaker. He stated that never in the history of the past had the people on a week day filled the Tabernacle and necessitated an overflow meeting. No people that has lived in the past history of the world have greater responsibilities than we, who are called by our Father in heaven to promulgate the doctrines of this Gospel, and we should be true to our trust. To us has been given the knowledge of God, who has borne witness to the character of the mission He has given us -- that of warning the world. None can afford to lose sight of this office of ours. In the discharge of duties resting upon us we should not be unmindful of our duties to God.
The world educates the mind at the expense of the soul, and the principles of truth are being neglected there. The intelligence we attain to here shall arise with us in the resurrection.
The man who studies the divine law should also possess the requisite knowledge for the discharge of all duties, and all abilities should be used in the furtherance of the work of God; in whatever direction those abilities are in the line of financial matters, they can be used for this purpose, as God holds all responsible for the talents He has given his children.
We have received from God the promise of salvation, and we cannot show our love for Him in a better way than in caring for the children who are being raised up among us.
The speaker avowed his love for the people of God, and stated that his abilities would be exercised in their behalf, and also for the good of all the people of the world.
A powerful testimony was borne by the speaker of the truth and the eternal character of the Gospel, which has been introduced to establish peace in the end and to bring in the reign of righteousness. And our reward will be commensurate with our willingness to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others.
He prayed that the testimony of the gospel might be spread among all people, and that the Saints might be able to exercise a spirit of charity and forbearance toward all. He feelingly expressed his weakness, but thanked God that he had been chosen to labor for the good of mankind, whom he desired to bless with his testimony and his labors in the ministry.
_____
Apostle Anthon H. Lund
spoke of the importance of the event of the morrow, the laying of the capstone of the Temple. The essential mark of this people is the building of temples, wherein we may receive blessings which cannot be received outside of them. The temples built in Kirtland and Nauvoo were referred to, with the wonderful visitations of angels and restoration of keys taking place in them. The Saints in Nauvoo showed wonderful faith in building their beautiful temple, knowing they would have to leave it and flee from the city. We have been building temples, but although we have given of our means for this purpose, still it is with a knowledge that we shall keep these temples and enjoy their benefits. The world does not understand our motives in building these houses, and the words of Paul concerning baptism for the dead are a stumbling-block to them. We understand those words, for Jesus has said that all must be born of water and the spirit before they can enter the Kingdom of heaven.
No one can gainsay these words of our Savior, and we believe He meant them. Seeing that very few have received the word of God on the earth, we cannot believe that those who have passed away without receiving it are without hope, for the Gospel is for the dead as well as the living. All who have entered the temples have realized the holy influence there, and have felt repaid for their labor and sacrifice.
Many temples will have to be built, and if we are faithful we shall receive the blessings of God, and shall not have to leave the temples to our enemies, but shall be able to remain and there partake of the holy influence of the Spirit and do the work of God for the dead. The Saints were exhorted to continued faithfulness.
_____
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
hoped that temporal things would be forgotten during the conference, and the minds of the people would be turned in the direction of the things of God. New developments show that the Church is alive, and that we should be faithful, so that none of these events may be misunderstood by us, and thus our knowledge be left incomplete. Thirty-nine years ago the corner-stones of the Temple were laid, the speaker having been called home from his European mission in order to be present on that occasion. He accordingly waived an intended voyage around the world and arrived here in time. Nine of the quorum of the Twelve who assisted in laying the corner-stone and two of the presidents of the Church and five counselors to those presidents have died since that time.
The speaker mentioned some of his experiences in the Kirtland Temple, where he had preached from the same pulpit in which Jesus stood in his glory.
God's eye is upon this people. He and Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and talked with him. President Snow mentioned his acquaintance with the Prophet, who explained to him many mysteries. The Prophet was a man of integrity and self-sacrifice for the truth. Jesus, when on the earth, possessed the power of revealing life to mankind, and yet he appeared merely as a man. The Jews were surprised at his words, for He was not educated; but there were some who knew who He was as we know who Joseph was. Other men have stood in various dispensations as the only ones who held the keys to salvation and glory for the people of their day. One of these was Noah, and Joseph Smith was another. The testimonies borne by such men are the life of the world, but they are also death to those who will not receive them.
In the early time of labor on this Temple conditions were not so propitious as now, and they were worse in Nauvoo than here. Mobs attempted to break down the walls of the Temple before they could be completed. But God preserved it, and many blessings and glorious manifestations have been received there, and many now present will live to see even more glorious things than these. Many trials will come before that time; our faith will be tried; but if we live and do right and exercise charity for all, God will preserve us in the faith. In every situation of life every Latter-day Saint should remember what he came into the world to do -- to be a Saint who will become worthy to sit with Jesus on His throne, as He with His Father.
One thing that induced the speaker to come into the Church was that he saw a way in which he could gain a testimony of God and Jesus Christ, and he saw that if he humbled himself before the Lord He would let him know of His existence and give him His Spirit. Seeking for light regarding the other world, he was not disappointed. Before he had been in the Church two years the Lord revealed to him the great truth: "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be." The knowledge of this did him good, for John the Revelator says that when Christ comes we shall be like Him. In order to be like Him we must be pure as He is pure, and do His works as he would do them. As a musician practices and becomes proficient in his art, so with doing the will of God. He will help us to do these things in the end, although the practice to that end may be hard. The speaker closed with a blessing upon the people of God.
The authorities of the Church were presented by Apostle F. M. Lyman, and unanimously sustained.
Announcements of the exercises of laying the capstone were made by Bishop J. R. Winder.
Singing:
O say what is truth.
Benediction by Apostle F. M. Lyman.
_____
[5 Apr, 7:30 pm]
[DNW 44:514, 4/9/92, p 18]
PRIESTHOOD MEETING.
A Priesthood meeting was held in the Tabernacle on the evening of Tuesday, April 5th. It was probably the largest gathering of the kind that has ever convened in the history of the Church in this dispensation. The speakers were, in the order in which they addressed the assembly: President Joseph f. Smith, President George Q. Cannon and President Wilford Woodruff. Much valuable instruction was embodied in their remarks.
_____
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 44:514, 4/9/92, p 18]
FOURTH
DAY.
_____
Wednesday,
April 6th.
The choir and congregation united in singing:
Come, come, ye Saints, no
toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young
The choir sang the anthem:
Glorious is Thy name.
_____
ARRANGEMENT OF THE ASSEMBLAGE
The Priesthood were arranged in the following order: The upper section of the centre stand, at the west end of the building, was occupied by the First Presidency. In the other sections, respectively, were (1) Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, (2) Presiding Council of the Seventies, (3) Presiding Bishopric.
In the two divisions on the north and south of the centre stand were seated the Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors, and High Councilors.
The Bishops and their Counselors were arranged on the north and south lower division of the stand.
The following was the arrangement in the auditorium -- main body of the hall -- Front section south of the centre aisle, quorums of seventies; behind them the Elders.
Front section north of the centre aisle, High Priests; behind them were, respectively, the Priests, Teachers and Deacons.
The general public occupied the remainder of the body of the hall -- east division -- and the galleries.
_____
President George Q. Cannon.
referring to the resolution adopted by the Conference on Monday, in regard to the establishment of a Church University, said -- On behalf of the First Presidency and the Twelve, to whom this resolution was addressed, I rise to state that we accept the instructions of the Conference, and shall do all in our power to carry their wishes, as expressed in that resolution, into practical effect.
_____
Apostle Lorenzo Snow,
at the request of President Cannon, instructed the congregation as to the order of ceremony at the laying of the capstone of the Temple. "The words of the shout 'Hosanna'," he said, "to be uttered upon, or after, the laying of the capstone today were introduced by President Joseph Smith at the Kirtland temple, and were there used at a solemn assemblage where the power of God was manifested and the vision of the Almighty was opened up to the brethren. This is no ordinary order, but is -- and we wish it to be distinctly understood -- a sacred shout, and employed only on extra-ordinary occasions like the one now before us. We wish it also to be distinctly understood that we want the brethren and sisters not only to express the words, but that their hearts shall be full of thanksgiving to the God of heaven, who has accomplished, through our agency, this mighty and extraordinary labor. Thirty-nine years ago today the foundation stone -- the cornerstone -- of this Temple was laid, and in reflecting and meditating upon the wonderful blessings that God has bestowed upon us, His people, during this number of years that have passed since that time, we wish the Saints to feel when they pronounce this shout that it comes from their hearts. Let your hearts be filled with thanksgiving." The speaker then gave out the following words: "Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb. Amen, amen, amen," and continued -- "Now when we go before the temple and this shout goes forth, we want every man and every woman to shout these words to the very extent of their voices, so that every house in this city may tremble, the people in every portion of this city hear it, and it may reach to the eternal worlds."
President Snow then proceeded to train the people in the hosanna shout, the effect of which was thrilling and grand.
_____
President Wilford Woodruff
said in substance: If there is any scene on the face of this earth that will attract the attention of the God of heaven and the heavenly Host, it is the one before us today -- the assembling of this people, the shout of "Hosanna," the laying of the top stone of this temple in honor to our God. My brethren, sisters and friends, we want to finish this Temple; we want to dedicate it unto God as soon as we can, so that the vast host who dwell in this region of country may go into it and attend to the ordinances for their living and for their dead. I hope we shall all lay this to heart and try to furnish means so far as we can, in order that the building may be speedily completed. We are able, as a people, to do this. I realize that there are many calls upon the Latter-day Saints for the work and purposes of the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth; but this work now before us is a most important event -- the most important that we have upon our hands. I well remember the day and the hour when this first revelation for the redemption of our dead was received by the mouth of the Prophet of God. Who can comprehend this? Where is the man or woman who can comprehend this principle, that we have the power to go into these Temples of our God and redeem our progenitors -- our fathers and our mothers, from whom we have descended? They never heard the Gospel; they never enjoyed the blessings which you and I have in our day and time through the mercy of God. We are their posterity. They are on the other side of the vail, shut up in prison, and will remain there until their sons and daughters go into these holy places and redeem them, as Jesus went to preach to the spirits in prison three days and three nights, while His body lay in the tomb. Some of them had laid there a long time -- thousands of years -- up to the time when Christ was crucified and His Spirit went to them in prison.
President Woodruff then proceeded to enlarge upon the blessings enjoyed by the Later-day Saints in regard to their work in the Temples, and said he rejoiced in the knowledge that the Prophet Joseph Smith, President Brigham young, Heber C. Kimball and others formerly associated with them in this great latter-day work on the earth were rejoicing today at what they saw and heard. The shout of "Hosanna" would enter into the presence of God, and they would rejoice thereat. So far as we carried out the purposes which God had placed upon us, and the responsibilities devolving upon us, when we got through here we should have the privilege on the morning of the resurrection of sitting down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and those of our relatives who had already passed away in the family organization of the celestial world for ever and ever.
The choir sang
The Temple Anthem.
Benediction by President George Q. Cannon.
THE PROCESSION.
The Priesthood, arranged in procession after the following order, marched to the grounds adjoining the Temple at about half-past eleven:
ORDER OF PROCESSION.
First
Presidency,
Twelve Apostles,
Presiding Patriarch and Patriarchs,
First Seven Presidents of Seventies,
Presidents of Stakes, their Counselors, and High Councillors,
Seventies,
High Priests,
Elders,
Presiding Bishops,
Bishops and Counselors,
Priests,
Teachers,
Deacons.
The work of arranging the Priesthood according to the various orders and the organization of the procession was superintended by Bishop John R. Winder.
On a stand located at the south-west corner -- south side of the building -- the General authorities of the Church were seated, as follows: The First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles : Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund, and Abraham H. Cannon.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
Of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young. C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds and Jonathan Golden Kimball; the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton, and John R. Winder. Presidents of Stakes and Counselors and other officials of the Church also occupied this platform. The stand was elevated about eight feet above the level of the ground. Its base was decorated with national bunting.
To the left of the main stand was a platform occupied by the Tabernacle choir.
Near the south-east corner of the position occupied by the general authorities was another stand. It was also decorated with national bunting. This platform was occupied by Elder Stephens, conductor, and Joseph J. Daynes, organist.
Held's band occupied a position immediately east of the choir.
_____
THE
CAPSTONE CEREMONIES.
The "Capstone March," composed by C. J. Thomas and dedicated by permission to the First Presidency, was played by Held's band.
The Temple Anthem -- words by C. L. Walker, music by Evans Stephens -- was sung by the Tabernacle Choir.
Glorious God, Eternal
Father, In the name of Christ we pray
Thou wilt bless us with Thy presence, While this crowning stone we lay;
Let thy favor rest upon it. Let Thy hand protect these tow'rs.
May Thy peace brood over this Temple, It is Thine, O Lord, not ours.
Glory, Glory, hallelujah,
Heav'n and earth and angels sing,
Heav'n and earth and angels sing. Choirs celestial join the chorus,
Christ our King. Praise Him, Praise Him. Christ our King
Shout hosannas, shout
hosannas, Glory be to God our head,
For his everlasting mercies To the living and the dead.
Joy now reigns where once was sadness 'Midst the prison's dreadful gloom
Millions shall with joy and gladness Victory over hell and tomb!
Victory, victory, victory over hell and tomb.
CHORUS
Sound throughout His vast
creations, All His wondrous heavenly host.
Glory be to God the Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Ghost;
Sing ye bright seraphic legions Loud as thunder in the sky,
Pealing through celestial regions, Glory be to God on high,
Glory, glory, glory be to God on high!
President George Q. Cannon exhibited to the immense concourse of people a polished copper plate (engraved by David M'Kenzie) inscribed, as follows:
HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
THE TEMPLE BLOCK CONSECRATED AND GROUND BROKEN FOR THE FOUNDATION OF THIS TEMPLE, FEBRUARY 14TH, 1853
THE CORNER STONES WERE LAID APRIL 6TH, 1853, COMMENCING AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER.
GENERAL CHURCH AUTHORITIES:
|
April 6, 1883. TWELVE APOSTLES |
April 6th, 1992. TWELVE APOSTLES. |
||
|
Orson Hyde |
Amasa Lyman, |
Lorenzo Snow, |
Franklin D.
Richards, |
|
PATRIARCH TO THE CHURCH. |
PATRIARCH TO THE CHURCH. |
||
|
Joseph Young, |
Zera Pulsipher, |
Jacob Gates, |
Seymour B.
Young, |
|
Benjamin L. Clapp. PRESIDING BISHOP. |
Jonathan G. Kimball. PRESIDING BISHOP. |
||
|
T. O. Angell, Jos. D. C. Young,
Architects. THE CAPSTONE WAS LAID APRIL 6TH 1892, BY PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF. |
|||
It was announced that this plate
would be laid in with the cap-stone, together with the following articles:
Book of Mormon, Book of Doctrine and
Covenants, Voice of Warning, Spencer's Letters, Key to Theology, Hymn Book,
Bible, Compendium, Pearl of Great Price, and some other books; also photographs
of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George
Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, and a photograph of the Salt Lake Temple as it
now stands, etc.
The
Prayer.
The following prayer was offered by
President Joseph F.
Smith.
O God, our Heavenly Father, we desire to draw near unto Thee at this moment and offer unto Thee the gratitude of our hearts for this pleasant and blessed opportunity that we enjoy of assembling ourselves together on this the sixty-second anniversary of the organization of Thy Church in the earth in the dispensation of the fulness of times. We thank Thee that on this occasion we are permitted and privileged to lay the capstone of this building which we have been permitted to erect thus far unto the name of God, our Father in heaven, And we pray thee, O Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, that Thou wilt behold us in mercy on this occasion, and accept of our dedication of our selves, of our labors, of all that we have and are upon the earth, unto Thee, the Lord our God; for we desire to be Thine, and we desire that Thou wilt accept of us and acknowledge us as Thy children and that we may feel in our hearts that our lives and our course of action are acceptable unto Thee. We feel, Heavenly father, to dedicate unto Thee at this time the capstone of this Temple. That we are permitted to lay it this day, we are grateful to Thee, and thus finish the laying of the stones of this building, which has been for thirty-nine years in the course of its erection. We thank Thee for the privilege. We pray Thee to sanctify this service to our good. May it go down in the memories of those that are assembled here, and may it be retained in the memories of the Young -- the children that are here in our midst -- that they may carry it to their latest day. We thank Thee that there are a few of us here that were privileged to behold the laying of the corner stones of this building, and that Thou hast preserved us through years that have passed and brought us to this present time under so favorable circumstances as those which surround us. Bless this vast congregation of people; pour out Thy Holy spirit upon them; may they have the Spirit of God to dwell in their hearts, and may the love of truth actuate them in all that they do from this time forth and forever. Bless the workmen that have labored upon this Temple; bless those that shall be immediately engaged in laying the capstone; bless Thine aged servant President Woodruff, and sanctify to him the honor of which is due unto him, O God, of laying the capstone by the instrumentality of electricity, that great agency, the discovery of which has been granted unto the people of this generation.
We ask Thee, Heavenly Father, now to accept of us, and to accept of our services, for all that we do we desire to do in Thy name, and to Thy name's honor and glory and to our salvation. We dedicate ourselves unto Thee. Accept of us we pray Thee and sanctify unto us every dispensation of Thy providence, and help us to see and acknowledge Thy hand cheerfully in all things.
All of which we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
The choir sang:
Grant us peace.
Architect Joseph Don Carlos Young shouted from the top of the Temple:
"The cap-stone is now ready to be laid."
_____
President Woodruff
stepped to the front of the platform and said:
Attention, all ye house of Israel and all ye nations of the earth. We will now lay the top stone of the Temple of our God, the foundation of which was laid and dedicated by the Prophet, Seer and Revelator Brigham Young.
President Woodruff then pressed the button, thus opening an electric current to a contrivance connected with the capstone, the latter being thus released and placed in position.
THE HOSANNA.
The immense concourse of people, led by President Lorenzo Snow, shouted the hosanna in concert:
HOsanna, hosanna, hosanna, to God and the Lamb, Amen, Amen, and Amen."
This was done three times, each shout being accompanied by a waving of handkerchiefs, except when the names of God and the Lamb were uttered.
The spectacle and effect of the shout was grand beyond description, the emotions of the multitude being stirred up in the greatest intensity of devotion and enthusiasm.
The choir and congregation sang:
The Spirit of God like a
fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth,
The visions and blessings of old are returning, And angels are coming to visit
the earth.
We'll sing and we'll shout
with the armies of heaven, Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb
Let glory to them in the highest be given, Henceforth and forever; Amen and
Amen!
The Temple Ode -- words by H. W. Naisbitt, music by Prof. C. J. Thomas -- was sung by the Union Glee Club:
All hail this glorious day,
This grand, auspicious day.
The vales resound, the mountains ring,
The capstone on the Temple bring
With gladsome peal, united sing
Of truth's still widening way.
The time is near at hand,
When Christ shall come and claim his own,
And 'mid his Saints erect that throne
Which on the earth must stand.
All hail that glorious day!
The shadows melt away;
the skies are bright,
Soon truth and right.
Shall come to earth from Zion's light,
And man redeemed at last shall shine,
Our father's image, all divine.
_____
Apostle Francis M. Lyman
said: Six months ago -- it was last October -- President Woodruff expressed in a council of the Presidency of the Church and the presiding authorities of the Stakes and wards, that he desired to live to see the dedication of this Temple. It was the feeling in the hearts of the brethren present that an effort should be made to accomplish that work. Next April it will be just forty years from the time of the laying of the corner-stones of this Temple, and I have a resolution to offer to assembled Israel today which embraces the ground covered by a resolution suggested by our Brother, Willard Young:
RESOLUTION.
Believing
that the instructions of President Woodruff, respecting the early completion of
the Salt Lake Temple, is the word of the Lord unto us, I propose that this
assemblage pledge themselves, collectively and individually, to furnish, as
fast as it may be needed, all the money that may be required to complete the
Temple at the earliest time possible, so that the dedication may take place on
April 6th, 1893.
The resolution was put to the meeting, that it might have the endorsement of all Israel. The result was a deafening shout of "ayes" from the assembled host.
Brother Lyman then stated that he would head a subscription list with a donation of one thousand dollars to aid in the attainment of the object expressed in the resolution.
Music by the band.
Closing anthem by the Tabernacle choir -- "Song of the Redeemed, " composed by Evan Stephens.
BENEDICTION.
President George Q. Cannon then pronounced the benediction as follows:
"O God, our Eternal Father, accept all our proceedings this day. Let Thy blessing descend upon this people and upon all that we have done, and grant that the Holy Ghost may rest down upon every one of us, and upon all the honest in heart everywhere. Bless this entire people from north to south and from east to west, and the honest in heart throughout the earth, which we ask in the name of Jesus, beseeching Thee to dismiss us with Thy peace, in His name. Amen."
Conference was declared adjourned for six months.
_____
THE MULTITUDE.
The number of people who attended the ceremonies and who were on the grounds was probably about 40,000, besides many thousands more who crowded the adjoining streets and covered every building in the vicinity from which a view of the interior of the Temple Block could be obtained. The entire scene was imposing, presenting a spectacle that has not been duplicated on this continent in modern times. It must have made an impression on the people who witnessed -- especially the participants in the ceremonies -- that will never be effaced from their memory.
THE STATURE OF MORONI.
The work of surmounting the capstone with the figure representing the Angel Moroni was proceeded with after the ceremonies. This figure is of gigantic proportions, being twelve feet five and a half inches in height. The idea conveyed by the statue is that of a herald, or messenger, in the act of blowing a trumpet, an embodiment of the fact of Moroni bringing the Gospel to the earth in this latter-day dispensation. It is made of 24 hammered copper, and was constructed by W. H. Mullens & Co., of Salem, Ohio, after a model by Mr. C. E. Dallin, of this city. The figure is admirably proportioned, and its pose is graceful. It is gilded with pure gold leaf, and surmounting its crown is an incandescent lamp of one hundred candle-power. It was placed in position and was unveiled at ten minutes past 3 o'clock. Its effect is beautiful.
THE FINIALS.
The ornamental terminals are being placed upon all of the towers of the Temple, with the exception of the middle one on the east end of the structure, which is surmounted by the statue of the angel. The largest of the five finials is on the middle tower of the west end of the building. It is twelve feet in height. Those which will adorn the towers of the four corners are ten feet in height. All of them are handsome, and will give these elevated points of the building an appropriate finish. They are made of sixteen hammered copper, and are the handiwork of Samuel Backman, of this city, a skilled workman in metals. These ornamental finishes are being fastened into the capstones of the towers by means of iron rods, which reach to an insulating joint, about half way up the interior of the finials. Each of the latter is gilded with pure gold leaf, and has attached to it eight one hundred candle-power incandescent lamps. There being five of these ornaments, the illumination they will afford in the aggregate, will be 4,000 candle power. When all of them shall be lighted and combined with a one hundred candle-power lamp, which will be suspected over the crown of the figure representing the Angel Moroni, the effect will be most brilliant and beautiful.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
6-9 Oct 1892, 62nd
Semi-Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 45:513, 10/15/92, p 1; Millennial
Star 54:689, 705, 721, 737, 769, 785, 801]
[6 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 45:513-514, 10/15/92, p 1-2]
THE SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
_____
The sixty-third [62nd] semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a.m., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 1892.
There were on the stand, of the First Presidency, Wilford Woodruff and Joseph F. Smith; of the Council of the Twelve Apostles: Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John Smith; of the presiding Council of Seventies: Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric: Wm. B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also many other leading officers of the Church from various parts of Utah and surrounding states and territories.
Conference was called to order by President Joseph F. Smith.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come let us anew our journey
pursue Roll round with the year
And never stand still till the Master appear. His adorable will let us gladly
fulfil.
Opening prayer by President Angus M. Cannon.
Singing by the choir:
Hail to the brightness of
Zion's glad morning,
Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
said that through the mercy and providence of God those present this morning had been preserved to again attend the semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Quite a number of our brethren and sisters had passed from this state of existence into the spirit world since we last met in Conference. In turn we should also pass away. While we had the privilege of meeting together in tis capacity, he trusted that our hearts would be united in prayer before the Lord, that we might enjoy the inspiration of Almighty God, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the spirit of light and truth, so that we might edify one another in our teachings, counsels, testimonies and administrations. We need this blessing day by day, that we might understand and comprehend the responsibilities which we were under to G od our Heavenly Father.
When he reflected that this comparatively little band of men and women had been gathered into the valleys of these mountains, from all nations under heaven, by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of carrying out the mind and will of God in the age and dispensation in which we lived, he realized indeed, as all the Saints must, that the responsibility resting upon us, as upon the Saints of God in every age of the world, was very great.
Like all other dispensations and generations of men, we were placed here on a mission. We lived in the spirit world before we came here: we dwelt in the presence of God; and it had been our fortune, or our destiny -- call it which you please -- to be born in the present generation when the God of Israel had set his hand for the last time to build up His kingdom upon the earth, to prepare His people for the great event which awaits us.
There had been no dispensation fraught with greater importance than this, and his desire while we were together in this Conference was that the Apostles and Elders who might address us should have the spirit of the Priesthood upon them.
He thanked God that he still lived -- that his life had been spared until now. When he looked back upon the past, he realized that the majority of his former companions -- those with whom he had been associated from the foundation of this Church -- had gone into the spirit world; and he expected shortly to follow them there.
From the time we were first led into these mountain valleys by a prophet, seer and revelator, who was clothed with the spirit and power of God, until now, the hand of God had been manifested among the people, and that in fulfilment of the revelations and prophecies recorded in every book handed down to us as the word of God to the children of men.
He sincerely hoped that while we lived in the flesh we would fully realize all our responsibilities and the work which is required at our hands. He desired that the Saints would, as far as possible during this conference, lay aside all business cares, and pay strict attention to the work now before us -- that we might be of one heart and mind, and be filled with light, truth and power to receive the teachings of our brethren.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG
addressed the conference, in substance as follows: It was a great blessing to come together in general conference, and to listen to our venerated President, who has been faithful for so many years. He rejoiced in having a standing with the people of God. The Saints had made progress since the organization of the Church, which had a small beginning. the Gospel had spread to nearly all the civilized nations of the globe. The Elders had been endowed with power and authority. They had gone into the world; the honest in heart had received their testimony, and the spirit of God had given them ability to face the opposition of the world. Notwithstanding the forces that had been operated to impede the progress of the work of God, it had rolled on. The instructions that would be given in this general gathering would be carried to the uttermost bounds of the Church on the earth, and the same spirit present here would accompany them. Every person attending conference should pray that we might have a time of profit and instruction, that all might be edified. When prayer was offered here there should be a harmonious response from every heart, that the petition might be an aggregate one, and the Lord would be induced to pour out His blessing upon us. May God bless the speakers of this conference and all the people.
APOSTLE LORENZO SNOW
said in substance: President Woodruff, in h is opening remarks, stated that the people in these valleys came from the various nations of the earth for an especial purpose. This idea is worthy of serious consideration. We came here because the Lord, through his servants, had told us that it was His will that we should here carry out certain purposes.
It is not the first time that the Lord has called out a people to come together from their various localities, to a certain place, for a certain purpose. He has done this because the circumstances surrounding the people in their various abiding places were such as to demand this call. It was so in reference to Abraham. The conditions that surrounded him and bore upon him were of that nature that he could not carry out the wishes of God under existing circumstances; and therefore he was called away.
When the children of Israel were in the Egyptian bondage their circumstances were such that in order that they might carry out the purpose of God they had to be moved from that bondage and go to another country, where they could fulfil His designs in reference to them. And so in regard to Lehi, as we read in the Book of Mormon. There was a necessity for his being called out and going to a land which the Lord proposed to show him. So it has been all along in the dispensation of God's people, in the different periods of the earth's history. It is strange as to man, with his small intelligence and intellectual power, how far he can succeed in receiving the blessings of the Almighty when he pursues the proper course which the Lord marks out for him. If people bring their passions into perfect subjection to the principles of wisdom, this will tend toward their exaltation and glory.
We should understand distinctly that we have planted our feet upon the true and sure foundation that cannot be shaken -- a foundation of such a character that by pursuing a proper course we may secure to ourselves every advantage and every blessing that any man or woman has secured at any time in the various dispensations that God has given to the human family. This is a wonderful satisfaction, when we realize that we have started aright in the narrow path that leads to exaltation and glory, and there is no power under the heavens that can turn us from that path if we are faithful.
When we started out on this course, when the Gospel reached us, when we received these ordinances, there was something attached to the receiving of these ordinances that should help us to move in this path, and resist the various things that might oppose us; and that was something that the world knows not of. Thousands of the Latter-day Saints have received this supernatural aid and power, which will enable them to advance from one degree of perfection to another.
The same question might be asked of the brethren and sisters before me as Paul asked of certain disciples, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" If that question is asked of the latter-day Saints, they should be able to answer it with satisfaction to themselves. If we have not received it why have we not? Those to whom Paul spoke had not received the Holy Ghost because they had not received the ordinance of baptism from those having authority to administer it. Paul understood this and instructed them to be baptized by proper authority and they should receive the Holy Ghost. It is the Holy Ghost which gives revelations and knowledge unto us. It reveals to us the fact that those men who administered the ordinances unto us did so under the authority of the Son of God. The Holy Ghost will take of the things of God and manifest them clearly unto us, and when we are in doubt as to the way we should go, it will direct us. I believe many of us feel like shouting Hosanna to God and the Lamb for our redemption from the spiritual Babylon.
Many tests have been given us which have been hard to stand, but we have received strength to resist. In Kirtland, Missouri, Nauvoo, and even in these valleys, where we thought all would be peace, these tests have come to us. But any man or woman who has been progressing in intelligence, in increase of faith, and in knowledge, has been able to stand them and reap the reward following their faithfulness. The prospects before us are still bright, and though temptations are increasing around us, our reward for resisting them will increase in proportion. We are rapidly increasing in spiritual knowledge and faith, and in ability to make sacrifices for the advancement of the work of God.
May God bless all who are laboring for the advancement of the work of God, and may He bless the honest in heart wherever they may be, until the time comes when we shall go into the spirit world and there our spirits enter our glorified bodies, and we may look back with satisfaction upon the labors we have performed, and regard our sacrifices as blessings.
B. H. ROBERTS
was the next speaker. He had no doubt that those present had been very much impressed with the instructions, the words of counsel, given by the preceding speakers. The work in which we are engaged, he said, and whose progress we watched with such great interest, was indeed a mighty one, and it would help us materially to keep pace with that work if we held in remembrance its character and the object of its inauguration in the earth -- the purposes for which it had been established. One of the revelations of God very clearly stated the character of this work, known as the dispensation of the fulness of times. That revelation was given under peculiar circumstances, and the speaker read a portion of it, beginning with the words, "Hearken, O ye people of my Church, &c." This revelation, which is to be found in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, was given November 31st, 1831. It states that the time would soon come when the Lord Jesus Christ would come to earth to judge the nations, that His judgments would be poured out upon the world and also upon the ungodly among the Saints. The Church is admonished to prepare for the future, and the Elders are commanded to go forth and invite all nations, first the Gentiles and then the Jews, to turn unto the Lord and take part in the work of redemption. Continuing, Elder Roberts said he thought he could discover in those paragraphs the great characteristic of the work in which we are engaged; and from those declarations of the Lord it was easy to conclude that this was a preparatory work. The revelation, in terms which could not be mistaken, set forth that the time of the coming of the Lord is at hand, when He would judge all the nations that forget God, even the ungodly among the Saints. This was in harmony with the visions and predictions of God's ancient servants. He desired to express the hope that the great body of this people -- the Seventies in Israel -- Would prepare themselves by diligence, faith and study to perform their part in the great latter-day work, that they might go forth as witnesses to the world concerning those great principles which God had revealed form heaven.
It seemed to him that the summer clouds of prejudice and hatred which had for so long obscured the vision of the people of the United States were breaking somewhat and promised to drift aside; and he firmly believed that we would make of this an opportunity to proclaim the truth again unto the nation with even greater fulness and power than before.
Since people from all nations of the earth would be visiting this continent during next year, we should certainly take some steps to inform them respecting this work, that they might be made acquainted with its true character. There are now some 2500 volumes of the Book of Mormon printed in the French language. Copies of these should be shipped away and placed within the reach of the French people who were coming to this land. So with other languages. We could thus warn the nations, and invite them to take part in this work, if they would, and so escape the judgments of God which threatened the wicked.
ELDER GEORGE REYNOLDS
was the next speaker. He said he was pleased to have the privilege of testifying to the truth of the words spoken by his brethren. As a people we had gathered with the hope that God would be with us; that the instructions might be such as we most needed. The Lord would not permit us to go away unsatisfied. Without His inspiration we could not bring to pass all His glorious purposes. We were living in the most important dispensation of the Almighty to the earth, because all other dispensations were to flow into it and contribute to its greatness. The people of God were necessarily a temple-building community. His people have always been commended, in all ages, to engage in erecting holy structures of that character. That labor required an effort on our part. This was practically needful, that it might be completed by the time designed by the Almighty. As a people we should prepare for the future. He was assured that we must seek to live near unto God if we would stand unmoved against all the forces that should be brought against us.
The choir sang the anthem, "Glorious is Thy name."
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 45:514-515, 10/15/92, p 2-3]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Singing by the choir:
On the mountain's top
appearing Lo! the sacred herald stands!
Welcome news to Zion bearing, Zion long in hostile lands.
Prayer by Bishop William B. Preston.
The choir sang:
Praise ye the Lord! my heart shall join In work so pleasant, so divine.
ELDER CHARLES W. PENROSE
Expressed the pleasure which it afforded him in having the privilege of meeting on this occasion with so many of his brethren and sisters. He rejoiced in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which our Father had revealed for our obedience and for the obedience of all mankind, and that he lived in a day when God had commenced the greatest work that He had ever undertaken to perform among the children of men. This was the last dispensation -- the dispensation of the fulness of times. When that dispensation was opened up through the ministrations of the angel referred to this morning, and through the Prophet Joseph, it was opened up for the last time. This was the great crowning dispensation of all dispensations, in which the Lord had declared that he would gather together in one all things that are in Christ, both in heaven and on the earth. When this work was opened up it was with the idea of perpetuity.
We were here to build up the Church and Kingdom of God, to carry on the work which He had commenced, with the consolation in our hearts -- that it would never be taken away from the earth again, and that the Priesthood which God had restored in the latter days was here to stay -- to abide and prevail and not to be prevailed against.
Mormonism comprised all that was good, virtuous and praiseworthy -- that would lift up mankind and exalt him, and prepare him for the presence of his Maker.
The speaker advocated marriage among the young people in Israel, remarking that the man was not perfect without the woman, and the woman was not perfect without the man; and in the celestial kingdom, where was the highest degree of glory, the sexes went together; the one was not without the other in the Lord. Elder Penrose encouraged the young men of Israel to strive to get homes of their own, each to take to himself a wife whom he should treat as his companion, placing her on an equality with himself. She should be regarded as a partner in life, and let them together strive towards helping to build up the Kingdom of God and establish the foundations of society upon the proper basis.
APOSTLE ABRAHAM H. CANNON
bore testimony to the presence of the Spirit of God in this Conference, and said he felt in his heart that the Lord had many blessings to bestow upon His children on this occasion. If the Saints ever needed the Holy Spirit to lead them in the path leading to celestial glory, it was at the present time. Even in the reading of the Bible and other Holy Scriptures we need that divine gift to enlighten our minds, to enable us to understand and comprehend what we were striving to learn. The Lord also desired us to preserve ourselves in the enjoyment of health and strength by observing certain rules He had given to His Saints for their observance. Then the Lord had promised prosperity to His Saints in a temporal point of view provided they would keep the law of tithing, and assist in a temporal way to build up the Kingdom of God. The promise was that those who were tithed should not be burned in the dreadful day of the Lord to come -- that day which should come upon the wicked and disobedient. By observing the commandments which the Lord had given to His Saints, both spiritual and temporal blessings would be multiplied upon the Saints, and a brighter day would then be in store for Zion and her people, notwithstanding the dark forebodings and apprehensions entertained and expressed by some.
The speaker discouraged the spirit of faultfinding. Some of the people, he said, were in the habit of pointing out imperfections in the lives of the leaders of the Church, and particularly the local officers. This should not be. These men were entitled to the confidence, love and good will of the people, to whose interests they were devoting their strength and ability, and the people could rest assured that when a man became unworthy of the position he held in the Holy Priesthood, the Lord would remove him, and appoint another in his stead. The speaker bore testimony to the faithfulness and integrity of the First Presidency and the Apostles, whose hearts were all devoted to the work of the Lord, and whose whole souls were wrapped up in the welfare of Zion. Even some of the old veterans, who had spent their entire lives in the service of God, were sometimes attacked by those who were always looking for the weaknesses of mankind. This should not be. Elder Cannon closed by bearing a strong testimony to the truth of the work of God and its ultimate triumph over all opposition.
APOSTLE MARRINER W. MERRILL
next addressed the congregation. He urged that during this Conference the Saints should lay aside their business cares and anxieties, come to meeting, and listen attentively to the counsels and instructions given by those called upon to speak to them. They should gather together in a spirit of unity. Many topics were dwelt upon on these occasions, and it was therefore a good plan for the leading Elders of the Church to bring a note book with them and jot down the chief points in the discourses for future reference and guidance. Some excellent advice was given which should not be forgotten. They came there to counsel together and to receive a refreshing from the Lord which would stimulate them in their daily life when conference was over.
The speaker touched upon the opposition which this Church had encountered, but said he did not share the too gloomy apprehensions entertained by many of their number. This great latter-day work had so far prevailed, and would continue to prevail until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of God and His Christ. It is not a good thing to prophesy evil concerning Zion; let us rather look upon things hopefully and so encourage others in the same direction. The good spirit of the Lord would then bring comfort and consolation to the people. Where are the men, asked the speaker, who rose up against the Prophet Joseph in his day? History told us, as it did of the men who had fought against this work from then until now. They had gone here, there and yonder; while others had turned away from the work of God because their souls were full of bitterness. Latter-day Saints could not afford to indulge in bitter feeling, which was among the evils which came from beneath.
Elder Merrill counseled the Saints to pay their tithes and offerings regularly, lamenting the indifference which existed in some quarters in regard to this ordinance. Those, however, who had discharged these obligations had been abundantly blessed of the Lord. The Lord required us to make sacrifices from time to time, and we should always be ready to respond in any call made upon us in His name.
The speaker dwelt upon the necessity of unity and harmony in the family circle, and counseled the Saints not to neglect family prayer. He touched upon the subject of our Church schools. These were institutions of profit to the people and ought to be encouraged in every possible way, because in them our children were taught principles of doctrine which could not be obtained in public schools.
PRESIDENT ANGUS M. CANNON
next spoke. He said that the Salt Lake Temple was nearing completion, and in this we had a great interest as the people of the Lord. The Prophet Joseph smith made known unto us that without our fathers we could not be perfect and that neither could they be perfect without us. He showed unto us in his day the great necessity of building temples unto the Lord, where work could be done both for the living and the dead. The question was should we finish the temple here and have it dedicated on the 6th of April, next, according to the resolution passed at our former Conference, or let the matter rest entirely upon the shoulders of a few of our brethren upon whom the responsibility mainly rested for the accomplishment of the work? Upon us devolved the duty, however, of giving of our substance, and so strengthening their hands. It was an undertaking in which every one of us should engage. By united effort the building could be completed by the stipulated time, and free from debt. We would thereby give evidence that we loved our dead kindred as much as we loved ourselves.
May God help us to cultivate love of others within our hearts that we may prove ourselves deserving of the manifestation of God's divine love towards us.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
advised all mothers attending Conference who brought their infants with them to remain seated near the doors in order that they might the more easily leave if necessary, and so avoid any inconvenience to the congregation.
The choir sang the anthem "From whence come all these people whom I see?"
Benediction by Bishop Elias Morris.
_____
[7 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 45:515-516, 10/15/92, p 3-4]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
MORNING SESSION.
The attendance at the opening session today was much larger than that of yesterday morning. Should the congregation continue to increase in dimensions the building will soon be insufficient to afford room for the people anxious to be present at the meetings, to enjoy the spirit of the occasion and obtain the full benefit of the instructions imparted by the speakers.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon, who was unable to be present yesterday, on account of his being absent from the Territory.
The choir and congregation sang:
We thank Thee, O God, for a
Prophet, To guide us in these latter days.
We thank Thee for sending the gospel, To lighten our minds with its rays.
Prayer by Elder Joseph E. Taylor,
Singing by the choir:
Lo! the mighty God appearing, From on high Jehovah speaks!
APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR
was the first speaker this morning. He said substantially that it was a great miracle to see so many Saints gathered together. It was a fulfilment of the predictions of the ancient prophets. They had prophesied that in the latter days the honest in heart should be gathered and be given pastors after God's own heart. There were probably sixteen or seventeen different nationalities represented in the congregation. We were in the position of the people on the day of Pentecost, so far as the representation of different nationalities was concerned. When the people heard the apostles speak on that occasion by the Spirit of God, every man hearing the Gospel in his own tongue, they marvelled. They could not understand the manifestations of power they witnessed. Peter explained the subject to them and preached Christ and Him crucified. When asked by the people as to what they should do to be saved he informed them that, having believed that Jesus was the Christ, they must repent of their sins, be baptized for the remission of the same and receive the Holy Ghost. These were principles and ordinances of the Gospel now as well as then. the plan of salvation was unchangeable. but many counterfeit systems had been invented, and the people had been deceived by them.
It was of great importance that people should know they were right and then go ahead. He said know advisedly, because the promises made by Christ to the obedient was that they should know the doctrine whether it was of God or of man. the Savior said: "We testify of that which we do know." There should be no doubt in the minds of the Saints as to the course they should pursue to be accepted of God. there were many faiths among the children of men; many are claiming to have the true way of salvation, yet their methods were all different. This shows that they were not imbued with one spirit. They had the counterfeit plans and not that system which was genuine. Paul said that those who preached any other Gospel than the real one, such should be accursed. Devout people might be mistaken but if they were honest they would embrace the true Gospel as soon as they heard it. Devotion and the possession of the truth do not always go together. The Spirit of God was the only true guide for the faithful and the testimony of Jesus was the spirit of prophecy. This holy influence was of more value than all the riches of the world. The speaker testified that the Gospel preached by Christ and His ancient Apostles had been restored in these days through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Elder Taylor then dwelt upon the necessity of the Saints being honorable in all their dealings. Those who did not pay their honest debts when able to do so were unworthy a standing in the Church. It was the duty of men to support their families. The manifesto did not relieve them from this obligation, which was sacred. No judge nor jury would relieve them from it. A man who would seek to shirk such a responsibility was in an unenviable condition.
APOSTLE HEBER J. GRANT
next addressed the congregation, and spoke of the gratification which he felt in meeting with the Saints once again in general Conference. Without the light and inspiration of the Spirit of God it was impossible for any of the Elders of Israel to speak to the people to their profit and pleasure. Their object in coming together on these occasions was to take counsel together, and obtain such instructions as would enable them to go forward manfully in the battle of life.
We were constantly beset on every hand with daily cares and obligations, and it required great exertion and forbearance on our part to successfully carry out the duties resting upon us. It was a strange thing that we never looked to our own misdeeds and condemned them; but we were too prone to find fault with our neighbor. He had no objection to honest criticism; it behooved us, however, to search after our own failings before seeking for them in our brethren and sisters. Some persons were very fond of grumbling in regard to the expenditures of the Church and on the question of tithing. His experience on this head was that those who did the most complaining contributed the least.
Excuses were bad things when they came too often. How many of the Saints had observed as they should the Word of Wisdom, for instance? Excuses were too frequently made for breaking through the requirements of that revelation. Others again excused themselves from attending conference on the most flimsy pretexts. Such pleas were not legitimate, and should not be heard among true Latter-day Saints.
We had gathered to these mountains to keep the commandments of God, and our aim should always be to forget the things which perished, and lay up treasures in heaven. He had not a word to say against the public schools, but he did counsel parents, where they possessed the power and means, to send their children where they would receive a Gospel education and might learn of the plan of life and salvation.
APOSTLE F. M. LYMAN
Was the succeeding speaker. In these valleys, he said, we had in the gathering of the Saints a spectacle which was an object lesson throughout the world. It was not possible for a man to receive the Holy ghost unless he knew that the doctrines which he had embraced were of God. When we became unfaithful the Spirit of the Lord deserted us, and we were again on dangerous ground. No man could know God or the true principles of the Gospel except by the Holy Ghost. All that we lacked today in unity, as a people, was due to our negligence and carelessness of the requirements of the gospel. It was a difficult thing to control the disposition of the human heart and subdue ourselves to the mind and will of God. This, however, was an undertaking binding upon the Latter-day Saints and it required a great deal of self-denial on our part to discharge the obligation. Prayer should not be neglected, and we should strive to discover the flaws in ourselves before we criticize too severely the faults of others.
The speaker was glad to observe the fidelity of the Saints, and that there were so few excommunications, and apostacies from the church today were quite rare. This was the more to be thankful for when we considered how the church was spreading and increasing in numbers. When, however, any of our brethren did chance to turn away from the truth his heart was cut with sorrow. Everything was possible with Latter-day Saints who enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord. the true Gospel has taught us to endure the trials, tribulations and persecutions which had come upon us from time to time; it had made us one, and no power on earth could destroy this work, which had been revealed to us by God our Heavenly Father. This was the one plan of salvation, and here in these valleys were thousands who had received testimonies thereof. This was the Lord's work and kingdom and he would maintain it to the end.
The choir sang the anthem,
Praise ye the Father.
Benediction by Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
_____
[7 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 45:516-517, 10/15/92, p 4-5]
AFTERNOON SESSION
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Redeemer of Israel, Our only
delight, On whom for a blessing we call;
Our shadow by day And our pillar by night, Our King, our Deliv'rer our all.
Prayer by Elder John Nicholson.
The choir sang:
Softly beams the sacred
dawning Of the great millennial morn,
And to Saints gives welcome warning That the day is hastening on.
APOSTLE MOSES THATCHER
Was the first speaker. He said he had listened with deep interest to the remarks made during this Conference, and rejoiced in the Spirit under which they had been spoken. He trusted that he would enjoy a portion of that same Spirit to guide in what he might now utter. Upon the subject of sacrifice, Brother Thatcher pointed out the great sacrifice which our Redeemer made for mankind in order to save us from our sins. During the speaker's missionary labors in the City of Mexico he was met by some young gentlemen who admitted that they had watched his movements closely; they had never seen him enter houses of ill-repute, saloons, and other places of evil resort, and while they honestly believed that the religion which he represented was the true one, yet they confessed they would rather pursue the path in which their feet were set, and go down to destruction rather than identify themselves with a cause which called for such great self-sacrifice as did the religion of the Latter-day Saints.
Elder Thatcher then made a statement of evidence of devotion exhibited by members of the Catholic church in Mexico. They underwent, in their religious fervor, all kinds of hardships, that they might exhibit the spirit of self-sacrifice, and by that means be accepted of God. This devout spirit was mostly manifested by the female portion of society. He brought up these things, he said, to show the hold that Romanism had upon the minds of the people of Mexico; and while he would not stand up here to criticize the religion of others, he desired to say that Catholicism in Mexico differed in many respects from Catholicism in Europe or the United States. It adapted itself to the conditions of the people, and much of it was show, in order to enthrall the minds of the ignorant and the mixed races of that peculiar land. But when it came to sincerity and devotion, there could be no question but what it was largely found there.
The authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were worthy of the confidence of the Saints. The latter should uphold and sustain them. Love begets love and confidence begets confidence, therefore we should love and trust each other. If wrongs existed in the Church they could not be corrected by the masses of the people, but by the proper tribunals established for the settlement of differences. Keep well cultivated the strong cord of affection and look up to those in authority with trust and confidence. He thanked God with his whole heart that we had with us this afternoon the Presidency of the Church. Today we were, as a people, in the enjoyment of liberty, which was near and dear to us, and he rejoiced in the society of these men to bless and comfort the Saints on this occasion.
He prayed that the blessings of the Lord might be in the midst of this people and that they might follow the light of inspiration.
APOSTLE F. D. RICHARDS
read from the 65th section of the book of Doctrine and Covenants on the subject of prayer, being a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith in October, 1831, at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio. The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was the great point at which this prayer seemed to be directed -- the object of our work here upon the earth and endeavor continually to spread abroad the Kingdom of God here below. We were called upon to lay the foundation of a great and mighty work upon the earth, and to prepare the people of all nations for the second coming of the Lord.
This was the greatest of all dispensations; and the work which the Prophet Joseph Smith continued to unfold to our vision, as set forth in some of his last sermons on the immense responsibilities resting upon this people, it devolved upon us now to carry forward. Trials and persecutions had beset all the faithful sons and daughters of God from the days of our Savior, and this would be the lot of all true Christians as long as life lasted. Many of the Saints who embraced the gospel in their native lands were spurned in consequence by their friends at home, but they were content to make any sacrifice for the Gospel's sake, and gathered with their brothers and sisters in these valleys. But in all our trials the Lord had been with us, and the greater the sacrifice the greater would be the blessing. The speaker cited some of the struggles through which the Saints passed in the early days of the Church, but showed how, through all, the Lord's hand had protected us. Falsehoods had been circulated broadcast concerning this people, but a change for the better seemed to be coming in this respect. The Lord has brought us here to make our light shine upon the nations of the earth as well as upon the people around us.
In regard to the Salt Lake Temple, the speaker expressed his confidence that the help required to complete it would be forthcoming, and that in six months from now the building would be dedicated to God. Then there would be four Temples in the Territory of Utah. Let us treat the strangers who come within our gates with Christian love, and he doubted not that here and there among the honest in heart would be found those who would embrace our faith.
After urging the importance of secret prayer, Brother Richards remarked upon the fact that the Book of Mormon has now been published in some ten different languages, most of which he enumerated, and advocated at the forthcoming World's Fair the establishment of a department where the Church works printed in the various languages might be obtained. Copies would thus find their way into foreign countries and so the truth would be spread abroad among the nations. The speaker directed the attention of the Seventies to this subject. It was a great work which devolved upon us to send forth the gospel message to the human family, and he yet looked forward to the accomplishment of great things by the servants of God in this and other lands. This was the Lord's work and, knowing it, we should go forward laboring unceasingly.
[The foregoing is necessarily only a brief synopsis of Elder Richards' excellent discourse.]
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 45:705, 11/26/92, p 1; CD 3:138-146]
DISCOURSE
By Apostle Franklin D. Richards, Friday, October 7, 1892
at the General Conference, held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER]
_____
Beloved
hearers, having an opportunity to occupy a few minutes this afternoon, I
desire, before entering upon any remarks myself, to read a very short
revelation that is contained in the sixty-fifth section of the book of Doctrine
and Covenants, entitled "Revelation on Prayer, given through Joseph, the
Seer, at Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, in the fore part of October, 1831."
Hearken, and
lo, a voice as of one from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going
forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men-Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
The keys of the Kingdom of God are
committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the Gospel roll forth
unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain
without hands shall roll forth until it has filled the whole earth.
Yea, a voice crying, Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the
Bridegroom.
Pray unto the Lord, call upon His
holy name, make known His wonderful works among the people;
Call upon the Lord, that His
Kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive
it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of man shall
come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of His glory, to meet the
Kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.
Wherefore may the Kingdom of God
go forth, that the Kingdom of heaven may come, that Thou, O God, mayest be
glorified in heaven so on earth, that Thy enemies may be subdued; for Thine is
the honor, power and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
I felt
inclined to read this revelation, as it seems to be the most direct one given
to the Latter-day Saints upon the subject of prayer. Before the days of the
Savior, John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray, and when the Savior
had come, the brethren seemed to think that He, being greater than John the
Baptist, and the work being advanced by His coming, could teach them better
than he, and they wanted to know of Him how to pray. He taught them, as
Latter-day Saints do all know; and this seems to be the direction and object of
the prayer, that we should ask God and importune with Him that His kingdom may
come and His will be done as in heaven so upon the earth, that it may be
prepared for the kingdom of heaven to come, when the Son of Man shall descend
from heaven, clothed in the brightness of His glory.
From this
revelation just read, it appears that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is
the great point at which all our prayers should be directed. It seems to be the
great leading object of our work here upon the earth, to be endeavoring
continually to spread abroad the kingdom of God here on the earth. It is the
point, starting from whatever radius we will, that all the lines of our
operations should be centered in-the one great and glorious event, when He
shall come and take to Himself His ruling power, and rule and reign on the
earth, King of nations, as He reigns already King of Saints. It would appear,
from the spirit of this prayer and from the phraseology of it, that its
tendency and its concentration of purpose would all point to that great event
which is to be brought to pass-the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ upon
the earth. It is what the military man would say, the point d'appui-the point
of all our operations and all our evolutions of life, as the armies of Israel
and as the strength of the house of God, to be working in that direction. The
Lord told the Elders in many of the early revelations, Ye know not the work
that you are doing. Ye are called upon to lay the foundation of a great and a
mighty work in the earth. The Prophet Joseph and all the early Elders, in the
days of their liberty and freedom, when the light of revelation shone upon them
continually, talked of and dwelt much upon the enlargement of the kingdom of
God, the extension of the powers of His Priesthood and of His work, to prepare
the people upon the earth that they should be ready for His coming and for the
coming of those holy ones whom He will bring with Him, named in this revelation
as the kingdom of heaven.
I bear
testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, this afternoon, that no less than
this is the work in which we are now engaged. All the vicissitudes of the
latter-day work, how ever pleasant or unpleasant they may seem to us, are
couched in, contemplated by, and constitute a part of this great movement, which
is to bring to pass the great event here spoken of. The work which is upon us
in these latter days, as it appears to my mind, is the greatest dispensation
that has been given to man, or that any of the Prophets have considered, unless
we should except the grand, the deep and potential remark of the Savior when He
spoke to the disobedient Jews and told them that upon them should come all the
righteous blood that had been shed from the days of Abel down to the days of
Zachariah, who was slain in their day between the porch and the altar. In that
potential saying was couched a responsibility devolving upon that generation
which the human mind, without the revelations of the Holy Ghost, cannot
comprehend.
To us in
the dispensation of the fulness of times it is given to labor for the gathering
together of all things which are in Christ Jesus, not only which are on the
earth, but which are in the heavens also-a work which the Prophet Joseph, while
with us, labored continually to unfold to our view, by setting forth in some of
his last sermons the great responsibility that rests upon the people to hunt
out and administer for their dead for the gathering together of all things
which are in Christ, which are in heaven and which are upon the earth! What a
saying! Who can contemplate the extent, the height, the depth and the breadth
of the signification of that expression? Yet who is there of us, among all the
vast assemblies of God's people, who is not directly interested, absolutely
affected personally in that work and in its mighty results and consequences?
And how often are we, by the trivial circumstances of life, allowing ourselves
to be diverted from these great and momentous considerations into many things
which are exceedingly unworthy of us as Latter-day Saints? Yet the Lord has
cared for us, and is caring for us continually. His work, as we see from these
unbounded expressions, is a work which is so far beyond our comprehension that
it is worthy indeed the character of a God. He has been working with us ever since
we first came to learn of the truth.
How
singular it was that you and I got the spirit of gathering in the way that we
did! When we came to hear the Gospel we became as strangers right in the lands
in which we were born. That has been the condition of all faithful Saints in
all periods of the earth of which we have any account. It was so with father
Abraham. The Bible tells us but very little about him. Other histories inform
us that so severe was his persecution, while yet an infant, that his mother had
to take him and hide away in a cave of the earth; and his parents were so
anxious concerning him that they carried food and sustained him and his mother
for a long time. The sorcerers and the astrologers were stirred up to anxiety
and curiosity, because there had another star appeared in the heavens at the
birth of that boy Abraham. They thought it meant something, that it was
significant, and it was whispered to the king, who tried to get the boy out of
the way. Abraham's father, Terah, brought forth a child, by the king's command,
from one of his other women, that was born just about the same time, and the
king caused it to be destroyed. After awhile the mother of Abraham, thinking
the anger of the king was appeased, ventured out with the boy.
Another
history tells us that he was placed to dwell awhile with Shem, the good old
patriarch, and lived several years with him, hid up and secluded, studying the
things of God. He loved righteousness, and, hungering for more righteousness,
got away from the idolatry of his relations, and even of his father's house,
and was for some time studying the things of God in the houses of those early
patriarchs that had just come through the flood. When he ventured to come out
again, and it was found out that he was that same Abraham, the wrath of the
king was aroused with double fury, and this time he was seized upon and put
into a fiery furnace. The Bible does not tell us of this, but other histories
do. The Mohammedan's bible tells him of it. It is in the Koran. Abraham was so
dealt with by this persecution that he wondered where he could find a place on
the earth, wherein he could dwell in safety. The Lord told him to get him up
out of that country, and He would show him a place, a little way off, that he
should have for his own some time.
This is
just the feeling and spirit that took hold of many of us Latter-day Saints in
the various nations where we heard this Gospel. We became all at once
strangers. Our relations and best friends became our enemies, many of us were turned
out and found a gathering place with the Saints, as it is written, "Gather
my Saints together who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." This
faith in the Gospel comes as a matter of sacrifice to the worldly. When we
began to gather together and became a few in number, behold the wrath of the
ungodly was such that it pervaded the township, or the settlement, or the
Church abroad where we were, and scattered it, like the terrible wind, that
blew the mustard stalk, scattered the seed abroad. Thus numerous converts were
gathered into the Church, and the sacrifice brought in a harvest of souls, as
the farmer sacrifices his seed to sow it upon the land, that it may bring forth
the bread in the season thereof. Thus the work of the Lord has been the gathering
of His Saints who covenanted with Him by sacrifice.
It was so
when we were driven out from Missouri and from Illinois. It will not do for me
to stop to detail it to you. You know when we were driven from Missouri the
kind sympathies of the people in Illinois received us among them, and we went
through the counties there. Brethren took up farms, went to work, and labored
in every way, and the truth was spread everywhere. A good many strong men in
the Church embraced the Gospel in that period, and have grown up with us and
established their seed in righteousness upon the earth.
This has
been the way of the Lord with us. When we were scattered from Illinois, we came
out here, and our enemies thought they had got rid of the plague of Mormonism.
The Lord led us. See how kind He was about it! Behind a frowning providence He
hid that blessed smiling face. When He saw the horrors of war were coming, and
that the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph at Christmas, 1832, must be
fulfilled, He in His mercy would not have us stay there and be mixed up in that
fratricidal war. In His great love for us, He allowed a mob to come upon us and
demand of us that we should leave the country, just in time to save us from
going into the ranks of bloody strife, laying down our lives, and perhaps many
placing ourselves in the position that we could not make an acceptable offering
unto the Lord in His holy temple. David, the man of God, because he was a man
of much blood, was not allowed to build the temple; but God in His mercy spared
us this terrible stain by bringing us out here.
Here for
many years what a great peace we have had! When the Lord made President Young
to be our Governor, then were we happy. We only wanted to know the will of the
Lord, we did it, and were prospered. The earth under our feet was blessed to us
continually. Our hearts and our homes were sanctified. The earth, having rested
for ages, brought forth its strength to us, as we in the states knew nothing
about.
After
awhile we had to put up with a good deal of unpleasantness from our red
brethren, the Lamanites. When emigrants traveled across the continent they
considered they were doing God service in killing the red men. Then in turn the
red man's revenge was spent upon our brethren. By and by a Governor was
appointed to come among us who determined that we should no longer have the
public arms, even to celebrate the 4th of July with. The boys must not have
swords with which to study sword exercise, and some that had wooden swords were
placed under arrest for this childish employment. What was the result of it?
Let me call your attention carefully to a consideration of this particular
feature, that while in their wrath and in their determination to break down
every means that we had for defense and leave the Indians to prey upon us, the
heavens understood this, and turned the wrath of the Indians away till we have
never had occasion to get up an Indian campaign since.
Is not
the goodness of God manifest in this providence, when it was determined that we
should have nothing to defend ourselves with? Certainly it is, and the
Latter-day Saints who contemplate it must consider it as a manifestation of
God's great kindness to us. He had not forsaken us; but with the taking away of
these arms has been taken away apparently every vestige of ill-feeling on the
part of the savages around us, and instead of their showing hostility to us,
they come to the Presidency, who counsel them to keep peace among themselves
and with the whites, and stop the shedding of blood. This excellent advice has
preserved the lives of many people, as well as maintained a better and stronger
relation between them and ourselves.
Behold,
brethren and sisters, the goodness of God in these things! The Lord is
continually with us; and although it was not in His providence that we should
be scattered from here and driven forth on the face of the earth again, still
the trials and sacrifices which pertain to our holy religion can be applied to
us here. He allowed our enemies to thicken the very atmosphere with lies and
falsehoods concerning us, and we had not the power to prevail against them, and
in their turn to oppress us in the exercise of our religious views to a
considerable extent, until the prison walls enclosed many of our brethren.
Now
concerning the time that we have here at present. The Lord has said that He
would soften the hearts of our enemies from time to time, that His work might
go on and prosper. From the time of hard frost and kind of winter that we have
had in these matters, the Lord has caused a pleasing change, like spring time,
to come over us. I want to call your attention to a particular feature in this
matter, which it appears to me is desirable for us to consider with care. There
is a feeling with us, to a great extent, and it exists today more particularly
in the outer settlements, that they would rather be entirely by themselves and
excluded from the society and institutions of those that are not of our faith.
This is very natural, after all the experience that the Saints have had. But I
wish to tell you, it does not do for us to do like the snail-to coil ourselves
up in a shell and have it to ourselves, and let those around us and in our
midst take care of themselves. The Lord has brought us out here, put us among
these hills and mountains, and placed these temples here, in order that we may
make our light to shine to the nations of the earth. It appears to me, now that
we associate in political matters with many men who are not of us in religious
faith, and our sisters associate with many of the ladies of the nation of
honorable and high standing, that we should consider that this is a peculiar
condition which God wishes us to be exercised in, that we are here as a light
set upon a hill that cannot be hid-not to be put under a bed, nor under a
bushel, but that it is placed upon an eminence, where it can be seen.
This
Temple that is now nearly ready, we resolved at the last Conference should be
finished for dedication by next spring's Conference, and I am certain that it
will. Our resolution, united and strong as it was when we sat under the walls
of that building, cannot be broken and we expect to see the house dedicated in
a short time. Then we shall have four temples in the one Territory of Utah,
shedding forth their light, blessing, illumination and glory to the minds of
all who enter therein in faithfulness, in humility, and in dutiful obedience,
to help to prepare deceased relatives that they may come unto Christ, that they
may be among the number that shall be gathered in Christ from the heavens, when
He shall come in fulfilment of this prayer and this revelation.
We should
be prepared to associate with the men that come among us in a good and proper
way, be honest, pay our debts, and do as good neighbors and good friends to
humanity should do. Our examples should be such that people among us should
take cognizance of us, and that they should be led to feel, when they
contemplate us and our mode of life, that we are the children of God. Not that
we should go with them into their saloons, or into their places of diversion,
wherein they forget God and defile His Sabbath, or profane His holy name. But
that, in all our necessary associations with them, we maintain the Gospel and
let the light of it shine forth in our conduct, that we be among them as the
salt of the earth. The Savior has said, Ye are the salt of the earth; and if
the salt loses its savor, wherewith shall the earth be salted?
I wish to
call the attention of the brethren and sisters to this matter, that they should
not maintain this exclusiveness too rigidly. When people come among us-and the
Lord is sending everybody among us-we should be able to treat everybody with
propriety, and let them see that we understand all they know of the Gospel, and
very much more. Unless we do this, we cannot emit that light to those that are
among us; and if we do this, there will be here and there those who are honest
in heart that will embrace the faith, and they who will not will be without
excuse. It is necessary that we should be thus mixed up in these various
capacities, and people sent among us, that they may be acquainted with us, in
order that we may by association impart to them the virtues that we possess,
but not that we should imbibe the vices which they may bring with them into our
midst.
Herein we
know the brethren sometimes feel confused and scarcely know what is right; but,
my brethren, this is another lesson from the Lord to each and everyone, that they
may find out what is right. If you are of a doubtful heart and do not know the
way to do this or to do that, go and find your secret places; find your way
into the closet; get one, if you have to make it out of the sagebrush and the
willows, and ask the Lord for His Spirit to give you judgment and to understand
whether you shall do this or do that, whether you shall join this or the other,
that in every occupation and pursuit you may take such a course that you shall
look back upon in times to come and feel thankful that you did as you did, and
not look back with sorrow or regret at what you have done and wish you had done
some other way. This is the course that all who are dutiful should take. They
should learn that it is their duty to obey the Lord, hearken to His counsel,
and walk in the ways of life. For a great many hardly know the way that would
be satisfactory to themselves and those they are associated with. Then is the
time to seek thy closet, "And when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy
Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward
thee openly," by leading you to take a proper and faithful course, that
you will ever look upon with pleasure and satisfaction.
We are
living in a day when a great deal has to be done before this revelation and
prayer can be answered. We seem to be going at a very slow rate in propagating
the Gospel among the nations of the earth. But the Lord has said that He will
cut his work short in righteousness. He has promised that He will hasten it in
His time. Some have wanted to know how it was going to be done, and I wish to
mention some little pertaining to this matter. The Book of Mormon is now
translated and published in about ten different languages-the English, the
French, the German, the Italian, the Welsh, the Spanish, the Danish, the
Swedish, the Hawaiian, the Maori and the Dutch. It is also translated into the
Jewish tongue, and I believe is translated into, but not published in, the
Hindustani-a language that extends over a vast area of territory on the other
continent.
Now, what
good are these doing if thousands of copies are lying on the shelves of our
offices, as was told us yesterday, instead of being brought out and put to use?
In 1851 there was a great exposition got up in London, the first of the kind
that is now quite common in the earth. It was held in Hyde Park; I was there on
a mission at that time, and I went and visited it. It was 1,851 feet long,
allowing a foot for every year, and it was devised by the noble Prince Albert.
Soon, there being such a spirit of national importance connected with it,
France had to have one, the United States had one, and it has been followed up
occasionally by the different nations. Now we have come to a time when in 1893
we expect, Providence permitting, that there will be a world's exposition in
the United States, looked upon as the leading nation, foremost in enterprise,
foremost in liberty; and people will come from every one, as far as
practicable, of the great nations of the earth. If it shall prove a success it
will be but a few years till other great nations will want world's expositions.
The seven
thousand Seventies that we have in the Church-for be it known the Presidents of
the Seventies are everywhere ordaining people into the Seventies, and they have
over one hundred quorums-may well be looked upon as the bone and sinew of
Israel. Suppose these quorums should work up this matter, and consider that
something rested upon their shoulders to get the Gospel to the nations of the
earth, and should get up a department at one of these great expositions-say
next year-and have all these different translations of the Book of Mormon in
that exposition. When the visitors come up, say from St. Petersburg (they will
not let a Mormon go into that empire to preach the Gospel), but the Czar will
have some of his ministers at the exposition, who may be glad to get hold of
the Book of Mormon. They can read it either in the French or German, and carry
it over to the old country, and it would be sure to burn wherever they laid it
down till some honest heart got hold of it and found out what it contains.
We have
not got the book in the Slav language, nor in the Chinese, but we have the
Spanish translation. There is not only this Spanish, but there is the Italian,
and between the Spanish and the Italian, nearly all the Latin nations,
particularly all those that occupy South America, that can be at this
exposition can take this Book of Mormon home. If the Elders cannot go to them
they will be doing themselves a good turn to come up to the land of Zion and
get the word of the Lord and take it home with them. When we come to the
eastern continent there are the French, the German, the Danish, the Swedish,
the Italian, and they can take them home to their countries if there is only
some one on hand when they are wanted to remind them that there is a chance to
have them. Just as sure as there are honest hearts there, the Lord will stir
them up by dreams or manifestations of some sort, until they get to know the truth
in their own languages.
It seems
to me that we are making slow work of the spread of the Gospel to the nations
of the earth. The Lord says He will cut His work short in righteousness. Does
it not look as though He knows how to do it? Make the nations come up to the
land of Zion, and there by change and interchange with one another, get the way
open so that the Gospel can be sent among them. Concerning this North America,
we have the English language; then the Spanish to work in the Mexican country
and on the western coast, where they are more cosmopolitan; and it looks as if
the Lord was opening up the way for the Church to send the Gospel to the
nations of the earth one way or another. I feel that this is the great work
that is upon us, to send the Gospel to the human family, to give them the
chance to get out if they will from governments and laws which are so strict
that we cannot go with impunity among them.
We live
in a time, as I before remarked, in which we have to look forward to the
accomplishment of great purposes. We are now nearly closing this century. How
wonderfully hath the Lord wrought! Motive power has been discovered, invented
and improved upon, until, where it used to take months to cross the Atlantic,
it can now be crossed in about six days. We have been blessed, too, with the
communication by electricity, wherein we get word now from almost round the
world so instantaneously that it is said to neutralize space and time; and we
talk 50 or 100 miles apart with each other by the telephone, just as if we were
in the next room. What will the Lord do in the next 50 years? Let us open our
eyes to this subject. Let us consider well the work that is on hand, and let us
try and conform ourselves to the wondrous times in which we live.
I would
exhort you again, my brethren and sisters, that you forget not how to pray, to
pray in the language of this revelation that I have read to you, that His
kingdom may go forth upon the earth and may be made ready for the kingdom of
heaven to come down with Him when He shall come to the children of men upon the
earth. I do not need to tell you that this is the work of the Lord-you know
just as well as I do. You have found out by the same general experience that I
have found it out; and now, having found it out, it is our duty to lay hold of
it and live according to it. May the Lord help us to do so, in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON.
Following is a brief outline of his remarks: He had enjoyed these meetings today very much, and expressed his great regret that he could not be present on the opening day. This was a time when we could temporarily forget and lay aside the cares, perplexities, and annoyances of life, listen to words of counsel, and partake of that heavenly influence which always prevailed in these Conferences. The Lord had wrought great things in our behalf. This latter-day work was a standing miracle in the eyes of all the nations of the earth; it was a continued testimony, an indestructible work. It was not the plan, wisdom, or device of man that had wrought out such wonderful results which we witnessed here on every hand; and the Lord would hold the inhabitants of the earth accountable for the knowledge they had concerning this work, but which they did not make a proper use of. Where could be found anything like it in the whole world? This Church was founded and had been carried on in the face of all the opposition that had been brought to bear against it. He rejoiced that the Saints could meet together in Conference under such favorable circumstances as now prevailed, and that the heavens were still open to us. This was the only Church on the face of the earth, so far as he knew, that gave to every worthy male member thereof the Priesthood and the authority to officiate in the ordinances of the House of God. God intended to make of us a great and mighty people. He had revealed to us that e are His children; and what a glorious revelation this was!
This Gospel would bring us back into the presence of God and the Lamb if we only obeyed all its principles and remained faithful unto the end.
The anthem:
Let the mountains shout for joy.
was sung by the choir, and the whole congregation joined in the doxology.
Benediction by Elder L. John Nuttall.
_____
[7 Oct, 7 pm]
[DNW 45:517, 10/15/92, p 5]
PRIESTHOOD MEETING.
_____
A meeting of the general Priesthood was held in the Tabernacle last night, April 7th, beginning at 7 o'clock. The first speaker was President Joseph F. Smith. He gave much practical instruction upon the subject of looking after the moral and religious welfare of the young, and seeing that they were not permitted to spend their time in idleness. He also spoke deprecatingly of the disregard paid by many to the commandment of God in relation to the observance of the Sabbath day. The concluding portion of his discourse was devoted to the evils growing out of going into debt without sufficient reason; the dangers of extravagance and class distinctions on the basis of wealth. He also exhorted his hearers to contribute generously to the funds needed to complete the Temple in this city.
President Woodruff followed by delivering a discourse upon the magnitude of the work of God and the responsibilities resting upon those who held the Priesthood.
President George Q. Cannon spoke upon the importance of those holding high office in the Church being careful as to how they used their authority, as they would be held to strict accountability by the Lord for the manner in which they exercised their callings. None of the humblest of God's creatures could be wronged with impunity. He spoke also on the necessity of being charitable and of the evil results of backbiting; also upon the necessity of seeking to save our offspring, who, according to the everlasting covenant, were the children of promise. We ought to have great hopes of them, even when they went astray, exercising faith that they might be reclaimed.
_____
[8 Oct, 10 am*]
[DNW 45:517-519, 10/15/92, p 5-7]
THIRD
DAY.
MORNING SESSION.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come, come, ye Saints, no
toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.
Prayer by Elder Daniel McArthur.
The Spirit of God like a
fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning, The angels are coming to visit
the earth.
was sung by the choir, the congregation joining.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund, and Abraham H. Cannon.
The counselors in the first Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, and Jonathan G. Kimball.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and John Jaques as his assistant.
Joseph Don Carlos Young as Church Architect.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education; Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Amos Howe, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp.
As Trustee in Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
All the voting was unanimous.
REPORT OF PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS.
(Five Stakes not reported)
No. of associations, 297;
No of officers, 1,284; No. of members, 19,280; total, 20,564.
Average attendance, 7,974; increase, 2,634;
Total meetings of all descriptions, 0,731
Donated to Temples;, $516.93; charitable purposes, $147.05; emigration, $94;
Officers -- Louie B. Felt, President; Lillie J. Freeze, First Counselor Clara
M. Cannon, Second Counselor; Minnie F. Cutler, Treasurer; Mary Anderson,
Secretary
REPORT OF RELIEF SOCIETIES.
Total No. of
members, 18,813.
No. of branches, 398.
Meetings held, 3,169.
Average attendance, 6,103.
Disbursements during half year -- Charitable purposes, $8,476.44, emigration,
$550.60, temple, $848.65, Deseret Hospital, $217.20, Home industries,
$1,031.78, books;, $189.16, buildings, $1,2232.12.
On hand -- Cash, $12,199.96, property, $17,918.13, real estate, $56,550.74,
wheat cash, $8,433.85; wheat bushels, 39,004.
Officers -- Zina D. H. Young, President; Jane S. Richards, First counselor;
Bathsheba W. Smith, Second counselor; Sarah M. Kimball, Secretary; Romania B.
Pratt, Assistant Secretary; E. B. Wells Corresponding Secretary; M. Isabella
Horne, Treasurer.
CHURCH SCHOOLS.
Report
of third academic year, 1891-2 -- Colleges, 3, academies, 25, seminaries, 9;
total 37. In Utah, 26, Idaho, 6, Arizona, 4, Mexico, 1; total 37.
Students -- Male, 3087, females, 2306; total 5393.
In primary department 979, preparatory 1100, intermediate 2289, commercial 98,
academic 489, normal 339.
Church membership of students -- High Priests 5, Seventies 70, Elders 132,
Priests 172, Teachers 215, Deacons 589, members 3943, not baptized 157,
non-members 110.
Number of faculty 120.
Largest school, Brigham Young Academy, at Provo, 689 students.
On motion, sustained by unanimous vote, the foregoing reports were accepted and placed on file with the records of the proceedings of the conference.
APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH.
Following is a synopsis of his discourse: He had no doubt that the speakers thus far at this Conference had said many things to the interest, edification and well-being of the Saints. We needed, as a people, a great variety of instruction, and at no place could we better receive it than here, on these occasions, when the Saints gathered in such numbers from all parts of the Territory.
At last night's Priesthood meeting many important topics were dwelt upon, especial reference being made to a strict and proper observance of the Sabbath. In this regard, however, he feared we were not as careful as we ought to be, either in regard to ourselves or our families. There seemed to be a laxity of feeling among too many at the present time in reference to keeping the Sabbath day holy. This, too, had grown to an extent which was not at all commendable in a people who professed to possess in every sense of the word the Gospel of Christ in its fulness.
There were many other matters which should be prominently discussed at this Conference. Smoking was an evil habit greatly to be deplored, and it was no uncommon thing nowadays to see those of our brethren who had been expounders of the Word among the people of the world, and who had been looked to as exemplars among the Saints at home chewing tobacco. We also saw men who claimed to hold the Priesthood drifting within the confines of the drinking-house. He trusted that the voice of the servants of God would be raised, calling upon the Saints to continue in the good old way of propriety, wisdom and prudence, and withstand the temptations which hedged them in on every side. If men would seek the guidance of the Spirit of the living God they would obtain strength sufficient to support them in the hour of temptation and need.
Men were becoming unmindful of the responsibilities which they owed to the youth and to their fellow men everywhere. We had been set, as a people, upon a hill, as a light to the world. The spirit of temperance was one of the groundworks of the structure which we were seeking to build under the direction of Almighty God; and as he looked upon this problem he recognized the fact that we must set our faces firmly against the demon of intemperance, which stalked abroad and led men and women to deviate from the rules and regulations which God had given us. Those who used tobacco and strong drink could not be a pure and healthy people.
There were thousands of men walking idly in our communities today. For these work should be provided as far as possible, because if men's hands were kept busy there was less fear of their falling into the ways of temptation and wickedness.
He rejoiced in the Gospel of the Son of God, and his great desire was to see the Saints the most happy and prosperous of any people in the whole world.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
hoped that the excellent instructions imparted during conference would find ample lodgment in their hearts and minds, so that much good would result from their gathering together. All the subjects which had been treated upon thus far were most important to the Latter-day Saints.
In reference to home industries, it should not be said that any of our people were without employment in this Territory, and some efforts should, in his opinion, be made by the leading men in the various settlements whereby work could be given to those who needed it, that they might not remain unnecessarily idle. During his lifetime President Brigham Young was very anxious that home industries should be encouraged and established among the people. It would be a good thing for any community to branch out in every kind of industry that would give the people employment, and, as far as possible, produce what we needed for home consumption. In this way communities became self-sustaining and wealthy, and if the Latter-day Saints ever expected to become wealthy they must look to these things. He exhorted his hearers to support the institutions that had been established in our midst. If we needed flannels or blankets his advice was to purchase those which were manufactured at home, and never spend a dollar from this time forth for articles of foreign manufacture, if the same kind of goods were made and could be obtained at home, even if a little more had to be paid for them. Home industries not only found work for our people, but kept money within our own community which would otherwise go elsewhere. The speaker made reference to the Lehi sugar factory. Some of our brethren, he said, who were engaged in the promotion of that enterprise were groaning under the weight of responsibility resting upon them in the establishment of the undertaking; and he trusted that it would receive henceforward the liberal support which it deserved. Reference was made to Z.C.M.I. as a most flourishing home institution which Brother Smith said had proved to be one of the greatest temporal blessings ever established in this place. It had prevented the making of "corners" and the people from being taken advantage of. Its author was President Brigham Young, whose idea was that the people themselves should own it and so become merchants as well as Elders. The advantages of co-operative institutions were pointed out. Today, the speaker said, Z.C.M.I. was one of the most substantial and reliable institutions in the land.
President Smith also advocated the establishment of creameries in our midst. That which he was preaching, he remarked, was the gospel of temporal salvation, the gospel of common sense and reason, the Gospel of truth; and it was a Gospel which the Latter-day Saints ought to observe and honor. We ought to have been converted to this years ago, and enjoyed the benefits which would have resulted from it, instead of, as we did today, sending our money out of the country, in a continuous stream, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars for that which could be produced at home just as well as abroad.
The Saints were earnestly admonished to keep strictly the Word of Wisdom, and abstain from the use of tea, coffee, strong drinks, and avoid the use of tobacco.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 45:697, 11/19/92, p 25, CD 3:146-151]
DISCOURSE
DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH,
Saturday, October 8, 1892, at the General Conference, held
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I pray
for the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit to enable me, while I stand before
you this morning, to speak the truth, and to do it in a manner that will be
plain and simple, so that we can all understand. I am grateful to see the good
attendance that we have had at our Conference thus far, and I am also thankful
to our heavenly Father for the rich outpouring of His Spirit which we have
enjoyed while we have been together. I hope that the good counsels and the
excellent instructions which have been imparted to us may find ample lodgment
in our hearts and in our memories, that we may profit by them. We have had a
little said upon a variety of subjects, all of which are necessary for our
guidance and for our observance in order that we may prosper and be what we
should be-the people of God.
Brother
John Henry Smith, in his closing remarks, touched upon a subject which is of
vital importance to the Latter-day Saints, and that is, the subject of home
employment and home industry. It should not be that any of our people are
without employment in this country; and some efforts ought to be made by the
leading men in the various settlements, where men are unemployed, to devise
means by which employment may be given to them, that they may not be
necessarily idle. In connection with this subject it may not be amiss to state
at this time and to this congregation the fact that during the lifetime of
President Young he was very earnest in his desires and efforts that home
industries should be established among the people. I remember distinctly when
he called upon President Smoot, Bishop R.T. Burton and others to unite their
means together and build a woolen factory up here on Parley's canyon creek; and
they did so. President Young himself also had a factory there about that time.
I also remember that President Young called upon Brothers Lorin Farr, Pugsley
and others at one time to establish a woolen factory near Ogden, and they did
so. I remember President Young was very eager that a factory should be
established down in our "Dixie" country, and certain brethren were
called and commissioned to go down there to establish a factory in that
vicinity. Then he was very anxious that employment should be given to some of
our people in the direction of planting, cultivating and raising cotton, and
people were called and sent into our "Dixie" country to raise cotton,
in order that the factory established at Washington might not be idle, and that
cotton might be produced by the labor of our Utah people.
Yesterday
I was in the Fair, where I saw some excellent specimens of cotton that had been
raised in the south, and prepared as batting, by the industry of our people. I
saw a very fine display of woolen goods-flannels, blankets, and other
cloths-marked "John C. Cutler, agent for the Provo Woolen Mills," and
my eyes were gladdened by the sight, my heart was rejoiced to see such a fine
display of home products exhibited at the Fair. I believe in this kind of
industry. I believe it to be a good thing for any community, to branch out in
every kind of industry that will give employment to the people, and that will
produce at home every article needed for home consumption, as far as possible.
It is the principle upon which communities become self-sustaining, independent
and wealthy. If the Latter-day Saints ever expect to become wealthy, it will be
after they have established all the industries that are necessary to make them
independent, and to provide for themselves every commodity of life that they
need. I also saw in the Fair some specimens of blankets and other goods
produced by the Deseret Woolen Mills, owned and managed by some of the late
Brother William Jennings' family, and situated in the lower part of this city.
I saw some goods as fine, I believe, as I have seen in any country-the result
of the labor of our own people and the products of our own country. How much
better this is than to have to buy all our blankets from abroad and to import
everything that we wear that is needful for our comfort. Let me exhort my
brethren and sisters who are assembled here today to remember these
institutions that have been established among us. If you want blankets, where
will you go to get them? I would advise you to get them from where those
manufactured at home can be obtained. I would exhort you never to spend a
dollar from this time forth, if you can avoid it, for anything that is produced
abroad which is produced at home, even though you may be under the necessity of
paying a little more for that produced here. I advise you to patronize home
industry, because it helps to give employment to our home people, it helps to
build up our own country, it helps to keep the wealth within our own community,
and it builds us up better, faster, and more permanently than any other course
can possibly do. Here is our sugar factory in Lehi. Some of our brethren are
groaning under the weight of responsibility that rests upon them in connection
with the establishment of that sugar factory. If I recollect right, President
Wilford Woodruff, President George Q. Cannon and your humble servant, and
others of the Apostles, are today carrying tens of thousands of dollars in
order that that industry might be established among the people, and in order
that some of the sugar that is consumed by them might be produced at home by
their own industry and skill, and that some of the money that we pay out
annually for the sugar we consume might be kept at home and distributed to
those who produce the article here. I want to remind my brethren and sisters
throughout Zion that it is a portion of their duty to patronize these home
industries and to sustain them by their patronage. For it is a good and wise
policy. It is the policy that was inaugurated by President Young in the
beginning of the settlement of this Territory. It is the policy that is today
the wisest and the best for this community. We are still far separated from the
centers of manufacture and in a comparatively new country; this should not be
forgotten. It is not perhaps consistent with modern ideas to suppose for a
moment that there could come a time of pinching, of poverty and of necessity in
the tops of these mountains, connected as we are with the east and the west,
with the north and the south, by these lines of railroads which run into and
through our country. I know it is not orthodox now-a-days to consider or admit
the possibility of a famine coming upon the inhabitants of North America. Do we
not possess the richest country in the world? Are we not blessed with all the
products of the temperate and the torrid zone? Are we not blessed with the
greatest mineral, agricultural and stock-raising country in the world? Yes; and
yet I read in the revelations which the Lord has given to us that a day of
famine will come upon the land, a day of drouth, a day of necessity, a day of
pestilence, and a day of deep sorrow. When that day shall come we will learn,
if we do not learn it before, that the community which is the nearest
self-supporting will be the most independent and the most prosperous that can
be found anywhere in the land. There is another little factory in Franklin,
Idaho. It is really a Utah industry, owned and carried on largely by Utah
people, and they are producing some of the finest home-made blankets, linsey,
flannel and yarn that can be produced anywhere in the country. I want to make
honorable mention of it, as I have of the other mills. I am told also that
Brother Whitehead, at Springville is manufacturing some goods. I desire to make
mention of these things. What for? That I may induce you, my brethren and
sisters, if I possibly can, to patronize these institutions, and to sustain by
your works as well as by your prayers home industries, which give to the people
employment, and put bread in their mouths and clothing upon their backs, and
give them homes to shelter them, developing the resources of our country, and
making it what it is today-the superior of any of its sister territories or
states in this inter-mountain region. There is no state or territory in this
inter-mountain region that can compare in material prosperity with the
Territory of Utah, and it is largely due to the policy inaugurated by President
Young, that is still in vogue, or ought to be, among this people to foster home
industry. A little while ago I gave an order for some home-made blankets. I can
go to Z.C.M.I., or any of these stores which import foreign made goods and I
can buy blankets for considerably less than I expect to have to pay for those
that are made at home; but I would rather give a little more to our own workmen
for the product of their labor than to purchase the imported article. But the
fact of the matter is, I expect to get the worth of my money. Even if I do have
to pay a little more for it, I believe the article will be that much better and
more durable.
In times
gone by we used to exhort the people to patronize our co-operative
institutions. Here is Z.C.M.I. President Woodruff is the president of that
institution. It is owned and managed by our people, principally. It is true
that some of the stock has been placed on the market, and our outside friends,
realizing that it was a good and safe institution, have invested in Z.C.M.I.
stock. It is controlled in the interests of the people, not wholly for
moneymaking, but to modify prices, and to regulate the markets of this region
in relation to the articles which it deals in; to prevent combinations against
the welfare of the people. Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution has been
one of the best institutions for this community that has ever been established
among them. President Young was the founder of it, and his idea was that the
people should own it; that if there was any profit in merchandising, manufacturing
woolen goods, cotton goods, or any other kind of goods in the Territory of
Utah, the people should receive the benefit of it; and therefore he established
co-operative associations and invited the people to take stock in these
institutions, that they might help to bear the responsibility and share in the
benefits therefrom, and thereby all the people be blessed. President Young did
not desire that one man alone or a few men should gather in all the
"plums" in merchandising, but that all the people should share
whatever profit there was in it. Will anyone deny that those who are interested
in Z.C.M.I. have shared proportionately in the profits of that institution? I
think they have. I have been in a small way interested in it from the
beginning, and it has been one of the most profitable investments I ever made.
It today pays the stockholders 12 per cent per annum on their stock, besides
which it is laying away a residue as a reserve fund, to strengthen the
institution, making it one of the most solid and reliable in the land. Shall we
not patronize it? Shall we not sustain this industry? For it is an industry. We
have a manufacturing department connected with it. We manufacture thousands of
dollars' worth of boots and shoes; yet we are not able to manufacture anything
like the amount that the community demands. Then we have an overall department,
and we export overalls to Denver and to other places. We ought to be exporters
rather than importers; and when we become exporters of the products of our
labor, then indeed we will be in a condition approaching independence, and we
shall not be independent till them. We do not all want to be farmers; and it
would not be wise for us all to be sugar makers. It will not do for everybody
to be merchants and bankers, because if we were, who would produce the sugar,
the bread, the clothing, and the other necessaries of life? We have a number of
good cheese manufactories among us; but I do not know whether we have got far
enough along to export cheese. Yet we ought to do it with the facilities we
have here for raising lucern with and without irrigation. The Lord is opening
the way for the people to raise lucern and grain, and even trees, on dry land
without irrigation. I heard that Brother M. W. Merrill, one of the Twelve Apostles,
who is here today, had said that if he were to be furnished with water free of
cost to irrigate his land, that he would not accept of it to raise his grain
with. (Brother Merrill here remarked that he had not watered his land for many
years.) This is the finest lucern country that I know of; and we ought to raise
good cows, and produce good milk, good butter and good cheese, sufficient to
supply home consumption, and then we ought to have a little surplus to export.
We ought to have more creameries, and we ought to buy home-made cheese,
home-made butter, home-made sugar, home-made clothes, and all home-made
articles, instead of patronizing those from abroad. If the people would do
this, God would bless them, and they would become all the richer and the more
prosperous; and those friends that are engaged in these manufactures would be
encouraged, for their investments would not prove failures; and it would give
more employment to the people, and create permanent wealth for the country.
I felt
like saying something about home industries. But I want you to understand there
is no politics in it. It is simply plainly-told Gospel truth. It is the Gospel
of temporal salvation that I am preaching to this congregation, the Gospel of
common sense. It is the Gospel of reason-a Gospel that the Latter-day Saints
should all honor and observe, and not have to be urged to do it, either. We
ought to have been converted to this years ago and have enjoyed the benefits
that would have resulted to us from it, instead of today sending our money out
of the country in a continuous stream for that which can be produced at home
just as well as it can be produced abroad. This wealth ought to be kept at
home, and employment given to our people, so that they will not be found wandering
up and down the streets and through the country without anything to do. I am
satisfied of this. It is good Gospel, too, in its place, just as much as faith
in God, repentance of sin, and baptism for the remission of sin, are good
Gospel precepts in their place. This temporal Gospel pertains to our present
welfare, to the building of temples, to the sending of the Gospel to the
nations of the earth, to the gathering of the poor from distant lands, to
publishing the word of God and distributing it abroad among the people, and to
every material work involved in the progress and development of the community.
You cannot do without it. The idler, saith the Lord, shall not eat the bread of
the laborer in Zion. The Lord requires that we shall not be idlers. Our people
should not be without employment, when there is plenty of means and plenty of
intelligence among them to devise industries and to give employment to those
who are unemployed. We have got to do it, or we are not wise stewards or
faithful servants.
I heard a
prominent man, only this morning, make the remark that, notwithstanding the
Latter-day Saints have received revelation from God with regard to the Word of
Wisdom, and notwithstanding all the other conditions respecting this law, he
believed that according to the number of the community there was more tea,
coffee and tobacco imported into Utah than into any other of the territories
surrounding us. The question was asked, "What proportion, do you think, of
the Latter-day Saints actually keep the Word of Wisdom-that is, do not drink
tea, or coffee, or strong drink, nor use tobacco in any form?" And it was
expressed as his belief that there was not more than one-tenth of the people
who absolutely kept the Word of Wisdom. If this is so, it is lamentable. I do
not say that it is so. I hope it is not. I would rather believe that it was
only one-tenth of the people that did not keep the commandments of God in this
regard. Many of us are in the condition that Brother Liljenquist expressed
himself as being in, at one time, myself included, though you would hardly
think it perhaps. He said that somehow or other he seemed to crave everything
that the Lord had said was not good for man.
* * * * *
I do not
wish to parade my own weaknesses before you in order to tempt anyone. I only
tell you that I have weaknesses as well as you. And if I can overcome my
weaknesses, why cannot you overcome yours? If I, being fond of tobacco, can
refuse to use it, why cannot you? If I, having a taste for liquor, do not use
it, why cannot you do the same thing? And if I, being fond of tea and coffee,
do not use them, why cannot you refrain from using them, too? That is the moral
that I wish to impress upon your minds. That is the doctrine that I wish to
teach you. I want to say to you that I, weak as I am, can refrain from these
things, and therefore I believe that you can do the same if you will. I believe
in the depths of my heart that if you will never take any more whiskey, or tea,
or coffee, or tobacco, you will by and by have a good passport into the
celestial city, if your other conduct is what it ought to be. I do not believe
that I have ever indulged in these things to an extent that has grieved the
Holy Spirit, or that has given offense to my Heavenly Father that He cannot forgive;
and in the future I intend to do better than I have done in the past-to be more
faithful, if possible, and live a better life, and be more cautious in my
conduct and example. And furthermore, I intend in the future to patronize home
industries more faithfully than I have done in the past. I propose to buy
home-made blankets, and not these shoddy things that are brought from abroad,
paying the manufactures of them in Lowell, or Boston, or some other
manufacturing town in the East. I propose to sustain the woolen factories in
Provo, in Salt Lake, in Beaver and other parts of this Territory. I propose to
patronize them to the extent of my necessities and means. I hope that everyone
present will do the same and that you will carry this spirit abroad with you,
and that you will instil this doctrine into the hearts and minds of the people
where you live, that the inhabitants of these mountain valleys may become
patrons of home industry, and thereby build up themselves, their own towns,
cities and villages, establish real wealth among themselves, and give
employment to their own people. May God help us to do this, is my prayer, in
the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
added a few closing words, bearing his testimony to the exemplary bearing of President Joseph F. Smith in the matter of observing the Word of Wisdom.
The choir sang, "Light and Truth the World is Waking."
Benediction by Bishop Elias Morris.
_____
[8 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 45:519, 10/15/92, p 7]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation, No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
Prayer by Elder Elias Blackburn.
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word.
was sung by the choir and congregation.
APOSTLE LORENZO SNOW
said, in substance, that he had been very much edified and instructed by what had been spoken during this Conference. The Saints had received that kind of information and counsel which every Latter-day Saint needed, and which should be put into practice in our future daily life. The gathering of the Saints in these mountain valleys from the various nations of the world was truly a marvel, and we should be the most thankful people of any on the face of the globe, seeing the promises which God had made unto those who remained faithful in His cause. The clouds of spiritual darkness which hung over our heads before we embraced the true Gospel had disappeared through the outpourings of the Holy Spirit, and our reward would be according to our faithfulness. This Church and Kingdom, from the day it was organized sixty-two years ago, had moved forward and continued to progress in the face of the most serious obstacles and difficulties. He had no doubt or misgiving as to the future of this work, for it was the Lord's.
The Latter-day Saints might have been guilty of errors in the past, but if they were honest, as was Paul, they would be sustained in making their sacrifice. The spirit of the Lord was with the Latter-day Saints to guide them aright, and would remain with them if they were humble and faithful as Latter-day Saints should be.
The speaker next adverted to the obligations resting upon parents in the training of their children, and urged them to set the young a good example in all things. Everything that was desirable for us in this life was secured by the plan of salvation which we as a people had received. Let us keep all the commandments which God had given unto us, no matter how great the sacrifice might be.
In conclusion Brother Snow touched upon the subject of temple building, and counseled the people to do their utmost towards helping to complete the Salt Lake Temple by April next. In that holy building, if we properly prepared ourselves to enter there, we should witness most extraordinary manifestations from God -- such as had not been seen by any other people for many thousands of years. It would be a lasting shame, after the trials through which this people had passed during the last fifty years, if we were not in a fit condition to receive those great manifestations of the goodness and power of God when the time should come.
BISHOP JOHN R. WINDER
reminded the Latter-day Saints of their pledge made by resolution at the last April conference to have the Salt Lake Temple finished a year from that date. The committee were making good progress with the building, and it would be ready for dedication on April 6th, 1893. Between 200 and 300 men were now employed upon it, and the money contributed by the Saints was being carefully expended. There were no better mechanics to be found, and certainly none more faithful in the discharge of their duties, than those to whom the work has been entrusted. Having made a careful estimate of the cost, he found that it would require $150,000 to complete the structure. The work now being done was of a costly character, but when finished it would be most beautiful for the Saints to look upon. He trusted that the hearts of this people would be opened and that they would respond liberally to the cause in hand.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
spoke next. Following is a brief outline of his remarks. He said that the report made by Bishop Winder regarding the progress made in completing the Temple in this city must be very gratifying to all Saints. The structure would not be entirely completed by the time named, but would be sufficiently advanced to admit of its being dedicated and work being done in it of the character for which it is designed. It would be further decorated and beautified subsequently. The amount named by Bishop Winder as being needed to complete the work to be done by the 6th of April next might seem large, but when divided out among a people such as we were it was comparatively small. Through faith much had already been accomplished, and by faith the work in the future could be carried forward to success. The building of the Temple at Kirtland, which the Lord condescended to grace with His presence, was a much greater undertaking than the work now being carried on by us, as the people in those days were comparatively few and destitute. A liberal man, we were told, deviseth liberal things, and no doubt we as Latter-day Saints were judged by our Father in heaven by the evidence of our faith. On the subject of faith the speaker instanced that displayed among the Elders when they went forth into distant lands without purse or scrip. The Lord had always been with them, and, even when trials and difficulties had beset the Elders, He had raised up friends in their behalf.
The labor of completing this temple rested upon us as a people, and if we would only go to with willing hearts and hands, and with faith and determination to accomplish the object, success would crown our efforts. There was no sacrifice which was too great for us to make for our God, in order to show our appreciation of what He had done for us. Temple work for the salvation of the dead was a binding obligation upon this people. He then spoke on the doctrine of extending the principles of salvation to the dead as well as the living, and quoted from the scriptures in support of the position taken by the Latter-day saints on this subject. He showed with great clearness that the plan of redemption was intended for all -- not only those who heard and embraced it in this life, but that it was carried to the other side of the vail. The ordinances connected with it were administered in their behalf, by those representing the dead in this life, in sacred places. This as an important part of the work in which the Latter-day Saints were engaged. Brother Cannon went on to enlarge upon this point, giving many valuable thoughts and evidences of its beauty and efficacy.
Satan had determined to bring to naught the plan of salvation and to destroy this work of God if it were possible. Hence the trials and persecutions which the Saints had had to contend with it at every step taken from the beginning, and which had been the means of shedding some of the best blood of the present century. the trials we had passed through already would beset us in the future; but no earthly power could defeat the progress of this great latter-day work, for God had spoken concerning it.
Nothing happened to this people without God had foreordained it. He understood it and had a purpose in calling us to pass through tribulation, and the object would be made known unto us in His own due time. None of us were beyond His blessings, and His plan of salvation was so great that it embraced the whole universe. God had blessed this people with many and great favors, and who would exchange his or her lot for anything the world could afford?
In closing his remarks President Cannon besought the Saints to do all in their power to help towards completing the Salt Lake Temple, so that when the 6th of April, 1893, dawned no debts would remain to embarrass us, no further obligations to meet; then the building would be dedicated as it should be, and prove acceptable to god our Eternal Father. His Holy spirit would assuredly rest down upon every one who took hold of or a part in this noble work.
[The foregoing synopsis is necessarily a meager one, and only gives a faint idea of Brother Cannon's excellent and instructive discourse.]
The choir sang the anthem,
Jesus, I my cross have taken.
Benediction by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
_____
[9 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 45:521-522, 10/15/92, p 9-10]
AT
THE TABERNACLE.
MORNING SESSION.
The choir and congregation sang:
Do what is right, the day dawn is breaking, Hailing a future of freedom and light.
Prayer by Elder L. W. Shurtliff.
The choir sang:
Home love.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
was the first speaker. The following is a brief synopsis of is discourse:
He commence by stating, that he desired the faith and prayers of the Saints, because nobody could occupy the position he now had profitably to the hearers, without being guided by the Holy Spirit. There were a few thoughts on his mind which he would endeavor to lay before the Conference. In the first place he would bear his witness to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in these latter days, and he did so fully aware of the fact that he was responsible before the Almighty as to the testimony he gave. The Saints were witnesses before the world and accountable for what they said, but the world would be responsible if it rejected the testimony. The speaker knew that this work was of God and had been established through his power. During almost sixty years he had been connected with the Church and held the holy Priesthood and during that time he had traveled much abroad and at home laboring for the spread of the Gospel. He had seen numerous manifestations of the power of the Almighty. The gifts formerly possessed by the Saints he had seen exercised in this Church. The Holy Spirit was given to those who complied with the requirements of the Gospel. Hence the speaker knew that Joseph was a Prophet of God and that this Church was the work of God.
Concerning revelation, President Woodruff said the Saints were not without that divine gift. There were many men and women in these valleys who were filled with inspiration, and the Apostles, when they spoke to the people by the Holy Spirit, were revelators. The kingdom of God could not exist without revelations. We might, however, feel that we wanted more revelations than we had, to better understand our position and to accomplish the work we were called to perform. From the time of Adam to the present hour no one could be found who ever preached and administered in the ordinances of the gospel without having the holy Priesthood. All that Moses and his successors did, and even the work done by our Savior, was done by the power of the Priesthood. This the speaker illustrated by reference to the life and death of our Savior.
Christ came in the meridian of time to the Jewish nation, but that people did not receive Him. He lived long enough to teach the gospel and organize His church. But after this work was done, He gave Himself up to death and was crucified by His enemies, for whom He prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." He had previously chosen twelve Apostles to be His witnesses. These were taken not from the prominent men of the nation but from the lowly and humble, who were willing to be taught by Him and to do His will. Something similar had taken place in our age. The Lord had established a dispensation. This was not for one nation only, but for both Gentiles and Jews.
The dispensation in which the first Apostles lived was not permanent. After the time of the Apostles the Priesthood was taken away, the Church was led into the wilderness, where she remained until the time of the restoration. But the last dispensation was different from the previous ones. It was established never to be overthrown, in fulfillment of prophecies given in previous dispensations. In the sacred Scriptures the history of our work is already written. There never was a more important or a greater dispensation.
Joseph Smith was an illiterate young man, but he was called upon to perform this great work, and he had revelations given to him that were greater than any we read of given to other prophets. The speaker had traveled with him for thousands of miles, and had been an eye witness to the mighty works he had performed, and he could therefore not doubt his divine mission. He had seen him, by the power of God, heal the sick and do other marvelous works, and the Spirit of God rested upon him until his martyrdom. The Church had therefore been organized by the power of God, with all the gifts and graces that belonged thereto. A great foundation had been laid. The Saints were here, gathered by the power of God. Our history was known to the world, and it was comforting to know that the work that we have to do had already been foreshadowed thousands of years ago by holy prophets. Even the place in which we now dwell was the one where God wants us to be. This is the place where the city and Temple of God should be built. What God has foretold has come true.
Concerning the duties of the Saints, the speaker said it now was incumbent upon us to go forth and warn the inhabitants of the earth of the judgments to come. for this we were reserved in the spirit world and had now come forth upon the earth in these days. There was a great responsibility resting upon us in regard to this. The Prophets Joseph and Hyrum laid the foundation of this work and received the crown of martyrs. But on us the responsibility rested to continue the work and warn the world.
Speaking of the revelation relating to the redemption of the dead, President Woodruff said this was a most comforting doctrine. Through it we were taught how the principles of salvation could be extended beyond the veil and reach our progenitors. He wished that all the Saints might have their understandings opened to this great truth. It was a matter to be thankful for that we had already been able to build three temples in this Territory, and we should be diligent in completing the one now being erected in this city. Our dead did not look to the sectarian world but to us for the performance of the ordinances connected with their salvation. A vast host of enemies were arrayed against this work, but the Lord would sustain us and hold His hand over us until the work was done and all His plans and purposes accomplished.
The speaker then took up the subject of home industries, and said that he would endorse the remarks made on this subject during the Conference. the Saints were here to build up Zion.
With regard to the future, President Woodruff said, the rising generation would stand up and carry this work outward by the power of God. The right element was there. Our sons, as a general rule, would not forsake their God nor their fathers and mothers. Some of them might go astray, but there would be found among them those who could by the power of God carry out this work. In his early life the speaker had often read about Prophets and Apostles and other holy men and he had wished to live to see one, and when he heard the Gospel he felt that his desire had been granted. He would therefore admonish the young to give themselves up to the work of God.
He felt to bless the Saints with all his heart. He would bless his brethren of the Apostles and say there was unity among them. He rejoiced in contemplating the work of God in these last days. It was such a work as was never heard of before.
The speaker closed his remarks by stating that he was glad that he was alive yet. He knew he was sustained by the prayers of tens of thousands of righteous men and women. He wished that the Saints might be faithful and true and kind to each other and that God's blessings might rest abundantly upon them.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 45:545, 10/22/92, p 1; CD 3:152-161]
DISCOURSE
Delivered by President Wilford Woodruff, Sunday Morning,
October 9th, 1892,
at the Semi-Annual conference, held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah.
_____
I feel
disposed to try to address this assembly of Latter-day Saints for awhile this
morning; but I wish to say that I need not only the strict attention but the
faith and prayers of the Saints of God, for no man can fill the place which I
or these Apostles occupy, to fulfil the command of God and the requirements of
the Latter-day Saints, except by the inspiration of Almighty God. This is a
truth that has remained on the earth from the day of Father Adam to this hour.
I
have some things upon my mind I would like to lay before this assembly if I can
get sufficient of the spirit of inspiration to do it. To commence with, I want
to bear my testimony to these Latter-day Saints and to the world that I am held
responsible before God, the angels and the heavenly hosts for the testimony
which I bear before you; and so is every man who bears record of the Son of God
and of the work of God in this or any other generation. These Latter-day Saints
bear record to the world, and have borne record for almost a generation past,
that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God; that they know this work is of God, and
that this is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are held
responsible for this, and if they bear a true testimony, the nations of the
earth who hear that testimony will be held responsible for the use they make of
it. Do you ask me how I know this is the work of God, and that Joseph Smith is
a Prophet of God? I will tell you how I know. I know it by the revelations of
Jesus Christ and by the inspiration of the Lord. If I may be allowed to refer
to myself without being considered egotistical, I will tell you why I bear this
testimony.
Eighty-five
years have passed over my head since I first tabernacled in the flesh. Almost
sixty years of that period I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. During that time I have borne some portion of the Holy
Priesthood, and for fifty-three years I have occupied the position of the
Apostleship, in connection with my brethren. I have also traveled abroad and at
home. I have been taught from my childhood up by the revelations of God in the
records of divine truth that have been given to us, that there is one God, and
that there is one Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the world, and the only Savior
pertaining to this world and to the redemption thereof. I have been taught that
there is one Priesthood, in its two divisions. I have been taught that there is
one Holy Ghost, and that there is one Gospel and one set of ordinances for the
salvation of the whole posterity of Adam, and only one. I have been taught that
these ordinances are the same in every age of the world. Whoever reads the New
Testament can see the testimony of the Apostles that there was but one Gospel
in that day and generation; and that Gospel was taught by Adam himself to his
posterity. The same Gospel was taught by Moses, and by all the patriarchs and
prophets down to the days of Jesus Christ. There was but the one Gospel. But
the promise was that whoever received that Gospel should receive the Holy Ghost
and the gifts thereof, and these gifts were made manifest from generation to
generation when the God of heaven had a people on the face of the earth.
In
traveling during these sixty years that I have been in the Church, abroad and
at home, I have been associated with the Elders of Israel in the administration
of these ordinances to the human family. What has been the result? Remember now
what I told you, that I am held responsible for my testimony. I have traveled,
I may say, in the midst of visions, in the midst of the administration of
angels, in the midst of the power of God. In connection with my brethren, I
have laid hands upon the sick, and they have recovered. We have laid hands upon
the blind, and they have seen; upon the deaf, and they have heard; upon the
lame, and they have walked; upon those possessed with devils, and they were
cast out; and even unto the resurrection of the dead. Those gifts and graces
that have followed the servants of God in every age of the world have been
associated with this Church from the day of its organization until this hour.
These are truths in the sight of high heaven, and I will meet them there when I
go to the other side of the veil. Therefore, if there are any strangers here, I
bear testimony to these things, for I know they are true. The inspiration of
the Holy Ghost deceives no man, and when any people receive this Gospel and
this Priesthood, they know for themselves whether the work is of God or not.
Yes, we lay hands upon the sick, and while we do so, the Spirit and power of
God comes upon us, from the crown of our head to the soles of our feet. We lay
hands upon men to ordain them to the Priesthood, and the power of God rests
upon the men who administer. These thirty thousand Elders who dwell here in the
mountains of Israel, when they go to the nations of the earth and get up and
declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, the Holy Ghost is with them.
They bear a testimony that rejoices the hearts of men, and men receive that
testimony, and everything they promise them is fulfilled to the very letter.
This is
the reason why I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and that this is
the Church of God on the earth. And I wish many times that I had power to
express to the Latter-day Saints what is in my heart, and what the vision of my
mind opens unto me in those seasons when I am inspired with the Spirit and
power of God to see what lies before this people and before this generation.
Oh! ye Latter-day Saints, you talk about revelation, and wonder if there is any
revelation. Why, bless your souls, say nothing about the Apostles and Elders
around me, these mountains contain thousands upon thousands of devoted women,
holy women, righteous women, virtuous women, who are filled with the
inspiration of Almighty God. Yes, these women have brought forth an army of
sons and daughters in these mountains by the power of God, and these sons and
daughters partake of the inspiration of their mothers, as well as of their
fathers. I will ask you, what are these Apostles doing when they rise up and
preach to you? What are these Elders of Israel doing when they bear record here
to the Latter-day Saints and to the world, if they have not inspiration and
revelation? There is not a man on the footstool of God Almighty today who has
power to preach the Gospel and testify to its truth, only by the inspiration of
the Holy Ghost. Yes, we have revelation. The Church of God could not live
twenty-four hours without revelation. We do not have as much as we ought to
have; and when I look at the work that has been piled up for these Latter-day
Saints to bear off in the world, I feel as though we need a good deal of more
inspiration and revelation than we have. We want our souls to be wide open to
the things of God, and to understand our position and destiny. I realize,
Latter-day Saints require at my hands, as President of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, many things. They also require many things at the
hands of my counselors and these Apostles. We can accomplish what is required
of us if we have the faith and the assistance of the Latter-day Saints and the
power of God; but without that we can do nothing.
I will
say a few words with regard to another dispensation. The whole Christian world
profess to believe in the Bible. You look through that book, and you will not
find a single instance of a Prophet, or an Apostle, or an inspired man going
forth to preach the Gospel except by the power of the holy and everlasting
Priesthood. No man has had power to go forth and administer in the ordinances
of salvation without that Priesthood, from Adam down. Father Adam was a great
High Priest. So were his sons that were with him-Seth, Enos, Jared, Canaan,
Mahalaleel, Enoch and Methuselah; and a great many others bore the holy
Priesthood. All that Moses did was by the power of the holy Priesthood. All
that Jesus Christ and the Apostles did was by the power of the Priesthood.
Jesus Christ was our great High Priest, and He came into the world and laid
down His life as a great sacrifice for the redemption of the world. It is that
dispensation that I wish to say a few words about. It was rather a peculiar
dispensation. The Savior came to the Jewish nation-to His own-through the loins
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and David. The Jewish nation rejected Him. He
labored until they put Him to death. He lived only three years and a half after
He entered the ministry. He lived long enough, however, to choose twelve
Apostles, to organize a church, to warn that nation, and to declare unto them
what would come upon their heads. Moses had also told the Jewish nation of
these things in his day, by the inspiration of the Lord. Has one jot or tittle
fallen unfulfilled? Not one. When the Savior suffered that ignominious death on
the cross, and was about to give up the ghost, He said, "Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do." Is not that a strange saying for a
man who was being crucified and about to go into the spirit world? But Jesus
saw everything that would befall the Jewish nation, and well might He make such
a remark. He saw that one thousand eight hundred years after His death this
yoke of bondage and trial and tribulation would rest upon the posterity of
Judah, and he was ready to forgive them. No, they did not know what they did.
They did not comprehend it. They did not understand that they were putting to
death their Shiloh-the king of the Jews, their great Redeemer. They were too
overwhelmed with darkness and iniquity to comprehend this. But, as I was
saying, Jesus chose twelve Apostles. They were fishermen, weak and illiterate.
But the Lord has always chosen the weak things of this world, instead of the
great, and the learned, and the rich, and the powerful of the earth. Why has He
done it? That He might have instruments that He could handle-men who would obey
Him, who would take His counsel and carry out His commandments. In preparing
this dispensation in which we live the Lord has known perfectly well what lay
before us. He has known the mighty events that were to be heaped upon the heads
of both Jew and Gentile, Saint and sinner, Zion and the world; and He has
prepared an element to do this work of His, which He has gathered here in the
mountains of Israel. But in the days of the Savior it was a dispensation of sacrifice;
and Jesus Christ and the Apostles only lived a little while after they were
chosen, to warn the nation in which they dwelt and that generation. Jesus
Christ was crucified, the Apostles were put to death, and most every man who
bore the Priesthood was slain, excepting John the Revelator. The Lord had
ordained him to live, and he did not die, but remains today upon the face of
the earth, in fulfilment of the promises of God to him. But in that day they
had not the privilege of building the Zion of God or the Kingdom of God. It was
not a dispensation prepared for that. These men laid down their lives, and the
judgments of God overtook the Jewish nation, in fulfillment of the predictions
of the Savior and the Prophets. Moses told them in his day, "And thou
shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy
daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the
straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee." All this came to
pass, and the kingdom was taken from the earth, the holy Priesthood was taken
up to God, who gave it, and the Church went into the wilderness, and there
remained until the day set for its restoration to the world.
But I
want to speak more particularly about this great and last dispensation, in
which the Lord has said, through the mouths of all the patriarchs and prophets,
a mighty work should be performed. It is different, my brethren and sisters,
from the days of the Savior. I do not believe there ever was a greater
dispensation than the one in which you and I live, because in it is centered
the fulfillment of all prophecy and all revelation that has been manifest
looking to the final restoration of all things before the coming of the Son of
Man. I want to speak of our condition today before the Lord. When the Savior
died He went to preach to the spirits in prison. Most all the people from the
days of Noah to that day had died without the Gospel, and Jesus went and
preached to them. They had this work resting upon them in that day. In this day
and generation we have in the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and
Covenants the history of the Latter-day Saints and of the world. You are my
witnesses today that this people are here in fulfillment of these revelations
and prophecies. We have had a Prophet raised up in these last days, as great a
Prophet as ever breathed the breath of life, save Jesus Christ, and He was
raised up for the purpose of laying the foundation of this work. And how is
this dispensation and this work to commence? I would like to have the Christian
world read the revelations of St. John. There you have before you a picture of
what awaits this generation. You have there proclaimed that in the commencement
of this great and last work in the last days an angel of God would fly through
the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell
on the earth, "and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment
is come." Yes, ye Latter-day Saints, the hour of God's judgment is come.
The Lord raised a great Prophet unto us. He was a mighty man, although
illiterate, in one sense of the word. The Lord called upon him to perform this
work, and he not only received the visitation of angels, but even the voice of
God. This is the only dispensation that I have ever read of in which the Father
and Son both appeared to the man whom He had chosen to establish His Church.
Joseph Smith received this great honor. He was a Prophet of God. I have
traveled with him a good many miles. Speaking of the gifts and graces
manifested by the Elders of Israel, I have seen Joseph Smith in one day go
forth among the sick and command those that were dying to arise and be made
whole, and they have leaped from their beds, been clothed, and walked out in
the street and followed the Prophet of God in his travels through the midst of
the Saints of God. Can I doubt this work? Can you doubt it? I think not. No man
that has had any experience in this work can doubt it. You remember Brother
Fordham. He was breathing his last breath of life when the Prophet took him by
the hand and commanded him in the name of Jesus of Nazareth to arise and be
made whole. He leaped from his bed, was clothed, and walked out and into the
house of Brother Joseph Bates Noble, who is still living in these mountains. He
was also lying at the point of death and was instantly healed by the power of
God, through the voice of the Prophet of God. I name these things because I have
had experience in them and have a right to mention them. The power of God was
with the Prophet, from the time he was ordained to the Priesthood until he was
murdered. He lived some fourteen years after he laid the foundation of this
work. And when he organized this Church he organized it in its full power and
glory, and every gift and grace, and every ordinance that belongs to the Church
of God. Nothing was ever manifest in any age of the world but what was included
in the organization of this Church. It was organized with Prophets, with
Apostles, with Pastors, with Teachers, with helps and governments, with gifts
and graces, and with the Melchisedek and Aaronic Priesthoods. Joseph Smith was
true and faithful to death, and he was a mighty man of God, as may be seen by
anyone who will read that code of revelations which he left to us-as sublime
revelations as God ever gave to man.
Now,
brethren and sisters, the foundation has been laid, and you are here in these
mountains of Israel. Myself and others have preached to you in England, in
Scotland, in Wales, in the islands of the sea and among the nations of the
earth. We have declared unto you the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You have believed
our testimony and have received it. You went forth and were baptized in water
for the remission of your sins, and you received the Holy Ghost by the power of
God, and by that power you are here today. We might have preached to you till
we had been as old as Methuselah, but if our testimony had not been backed up
by the power of God, you would have remained at home; you would not have been
here in these mountains to fulfil the revelations of God. These things are
true, and you know they are true. You know you received the testimony
yourselves, and by this you have been gathered together. Upwards of sixty years
have passed over our heads since the organization of this Church on the earth,
and its history is before the world. It has been a little stone cut out of the
mountains without hands. We have had a terrible warfare from the organization
of this Church until today; but one thing is comforting and encouraging: the
God of heaven inspired men thousands of years ago to tell exactly what these
Latter-day Saints would do. They were of the house of Israel, scattered among
the nations of the earth, and the Lord would stretch out His hand and gather
them together, and they would go to the place that the old Patriarch said
should belong to Joseph:
Joseph is
a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the
wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But
his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the
hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of
Israel.) * * * The blessings of thy fathers have prevailed above the blessings
of my progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills: they shall
be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was
separated from his brethren.(Gen. xlix:22-26).
You are
the descendants of this holy man of God. You have come here in fulfillment of
these things.
I do not
expect that I will be able to answer my mind in telling you how I feel with
regard to these things, but I will do the best I can. You have been gathered to
these mountains of Israel, led by a prophet, a seer, a revelator, and a mighty
man. When we came here we found a barren desert. Men said, "Go to
California; you cannot do anything here." "No," President Young
said, "we shall stay here; we shall build a temple here; we shall build a
city here. This is what is ordained of God, and we shall accomplish it."
Judge, brethren and sisters, whether he was inspired or not. We have made a
beginning. We have made the desert to blossom as the rose, and laid the foundation
for the great work of our God that is going to be fulfilled in these mountains
of Israel, and you will stand in holy places while the judgments of God work in
the earth. Yes, let the world read these judgments of God and that which lies
before all nations under heaven. These things will come to pass to the very
letter. Then what is our duty and our position here? The Lord told us through
the Prophet Joseph in the beginning of this work that He was going to call
Elders into the vineyard for the last time, to prune the vineyard. We have got
to prepare it for the coming of the Son of Man. The wheat has got to be
gathered into the garner before the chaff is burned. And the Elders of Israel
have got to go forth and warn the inhabitants of the earth, as Joseph Smith
told the Twelve Apostles the last time I saw him before his martyrdom, when he
laid before us the work he was required to do. The Prophet said: "God has
given to me every key, every power and principle of salvation belonging to this
great last dispensation; and I have sealed upon your heads every key, principle
and power which God has sealed upon me. Now, you Apostles, round up your
shoulders and bear off this kingdom, or you will be damned, saith the
Lord." I do not forget these things, and they are true. I believe I am the
only man living in the flesh who was present on that occasion. This is our
position, brethren and sisters, before the Lord. There is a tremendous
responsibility upon these Latter-day Saints. We have the world to warn. We have
to preach the Gospel, and attend to those things that God has committed to us.
The Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred, and they will have a
martyr's crown. They have gone to the other side of the veil, to mingle with
the Gods and to plead for their brethren, and they are faithful and diligent in
their duties. But some of us are left behind. Since that time this work has
gone on, and it has got to continue, and we cannot avoid this. What the Lord
requires at the hands of these Apostles, and Elders and Latter-day Saints is to
warn the world, to preach the Gospel, to build up Zion, to carry out the
purposes of the Lord, and to prepare ourselves to stand in holy places while
the judgments of God work in the earth.
Joseph
Smith revealed unto us the principle of the redemption of the dead. There was
no revelation I ever read that gave me more joy and consolation than that.
Jesus Christ and the Apostles had to go to the spirits in prison and redeem
those who had lived from the days of Noah down to their generation. Here we
have one thousand eight hundred years, during which millions and millions of
the human family have died without the Gospel of Christ. They have gone into
the spirit world, and the Lord expects these Latter-day Saints to go forth and
redeem these dead, as they hold the keys of the salvation of their dead; so
that when they go into the spirit world and meet their fathers and their
mothers and their relatives, they shall not say to them, "You held the
keys of my salvation, and you have not attended to this work, and I am left
here in prison." We should not neglect this. It is not only our duty to
preach the Gospel and to warn the world, that they may be left without excuse
in the day of God's judgment, but it is our duty to redeem our dead. Joseph
Smith, when he was martyred, went and opened the prison doors in the spirit
world. So did those brethren that died in Zion's camp. Every Elder that has
gone to the other side of the veil has a work to perform there, and those in
the spirit world will receive their testimony. But they cannot be baptized
there. Their sons and daughters who dwell in the flesh have to carry out this
great and mighty work.
Brethren
and sisters, these are some of the duties that are required of us. We should
open our eyes, and our ears, and our hearts, to see, hear and understand the
great and mighty responsibility that rest upon us. Thank God, we have had power
in this barren desert to build three temples. Hundreds of thousands of the dead
have been redeemed in these temples, and there are millions yet to be redeemed.
Here is this Salt Lake Temple that President Young laid the foundation of. We
want to finish that temple and dedicate it unto the Lord. This is some of the
work that is required of us. The eyes of all the heavenly hosts are over these
Latter-day Saints, and they are over these sons and daughters that dwell in the
mountains of Israel. God Himself and His Son Jesus Christ, who is our advocate
with the Father, look to us to do this work. The eyes of Joseph Smith and every
Prophet and Saint of God who dwells in the spirit world are watching over us.
They cannot come here and build that Temple. They are not ordained to that. But
we are here in the flesh, and I ask, in the name of the Lord, and as a great
favor of these Latter-day Saints, that we will unite together with our means
and finish that Temple, that we may go into it and redeem our dead. Many of you
have got thousands of relatives in the spirit world who are looking to you.
They never heard the Gospel in life, but they will hear it, at the mouth of
David Patten, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, and these Apostles and
Elders that have gone into the spirit world. But, as I said before, they cannot
be baptized there. We can, and we must do it for them.
This is
how I feel about our position. We are here by the power of God. It is a marvel
to me that we are as well off as we are. It is a marvel to me that we have the
power that we have. For there is a vast number of fallen spirits that are at
war against God and His Christ, against this people and this Church, and
against the redemption of the dead. Lucifer knows that if this Church prospers,
his kingdom will fall. But God has sustained us, and will sustain us until we
get through, if we do our duty. The hand of God is over us here, and Zion is a
city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid. We are only small, and have only
just begun the organization; but the Lord will hasten His work, and it will
continue until all these promises of God will be fulfilled. There is where my
faith rests and my consolation dwells. I know that God is true, and that the
testimonies of all the Patriarchs and Prophets, have thus far been fulfilled to
the very letter. There is not a city nor a generation but has felt the chastening
hand of God when they have undertaken to overthrow the work of God.
I want to
say something in relation to home industry. True, it is Sunday, but that
matters not; for we are called to build up Zion temporally as well as
spiritually. All that has been said in our Conference with regard to home
industry is good. We want to continue this, and as far as we possibly can we
should, as President Young told us, open doors of work and labor among
ourselves. These temporal matters are a part of the labors that we have to
perform while we are here. Brethren, when we get on the other side of the veil
and our eyes are opened, we will marvel over a great many things that we do not
understand here; and a great many things will there be understood that cannot
be here.
One
subject more I want to name, and that is with regard to our future. I will tell
you what the Lord has revealed to me. You talk of revelation. I have a good
many revelations. We are not particularly required to write all the revelations
given to us. Joseph Smith wrote revelations in his day, and we have them to
read, and they will all be fulfilled to the very letter. There has been a good
deal said about the rising generation of the Latter-day Saints. I will tell you
what will come to pass. My sons, the sons of my Counselors, the sons of these
Apostles, and the sons of this people, will rise up by the power of God, and
they will take this Kingdom and bear it off. You need make no mistake about
this matter. They are the element that God has ordained, the same as He
ordained us, to do His work. Our posterity will not forsake the Lord, nor their
fathers, nor their mothers, nor the work in which they are engaged. Too many of
them, it is true, have been led astray; too many of them have been found where
they should not be; but the bulk of the sons of this people will remain true
and faithful to this work. There is no other element that the heavens look to
but the rising generation of the Latter-day Saints, in connection with the
Lamanites, and they will be true and faithful. The Spirit of God will be with
them, and they will follow the footsteps of their fathers, as their fathers
follow Christ; and they will in their day and time stand-yes, brethren and
sisters, our sons will stand in the flesh in the midst of these judgments of
Almighty God when it will require faith and power, even to commanding the
elements to obey them, to live. These judgments are at the door.
Brethren
and sisters, many of us forget at times that we are here on a mission. When I
was but a boy I read the New Testament, under old Dr. Porter and others, and I
read about Jesus Christ and His Apostles; that they had power to command the
elements to obey them, power to command the sick and they were healed, and
power to command the dead and they were raised to life. "Oh," said I,
"may I live to see a Prophet; may I live to see an Apostle; may I live to
see a man of God who will teach me these principles." The first sermon I
hear preached by a servant of God I embraced the Gospel and was baptized. From
that day to this I have not seen one moment when I have had any doubt with
regard to the truth of this work. Whatever trials I have had, they have been of
a different nature to that. I say to our young men in Zion, arise and obey the
commands of God. Go before the Lord and get the Holy Ghost, and open your eyes
to the work that lies before you. Your fathers are passing away and going to
the other side of the veil, where we shall all go in our time. But the kingdom
will rise, and God will sustain it, and it will never fall from this time till
it is prepared as the Bride, the Lamb's wife, for the coming of the Son of Man.
I feel to
bless the Latter-day Saints. We have got a noble class of men and women in the
mountains of Israel. No better men and women ever lived on the earth. Read the
history of these Relief Societies, these Improvement Associations, these
Primaries, and the labors of our sisters in Israel. They have been true and
faithful all the way through, and they have been raised up, the same as the
Elders of Israel have, to stand in the flesh and to magnify their callings in
their day and time. They are doing a great work, and God will bless them, and I
bless them with every sentiment of my heart. I feel also to bless my brethren
who bear the Apostleship. Now, you talk about union. Can Apostles dwell with
this work upon their shoulders without being united? They cannot do it. The
same Spirit bears record to each of them. Here are my Counselors and the
Apostles, we are of one heart and mind, and when we have the Spirit of God
there is nothing but that we see alike in. Here is Brother Snow, an aged man as
well as myself, and the President of the Twelve Apostles; he has got the spirit
of his calling and office with him, and God is blessing him. He is full of
revelation, full of the Spirit of the Lord. We have a mighty work upon us, and
we want power in the midst of Israel to carry it out, and to do what the Lord
requires of us; and we shall have power to do it. I tell you I rejoice when I
let my mind rest upon these temples of our God in these mountains of Israel.
Who ever heard of such a thing in any generation?-a class of men driven from
the society of the Christian world into the wilderness have power to gather
together and rear these temples unto the name of the Most High God, and go into
these temples and to attend to the ordinances therein. We hold and will hold
the keys of the salvation of our dead to the endless ages of eternity. As the
Prophet said, the Lord has raised up saviors upon Mount Zion, while the kingdom
is the Lord's in the latter days. The heavens are full of revelation. The earth
is full of revelation. The Bible is full of revelation, as well as these other
books that we have; and we have revelation, and should have day by day.
I thank
God that I am alive, and that He has preserved me up to this hour. I have a
good many times, and some of them lately, come pretty near going to the other
side of the veil; but I know that I have tens of thousands of prayers of
righteous men and women, which ascend into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth day
by day; and when I say that of myself I say it of my Counselors, of these
Apostles, and of the Elders of Israel. They have the prayers of the people.
These prayers are heard and answered. The Lord has taken whom he would take,
and has preserved in life whom he would preserve, according to the counsels of
His own will. We are appointed a certain work, and when we get through our sons
will take it and bear it off. Zion will arise, and the glory of God will rest
upon her; she will have power in the earth, and the day is at hand when, as
Joseph Smith said, thousands of the great men of the earth will come to Zion to
behold the glory thereof.
God bless
you, and pour out His Spirit upon you, and guide and direct you all. Remember
your prayers. Be kind to one another. Do not find fault with one another. We
ought to be careful in speaking evil of one another. Bear one another up.
Brethren and sisters, the glory of the whole matter is, that when we get
through we are going to have our families with us-our fathers and our mothers,
our brothers and our sisters, our wives and our children-in the morning of the
resurrection, in the family organization of the celestial world, to dwell
forever and forever. This is worth all you or I can sacrifice the few years we
have to spend here in the flesh. God bless you. Amen.
APOSTLE F. M. LYMAN
felt grateful to God for the testimony of President Woodruff. The Latter-day Saints were essentially preachers of the Gospel, and no other religious body had so large a proportion of ministers as they. The Apostles, the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, all were given the duty of bearing testimony of the work of God to the people of the world.
God required His people to be a peculiar one, preaching the Gospel by precept and example. The Holy Ghost would give power to their testimony, and that Spirit could be enjoyed only through living according to the requirements of the Lord. An especial opportunity was given to us at present to show our willingness to obey the will of God by completing the Temple in this city before the sixth of next April. It was thought last April that $100,000 would be sufficient to pay for the completion of the work, but it was found that about $300,000 would be needed.
This would require some sacrifice at the hands of the Latter-day Saints. President Woodruff was being preserved upon the earth to take part in the dedication of that Temple. considering the blessings showered upon the Saints, they should be able and willing to put forth an extra effort to the end that it might be dedicated at the appointed time.
Great privileges would be enjoyed by the Saints who participated in the dedicatory services in the Temple. It had been decided that the dedicatory services should be conducted so that every Latter-day Saint worthy to enter the building might witness them. They would be continued from day to day until this privilege was given to everyone who was worthy. We would all feel better then if the Temple should be entirely free from debt and especially if individually we had contributed means toward its completion.
There was a necessity that we prepare ourselves for these exercises by casting out all evil from our minds and resolving to leave our acts of wrongfulness behind. Temperance should be so strictly observed by the Latter-day Saints that the people of the world might consider us most remarkable in that respect. Claiming, as we do, that we had the true Gospel, we ought to be temperate, sober, diligent and faithful in the work of God. Our houses of worship should be filled on the Sabbath, and all recreation eschewed on that day.
The speaker was grieved to state that carelessness and indifference were springing up among the people, especially with regard to prayer and partaking of the Sacrament.
The necessity of obtaining reliable information regarding the true status of all the people of Zion, was dwelt upon, and energetic labor of correction and counsel was advised. Great and careful labor would be required to redeem the people from the sins of the world. Hence the necessity that each man should hold the Priesthood, that he might be a savior to himself and a worker of righteousness. If each performs this work for himself, the will of God would be done, and all would be exemplars and teachers of righteousness among the people. This duty was not required of those high in authority, any more than of those holding a lower degree and office of the Priesthood. Each should make a record of righteousness for himself, and in this condition we should be when we entered the temple. All should feel well towards each other, that nothing might hinder the free flow of the Spirit of God in His temple at its dedication.
Let us reform for the next six months, freeing ourselves from sin and iniquity; not waiting until the day of dedication, but reforming every day from this time on. Let us live for the blessings of God, that we might have constant communication with heaven. God is anxious to bless us and we should live so as to increase His favors and His inspiration upon us. We should be careful toward our children, to imbue them with love for the work of God, that they might be a source of strength to Israel. May God bless His people with ability to complete that edifice and with worthiness to enter it at its dedication.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[DNW 45:737, 12/3/92, p 1; CD 3:162-167]
REMARKS
Made by Apostle Francis m. Lyman, on Sunday morning,
October 9, 1892,
at the General conference, held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER]
_____
I think
we should be very grateful to the Lord, who has strengthened President Woodruff
and enabled him to speak to us this morning. He has endeavored to portray to us
the importance of the work that is entrusted to us as Latter-day Saints. We are
required to preach the Gospel, and we are all preachers of the Gospel; and as
we heard from President Cannon, no other religious body has such a large
percentage of ministers. Every man who has a wife is a minister of the Gospel,
and is just as subject to be called upon to preach the Gospel at home and
abroad as the Apostles. The Priests and Teachers, of the Lesser Priesthood, are
also ministers of the Gospel. They are required to labor in the midst of
gathered Israel, to teach them concerning the principles of life, to see that
there is no iniquity in the Church, and that all the members of the Church do
their duty.
The
Latter-day Saints are expected to be a peculiar people, because of their lives
and examples; and they are expected to preach the Gospel by example, if they
are not always called upon to preach by precept. Every person who has named the
name of Jesus Christ should feel the vital importance of preaching the Gospel
by example, and it will have much more effect, it will be much more telling,
than anything that can be said; for if we be all preachers of the Gospel and
theorize beautifully, and yet are not workers and devoted followers of the
Savior, our preaching will be in vain. The strength of the testimony of our
President, and of his Counselors and the Elders who stand up from time to time
to preach the Gospel, is in the presence of the Holy Ghost and by its power,
and that is only enjoyed in answer to our devotion and to their correct lives.
Latter-day
Saints should be peculiar because of their temperance. They should be peculiar
because of their prayerfulness. They should be remarkable because of their
obedience to the requirements of the Lord; and there is an opportunity just
before us now to emphasize our obedience and our willingness to answer to the
requirements of the Lord, and that is in building the Salt Lake Temple -- the
greatest temple that has been built in this generation, and one that has become
world-renowned. There is perhaps not a building in the world today that excited
greater curiosity in the minds of the people of the world than does this Temple
standing upon this block. Last April, when it was decided by the people to put
forth all the effort and means necessary to complete that Temple by the 6th of
April next, it was thought that it could be completed with about one hundred
thousand dollars, or a little more; but that action was taken by the Conference
without previously obtaining correct estimates in regard to the amount that was
necessary for its completion, and instead of requiring one hundred thousand
dollars to finish the work, it has been found to require about three hundred
thousand dollars. It will take a stupendous effort upon the part of the
Latter-day Saints to finish that work and have it so that it may be dedicated
without any indebtedness hanging over it. No doubt the Latter-day Saints are
able to do it if they are determined in their own minds what each person ought
to give for that purpose, and what each can afford to give. I am impressed that
Israel will have to make apparently a little sacrifice in order to accomplish
that work. For it will be very pleasing to President Woodruff, who has been
preserved all these years, to participate in the dedication of that building.
Every man should take stock of his ability, and then should be generous in
judging himself; for if we judge ourselves rightly and perform the part that
can justly be required of us, we will not be judged; but we will be judged if
we do not judge ourselves in regard to these things. Times are somewhat close
in money matters; but I believe, with the good crop that the Lord has blessed
the people with this year, that if the farmers, the mechanics and the merchants
will only put forth a generous hand, the hands of Bishop Winder will be
fortified with means to meet his obligations. I know that the very first week
after the April Conference he was in straits for money, and has been measurably
so, I presume, ever since, although some has been coming in. We will always
feel the blessings of the Lord upon us for the efforts that we make in this
direction. Temple building is one of the choicest works that has ever been
required of the Saints, and this of all temples that have been built in our
generation. It seems to me that it will bring us great credit to have it
beautiful and well finished, and then there is the privilege that will be granted
to us to go into that house at its dedication. A meeting was held of the
Presidency and Apostles a short time ago, and it was decided that the
dedicatory services of that Temple should be so conducted that every Latter-day
Saint found worthy to go into that Temple should have the privilege of
participating in those exercises, and that they should be held from day to day
until all Israel shall have a chance to enter into those sacred walls and
partake of the spirit and blessing of God that shall attend the dedication of
that great building. When we go in there, I believe that we will feel freer in
our spirits if we have finished and paid for the building, and every one who
steps into that house to participate in the services will feel that he or she
has done something towards the accomplishment of that work. But I wonder if
there will not be Latter-day Saints who will come up here very anxious (and
possibly the foremost of all) to get into that building who have done nothing.
It ought not to be. Everyone who has a desire to participate in the dedication
of that building, and afterwards in the labors that will be allowed therein for
our salvation and for the salvation of our kindred, should feel that he has
done something that is worthy of him, according to his ability, for the
accomplishment of that important work. I speak of this in the presence of
assembled Israel, for I feel that it is necessary. I know that throughout Zion
there is a widespread feeling of anxiety to go into that house and to
participate in its dedication, and the feeling should be just as widespread-and
wider possibly than our ability to come to the dedication-for the completion of
that building, that there shall be nothing in the way of its acceptance by the
Lord.
Not only
should we have this feeling in relation to its completion, but also as to our
preparation to go into that house, so that when we go there we will have
settled all our quarrels, all our difficulties, all our hardness of heart,
bitterness, jealousy and heartburnings, and that we may never do another evil
thing in our lives after we have gone through that building. That is the
condition the Latter-day Saints ought to be in. Our examples should be just as
perfect as they can be in human nature. As I have said, the Latter-day Saints
should be remarkable for their temperance; and saloons and gambling houses and
everything of that kind should be left to those who are not of our faith. We
ought to refrain from everything that is forbidden in the law of God. Then we
ought to do everything that the Lord requires of us. We have been a lifetime
now in training, in experience, in trial, in preaching the Gospel, and in our
labors at home, until the Latter-day Saints today ought to be looked upon by
the world as a remarkable people for their fidelity to their faith. We claim to
have the only true Gospel-the Gospel that was taught by the Son of God Himself.
If this position of ours is correct (and we claim that every man and woman
belonging to the Church has a testimony that this is true), what manner of men
ought we to be? Ought we to be drinking, gambling, profane, neglecting our
prayers? No, indeed. Through all Israel the Latter-day Saints ought to be
remarkable to strangers who travel in their midst because of their devotion to
the requirements of the Gospel, their faithfulness as husbands, their fidelity
and virtue as wives, their devotion and obedience as children. And all the
Latter-day Saints being devoted to the cause of God and in their attendance at
worship, our houses of worship should be filled constantly on the Sabbath day.
The Sabbath day should be regarded as holy in the midst of the Latter-day
Saints; that if there were excursion trains to the Lake, pleasure-seeking and
pleasure-enjoying in the land of Zion, it could be known that these things were
not supported or indulged in by Latter-day Saints. But there is carelessness in
this direction. We do not murder, we do not rob, we do not steal; we are not
guilty of these grosser things, but we are careless and indifferent in these
little things. There is an indifference in regard to the worship of the Lord,
in regard to family prayer and in regard to the sacrament on the Sabbath day. A
large percentage of the people are thoughtless in regard to those sacred
ordinances. It ought to be in our hearts a constant thought and care in
preparing ourselves that we can partake of the sacrament, and that we can
fellowship together. The First Presidency do this. The Twelve Apostles do this.
We fellowship, we meet, we counsel, and we report to each other, and renew our
faith and fellowship for one another. We also partake of the sacrament
together, as time and opportunity offer, and counsel together for the good of
Israel. So it ought to be with all the leading quorums. The Presidents of
stakes should meet together; High Councils should meet together, and they
should counsel together for the interests of their stakes. Bishops of wards,
with their counselors, should meet together in solemn council and consult over
the affairs of their wards and the condition of their people, so that they can
at any moment report the percentage of faithful and devoted Latter-day Saints
in their bishopric. This labor ought to be taken up and followed more
faithfully than it has been. Then everything that will tend to the advancement,
improvement and encouragement of the people in the wards and in the Stakes
should have consideration at the hands of leading men; and if evils exist among
the people, such as intemperance, profanity, neglect of the Word of Wisdom or
of prayer, and a disregard of the sacrament on the Sabbath day or of the law of
tithing, there ought to be energetic, faithful laborers among the people,
correcting them, counseling them, so that they may be thoroughly fitted and
prepared for the responsibilities that rest upon them. The Lord seems to have
understood, in the organization of His Church and the revelation of the Gospel
ordinances, that it would take great and careful labor to save the people and
to preserve them from the evils of mortality, that do so easily beset them.
Hence He has arranged that every faithful man in entitled to the Priesthood.
Now, I want to know if an Elder in Israel cannot take care of himself. Is it
necessary that a teacher should be on my track? Is it necessary that my president
or my neighbor should always be upon my heels to try and keep me sober, honest,
virtuous, or from doing wrong? I understand that every man should take care of
himself, and should be a savior for himself. I understand that God requires of
us to be the workers of righteousness, and to bring to pass much righteousness
individually. The power is within us. The knowledge and the authority are given
to us that enable us to this. Every man who has attained to the Melchizedek
Priesthood should have the strength and power of God to do His will, and to be
an upright man, and one that, instead of needing to be taught, is a teacher and
an exemplar in the midst of the people. God requires that of you, my brethren,
and we will be brought to an account sooner or later. I grieve sometimes over
my own conduct and weaknesses, when I know that I must account for my folly;
and I do repent, and I make reformation, and I am anxious to make all the
reformation that is necessary for my salvation; and every Elder in Israel certainly
can be as good as I can be. We can do what is right. We can tell the truth. We
can be honest, virtuous, just, merciful and forgiving. This is what is required
of us. I can set a good example before the people among whom I travel. This is
required of me; but I say it is not required of me any more than it is of the
deacon. Any man that has had the hands of God's servants upon his head and has
received a portion of His Holy Priesthood, is required to be an exemplary man;
and an exemplary man is a man who sets good examples, and not bad ones. The
lord has given us the Priesthood for our salvation. It is the power of God, and
we ought to exercise it; and then when people of the world come into the
borders of the Latter-day Saints, they will find them most exemplary. They may
believe they are deluded, simple and foolish, but they will find them
consistent in their lives, upright and exemplary in all things. This should be
the record of the Latter-day Saints throughout the world. I want to make that
record. I know President Woodruff and his Counselors make that record; and
these Apostles make that record, and the Seventies, the High Priests and the
Elders ought to make it.
That is
the kind of men we should be when we go into that Temple. I want to go into the
Temple next April. I pray for that, and I am watching and guarding myself, and
trying to prepare myself, that when I go in there there shall be nothing faulty
in my being or in my spirit; that I shall feel well towards the Latter-day
Saints, and that the Latter-day Saints shall feel well towards me. I want your
full fellowship, that when you hear that the Apostles have gone into the Temple
of the Lord, the faith, the fellowship and the blessing of all Israel will go
in there with Brother Lyman, so that there will be nothing in the world to
hinder him from enjoying the full flow of the spirit and power of God. And that
should be the case with all the brethren -- not only the Presidency and the
Apostles, but all the quorums, and also all the sisters; that the power of God
may be manifested, and that there shall be no division of sentiment, no
bitterness of feeling in the hearts of the people, that will check the free
flow and presence of the spirit and power of God. Let us remember now for the
next six months, and reform wherever it is necessary; purify our bodies and our
spirits, and prepare ourselves that there shall be nothing in the way of our
going into that sacred house. Not only then should we reform. You know we
sometimes take occasion at New Year and other times to make reformation; but I
believe it is a suitable time for us to repent every day. Make the reformation
that is necessary today, not waiting for any other time or opportunity. When we
bow before the Lord morning and evening, we should tell Him all our failings
and weaknesses, and ask Him to make us strong and enable us to perform our
duties, that we may be acceptable to Him, and that we may obtain all that it is
possible for us to obtain in this life. We do not expect to live forever in our
present condition; but there are many answers to our prayers that are within
our reach if we will but live for them. The sick may be healed, and in many
other ways we may be blessed of the Lord in our families, if we have open
communication with the Lord. President Woodruff and all the brethren have an
altar. Every family should meet together morning and evening around the family
altar, and their prayers should ascend to the Lord, and if they are worthy,
those prayers are heard. The heavens are always open above such family cirles
and to such prayers. The Lord is anxious to bless us; in fact, He does bless
us, much more, I think than we are entitled to. I think He advances His
blessings and gives them to us on credit very frequently, and we ought to meet
Him with out faithfulness and fidelity, so that His blessings may be still
increased upon us, until we will be in open communion, by the Spirit of God,
with our Father who dwells in heaven, and be so settled and established in the
principles of the Gospel that we will be unshaken. Then we will have a power
with us that will encircle our children, and that will keep them from gambling,
from profanity, from corruption, and that will establish in their hearts the
love of the Lord and of His principles -- a love of sacred temples and of the
holy labors that have to be done therein for the salvation of men. Then we
shall be proud of them and pleased with them, and they will bring honor to us;
and when we are weak and feeble, tottering toward the grave -- when our feet stumble
and slip, we shall have some around us that are so firmly established that they
can come to our rescue and help us, if we happen to need it.
God bless
Israel, that theri hearts may be open and free, and their hands ready and
willilng to accomplish this great work that is just ahead of us and them, that
we may be fully prepared to enter into that sacred house, and to do everything
else in the future that God requires of us as His Saints, that we may have
salvation and exaltation in His celestial kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen
President George Q. Cannon read the following:
Abstract of general report of Y.L.M.I.A. for the year
ending August 1st, 1892:
Meetings
held, 6955: number of members, 10,161; average attendance, 4769; books in
library, 3574.
Cash on hand at last report $
1507.09
Cash received 3971.16
Total $
5478.25
Cash disbursed $
3777.69
Cash on hand 1700.56
Property on hand at last report $
2161.49
Property received
681.95½
Total $ 7843.44½
Property disbursed $
331.11½
Property on hand 2612.33
Total cash and property on hand $
4212.89
General officers of
Y.L.M.I.A. --
President, Elmina S. Taylor; first
counselor, Maria Y. Dougall; second counselor, Martha H. Tingey.
Aids -- Lillie Freeze, Adelia W.
Eardley, Sarah Eddington, Aggie S. Campbell, Minnie J. Snow, May Talmage.
Secretary and Treasurer, Ann M.
Cannon.
Corresponding secretary, Mac
Taylor.
A motion to receive the above report and place it on file with the account of the proceedings of the Conference was passed by unanimous vote.
The choir sang the anthem:
The God of Israel.
Benediction by Elder Ira N. Hinckley.
_____
[9 Oct, 10:30 am (o)]
[DNW 45:519-520, 10/15/92, p 7-8]
FOURTH DAY.
_____
OVERFLOW
MEETING
Was held in the Assembly Hall at 10:30 a.m., President Lorenzo Snow presiding.
Elder George Goddard led the congregational singing of
"Truth reflects upon our senses."
Prayer by Apostle M. W. Merrill.
The congregation then sang:
"We thank Thee, O God, for a prophet."
APOSTLE ABRAHAM H. CANNON
feared the Saints generally did not appreciate the privilege they had of living upon the earth in the last days when the Gospel truths have been restored from heaven; like Nephi of old, who when his elder brethren got discouraged, stepped forward to perform the mission entrusted to him, so should the servants of God in these last days always be diligent in carrying out the behests of the Almighty. Joseph, the Prophet, who stood manfully in the midst of persecution, opposition and death, is another illustrious example of faithfulness and integrity. The carrying out of the plans of the Lord has always been connected with great difficulties and trials; in every country where the gospel has been introduced in this dispensation the adversary has exerted his powers to hinder that work in its progress, but perseverance and faithfulness, on the part of the Elders have invariably insured success. Men who debase themselves by becoming intoxicated, and who in other respects transgress, are unfit to bear the holy Priesthood; they not only imperil their own salvation but their influence for evil will be felt in the neighborhoods where they reside, and as far as their lives and conduct are known. In almost every instance where children stray away from the path of duty, there are influences at work somewhere which are the direct or indirect causes of their actions, and often some one of more mature years is responsible for their ruin. The Elders in Israel should ever be ready to lend a helping hand to the young and all with whom they associate; their examples should be consistent with their advice and counsel. Nor should a young and unexperienced Saint be cast away as something beyond redemption, even if guilty of some of the follies of youth, but he should be labored with patiently and perchance he may repent sincerely and become a bright star in the midst of the people, like others who years ago were wayward and careless. the Saints should always feel charitable toward fallen mankind on general principles, even toward their enemies, but particularly toward the weak and erring in their own midst.
APOSTLE MARRINER W. MERRILL
referred to his forty years' standing in the Church, and the hand dealings of the Lord with him as an individual during that length of time. He related an incident when he, previous to his baptism, was tormented by evil spirits and came very near losing his life under their influence. He sought the Lord in childish but earnest prayer which brought him immediate and permanent relief. Soon after he heard the fullness of the Gospel preached for the first time, and was immediately convinced of its truth. the Holy Ghost was poured out upon him in great measure, and since that time he had never been deprived of the testimony of Jesus, nor had he ever doubted the divinity of the great latter-day work. The speaker sincerely believed that no one in the Church need be without a testimony for himself in regard to the truth of Mormonism. All who will ask of the Lord in a proper manner will receive that assurance of its divinity which will make them independent of all other mortals in this regard, and they will know for a surety whether the Gospel, as taught by the Latter-day Saints, be of God or of man. No member in the Church has a right to enlarge upon the faults and imperfections of their file leaders, as many have been guilty of doing in times past; the practice is so dangerous that it has led many to apostasy. On the other hand the Saints should seek unto their file leaders for counsel and advice, be united and on good terms with the bishop and local officers in the respective wards where they reside, set their houses in order, forgive their brethren who may sin against them and thus insure to themselves that divine forgiveness which they all need.
The speaker discouraged the contracting of unnecessary debts and the mortgaging of homes -- practices which have brought so many to financial ruin, and a condition of despondency and despair. All Saints should be strictly honest in their dealings with all men, and no one has a right to take advantage of any provision in the law which may place his creditors in a condition that they cannot through legal procedure enforce payment of honest debts. The speaker concluded by exhorting the Saints to faithfulness and to observe things which the Lord has commanded.
After the singing of the Doxology benediction was offered by Apostle Heber J. Grant.
_____
[9 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 45:522, 10/15/92, p 10]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The choir sang the anthem:
Unfold, ye portals, everlasting.
Prayer by Elder William Paxman.
Singing by the choir:
Jesus, once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth;
Once he suffered grief and pain, Now He comes on earth to reign.
The Sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered under the direction of the Priesthood of the Tenth Ward.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
delivered an elaborate and highly interesting discourse, an adequate idea of which could not be conveyed in a synopsis. It only remains therefore to name some of the leading features of his theme. After reading from the fifteenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians, beginning at the thirty-fifth verse, he dwelt upon some of the more distinctive characteristics, beliefs and principles of the religion of the Saints, showing it to be the most philosophical system in existence. It explained the relationship of man to God and men to each other, the relations of the sexes and parents to children. The pre-existence of man as a spiritual individuality before taking up his abode on earth in a physical body and his glorious destiny in the eternal world after the resurrection through the atonement of Jesus Christ was brought within human comprehension by the Gospel revealed anew through Joseph Smith, the Prophet. Brother Cannon explained the classification of intelligences, and the various degrees of glory to which they would be assigned after the resurrection, by the operation of the justice of God and the eternal fitness of things. He next treated upon the building of Temples, making special reference to the one nearing completion in Salt Lake City. He exhorted the people to exert themselves by making generous contributions to have the building last named completed by the time decided upon by resolution of the previous Conference. The object of such buildings and the glorious results flowing from their legitimate uses were explained by the speaker, particularly relating to the blessings of the perpetuation of the lives in eternity, after the nature of God's blessing upon Abraham regarding his posterity. The work done in those holy buildings would continue throughout the millennium until the human family as a whole should be connected in the family order up the genealogical stream until it reached to Father Adam. President Cannon concluded by directing attention of the Saints to the great things which God had already done for them, and inspiring them with hope by delineating the incomparable blessings yet in store for the faithful.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 45:617, 11/5/92, p 9; CD 3:167-179]
DISCOURSE
DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON,
Sunday Afternoon, October 9th, 1892, at the General
Conference,
held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
I will
read a portion of the 15th chapter of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians,
commencing at the 35th verse:
"But
some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that
which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it
may chance of wheat or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath
pleased Him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh;
but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of
fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies
terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the
terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the
moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star
in glory. so also is the resurrection of the dead."
In standing up to address this very large
congregation this afternoon, I do so with considerable fear and trembling, and
my trust is that God will help me, through your faith and prayers, that that
which I may say may be from Him. It is a very responsible thing for a man to
attempt to address his fellow men, unless he can impart some light and some
instruction, and say things that will be of some profit to them. I hope to be
able to do that this afternoon.
Since I
have been in this conference, my mind has rested considerably upon the Salt
Lake Temple and its near completion, and upon the distinguishing features that
we as a people are possessed of making us a different people from the rest of
the religious world. The distinction between us and others who worship God, and
who profess to be religious, is very marked in some respects. It is true that
there is a union of feeling and of belief between us and the denominations that
prevail in Christendom on some of the cardinal points of what is called
Christianity. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world,
and that through his death and atonement we are redeemed. All the so-called
orthodox sects entertain this same belief. In common, too, with the most of
them, we believe in repentance of sin. We believe also in the resurrection of
the body. Upon these points there is a similarity of belief between us and
other denominations. But upon many points that we believe in there is an
absence of belief in the minds of the great majority of the Christian world. We
are distinguished in this respect as entertaining very strange ideas, and some
think them almost heathenish. But there is this to be said concerning the
doctrines which God has revealed to us: they are the most philosophical of any
that are believed among men. I say this with, I believe, a full comprehension
of what is meant by this statement. I believe that the religion of the
Latter-day Saints is the only religion that will bear the test of philosophical
investigation, and that will meet the burning questions of the day. I believe
that it is the only religion that will satisfy the yearnings of the human
heart, and that will give light upon points that are considered mysterious by
the religious world. I believe that the religion of the Latter-day Saints shows
in the plainest, in the simplest and in the most conclusive manner the relation
of man to God. I do not know any other religion that teaches in a satisfactory
manner the object that God has had in placing man upon the earth. I do not know
any other religion that teaches concerning the relationship that existed
between God and His children prior to the organization of the earth and the
placing of man upon it. I do not know any other religion that professes to
teach the relationship that will exist between men and women, between parents
and children, and between husband and wife, after this moral career is ended. I
do not know of any other religion that gives any distinct idea as to the
character of the life beyond the grave, or what shall constitute the glory of
man when he becomes immortal and when he receives the fulness of the blessings
that God has promised. I do not know any other religion that throws light upon
these questions. But I do know that there exists at the present time among men
a great deal of uncertainty upon all these points. Some even go so far -- and
they call themselves intelligent, too -- as to doubt the future existence of
man, and think that when this mortal career is finished that is the end of man
as a living entity. Now, who is there, with the light that is possessed by the
religious world, that can explain in a satisfactory manner how it was that
Jesus, our Redeemer, in whose name we approach the Father, existed as God in a
previous state -- that is, that He existed and exercised power and dominion,
and then became a little child, born of a mortal woman? Is there any religion
on the earth that can give any explanation of this great event? I have not met
with any religion that will answer satisfactrily questions that arise connected
with the pre-existence and the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But
it is supposed to be clothed in mystery -- a mystery that cannot be explained,
and that is beyond human ken; and if inquiry arises it is suppressed, because
it is considered almost blasphemous to think of such things. So it is with most
of these questions that I have briefly alluded to.
In the
religion that God has revealed to us, there is light and intelligence thrown
upon all these questions. We are not left to grope in the dark and in
uncertainty as to why we are here. The object that God had in placing us upon
this earth has been made perfectly plain to us; of course, not in its fulness,
not as we will be able to comprehend it in eternity, but sufficiently so to
satisfy our inquires, and to remove from our minds doubt and uncertainty
concerning this important matter. I say that our religion is philosophical, and
that it will satisfy intelligent men. They may not believe that which we tell
them; but it is the only religion that I know of that attempts to meet these
questions and to answer them, and it does so effectually.
I have
read in your hearing some Words of the Apostle Paul, in which he describes the
resurrection. Who can explain this? Was there a minister upon the face of the
earth that could give an explanation to these teachings of the Apostle Paul
until the Lord revealed the everlasting Gospel through His servant Joseph
Smith? No; for the belief has been general that there is only one Place of
happiness; that there is only one glory; that there is no difference in heaven;
that every human being who is saved goes to one place and is gathered into one
gathering, and that those who go to the other place are also consigned there
indiscriminately. Is not this a belief that has existed for generations? Of
course, the Catholic church believes in purgatory - an intermediate state; but
after the soul emerges from purgatory it is, they say, ushered into heaven, and
there is no distinction. The murderer who dies on the scaffold, who says he
believes in Jesus and repents of his sins, is supposed to be ushered into the
presence of God and the Lamb and to have all the blessings of salvation and
exaltation which the most faithful men and women have received -- to be the
companion of the prophets, apostles, and martyrs who have laid down their lives
for the truth! This has been the general belief; but here Paul distinctly
states that there is a difference in the resurrection; that some receive the
celestial glory, which is likened to that of the sun; that some receive the
terrestrial glory, which is likened to that of the moon; that some receive the
telestial glory, which is likened to that of the stars; and as one star
differeth from another in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead. This
is in perfect harmony with all the scriptures. The whole burden of the prophets
who have spoken upon this subject is to the effect that men will be rewarded
according to their works, and that they will receive a glory in proportion to
their faithfulness. Until Joseph Smith received the revelation from God, which
is embodied in the seventy-sixth section of our Book of Doctrine and Covenants,
this was a profound mystery to the religious world. But through that revelation
it was made plain to us. Joseph Smith was the means of revealing, through the
knowledge which God gave to him, that according to man's obedience so would be
his reward; that the man who obeyed a certain law would receive the reward that
was affixed to that law; that the higher the law the greater would be the
glory. And this was the incentive that the Saints had in ancient days to be
faithful. If a man could lead an immoral life and gratify all his passions and
appetites, and then in the last days of his life, when his passions and
appetites were all dead within him, he could profess repentance and obtain
forgiveness, and receive the assurance that he would be ushered into the
presence of apostles and prophets who have suffered death for the truth, what
inducement would there be for a man to be faithful to the truth all his days,
and then, perhaps, to lay down his life for it? It is such teachings as these
that have led the world into the depths of sin which it has reached; that have
encouraged vice and sin in every direction; that have encouraged men even to
commit murder; and the result is, many souls have been lost.
God has
revealed unto us something different to this. He has shown that if we commit
sin we must pay the penalty of the sin. If we live lives of righteousness, we
shall receive the reward that is affixed to righteousness. We shall have the
spirit of that glory which we shall attain unto; and just as there are grades
in this life among men, so it will be in the resurrection. There will be grades
of happiness, of glory and of exaltation. You put a man that has not lived so
as to receive the spirit of a certain glory with those who have received that
glory, and he would be entirely out of his element, and unhappy. God will give
to every man a glory that will be suited to his condition. So that if a man
obeys every law that God gives, and maintains his integrity, he will receive
the highest glory that God has to bestow, even the celestial glory But there
are some who cannot do this. As the revelation that Joseph received teaches us,
there are honorable men who do a great many good things, but who have not faith
enough to receive the Gospel in its fulness. All of us have met such
individuals. We have also seen men and women who gladly obeyed the Gospel when
they heard it. They were baptized; they had hands laid upon them, and they
received the Holy Ghost; but they did not have faith enough to go beyond this.
It was too great a trial to them to forsake the lands of their nativity and all
their old associations and gather with the Saints of God. Such persons will
receive a reward in proportion to their obedience. Then you will find others
who have faith enough to obey the first principles of the Gospel and perhaps
receive the Priesthood and gather with the Saints; but when they are taught the
doctrine of tithing they have not faith enough to obey that, or if they do pay
tithing, they pay but very little. Persons who have no more faith than this
will not get a reward like those who are obedient to tithing. So with all these
works that God requires at our hands. There are some men that have not faith
enough to go upon missions when they are called, and they offer excuses. They
will get their reward according to their diligence and faithfulness; but they
will not get the reward of the man who is always willing to do that which he is
required to do, and whose life is crowded with good works; who is liberal to
the poor, honest in his dealings, just and merciful in his actions, and who is
willing to suffer wrong rather than do wrong.
I would
like to impress upon your minds, brethren and sisters, that we shall get a
reward according to our deeds, and also according to our desires, because
sometimes we cannot do that which we would like to do, but we say in our
hearts, "If I had, I would do; but because I have not, I cannot;" and
having that spirit within us it is acceptable in the sight of God. You remember
the words of King Benjamin, in speaking about the poor. He taught that it was
an important thing to help the poor, and he said: "Ye who have not and yet
have sufficient that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the
beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts, that I give
not because I have not; but if I had I would give." There are some laws
that we are prevented from obeying that have been declared to be necessary to
exaltation in the celestial kingdom of our God. What will be the condition of
those who do not obey these laws? God, knowing all our desires, if He should
see a spirit of willingness and obedience in our hearts, will judge us
accordingly. That which we cannot do we are not expected to do. God does not
ask impossible things from His children. But He asks us to be obedient to Him
and to carry out His laws in our lives; and if for any reason we cannot do
this, but are willing to do it, He will accept the offering and the good
desires that we entertain in our hearts. There are some who cannot do what they
would like for this Temple that we are talking of, as they have not the means;
but the widow's mite is as much as the thousand dollars of the rich man, if it
is only given in the right spirit. The Lord looks at the hearts of His
children. The woman who is poor, but who gives to the extent of her ability,
God accepts that and she is blessed accordingly, and will be rewarded just as
much in her place as the rich man that has done to the extent of his ability.
Our God is a just God, and He deals with His children in justice and mercy.
It should
be the aim of every Latter-day Saint to strive to attain to the highest
exaltation, and the way to attain that is to obey all the laws connected therewith.
Now, God has commanded us to build temples. The building of temples and the
giving of endowments therein are matters of great curiosity to the world. We
have all kinds of falsehood told about our endowments. We have been accused of
being disloyal to the government, and taking oaths that were antagonistic to
the government, and doing things that were very wicked indeed, because,
forsooth, we have believed in giving endowments and ordinances that God has
revealed. It is this that distinguishes us from every other people on the face
of the earth. God has revealed to us the means by which we shall prepare
ourselves to dwell with Him in eternity. Is there anything strange about this?
Is there anything wrong about it. Are we to live upon the earth like so many
animals, and when death comes, to die unprepared for the future? Would this be
consistent with our ideas of God and of the importance of the human soul? In
the world, to-day, righteous men do not seem to have any advantages over wicked
men. There is nothing to distinguish them. But this was not the case in ancient
days, when God had a servant like Abraham, like Isaac, like Jacob, and like
other faithful men. He made them promises that distinguished them from the rest
of the human family, and He rewarded them for their services. It was so in the
days of the Apostles. The Savior promised them great blessings. On one occasion
he said: "Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of
Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." What a great blessing this
was! What dignity! And He not only promised to them these blessings, but He
sealed them upon them. We are also told that the Saints of God are to be kings
and priests unto the Most High God.
God gave
His ancient servants extraordinary marks of favor. He called Abraham His
friend, and made great promises to him and his posterity. He told him that in
his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed. He repeated this
promise to Isaac and to Jacob, and their descendants received the fulfillment
of it. He gave to Abraham a promise that he should have the land of Canaan for
an everlasting possession, and that his posterity should inhabit that land. And
through the faithfulness of those men their posterity to-day are marked because
of the miraculous care that God has had over them, in preserving them amid the
vicissitudes that have befallen the human family, and keeping them as a
distinct people, in many respects, up to the present time. I refer now to the
Jews. There are also other branches of the House of Israel that have been in
like manner preserved, and will be preserved, through the promises which were
made to their fathers. There was some use in serving God in those days. There
were blessings promised that were very great, and that encouraged the men who
served Him to endure all things, even death itself; for they had the promise
that they should become kings and have dominion and rule, and their posterity
should be blessed in the earth, and they should have great rewards in eternity.
These were incentives for them to keep the commandments of God. Where are any
people who receive such promises now? Outside of the Latter-day Saints, there
are none to be found on the face of the earth. Why is this? Is it because God
is dead? Is it because He is not the same to-day that He always was? Is it
because He has become a respecter of persons, and in one generation He will
bestow great blessings upon His servants, and in another generation will
withhold them? No, it is not for any of these reasons. It is because the
inhabitants of the earth have not lived up to His commandments, and they have
not exercised the faith that the ancients had in order to receive these
blessings. Can you not all perceive what a difference there is in the world
to-day, outside of our Church, from that which existed in ancient times, when
men served God and kept His commandments? The Bible is full of promises to
them. They were favored individuals, favored families, favored races, and
favored nations, because they kept the commandments of God. There is certainly
something wrong in this condition that exists now in the world. Either God has
changed, or else He has died, or gone to sleep, or else the inhabitants of the
earth do not live so as to receive His blessings. I prefer to believe that God
lives, that He has not gone on a journey, and that He has not gone to sleep. I
prefer to believe that the failure to receive these great blessings and
promises is due to men.
Now, God
has restored the Gospel, through which these blessings are to be received. How
shall they be received, and where shall they be received? Why, God has
commanded us to build temples, and we have had the same anxiety in relation to
building temples that the children of Israel had in the days of David and of
Solomon; and we have built temples and have received blessings in them. We have
received promises, endowments and keys, by which we can go to God as the
ancients did, exercise faith before Him, and obtain the promises that they
received. It is for this purpose that temples have been built. I said to you
the other day that this is the only people on the earth that I knew anything of
where every reputable male member of the Church held some portion of the
Priesthood, and where every man, as fast as he was prepared, received the
Melchisedek priesthood and the power and the authority connected therewith. Why
is it that God has distributed this power among this people? It is for the
purpose of raising them up and making them a holy nation -- a nation of kings
and of priests. Not three men standing between God and the people. Not twelve
men sitting on a platform and being the oracles to the people without the
people having the chance to know whether they are the servants of God or not.
Not seventy men, nor any number of men. No caste, no distinction, no classing
of the people in that way; but every one that behaves himself and serves God,
receiving the same as all the rest. Where is there anything on the earth like
it? You cannot find it among men. It is the beginning of that great power that
will overshadow the earth, and that will lift every man near to his God. No man
need be afraid, for he will get all that he can bear. It ought to make us rejoice
from the bottom of our hearts that in this respect we are so blessed. Other
churches have their preachers, and they are divided into classes. The preachers
are lifted up. They explain the word of God to the people, and the people sit
and listen. Do they tell them that it is their privilege to know for
themselves? No, they do not, because it has become a profession to preach the
Gospel for money and to divine for hire. Men are educated in colleges and in
universities to give them these distinctions and to lift them above their
fellows. That is not God's way, and that is not His design connected with this
people. He intends to make us a great and mighty people, and He wants to get us
to realize -- and the servants of God are striving to that end as fast as they
can -- our own importance and our own privileges. The First Presidency and the
Twelve do not want the people to think that everything depends upon them. They
are trying to infuse into the hearts of all the men and women of this Church
the dignity of their calling, and the closeness of their relationship to God,
and to have them feel that they are important in His sight.
We are
building temples for the express purpose of bestowing blessings upon the
people, and preparing the people for eternity. We have come to the earth for
that purpose. We have not come here to be like so many animals -- to eat,
drink, and die. That is not the purpose that God had in view in sending us
here. We are filled with the aspirations of Deity. We have great and godlike
qualities lying latent and undeveloped within us; but they will be developed,
for we are the offspring of God, and He wants to make us like Himself. That is
why He has sent us here; not merely to eat and drink, but to prepare ourselves
for eternity. How shall we live in eternity? I said in the beginning of my
remarks that the religious world did not tell us anything about this, for they
did not know. Will husband know his wife? Will wife know her husband? Will
there be any closer tie between the husband and the wife in eternity than
between the husband and a strange woman or the wife and a strange man? "I
think not," the religious man will say; "the Savior says there is no
marrying or giving in marriage in the resurrection, and I think, therefore, that
we will all live separately." Well, how about these delightful
associations that we have in this life? How is it that when men are separated
from their wives, or when women are separated from their husbands, they
frequently die themselves? How is it that mothers, when they lose a loved
child, almost feel as though they wanted to die, too, and do sometimes die
through grief? Are these affections anything? Are they to be obliterated? Are
none of them to survive the resurrection? Are we to be mixed like so many
cattle in eternity? Is that the fate which awaits men and women, created in the
image of God? Is the procreative power to be lost -- that gift which is the
greatest that God has given to a human being? Are all these affections that are
so delightful and so tender to be crushed out and never have room for
expansion? Why, it is the most hideous thought that can be presented to
reflecting men and women. No; God has taught us better than this. He has
revealed to us that these relationships that are so tender, and that make life
so delightful, will exist beyond the grave. Wife will be united to husband.
Children will be united to parents. The family relationship will exist in
eternity, and the glory of a man and a woman will be in dwelling in the midst
of their posterity and seeing that posterity increase. For after God seemingly
had exhausted every blessing that He could give to Abraham, or that human heart
could desire, He took him out and showed him the stars of heaven and said to
him: "In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply
thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea
shore." That seemed to be the crowning blessing -- the blessing of all
blessings -- that He pronounced upon His faithful servant Abraham, after he had
expressed a willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. And this is the blessing
that God has promised to every faithful man and woman -- that to the increase
of their seed there shall be no end. This will constitute the great glory of
eternity -- the man presiding over his family, and being lord over them. Thus
it is that Jesus is called Lord of Lords. He is Lord of Lords because His
brethren will exercise this power and authority over their posterity. And then
what? Why the creative power will be given to men. They will not be sitting
upon a cloud, thrumming a harp and singing songs. We will not spend our days
throughout the endless ages of eternity in any such monotonous employment as
this. It is delightful as a recreation. It is very nice to sing and to have
music at intervals; but to follow it up through eternity, and that be our sole
occupation, it would be the most dreary prospect that the human mind could
conceive of. There was a concert here last night. Would you like to have one
to-night, to-morrow night, and the next night, and every night for a week, and
have to go there to sing and hear singing? Why, you would get so tired of it
that you would not know what to do with yourselves. That is not heaven. It is
one of the joys of heaven, but it is not the sole occupation of the redeemed.
What will be their occupation? The exercise of that creative power that our
Father and God has exercised in preparing this earth as the abode for man. He
called together the elements and formed the earth as a habitation for man; and
man, if he is faithful, will progress until he will do that very same thing for
his posterity. Abraham, standing at the head of an innumerable posterity, will
find it necessary to have room. He will want to emigrate after awhile from this
earth and find a new habitation, for there will not be room enough on the
glorified earth for him and his posterity in the coming eternity. Thus it is
that the heavens are bespangled with the glorious orbs that we see at night --
the creations of God, peopled by the children of God.
And all
this God promises to us, if we are faithful. He says, "You shall be kings,
you shall be queens, you shall sit upon thrones, you shall sway sceptres, and
you shall have power and dominion, if you prove yourselves faithful and true to
me; and you shall be my heirs, and joint heirs with my beloved Son, Jesus
Christ, your Redeemer." We have built temples that within their sacred
walls these holy ordinances can be administered and these promises given and
sealed upon the heads of the children of men. We have not commenced to do many
things that will yet be done in temples. But we have made a beginning. We have
begun to seal, by the authority of the Holy Priesthood, wife to husband, and
where children are not born in the covenant, children to parents, or where they
cannot be sealed to their parents, adopted to others as parents, for be it
known, there must be a connecting link between every generation and
dispensation from our father Adam down to the present. And that will have to be
done in the temples of God. The marriages of our fathers and mothers -- that is
those of them who were married before God restored the Priesthood -- Were not
eternal marriages. They married until death should them part. It was a covenant
that they entered into. The priest that married them had no more authority from
the Lord to marry them than a justice of the peace has. These marriages were
recognized by the laws of the land as legal, but they did not extend beyond
this time; they were only until death should them part. Now they have died, and
the covenant that they made with each other terminated with death; it was no
longer binding. How shall they be united for eternity? If the family
relationship be the true relationship that shall exist in eternity between the
sexes, how shall those who have died be united one to the other in eternity?
God has commanded temples to be built in order that that ordinance may be
attended to therein. Jesus died for us. He made a vicarious offering for us. He
died in our stead, and through His death we are redeemed. In like manner, we
can be saviors, to a certain extent. We can act vicariously for our dead. If my
grandfather and grandmother died before they had the opportunity of being
married by the authority which God recognizes, and which would make their
marriage binding for time and eternity, I, as their heir, can go forward in the
temple of God, with the heiress, my sister, who may represent the female branch
of the family, and we can be united for and in their behalf, acting for them in
this vicarious manner. Thus the family relationship that existed and that was
dissolved with death, can be re-created and made perpetual and binding
throughout all eternity. Thus children can be sealed to their parents, and one
generation to another, until the whole family of man shall be re-united and
bound together, all being the children of God. Hence it is as the Savior said,
that there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage in the resurrection,
because this ordinance will be attended to upon the earth in this manner.
These
will be some of the labors that we shall have to perform in the millennium,
during the thousand years of peace on the earth, when Satan will be bound. We
shall build temples, and we shall go forth in peace and in righteousness, doing
the works of redemption that have to be done for those that have died in
ignorance of the Gospel and without receiving these saving ordinances. We shall
find plenty of employment during the thousand years in doing these works, and
the earth will be cleansed from sin. Satan will be bound, and he will not have
power to tempt the nations of the earth, and we shall dwell in peace and
righteousness. There will be no war, for swords will be beaten into plowshares,
and spears into pruning hooks, and there shall be peace from one end of the
earth to the other. And this is the beginning of it here in these mountains.
Already we have a foretaste of that spirit which, when it spreads throughout
the earth, will bring about that happy consummation, that glorious period of
which the Prophets and Apostles have spoken. Already that spirit has been
poured upon us, to a certain extent, and we enjoy it; and when we live
according to that spirit, there is no quarreling, there is no contention, there
is no disposition to fight, but we are filled with love. This, my brethren and
sisters, as I have said, is a foretaste of that which is to come; and though it
may seem to you that it is a long delayed day, it nevertheless is near at hand.
All we have to do is to bear patiently the trials and the afflictions that we
have to contend with, for the hour of our deliverance is near at hand. The Lord
is mighty, and this wickedness that now afflicts men and that is so sorrowful
to contemplate, will be banished from the face of the earth; for there will be
calamities, and scourges and judgments go forth to remove the wicked; and there
will be but few men left, the Prophet says. We are required to prepare
ourselves for these things. God has not forgotten us, and will not forget us.
He is with this people, and is overruling all things for our good if we are
faithful He will deliver us.
But I
want you, my brethren and sisters, to realize if you can -- I want to realize
it myself -- that which God has done for us. How different are all our thoughts
and all our anticipations from those that our fathers had who had not the
Gospel! We look at things differently. God has thrown a flood of light upon the
principles of the Gospel. He has shown unto us that we lived with Him before we
came here. We can understand why our Savior should be born as He was, because
through the revelations that God has given to us we know that we were born in
like manner. We know that we existed in the spirit world before we came here
and that we are really the offspring of our Father in heaven, and that He
desired us to come here and receive tabernacles of flesh, that we might be
tempted, tried and proved, to see whether we would be true to Him or not. The
scenes through which we pass have for their express purpose this testing of our
integrity. I tell you that Latter-day Saints ought to be a people of the
strongest friendships. We ought to be a people that are bound together by ties
that are far stronger than death. We ought to have a love for one another that
would be like the love of angels. How can I be true to my Father in heaven if I
am not true to my brethren? As the Apostle John says, "He that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
A man that is not true to his brother cannot be trusted. A woman that is not
true to her husband and to her children cannot be trusted. Such people God will
not trust, and sooner or later they lose the Spirit of God and go out of the
Church. And this spirit of divorce that is so prevalent in the world is not of
God. There is too much of it among Latter-day Saints. I tell you that where
that spirit prevails the Spirit of God does not prevail. God intends to have a
people who will not break their covenants; a people who will suffer death
rather than do this. If they have a friendship they will not break that
friendship. If they have a brother, they will be true to that brother. They
would rather lay down their lives than be untrue. They will not speak lightly
about their brethren. They will not belittle their brethren, nor disparage
them. Neither will sisters disparage their sisters, nor speak lightly of them,
nor backbite them. God is going to have a people of this kind. You remember
what the Prophet Joseph said: "O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this
important key -- that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions,
bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it that you do not betray heaven; that
you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you
do not betray the revelations of God. * * * Yea, in all your kicking and
flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing."
We are
now in the midst of politics and all sorts of things, and I think we are going
to be tried, or are being tried, as we never were tried; and a good many, if
they are not careful, will forfeit their integrity. We have got to be watchful,
for I tell you God has sent us here to test us and to prove us. We were true in
keeping our first estate. The people that are here to-day stood 1oyally by God
and by Jesus, and they did not flinch. If you had flinched then you would not
be here with the Priesthood upon you. The evidences that you were loyal, that
you were true, and that you did not waiver, is to be found in the fact that you
have received the Gospel and the everlasting Priesthood. Now you are in your
second estate, and you are going to be tested again. Will you be true and loyal
to God with the curtain drawn between you and Him, shut out from His presence,
and in the midst of darkness and temptation, with Satan and his invisible hosts
all around you, bringing all manner of evil influences to bear upon you? The
men and the women that will be loyal under these circumstances God will exalt,
because it will be the highest test to which they can be subjected. It is not
as it was before. We were then in the presence of God. Now there is a veil
between us and our Father, and we are left to ourselves, to a certain extent.
We are left to be governed by the influences that we invite, and there are any
number of evil influences around us, whispering into our ears and hearts all
manner of things. If we will open our hearts to receive them, or allow them to
enter our hearts, we will think evil of our brethren and of our sisters; we
will have malice towards them; we will envy them, and we will say bad things
about them. God will test us in all this. I have always thanked God, since I
was old enough to understand principle, that I was among a people like the
Latter-day Saints. The Lord has helped me to stand anything that the world can
do. I have been made perfectly bullet proof, it seems to me, so far as the
world is concerned. But it has always been a great source of grief to me to
have anything occur between my brethren and myself. I do not want to have any
feeling in my heart towards my brethren, or say or do anything that will give
them pain. I know there is more integrity among the Latter-day Saints than
among any other people on the face of the earth. They are true to each other;
they love each other; and many of them would die for each other. "Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Brethren
and sisters, I would like us to keep before us the grand promises that God has
made to us, and the glorious prospects that are open before us. We may have our
trials and afflictions here. But let our eyes look forward with faith to that
glorious future that God has prepared for us, and the great reward that He will
bestow upon us. For we shall have crowns; we shall have thrones; we shall have
dominion; we shall have power. God will give all this to us just as fast as we
are prepared for it; and if we enter into these holy temples and receive there
the ordinances that He has commanded His servants to give, these promises will
be fulfilled to the very letter, if we are faithful. Not one will fail. How was
it when you were baptized by one having authority? Did you not have the
testimony that your sins were remitted? God accepted the offering. He accepted
the administration of the ordinance. He accepted the laying on of hands, and He
gave the Holy Ghost to those upon whom hands were laid. And when you come to
the altar, and the servant of God says, I seal upon you the blessings of the
holy resurrection, with power to come forth in the morning of the first
resurrection, clothed with glory, immortality and eternal lives; and I seal
upon you the blessings of kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers, dominions,
and exaltations, the blessings of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob-when the
servant of God pronounces these words upon those who come to the altar, and he
seals the wife to the husband, just as sure as God lives, just as sure as the
heavens are above our heads and the earth beneath our feet, so sure will those
words be fulfilled upon the heads of those upon whom they are pronounced, if
they are faithful to the covenants which they make; and they will come forth in
the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory, immortality and
eternal lives. When we lay down our dead, after having received these holy
ordinances -- our husbands, our wives, our children, our fathers, our mothers
-- we lay them down without a shadow of doubt in our hearts as to the future.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Under
such circumstances as these, death has lost its sting; the grave has lost its
victory; it is robbed of its terrors by the glorious promises that God has made
unto His servants and His children. Others may fear death. Others may dread the
future. Others may think it is a leap in the dark. But not so with the
Latter-day Saints! The future is illumined by the glory of God and the promises
that He has made to us; and when the time comes for us to lay down these mortal
lives, we will do so just as we do when we go on missions and the time comes
for us to return home -- we will go home, with regrets of course for those we
leave behind, but with gladness and joy to think that our missions are ended
and that we have been faithful, and we will be welcomed by our brothers and
sisters and our families. We will look forward with joyful anticipation to the
delightful reunion that we will have with those whom we have left, who have
been our fellow-laborers and companions in the afflictions of this life, and it
will be a heavenly time. Therefore, I say that death has lost its terrors, and
the grave no longer triumphs over people who have received such blessings as
these.
Oh! my
brethren and sisters, what is there that should tempt us to waiver in our
devotion to the work of God? Shall we hesitate with our means in building
temples and in carrying forward this glorious work? God forbid. Let us devote
ourselves with every energy of our souls, and with all the means that God has
placed within our reach, to the advancement of the cause of righteousness. Let
us teach our children to do the same. For the day of righteousness is
approaching, and we should do all in our power to bring about that happy
period, when sin 5hall be banished from the face of the earth. I feel as though
there is nothing on the earth that I have that I would hesitate to give for
this great and glorious cause. God has made my life a constant joy. He has
clothed my days with peace and happiness, and has blessed me in every
direction, and shall I not worship Him? Shall I not serve Him? Shall I not do
all in my power for Him and for His cause? I try to do so. I certainly want to
do so, and I' want to see my brethren and sisters do so. I want to stir them up
to diligence. I want to present before them the glorious Gospel that God has
revealed, the glorious promises that He has made to us, and the glorious future
that He has assured us of; that we will remember them, and that we will teach
our children, and not be led away by the paltry baubles of the world, and by
the spirit of the world. God forbid that men and women who have made such
Covenants as we have, and who have
been blessed as we have should do this! God has given everything to us that we
could ask for in righteousness. Is there any knowledge that would be of use to
you that God has not given you? He has clothed the past with light. He has
illumined the present with glory; and the future -- it is beyond the power of
human tongue to describe that which God has revealed concerning the future! We may
occasionally get a glimpse of it in the vision; but we cannot describe it, nor
fully comprehend it.
I am
desirous to see this Temple finished. I am desirous that when we go away from
this conference we will go with a determination to do all in our power to
furnish the necessary means. And not only this Temple, but everything else. For
God will reward us abundantly. He will multiply us upon the right hand and upon
the left. I can testify of this to you in the name of the Lord, for I know it;
and I know that God will bless His people if they are devoted to Him and their
eyes are single to His glory.
I pray
God, the Eternal Father, to bless you. Oh! this is a glorious conference. I
wish you could stay here a week. I feel as though we were near the gates of
heaven. I pray God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Above all things, be firm
in the truth, and steadfast even unto the end, that we may receive the glorious
reward that He has promised unto us. Amen.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF,
in the course of a four minutes' address, bore his testimony to the remarks of President Cannon on the important subject of temple building. He pointed to the fact that as the Apostles and disciples of God in former days were ever ready to lay down their lives for the Gospel's sake, so since the day of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph this people had always been willing to make similar sacrifices in His holy name. There were but few in the world, he said, prepared to obey the fulness of the Gospel, and that was why the Latter-day Saints had been chosen and brought to these valleys from all nations of the earth. It was because the true Gospel had been offered to them and they had received it. We had been called to go upon missions, to warn the wicked of the judgments which were near at hand. The priesthood belonged to the celestial law, both for time and eternity.
The Lord had made great promises to all His faithful Saints, from the beginning of this work, and if we remained steadfast to the end these would all be fulfilled; and no power on earth or in hell could take from us the blessings which were in store for the righteous. We had everything to encourage us in the good work which we had espoused; but the Lord required much at our hands, and if we united together and carried out faithfully that which He asked of us, we should reap our reward in due season.
PRESIDENT CANNON
presented the following names of young men who had been called to take a three months' mission to visit different parts of the Territory in the interest of mutual improvement associations:
George B. Peay, Jun., Provo; Thaddeus H. Cluff, Provo; J. M. Dalton, Springville; Wm. C. Martell, Spanish Fork; John H. Jux, Spanish Fork; Joseph Markham, Spanish Fork; George L. Boyack, Spanish Fork; Joseph Larsen, Pleasant Grove; George Fairbanks, Payson; Henry B. Haynes, of Tooele; Robert G. Shields, of Lake View.
The choir sang the anthem, "By Babylon's Wave."
Benediction by President Wilford Woodruff.
Adjourned till the 6th of April, 1893.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
[9 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 45:520-521, 10/15/92, p 8-9]
Another overflow meeting was held [in the Assembly Hall] at 2 p.m., Apostle Franklin D. Richards presiding.
The congregation sang,
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear.
Prayer by Elder George Goddard.
The congregation sang:
Arise, my soul, arise.
The officers of the Eleventh Ward administered the Sacrament.
APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR
referred to the growth of the Church and the great labor and responsibility resting upon those whose duty it is to teach and instruct the people. He enlarged upon the evil results of contracting debts. The Saints should endeavor to live within their means and deny themselves things which they cannot afford to pay for. Last year the counsel was given to the Saints to engage in home manufacture, and particularly take stock in the Utah sugar factory, but only a few had done this, and those few, including several of the general authorities of the Church were forced to take much more stock than they really were able to carry. It would have been an easy task for the people at large to subscribe for the stock had the Saints generally responded to the counsel given. The Saints can never become a very prosperous people until they learn to be more self-sustaining than they are at the present time. They must encourage home industries, and learn to work in the interests of the whole people.
The speaker made an earnest appeal to the people to live temperate lives, keep the Word of Wisdom, attend to their prayers, and all other duties as Saints. In referring to the late persecutions of the Saints Elder Taylor was convinced that the hand of the Lord was in it. Among its other beneficial results was the location of other settlements by the Saints in Mexico, where there are several millions of the House of Israel to whom the Gospel should be preached. He discouraged the intermarriage of the Saints with those not of their faith and said it would bring sorrow and distress upon those who were guilty of these practices. The daughters of Zion should not be given in marriage to the Gentiles. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers," was the injunction of Paul to the Corinthians, and the same counsel holds good today. In conclusion the speaker testified that those who would seek the Lord for aid and support would receive strength sufficient for their day and come through safely, though the Saints might continue to pass through tribulations and trials until Christ should come.
APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH
complimented the people for their willingness in times past to pay their tithes and offerings and in other respects comply with the commandments of the Lord; still there was much room for improvement. The Saints, both young and old, should live strictly pure and chaste lives, and avoid the contaminating influences which those who are not of them are trying to introduce into their midst. It is indeed a source of the greatest grief when fathers and mothers are compelled to witness their sons and daughters depart from the rules of chastity and propriety. The Lord will have a pure and holy people, and it devolves upon the Saints to redeem the world from its present state of immorality, and preserve those true and life-giving principles which the Lord has given for the salvation of mankind.
APOSTLE MOSES THATCHER
advised the Saints to be careful in regard to making covenants with the Lord or with one another, for God was always displeased with covenant breakers. In reference to home industries, which the speaker had always sustained and fostered with his means, they should be entered into with prudence and forethought, and with a determination to make them a success. Men sometimes acted from the impulse of the moment, and were guilty of making hasty moves which afterwards might be regretted, but with wisdom and careful manipulation home industries would certainly prosper. A spirit of forgiveness and charity should be cultivated, and the faults of brethren reproved in kindness and under the influence of the Spirit of God. The Saints should learn to love one another with that divine love and affection which the Spirit of God engenders in the hearts of those who have repented of their sins and entered into His service.
APOSTLE FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS,
in making some closing remarks regarding the completion of the Temple in Salt Lake City, said that in human experience in building houses men nearly always find the cost greater as they proceed than the first estimates. So also in regard to the Temple, and consequently more means is wanted than was estimated six months ago. The speaker enjoined upon the Bishops and leading men of the Church to watch over their flocks and look into their condition, that they might educate and purify themselves so as to be worthy to enter into that holy building after its completion and contemplated dedication in April next.
Forty years ago the speaker, while laboring as a missionary in Europe, was engaged in gathering means for the erection of the Salt Lake Temple, and now that it is nearing completion the hearts of the Saints should not be narrow or contracted in responding to the last call in its behalf. They should bring forward the substance with which the Lord has blessed them so that the authorities of the Church and those who have been appointed to take immediate charge of the finishing work may have ample means wherewith to give the building that beautiful and tasteful finish which is contemplated for it. While thus aiding the work in a material way, the Saints should also prepare themselves to receive the blessings which the Lord has in store for the faithful and is anxious to bestow upon them and upon their friends and relatives who have gone behind the veil.
The time for closing the meeting having arrived, singing was omitted, and the benediction was offered by Apostle Franklin D. Richards.
_____
4-6 Apr 1893, 63rd
Annual General Conference, Salt Lake Tabernacle and upper room of the Temple.
[Deseret News Weekly 46 493, 4/8/93, p 13 and 46:513,
4/15/93, p 1; Millennial Star 55:285, 301, 317, 333, 349]
[4 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 46:493-494, 4/8/93, p 13-14]
GENERAL CONFERENCE
_____
The Sixty-third Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, April 4th, 1893, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
The following were on the stand: Of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John Smith; of the Presidency of the seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds and Jonathan G. Kimball; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder. There were also a large number of Presidents of Stakes and other leading brethren from various parts of Utah and adjacent states and territories.
Elder Moses Thatcher, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was unable to be present on account of illness. Elder Heber J. Grant, also of the Quorum of the Twelve, was absent on account of being detained in the East.
The congregation was very large, the great building being filled in every part. thee were probably over ten thousand people present.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come let us anew our journey
pursue, Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
Prayer was offered by Elder Francis M. Lyman.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Come, come ye Saints, no
toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear Grace will be as your day.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
Said he felt to thank God his Heavenly Father that he had the privilege this day of standing in the midst of such a vast congregation in the house of Israel. He also thanked the 10,000 Latter-day Saints whose prayers had ascended to the Lord in his behalf. By the power of God and by their prayers he had been preserved until the present hour. While he did not feel capable of answering his own thoughts in reflecting upon the scenes through which the Latter-day Saints as a people had passed in the years which were gone, still he assured his hearers that his heart was full of blessing and thankfulness towards his brethren and sisters, and all men who had desired to do what was right.
This was a day to which he had looked forward for many years, and when he reflected upon the hundreds and thousands of Elders of Israel, and the Prophets and Apostles with whom he had been associated, many of whom had already passed to the other side of the vail, he marveled at the work which had thus far been accomplished and that his own life had been preserved so long in the midst of this people.
As Latter-day Saints they had great reason for rejoicing before the Lord, and their hearts should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving unto the Most High for the many blessings vouchsafed unto them.
When he took a retrospect of their position and saw what had been accomplished through God's mercy, by this people, since they arrived in these valleys on the 24th of July, 1847, it was to him a marvel and a wonder. Though many of their brethren -- President Brigham Young, who had led them here, and others who were formerly associated with them in this great latter-day work, had passed away -- yet he believed that in the spirit world today they were deeply interested and rejoicing in the work in which the Latter-day Saints were engaged on this special occasion.
They were expecting (continued President Woodruff) by the blessing of God to enter, in a few days hence, the Temple which had been reared here in the name of the Lord, by His people; and he desired in the short time now at his disposal to bless every Latter-day Saint from the bottom of his heart for what they had doe towards the achievement of this grand object No call, he believed, had ever been made upon any people upon the face of the earth which had met with such a hearty and universal response as that for means to finish the Salt Lake Temple. he felt to thank the Lord for the spirit which had been manifested by the Saints in this respect.
They had erected three temples before this one in these mountain valleys. The Elders of Israel had labored unceasingly to attend to the ordinances of the house of God, both for the living and the dead; because he need hardly tell the Latter-day Saints that these holy temples had been erected for the redemption of the dead as well as blessing the living.
The Prophet Joseph Smith laid the foundation of this Church and Kingdom and revealed those principles unto us; but no principle had ever been revealed from God to man which had given the Latter-day Saints more joy and consolation than the revelations whereby the Lord had fulfilled the prophecy of one of the ancient prophets, who said that in the last days He would raise up saviors upon Mount Zion, while the Kingdom was the Lord's. That day had come.
He himself well remembered the time when that revelation was given -- the feeling which thrilled their hearts and souls when they realized that in their day and generation they had the power to go forth and attend to these ordinances for their dead progenitors, the same as for those who were still living in the flesh. They did not hesitate, as soon as that revelation came, to make a commencement of this Temple work, and there were scores of men around him today who had labored for years in these temples in this way. He greatly rejoiced at the thought that when he himself entered the spirit world he would meet those of his progenitors who, perhaps, had never heard the true Gospel, who never saw a prophet, apostle, or other inspired man while in the flesh; and as Jesus went and "preached to the spirits in prison" in His day, so would those men who now lived and held the keys of the Priesthood when they passed behind the veil also preach to "spirits in prison," open the prison doors and let the prisoners free. In all his labors in the cause of this Gospel, for some sixty years, there was no kind of work which he had performed with greater satisfaction than that of redemption for his dead. Who could not, indeed, rejoice before the Lord when he contemplated the future of this great work in the Rocky Mountains and the privileges which they enjoyed?
He was thankful the day had come when they had the opportunity of dedicating this Temple unto the Lord, and into which the vast number of people who dwell in this region of country would be able to enter and perform the ordinances required of them without having to travel long distances, as had been the case hitherto.
He had seen some serious times in the history of this Church -- at Kirtland for instance; but when he first heard Joseph Smith preach he knew that he was a Prophet of God. Of that he then had all the testimony he needed. The Prophet Joseph, however, had labored in the cause of this Church and Kingdom about fourteen years only from the time of his ordination until he was martyred. He nevertheless performed a great mission.
At his own advanced age he thanked God that he was surrounded by a quorum of Apostles among whom there existed such a spirit of unity; they were united as the heart of one man. He firmly believed that any one of tem would die for him if needs be, and he would do the same for either of them should the Lord require it at his hands. There was a love between all of them that the world knew not of -- a love which distinguished all men who bore the Priesthood from the rest of the world.
So in our own day and generation, Joseph Smith was called an ignorant, illiterate boy. In some respects he might have been, as the world understood it; but he was ordained, before the foundation of the world, to lay the foundation of the Church and Kingdom of God. Had not this been God's work, and had it not been sustained by His power from the very beginning? In proof of this the speaker instanced the remarkable gathering of the Saints to these mountains and their wonderful preservation through persecution and trial. As with Joseph Smith, he said, so with Presidents Brigham Young and John Taylor. Could they have been bought with gold or turned away from the work with which they had identified themselves? No; they were a class of men whom the Lord could handle and make use of, and the same remarks applied to hundreds and thousands of Elders in Israel today who had been called from the plow and hammer, and many of whom had gone forth among the nations, carrying the Gospel message, without purse or scrip.
This is the work of God and not of man; therefore let us try to live our religion, to do our duty, and to magnify our calling during the little time we have to live here on earth. Through all our trials, afflictions and tribulations we are growing here upon the tops of the mounts, in fulfillment of God's commands. The Lord is watching over us. Let us not be discouraged, but seek to do what is right. Remember your prayers before the lord, keep the faith, and live in the way that you may enjoy the Spirit of the Lord so that when we get through our mission here, our works will follow us to the other side of the vail. I pray God to bless you and to pour out His Holy spirit upon this people .
PRESIDENT GEO. Q. CANNON
addressed the assemblage. He began by speaking of the many reasons for the Latter-day Saints being thankful to God. They had been specially blessed, favored and preserved. He next treated upon the remarkable character of the history of the Church, many of its scenes having been intensely dramatic. He then graphically depicted some of the events in point. The self-sacrifice of the Saints, displayed during the whole career of the Church, was made a feature of the interesting discourse. They had adhered with striking fidelity to the mission which God had given them -- the establishment of a work which would ultimately redeem mankind from every undesirable and oppressive condition. Comparatively few had stepped aside from the pursuit of this exalted motive. Those who had done so had lost the Spirit of God and renewed their affiliations with the sordid conditions and aims which influenced the world. The position of the Saints was unique. God had, to use a homely phrase, taken them into partnership. They called it a covenant. The Almighty was always true to His part of the contract. The whole history of the community had shown this. The speaker dwelt for some time upon the wonderful changes in the condition of the Saints that had occurred recently. Their temples and institutions generally had been in jeopardy. These clouds had been removed. Because of our speaking of what God intended to do in the future, by the ultimate establishment of His kingdom, some people had imbibed the idea that they were antagonistic toward the institutions of the world. This was an incorrect view of our position, which was to preserve the rights of all people and protect them in their liberties. The anticipated beneficent results to the world would be brought about by the increase of light and the practice of true morality in its widest sense. The incorrect idea concerning us had been superinduced to some extent by the fact that we had contested in the courts special legislation which had been enacted against us. Our course in this respect would yet be approved by all right-thinking people. The speaker dwelt upon the change of sentiment that had lately taken place in relation to the Saints. The latter were being viewed by many people in their true character. The falsehoods which had been circulated about this community were beginning to lose their effect. The fact that the mission of the Saints was one of peace and good will to all men was gradually being appreciated. The concluding portion of the discourse was devoted to showing the benefits accruing from taking counsel from the servants of God and to showing the need of all possessing a repentant and forgiving spirit toward each other, that the Saints might be united and receive the blessing of God when they should enter His Temple and participate in its dedication.
The foregoing is not a synopsis of President Cannon's discourse, but merely embodies a few illusions to some of its leading features.
The choir sang the anthem:
Jesus, I my cross have taken.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[4 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 46:494-495, 4/8/93, p 14-15]
AFTERNOON
SESSION.
_____
The choir and congregation sang:
Redeemer of Israel, our only
delight, On whom for a blessing we call.
Our shadow by day and our pillow by night Our King, our Deliverer, our all.
Prayer by Elder Brigham Young.
Singing by the choir:
Come, dearest Lord, descend
and dwell, By faith and love, in every breast;
Then shall we know and taste and feel, The joys that cannot be expressed.
This afternoon the congregation was so large as not only to occupy all the seating capacity, but likewise nearly the whole of the standing room.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
was the first speaker. He warned the people to be on their guard against pickpockets and other bad characters who had probably been attracted to this city from other places by the Conference and dedication, thinking it a good time to practice their trade among the crowds which would be drawn together on this special occasion.
He felt grateful for the privilege of meeting with the Saints under such favorable circumstances and conditions at this time, and he prayed that the Lord would pour out His Holy Spirit abundantly upon all those of His faithful Saints who had assembled together. This was a great time for them as a people. Zion was growing, and the people of God were multiplying. We were in a great Gospel school, wherein we should be faithful students, in order that we might be prepared for the great responsibility which might devolve upon us as the people of God. One of the great lessons necessary for the Latter-day Saints to learn was that that which was spiritual was above and superior to that which was temporal. They should set their hearts above things far higher than this world could afford. It was necessary that every man and woman should bring himself and herself to the standard that they could say in their hearts, "Father, Thy will, not mine, be done."
We were now preparing to go, day by day, into this Temple which had been in the course of erection during the last forty years, for the purpose of presenting ourselves before the Lord and making unto Him the offerings of our handiwork. He was thankful that we had been so successful in this labor and that we had been permitted to accomplish it in the time we had; also to see the excellent spirit and kindly feeling which had been manifested by the Latter-day Saints everywhere in relation to this undertaking. He was likewise grateful to God his Heavenly Father for the liberality which the people had shown in contributing of their means, within the last year especially, towards the completion of this house. The Lord, he was sure, was well pleased with the Saints for what they had thus done; and he felt convinced that the majority of the people among us were in possession of the right spirit -- the spirit of the Gospel. We must not go into God's holy Temple with any bitterness in our hearts one towards another, with hatred in our soul towards our neighbor, but must humble ourselves before the Lord as little children.
The speaker counseled his hearers not to lose the smallest opportunity which presented itself of doing good among the children of men. He urged the Saints to be honest in their convictions, true and sincere in their profession, and consistent in the certain policy which they had marked out for themselves. It was necessary for us to be a humble people before God, and we should never harbor in our hearts a feeling or unforgiveness towards our neighbor. He himself desired to ask the Latter-day Saints everywhere to forgive him for any wrong which he, a weak, frail, erring creature, had done, and if there were any who had at any time wronged him either in word or deed, he gladly extended to them a free and full forgiveness. It was not necessary, however, that we should be bowed down in sorrow, or enter God's Holy house with heavy countenances; rather did He desire that we should meet together with cheerful hearts and a spirit of happiness.
By his own voice the Lord had spoken from the heavens in this the last dispensation, and this work would go on spreading until it covered the whole earth. It was the work of righteousness, and it was our duty to acknowledge His hand in all things.
The Church was in its infancy when he was born, some fifty-four years ago. For over thirty years of his life he had been connected with the Priesthood and had labored among the people at home and abroad, preaching the Gospel, bearing his testimony to the truth, and trying to do good both by precept and example. Men might propose, but God Almighty was disposing of this work in His own way, and would bring all to pass in His own due time. The mission of the Latter-day Saints was to do good to all and wrong to none; and this was his own individual desire.
The speaker dwelt upon the Word of Wisdom and asked how many of them kept it absolutely? Not one half of the people called latter-day Saints; and yet it was the command of God unto them -- one of the laws which He required us to keep inviolate. It was our duty to learn that there was something in this life and in the life to come more desirable, and more lasting than riches, and that was righteousness.
Let us go to the Lord in faith, nothing doubting, and we would hereafter receive our reward.
President Smith echoed the sentiment expressed by President Woodruff this morning, that never before in the history of the Church had greater unity of heart and spirit existed between the two leading councils of the Priesthood than prevailed today; and yet there was room for improvement. He prayed that the Saints might also be united in all things and seek to know the mind and will of God.
ELDER LORENZO SNOW
said this was one of the happiest occasions, considering the circumstances which surrounded us, that we had ever witnessed as a Church, and it should be as individuals. When we reflected upon the strange scenes through which the Latter-day Saints had passed during the last fifty-three years, it was wonderful, to say the least, how God had aided and protected His people in the carrying out of this great work in that long period.
Those who entered this Temple with a pure heart and a contrite spirit would not come out of it without receiving peculiar blessings, although these in some, or possibly many, instances might be different from what some might expect. In [the] Kirtland Temple remarkable manifestations had been witnessed, and some of the Saints might be looking for the appearance of ministering angels on this occasion or expect to behold the face of God. It might not be profitable for you to impart such manifestations. The Lord knows what is best for every individual, and will adapt His gifts for the production of the greatest good to those who receive them. It may be safely anticipated that every faithful Saint who enters that House will receive a blessing that will give much satisfaction to the recipient. Before those who would enter the Temple left it, something would arise in their hearts and understanding which would be serviceable to them in their future lives. To this, as true Latter-day Saints, they were entitled.
Elder Snow touched upon the subject of unity, which he said must exist among the various quorums before it could prevail in the midst of the general body of the Saints. The prayer of Jesus Himself that he and His disciples might be one, even as he and the Father were one, would be carried out in this dispensation in regard to the Apostles and other servants of God. Those who placed themselves in the way of this unity would be set aside and others would come up in their stead. Elder Snow concluded by calling down the blessings of God upon the people.
The choir sang the anthem, "Let the Mountains Shout for Joy."
After which the congregation joined with the choir in singing the Doxology.
The benediction was pronounced by Elder George Teasdale.
Conference then adjourned till tomorrow at ten a.m.
_____
[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 46:495-496, 4/8/93, p 15-16]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Wednesday
Morning, April 5th
_____
The choir and congregation sang:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation; No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
Prayer by Elder John W. Taylor.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
How firm a foundation, ye
Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word.
What more can He say than to you He hath said, Ye who unto Jesus for refuge
have fled?
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
was the first speaker. He said all Israel was aroused today by a feeling of inquiry into their spiritual condition. He thought the present a suitable occasion for the exhibition of such a spirit, that the people might judge themselves, and thus need not be judged of others. If they could see themselves as the Lord saw them, they would appear sufficiently unworthy to pass a judgment which the Spirit would justify. Those who would build up Zion must do it in the spirit of Zion -- the pure in heart.
When the speaker heard others expressing their contrition yesterday for any wrong they may have committed, he felt that he wanted to be also accounted a sinner. Not that any of the capital crimes had been committed; but all unrighteousness is sin, and through the frailties of humanity all are prone to commit sin. This was what he had reference to. The people are called o be perfect in their sphere, as the Lord is in His, and he wished to be [in] harmony with them in this regard. He desired to be forgiven if in any way he had caused offense. The Lord would forgive as we forgave others. When we forgive others willingly, the measure we mete will be measured to us again. The feeling among the Saints today is to observe this principle of forgiving offenses against them, and of making recompense wherein they have wronged anybody.
Elder Richards said he did know of a person toward whom he harbored an ill feeling. It was sometimes difficult to love our enemies, but he wished to do that, and place himself fully in accord with the commands of he Almighty. He wished to fully magnify his calling as an Apostle of the Lord.
It is meet in the sight of the Lord for scenes to transpire that are suited to certain events in our lives. This is one of those occasions connected with a time of rejoicing -- one of those good times when we should fix things up and tear out every root of bitterness, that we may have the favor of our Heavenly Father. The Lord requires us to forgive all men; and if any refuse to forgive, in him rests the greater sin. This latter position is one we wish to avoid. At the present time there seems nothing so desirable to the Saints as that of having the Temple appropriately dedicated. The offering of the people today is that of setting their hearts right before the lord, and what blessings might they not expect under such circumstances?
The speaker referred to the time when the foundations of the earth were laid, and the joy that filled the hearts of the sons and daughters of God, and said that a measure of the same spirit of rejoicing filled the hearts of the Saints regarding the completion and dedication of the Temple here. Men came to earth that they might have joy, and if they comply with the laws of God they will, after the trials and tribulations of this life, enter into that joy. This will sweep away all sorrow. This it is that is brought by the gospel of Christ. The work of the last dispensation was begun by the coming to earth of the Lord himself, and the restoration of His Gospel. The Saints have been abundantly blessed with testimonies that this is the work of the Lord. Now that the Temple here is completed, they want to wake up to the salvation of their dead, and perform the work that rests upon them in this regard. He prayed that the Lord might bless the people, and expressed his desire to be united with his brethren and sisters in working for the establishment of righteousness.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
was the next speaker. Following is a brief summary of his remarks. He stood where he did in the fear of God. He owed Him all he possessed, and ought to be used in His service. He had a testimony from God of the truth of His work. He had been absent from the headquarters of the Church for several years, but his heart had been with the Saints in the gathering place. We were feeble creatures and could not carry on the work of the Lord without assistance from Him. He recalled the many remarkable vicissitudes though which the Saints had passed. These showed that the Almighty had been with them from the beginning until now. The speaker had been with the Church from Missouri until now. Many incidents of the days of Nauvoo were riveted upon his mind. He remembered well the face and form of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he cherished the recollection. In the days of the expulsion from Illinois his father's house had been left with the furniture in it. When he crossed the Mississippi river in February, 1846, the ice was broken up, and the trip was one of great peril. It was a stormy period, and many of the people died from exposure to the inclemency of the weather. Their sufferings were terrible to behold. He had never seen a people suffer as they did. He had thought of those circumstances while listening to men speak in this Conference who had passed through those days of trouble and had performed a great labor to produce the present era of prosperity and peace in this western land. When we had been persecuted we had deplored the fact that we were subjected to it. Yet this opposition was a blessing in disguise. It developed us in self-reliance and impelled us to be united for purposes of protection. This work is advancing and those who abide in the gospel were becoming better citizens, better fathers, mothers, husbands, wives and children. This progress was delightful to behold.
The speaker referred to the times in the history of the community when the people suffered for want of proper and sufficient food. The beneficent change that had occurred in every respect was due to the blessing and kind providence of the Almighty. We had been chosen of the Lord to fulfil the prophecies of inspired men of ancient time, and who, by the inspiration of God, beheld our day. The speaker knew that the leaders of the Church are men of God, chosen by Him to accomplish His purposes in the building up of the latter-day Zion. They had been inspired to lead this work through the difficulties which had beset it during the last few years. He remembered what it had cost to establish the principles of the Gospel of Christ, revealed anew to this age. The turmoil and opposition which had confronted the leaders of the Church from the beginning had been remarkable for continuance and determination. We were here in this land to stay, and no power could remove us except it might be through our own transgression. New experiences would be met in the progress of this work, but power to overcome obstacles would increase as necessity should arise. He regarded a political training to be as necessary to the advancement of the people as education in any other direction. It could, however, be obtained without any of the people becoming intemperate and impatient in connection with that subject. The Church had been admonished from the beginning to seek wisdom from all good books and every other proper and available source. The political organization which would be ultimately established by Christ and under His reign would protect all men and women in their rights and liberties. If the Saints should go into the Temple worthily they would be strengthened and blessed, but those who should enter it in a condition opposite to this would be under condonation.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
Said: I have a request I wish to make to this assembly of latter-day Saints, as all may not be here this afternoon, who are here now. There are many of you from a distance as well as many who dwell here in the city. You are expecting to go into the temple to attend its dedication. i have a desire in my heart that every one of you, the night before you go into the Temple, before retiring to rest, will go by yourselves, in secret prayer. Offer up your prayers to the Lord, and pray that your sins may not only be forgiven, but that you may all have the spirit of God and the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ; that the Spirit of God may be with those who assemble in that Temple.
The inhabitants of the earth do not realize the effect and benefit of prayer. The Lord hears and answers the prayers of men, women and children. Prayer has more power, a great deal, to bring down the blessings of God, than almost any other thing.
I have the desire for the Saints to do this, for I wish to see those who go into the Temple go in with pure hearts, and that the Spirit of God may be with them, that they may enjoy themselves, that they may all feel the influence of that power while at the dedication of the Temple.
I pray God to give you all an answer to your prayers, and to give you the Holy spirit to assist you while at the dedication and services of the dedication. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang:
The Spirit of God like a
fire is burning; The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessing of old are returning, The angels are coming to visit
the earth.
Benediction was offered by Elder M. W. Merrill.
_____
[5 Apr, 10 am (o)]
[DNW 46:496, 4/8/93, p 16]
OVERFLOW MEETING
held in the Assembly Hall, Wednesday, April 5th, 1893; commencing t 10 a. m., Apostle F. M. Lyman presiding.
The choir and congregation sang:
The time is far spent, etc.
Prayer by Elder John Morgan.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation, etc.
ELDER JONATHAN G. KIMBALL
was the first speaker; he looked upon the present occasion as one of the most important periods in the history of the Church, and hoped that every Latter-day Saint would show by their future actions that their reconciliation and forgiveness at the present time is being done in sincerity before God; and that our entering into the now completed temple in this city with pure hearts and good intentions may be the stepping stone to the enjoyment of an increased portion of the gifts and blessings of God. Among the duties that should be attended to in order to enter the house of the Lord in a proper state of preparation is that of paying our honest debts. Some of the brethren who are owing money sometimes feel offended when they are reminded by their creditors of this fact, and instead of taking steps immediately to liquidate or settle such obligations, they get angry and refuse to pay. All such are unfit to attend the approaching dedication; the speaker asked the forgiveness of his brethren and sisters, if he had wronged any one.
ELDER CHARLES W. PENROSE
spoke on the principle of meekness and humility. The Son of God taught His disciples to become as little children in order to enter into the kingdom of Heaven; this injunction applies to us all. If we desire a blessing from our Heavenly Father, we must exercise faith and approach Him in humility and with a contrite spirit; otherwise we will fail in obtaining divine favor. We must always make our ways and plans subordinate to the will of heaven, in which course our Savior showed us a glorious example when he came not to do His own will but that of His Father who had sent Him. But, while Jesus was meek and lowly, He was brave and fearless in carrying out the details of the great mission which had been entrusted to Him, and which eventually cost Him His life. The speaker had labored in the ministry for forty-two years, and felt it was too late in the day for him to turn away from the truth, and he now desired to enter into the holy Temple fully reconciled with his God and all the Saints. He disapproved of the fear entertained by some that a number of the Saints would apostatize after the dedication of the Temple; there is no foundation for such apprehensions. Why should we leave the eternal truths of heaven? Where would we go to find anything to satisfy our hearts outside of the pale of the true Church, which embraces all that tends to exaltation and salvation in the kingdom of our God. It is more consistent to expect that the dedication of the Temple will be the ushering in of a new and better era in the history of the Saints, and that from this time a renewed and more determined effort will be made to serve the Lord on the part of the Latter-day Saints generally.
ELDER JOHN MORGAN
referred to some who left the Church many years ago and were now returning to the fold, repentant and humbly bearing testimony that while they were wandering in by and forbidden paths they found no rest for their feet, nor peace in their hearts. The speaker believed the Lord was pleased with the efforts of the Saints in erecting the magnificent edifice which is about to be dedicated unto the Lord in this city. God would certainly accept of the building, and after the dedication the Saints would find themselves occupying a higher plane on the road to victory and final exaltation.
Elder B. H. Roberts, who had recently visited some of the distant stakes of Zion, said that some of these had paid toward the erection of the Temple double the portion that had been allotted to them. The speaker believed that the Saints, in return for their general liberality in this regard, would reap not only spiritual blessings, but great temporal prosperity. The dedication of the Temple will not only affect the Latter-day Saints, but mankind generally; for the world cannot shut its eyes to the fact that the Saints are earnest and sincere in their actions; otherwise why should they subscribe so liberally of their means towards the erection of an edifice which will bring them no worldly returns?
As the ruins of the temples erected by the ancient inhabitants of this land today testify of a God-fearing people, so will the Salt Lake Temple stand for centuries to come as a grand monument of the faith, union and unselfishness of the Saints of the latter days; and preach to the stranger who shall visit our beautiful valley in times to come, a sermon so powerful and convincing that thousands will acknowledge the hand of the Lord in connection with the labor performed by the Saints in these mountains, and lead them to embrace the truth. The speaker was happy to say that he was in full accord with his brethren of the First Presidency, the Apostles and the authorities of the Church generally.
We thank thee O God for a Prophet,
Was sung by the choir and congregation and benediction was offered by Elder Jesse W. Crosby, Jr.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 46:496-948, 4/8/93, p 16-18]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The choir and congregation sang:
We thank Thee, O God, for a
prophet, To guide us in these latter days.
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel, To lighten our minds with its rays.
Prayer by Elder Abraham H. Cannon.
Singing by the choir.
Behold the mountain of the Lord In latter days shall rise.
On mountain tops above the hills, And draw the wondering eyes.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John H. Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anton H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
The counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball and Rulon S. Wells.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church historian and general Church recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
At this point President Cannon remarked that as the Temple was now completed, there would be no need for any longer retaining the services of Elder Don Carlos Young as Church architect. It was due to him, however, that this Conference should accept his past labors as Church architect and tender him a hearty vote of confidence and esteem.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
The resignation of Amos Howe as a member of the Church Board of Education, tendered on account of failing health, was accepted by the Conference.
As the Church board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Tustcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee in Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
ELDER F. M. LYMAN
besought an interest in the faith and prayers of the congregation during the short time he addressed them. It was a great privilege, he said, to be in attendance at this conference -- one of the most important Conferences that had ever been held in the history of the Church. The Lord had sustained this great latter-day work up to the present time, and would continue to do so in the future, because it was His work, and by His own person and by His own voice he had introduced this Church to the children of men.
We had not to depend upon the Holy Scriptures of ancient times alone, upon those of modern times, or those of the Nephites. all these were as witnesses of God and to His work, and would not be sufficient to convince men of the truth of the Gospel or that God lives. This testimony could only be given by the Holy Ghost the Comforter and every true Latter-day Saint was entitled to enjoy it. the Holy Ghost had borne record in our souls and convinced us of these truths in answer to our prayers and obedience to the Gospel.
The trials through which the Saints passed form time to time were intended to test their faith and integrity, to purify our souls and increase in our hearts a knowledge of the wisdom of our Father in heaven. The reformation which was now needed in this Church was individual reformation whereby we could discover under the light of the Spirit of the Lord our weaknesses and imperfections, leading us on to better things.
The Latter-day Saints were looked upon by the world as an aggressive and something of a dangerous people, as being alien to the commonwealth of this country; but the aggression of which this Church had been guilty was of a peaceable character -- the preaching of the Gospel and the conversion of the honest in heart; and that was all they were seeking to do now. The work of the Latter-day Saints would be accomplished by reason, truth and the power of God, and not by the power and strength of men, not as one nation subdued another. No more peaceable people than this could be found in the whole world today. It was the duty of parents in Zion to so raise their children that they would continue steadfast in the faith and listen always to the promptings of the Spirit of the Lord. the Latter-day Saints should live strictly up to what they professed. They should be more strict in their family prayers, more regular in the attendance at meetings on the Sabbath day, and in partaking of the holy sacrament. They should strive to fulfill all their obligations faithfully, be honest in their dealings, and ever ready to forgive those who gave them offense.
The speaker laid special stress upon the importance of a good example on the part of parents towards their children; this was better than all the precept that could be laid down for the guidance of the young. We should shun every evil course and above all avoid those who indulged in profanity, intoxicating drink, or kept evil company. Unless we did this we could not faithfully serve our Father in heaven.
The Lord had graciously given us testimony after testimony of the truth of this work and the principles which He had revealed to us. Let us, then, honor Him and His laws, do His will, and listen carefully to His counsels and those of His servants.
Elder Lyman also spoke upon the subject of charity, and said we should seek to cheer and comfort and impart hope to those who were less fortunate in the affairs of life than ourselves. He prayed that the blessings of God might rest upon this people, and said it should be the pride of every one who entered the Temple to go thee with "a broken and contrite spirit," that the Lord might remain with them through their future lives.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
was the next speaker. He too, touched briefly on the subject of the Temple, and said that at this time many eyes were turned Zionward. To his mind the greatest missionary experience in the history of this church was taking place today, and he himself counseled the Saints so to live that they would be found walking in the path of eternal life.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
expressed the great pleasure which he felt in again meeting with the general body of Saints, after a lengthened absence. He presumed they all realized that we were engaged in a spiritual warfare; and it was very sweet and healthful to be associated together in our Conferences, where we come to hear the word of the Lord and to sit in judgment upon ourselves, trying to see how far we were in harmony with those principles which the Lord had revealed from the heavens. It was impossible to understand the things of God unless we possessed His Spirit, and this could only be obtained by diligent faith and prayer. When a man did not pray it was evident that he did not require anything at God's hands. There was no royal road to heaven; in this respect the king on the throne and the beggar in the street stood on equal terms. Unless we humbled ourselves and become even as a little child we could not enter the Kingdom of God. We could not expect the Lord to say to us "Well done good and faithful servant," if we failed to do His will.
In regard to the payment of tithing, the speaker urged the Saints to be strict in this regard. To whom did they pay their tithing? Why, to the Lord through His appointed agents or servants; and when he himself had done this he could say from his breast, "Father I have done Thy will." He bore his testimony to the truth of the establishment of the Church of Christ upon the earth and to the restoration of the everlasting Gospel, spoke of the unity which existed in the quorum of the Twelve, and counseled those who were about to go into the Temple to do so with the fear of the lord in their hearts. Then His richest blessings would attend them.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
Said he realized that there were a great many persons in this city waiting to go into the Temple in the day and time appointed unto them, and it was therefore deemed inadvisable to continue the present Conference in this building in view of the dedication services. The Lord had been very merciful unto this people, and he felt thoroughly satisfied that His blessing would be poured out in abundance upon all those who had responded to the call made upon them for assistance in finishing the Temple. He rejoiced in the blessings which the Saints had enjoyed upon the present occasion in listening to the testimonies of the Apostles and Elders of this Church; for he knew that each of those testimonies was true. He hoped and prayed that the Latter-day Saints would contemplate seriously all they had now heard, seek to live up to those counsels, and be true to the principles which they professed. Let us be steadfast to our religion. We were here upon a mission, and had been sent form the spirit world to do a work required of us by the Lord. He was thankful to have this opportunity of meeting once more with the people of God and looked forward with much joy and satisfaction to the approaching dedication. In conclusion President Woodruff prayed earnestly that the blessing of God would rest upon the Latter-day Saints from this time forth and for ever.
Benediction by President George Q. Cannon.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 46:948-499, 4/8/93, p 18-19]
OVERFLOW MEETING
held in the Assembly Hall, commencing at 2 p. m.
The choir and congregation sang:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation.
Prayer by Elder Solomon Hale.
The choir and congregation sang:
Hark, listen to the trumpeters.
ELDER SEYMOUR B YOUNG
presented the general authorities of the Church, who were unanimously sustained.
ELDER MATTHIAS F. COWLEY
exhorted the Saints to faithfulness and to renewed efforts in living their religion; to train their children in the fear of the Lord, attend to the practical duties of life, and sustain those whom he Lord has appointed as leaders in Israel.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG, JR.,
who had recently returned from a mission to the United States, bore a faithful testimony to the truth of the Gospel, and exhorted the Saints, particularly the young, to shape their course in accordance with the Gospel of Christ.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG
referred to the condition of the Saints when they first located in Great Salt Lake Valley many years ago, and how their settlements have increased in number since that time, until they now extend into Canada and Mexico. This was in fulfilment of prophesies uttered by President Brigham Young in an early day. In referring to the Temple building, in Nauvoo, the speaker referred to a desire expressed by the leaders of the Church that the mob might never be permitted to possess the building in peace. Soon afterwards it was burned and still later a hurricane blew the walls down thus preventing the wicked to use that sacred building for unholy purposes. In building houses of worship, the different Christian denominations have named a large number of their church edifices in honor of St. Peter, St. James, St. Paul and others; but not until the Latter-day Saints erected the Kirtland temple was there a building on the earth named for the Lord Jesus Christ. The speaker then referred to the marvelous manifestations of the power of God in that building in 1836, and read the 110th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. since the days of Kirtland the Latter-day Saints had been busily engaged in temple building; and when, a short time ago, there seemed to be danger of the Temple in this city being confiscated a general desire was manifested to hasten on its completion that it might be dedicated to the Lord and placed under His immediate protection. The time has now come that we shall have this privilege.
ELDER JAMES E. TALMAGE
testified to the good, heavenly influence which had predominated during this Conference. In his recent visit to the city of Rome where he had seen ruins of several ancient temples, the speaker had learned many things which had caused him deep reflection, when contrasting or comparing the superstitions and tradition of the ancient heathens with the faith and knowledge possessed by the Latter-day Saints. We should live in such a manner that there may be a continued communication between us and our Heavenly Father; that we may possess the degree of light and intelligence, and strength in times of temptation, to pursue our journey through life successfully.
APOSTLE A. H. CANNON
hoped the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation which had been manifested so abundantly during this Conference, and a short time preceding it, might continue its blessed operations throughout Israel. We should always be willing to forgive one another, and cultivate a spirit of charity toward the erring and weak; for by so doing we have claim upon the Lord that He will forgive us our trespasses. The Gospel which is preached by our missionaries throughout the world is a Gospel of repentance and forgiveness, a Gospel of peace, good will and charity toward all men; and we should ever abide in the spirit of that Gospel, which is the spirit of mercy and love, leading to lives everlasting. The speaker testified to the perfect union existing between the brethren constituting the general authorities of the Church at the present time, and hoped the same union would prevail throughout the whole Church.
The choir sang:
"Come all ye Saints of Zion."
Benediction by Elder Orson Smith.
_____
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 46:513-516, 4/8/93, p 1-4]
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
_____
The services of the Conference were continued this morning in the upper room of the Temple.
The Tabernacle choir sang the anthem:
Let all Israel join and sing.
(Music by Joseph J. Daynes; choristers led by Evan Stephens.)
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
Made brief appropriate remarks and then offered the
DEDICATORY PRAYER,
as follows:
Our Father in heaven, thou who hast created the heavens and the earth, and all things that are therein; thou most glorious One, perfect in mercy, love, and truth, we, thy children, come this day before thee, and in this house which we have built to thy most holy name, humbly plead the atoning blood of thine Only Begotten Son, that our sins may be remembered no more against us forever, but that our prayers may ascend unto thee and have free access to thy throne, that we may be heard in thy holy habitation. And may it graciously please thee to hearken unto our petitions, answer them according to thine infinite wisdom and love, and grant that the blessings which we seek may be bestowed upon us, even a hundred fold, inasmuch as we seek with purity of heart and fullness of purpose to do thy will and glorify thy name.
We thank thee, O thou Great Eloheim, that thou didst raise up thy servant, Joseph Smith through the loins of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and made him a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and through the assistance and administrations of angels from heaven, thou didst enable him to bring forth the Book of Mormon, the stick of Joseph, in the hand of Ephraim, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah and other prophets, which record has been translated and published in many languages. We also thank thee, our Father in heaven, that thou didst inspire thy servant and give him power on the earth to organize thy Church in this goodly land, in all its fullness, power and glory, with Apostles, Prophets, Pastors and Teachers, with all the gifts and graces belonging thereto, and all this by the power of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood, which thou didst bestow upon him by the administration of holy angels, who held that Priesthood in the days of the Savior. We thank thee, our God, that thou didst enable thy servant Joseph to build two temples, in which ordinances were administered for the living and the dead; that he also lived to send the gospel to the nations of the earth and to the islands of the sea, and labored exceedingly until he was martyred for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We also thank thee, O our Father in heaven, that thou didst raise up thy servant Brigham Young, who held the keys of the Priesthood on the earth for many years, and who led thy people to these valleys of the mountains, and laid the corner-stone of this great Temple and dedicated it unto thee; and who did direct the building of three other temples in these Rocky Mountains which have been dedicated unto thy holy name, in which temples many thousands of the living have been blessed and the dead redeemed.
Our Father in heaven, we are also thankful to thee for thy servant John Taylor, who followed in the footsteps of thy servant Brigham, until he laid down his life in exile.
Thou hast called thy servants Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith to hold the keys of the Presidency and priesthood this day, and for these shepherds of thy flock we feel to give thee thanksgiving and praise. thy servant Wilford is bound to acknowledge thy hand, O Father, in the preservation of his life from the hour of his birth to the present day. Nothing but thy power could have preserved him through that which he has passed during the eighty-six years that thou hast granted him life on the earth.
For the raising up of the Twelve Apostles, we also thank thee, our God, and for the perfect union which exists among us.
We thank thee, O Lord, for the perfect organizations of thy Church as they exist at the present time.
O Lord, we regard with intense and indescribable feelings the completion of this sacred house. Deign to accept this the fourth temple which thy covenant children have been assisted by thee in erecting in these mountains. In past ages thou didst inspire with thy Holy Spirit thy servants, the prophets, to speak of the time in the latter days when the mountain of the Lord's house should be established in the tops of the mountains, and should be exalted above the hills. We thank thee that we have had the glorious opportunity of contributing to the fulfillment of these visions of thine ancient seers, and that thou hast condescended to permit us to take part in the great work. And as this portion of thy servants' words has thus so marvelously been brought to pass, we pray thee, with increased faith and renewed hope, that all their words with regard to thy great work in gathering thine Israel and building up thy kingdom on earth in the last days may be as amply fulfilled, and that, O Lord, speedily.
We come before thee with joy and thanksgiving, with spirits jubilant and hearts filled with praise, that thou hast permitted us to see this day for which, during these forty years, we have hoped, and toiled, and prayed, when we can dedicate unto thee this house which we have built to thy most glorious name. One year ago we set the capstone with shouts of Hosanna to God and the Lamb. And today we dedicate the whole unto thee, with all that pertains unto it that it may be holy in thy sight; that it may be a house of prayer, a house of praise and of worship; that thy glory may rest upon it; that thy holy presence may be continually in it; that it may be the abode of thy Well-Beloved Son, our Savior; that the angels who stand before thy face may be the hallowed messengers who shall visit it, bearing to us thy wishes and thy will, that it may be sanctified and consecrated in all its parts holy unto thee, the God of Israel, the Almighty Ruler of Mankind. And we pray thee that all people who may enter upon the threshold of this, thine house, may feel thy power and be constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.
We pray thee, Heavenly Father, to accept this building in all its parts from foundation to capstone, with the statue that is on the latter placed, and all the finals and other ornaments that adorn its exterior. We pray thee to bless, that they decay not, all the walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, roofs and bridging, the elevators, stairways, railings and steps, the frames, doors, windows, and other openings, all things connected with the lighting, heating, and sanitary apparatus, the boilers, engines, and dynamos, the connecting pipes and wires, the lamps and burners, and all utensils, furniture and articles used in or connected with the holy ordinances administered in this house, the veils and the altars, the baptismal font and the oxen on which it rests, and all that pertains thereto, the baths, washstands and basins. Also the safes and vaults in which the records are preserved, with the records themselves, and all books, documents, and papers appertaining to the office of the recorder, likewise the library with all the books, maps, instruments, etc., that may belong thereto. We also present before thee, for thine acceptance, all the additions and buildings not forming a part of the main edifice, but being appendages thereto; and we pray thee to bless all the furniture, seats, cushions, curtains, hangings, locks, and fastenings, and multitudinous other appliances and appurtenances found in and belonging to this Temple and its annexes with all the work or ornamentation thereon, the painting and plastering, the gilding and bronzing, the fine work in wood and metal of every kind, the embroidery and needlework, the pictures and statuary, the carved work and canopies. Also the materials of which the buildings and their contents are made or composed-the rock, lime, mortar and plaster, the timbers and lath, the wood of various trees, the gold and silver, the brass and iron, and all other metals, the silk, wool, and cotton, the skins and furs, the glass, china, and precious stones, all these and all else herein we humbly present for thine acceptance and sanctifying blessing.
Our Father in heaven, we present before thee the altars which we have prepared for thy servants and handmaidens to receive their sealing blessings. We dedicate them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, unto thy most holy name, and we ask thee to sanctify these altars, that those who come unto them may feel the power of the Holy Ghost resting upon them, and realize the sacredness of the covenants they enter into. And we pray that our covenants and contracts which we make with thee and with each other may be directed by thy holy Spirit, be sacredly kept by us, and accepted by thee, and that all the blessings pronounced may be realized by all thy Saints who come to these altars, in the morning of the resurrection of the just.
O Lord, we pray thee to bless and sanctify the whole of this block or piece of ground on which these buildings stand, with the surrounding walls and fences, the walks, paths and ornamental beds, also the trees, plants, flowers and shrubbery that grow in its soil; may they bloom and blossom and become exceedingly beautiful and fragrant; and may thy Spirit dwell in the midst thereof, that this plot of ground may be a place of rest and peace, for holy meditation and inspired thought.
Preserve these buildings, we beseech thee, from injury or destruction by flood or fire; from the rage of the elements, the shafts of the vivid lightning, the overwhelming blasts of the hurricane, the flames of consuming fire, and the upheavals of the earth-quake, O Lord, protect them.
Bless, we pray thee, Heavenly Father, all who may be workers in this house. Remember continually thy servant who shall be appointed to preside within its walls; endow him richly with wisdom of the Holy Ones, with the spirit of his calling, with the power of his Priesthood, and with the gift of discernment. Bless, according to their calling, his assistants and all who are associated with him in the performance of the ordinances -- baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, sealings, endowments, and ordinations which are performed herein, that all that is done may be holy and acceptable unto thee, thou God of our salvation. Bless the recorders and copyists, that the records of the Temple may be kept perfect, and without omission and errors, and that they may also be accepted of thee. Bless, in their several positions, the engineers, watchmen, guards, and all others who have duties to perform in connection with the house, that they may perform them unto thee with an eye single to thy glory.
Remember also in thy mercy all those who have labored in the erection of this house, or who have, in any way, by their means or influence aided in its completion; may they in no wise lose their reward.
O thou God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whose God thou delightest to be called, we thank thee with all the fervor of overflowing gratitude that thou hast revealed the powers by which the hearts of the children are being turned to their fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children, that the sons of men, in all their generations can be made partakers of the glories and joys of the kingdom of heaven. Confirm upon us the spirit of Elijah, we pray thee, that we may thus redeem our dead and also connect ourselves with our fathers who have passed behind the veil, and furthermore seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection, that we who dwell on the earth may be bound to those who dwell in heaven. We thank thee for their sake who have finished their work in mortality, as well as for our own, that the prison doors have been opened, that deliverance has been proclaimed to the captive, and the bonds have been loosened from those who were bound. We praise thee that our fathers, from last to first, from now, back to the beginning, can be united with us in indissoluble links, welded by the Holy Priesthood, and that as one great family united in thee and cemented by thy power we shall together stand before thee, and by the power of the atoning blood of thy Son be delivered from all evil, be saved and sanctified, exalted and glorified. Wilt thou also permit holy messengers to visit us within these sacred walls and make known unto us with regard to the work we should perform in behalf of our dead. And, as thou has inclined the hearts of many who have not yet entered into covenant with thee to search out their progenitors, and in so doing they have traced the ancestry of many of thy Saints, we pray thee that thou wilt increase this desire in their bosoms, that they may in this way aid in the accomplishment of thy work. Bless them, we pray thee, in their labors, that they may not fall into errors in preparing their genealogies; and furthermore, we ask thee to open before them new avenues of information, and place in their hands the records of the past, that their work may not only be correct but complete also.
O thou Great Father of the spirits of all flesh, graciously bless and fully qualify those upon whom thou hast placed a portion of thine authority, and who bear the responsibilities and powers of the priesthood which is after the order of thy Son. Bless them all from first to last from thy servant who represents thee in all the world to the latest who has been ordained to the Deacon's office. Upon each and all confer the spirit of their calling, with a comprehension of its duties and a loving zeal to fulfill them. Endow them with faith, patience and understanding. May their lives be strong in virtue and adorned with humility; may their ministrations be effectual, their prayers be availing and their teachings the path of salvation. May they be united by the Spirit and power of God in all their labors, and in every thought, word and act, may they glorify thy name and vindicate the wisdom that has made them kings and priests unto thee.
For thy servants of the First Presidency of the Church we first of all pray. Reveal, in great clearness, thy mind and will unto them in all things essential for the welfare of thy people; give them heavenly wisdom, abounding faith, and the power and gifts necessary to enable them to preside acceptably unto thee over the officers and members of thy Church. Remember in love thy servant whom thou hast called to be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to all mankind, whose days have been many upon the earth; yet lengthen out his span of mortal life, we pray thee, and grant unto him all the powers and gifts, in their completeness, of the office thou hast conferred upon him; and in like manner bless his associates in the Presidency of thy Church.
Confer upon thy servants, the Twelve Apostles, a rich endowment of thy Spirit. Under their guidance may the gospel of the kingdom go forth into all the world, to be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that the honest in heart in every land may hear the glad tidings of joy and salvation. Overrule, we pray thee, in the midst of the governments of the earth, that the barriers that now stand in the way of the spread of thy truths may be removed, and liberty of conscience be accorded to all peoples.
Remember in loving kindness thy servants, the Patriarchs. May they be full of blessings for thy people Israel. May they bear with them the seeds of comfort and consolation, of encouragement and blessing. Fill them with the Holy Spirit of promise, and be graciously pleased to fulfill their words of prophecy, that thy name may be extolled by the people of thy Church and their faith in thee and in the promises of thy ministering servants be increasingly strengthened.
With thy servants of the Twelve, bless their associates, the Seventies; may they be powerful in the preaching of thy word and in bearing it to the four quarters of the earth. May an ever-widening way be opened before them until they shall have raised the gospel standard in every land and proclaimed its saving truths in every tongue, that all the islands and the continents may rejoice in the testimony of the great work thou art in these later days performing on the earth.
Bless abundantly, O Lord, the High Priests in all the varied duties and positions to which thou hast called them. As standing ministers of thy word in the multiplying Stakes of Zion wilt thou endow them richly with the spirit of their exalted callings. As Presidents, Counselors, Bishops, members of High Councils, and in every other office which their Priesthood gives them the right to fill may they be righteous ministers of thy holy law, loving fathers of the people, and as judges in the midst of the Saints may they deal out just and impartial judgment tempered with mercy and love.
So also, in their various callings, confer precious gifts of wisdom, faith and knowledge upon thy servants, the Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons, that all may diligently perform their parts in the glorious labors thou hast called thy Priesthood to bear.
Forget not, we beseech thee, thy servants the missionaries, who are proclaiming the saving truths that thou hast revealed for man's redemption to the millions who are now overshadowed by deep spiritual darkness. Preserve them from all evil, deliver them from mob violence, may they want no good thing, but be greatly blessed with the gifts and powers of their ministry. Remember also their families, that they may be sustained and comforted by thee and be cherished and cared for by thy Saints.
We pray thee for the members of thy Holy Church throughout all the world, that thy people may be so guided and governed of thee, that all who profess to be and call themselves Saints may be preserved in the unity of the faith, in the way of truth, in the bonds of peace, and in holiness of life. Strengthen the weak, we pray thee, and impart thy Spirit unto all.
Our Father, may peace abide in all the homes of thy Saints; may holy angels guard them; may they be encompassed by thine arms of love; may prosperity shine upon them, and may the tempter and the destroyer be removed far from them. May the days of thy covenant people be lengthened out in righteousness, and sickness and disease be rebuked from their midst. May the land they inhabit be made fruitful by thy grace, may its waters be increased and the climate be tempered to the comfort and need of thy people; may drought, devastating storms, cyclones, and hurricanes be kept afar off, and earthquakes never disturb the land which thou hast given us. May locusts, caterpillars and other insects not destroy our garden and desolate our fields; but may we be a people blessed of thee in our bodies and spirits, in our homes and habitations, in our flocks and herds, in ourselves and our posterity, and in all that thou hast made us stewards over.
Now we pray for the youth of Zion-the children of thy people; endow them richly with the spirit of faith and righteousness and with increasing love for thee and for thy law. Prosper all the institutions that thou hast established in our midst for their well-being. Give to our Church Schools an ever-increasing power for good. May the Holy Spirit dominate the teachings given therein and also control the hearts and illumine the minds of the students. Bless marvelously thy servants, the General Superintendent, and all the principals, teachers and other officers, and also those from the General Board of Education of thy Church. Remember, likewise in thy loving kindness the Sunday Schools, with all who, either as teachers or scholars, belong thereto; may the influence of the instruction given therein broaden and deepen, to thy glory and the salvation of thy children, until the perfect day. Bless the members of the General Board of the Deseret Sunday School Union with the wisdom necessary for the proper fulfillment of their duties, and for the accomplishment of the purposes for which this board was created.
We also uphold before thee the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, with all their officers, general and local, and the members. May they be prospered of thee, their membership be enlarged, and the good that they accomplish increase with every succeeding year. For the Primaries and Religion Classes we also seek thy constant blessing and guiding care; may the spirit of instruction be poured out upon the presidents and associate officers and the teachers. May they keep peace with the rest of the educational establishments in thy Church; so that from their earliest years our children may be diligently brought up in the ways of the Lord, and thy name be magnified in their growth in virtue and intelligence.
Nor would we forget, O Lord, the normal training classes among thy people, whether these classes be connected with the Church Schools, the Improvement Associations, or the Sunday Schools. Grant that these classes may be the means of spreading true education throughout all the borders of the Saints by the creation of a body of teachers who will not only be possessed of rare intelligence but be filled also with the spirit of the gospel and be powerful in the testimony of thy truth and in implanting a love for thee and thy works in the hearts of all whom they instruct.
We would hold up before thee, O Lord, the Relief Societies, with all their members; and all those who preside in their midst according to their callings and appointments, general or local. Bless the Teachers in their labors of mercy and charity, who, as ministering angels, visit the homes of the sick and the needy, bearing succor, consolation and comfort to the unfortunate and sorrowful. And bless, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, the poor of thy people, that the cry of want and suffering may not ascend unto thee from the midst of thy Saints whom thou hast blessed so abundantly with the comforts of this world. Open up new avenues by which the needy can obtain a livelihood by honest industry, and also incline the hearts of those blessed more abundantly, to give generously of their substance in this respect, less favored brethren and sisters, that thou mayest not have reason to chide us for the neglect of even the least among thy covenant children.
O God of Israel, turn thy face, we pray thee, in loving kindness toward thy stricken people of the House of Judah. Oh, deliver them from those that oppress them. Heal up their wounds, comfort their hearts, strengthen their feet, and give them ministers after thine own heart who shall lead them as of old, in thy way. May the days of their tribulation soon cease, and they be planted by thee in the valleys and plains of their ancient home; and may Jerusalem rejoice and Judea be glad for the multitude of her sons and daughters, for the sweet voices of children in her streets, and the rich outpouring of thy saving mercies upon them. May Israel no more bow the head, or bend the neck to the oppressor, but may his feet be made strong on the everlasting hills, never more, by violence, to be banished therefrom, and the praise and the glory shall be thine.
Remember in like pity the dwindling remnants of the House of Israel, descendants of thy servant Lehi. Restore them we pray thee, to thine ancient favor, fulfill in their completeness the promises given to their fathers, and make of them a white and delightsome race, a loved and holy people as in former days. May the time also be nigh at hand when thou wilt gather the dispersed of Israel from the islands of the sea and from every land in which thou hast scattered them, and the ten tribes of Jacob from their hiding place in the north, and restore them to communion and fellowship with their kinsmen of the seed of Abraham.
We thank thee, O God of Israel, that thou didst raise up patriotic men to lay the foundation of this great American government. thou didst inspire them to frame a good constitution and laws which guarantee to all of the inhabitants of the land equal rights and privileges to worship thee according to the dictates of their own consciences. Bless the officers, both judicial and executive. Confer abundant favors upon the President, his Cabinet, and Congress. Enlightened and guided by thy Spirit may they maintain and uphold the glorious principles of human liberty. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to thee, our Father in heaven, for thy kindness unto us in softening the hearts of our fellow citizens, the people of this nation, toward us. That which thou hast done has been marvelous in our eyes. We thank thee that thou didst move upon the heart of the President of our nation to issue a general amnesty. thou hast removed prejudice and misunderstanding from the minds of many of the people concerning us and our purposes, and they are disposed to treat us as fellow citizens, and not as enemies. In this holy house we feel to give thee glory therefore, and we humbly ask thee to increase this feeling in their hearts. Enable them to see us in our true light. Show unto them that we are their friends, that we love liberty, that we will join with them in upholding the rights of the people, the Constitution and laws of our country; and give unto us and our children an increased disposition to always be loyal, and to do everything in our power to maintain Constitutional rights and the freedom of all within the confines of this great Republic.
Remember in mercy, O Lord, the kings, the princes, the nobles the rulers, and governors and the great ones of the earth, and likewise all the poor, the afflicted and the oppressed, and indeed, all people, that their hearts may be softened when thy servants go forth to bear testimony of thy name, that their prejudices may give way before the truth, and thy people find favor in their eyes. So control the affairs of the nations of the earth, that the way be prepared for the ushering in of a reign of righteousness and truth. We desire to see liberty spread throughout the earth, to see oppression cease, the yoke of the tyrant broken, and every despotic form of government overthrown by which thy children are degraded and crushed, and prevented from enjoying their share of the blessings of the earth, which thou hast created for their habitation.
O God, the Eternal Father, thou knowest all things. thou seest the course thy people have been led to take in political matters. They have, in many instances, joined the two great national parties. Campaigns have been entered upon, elections have been held, and much party feeling has been engendered. Many things have been said and done which have wounded the feelings of the humble and the meek, and which have been a cause of offense. We beseech thee, in thine infinite mercy and goodness, to forgive thy people wherein they have sinned in this direction. Show them, O Father, their faults and their errors, that they may see the same in the light of thy Holy Spirit, and repent truly and sincerely, and cultivate that spirit of affection and love which thou art desirous that all the children of men should entertain one for another, and which thy Saints, above all others, should cherish. Enable thy people hereafter to avoid bitterness and strife, and to refrain from words and acts in political discussions that shall create feeling and grieve thy Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, when thy people shall not have the opportunity of entering this holy house to offer their supplications unto thee, and they are oppressed and in trouble, surrounded by difficulties or assailed by temptation and shall turn their faces towards this thy holy house and ask thee for deliverance, for help, for thy power to be extended in their behalf, we beseech thee, to look down from thy holy habitation in mercy and tender compassion upon them, and listen to their cries. Or when the children of thy people, in years to come, shall be separated, through any cause, from this place, and their hearts shall turn in remembrance of thy promises to this holy Temple, and they shall cry unto thee from the depths of their affliction and sorrow to extend relief and deliverance to them, we humbly entreat thee to Turn thine ear in mercy to them; hearken to their cries, and grant unto them the blessings for which they ask.
Almighty Father, increase within us the powers of that faith delivered to and possessed by thy Saints. Strengthen us by the memories of the glorious deliverances of the past, by the remembrance of the sacred covenants that thou hast made with us, so that, when evil overshadows us, when trouble encompasses us, when we pass through the valley of humiliation, we may not falter, may not doubt, but in the strength of thy Holy name may accomplish all thy righteous purposes with regard to us, fill the measure of our creation, and triumph gloriously, by thy grace, over every besetting sin, be redeemed from every evil, and be numbered in the kingdom of heaven amongst those who shall dwell in thy presence forever.
And now, our Father, we bless thee, we praise thee, we glorify thee, we worship thee, day by day we magnify thee, and give thee thanks for thy great goodness towards us, thy children, and we pray thee, in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Savior, to hear these our humble petitions, and answer us from heaven, thy holy dwelling place, where thou sittest enthroned in glory, might, majesty, and dominion, and with an infinitude of power which we, thy mortal creatures, cannot imagine, much less comprehend. Amen and Amen.
After the prayer the whole assemblage joined in the holy "Hosanna shout," as follows:
"Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna, to God and the Lamb, Amen, Amen, Amen." This sacred exercise was accompanied by simultaneous waving of handkerchiefs by all the people assembled.
The Hosanna anthem, (composed for the dedication by Evan Stephens) was sung by the choir, and, following directly after it, the assemblage joined in singing "The spirit of God like a Fire is Burning."
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
Addressed the congregation. His remarks were in harmony with the great occasion. They were not only instructive, but of such a character as to afford comfort and consolation to the Saints, pointing their minds to a brighter day in the future than they had ever yet beheld.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
spoke words of comfort for the people of Zion, and uttered a prophecy concerning the future of the people of God.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
spoke of the great amount of work that had been doe upon the Temple since April, 1892. It had been accomplished by the labor and offerings of the Saints. He also alluded in terms of commendation to the efficient services of Architect Joseph Don Carlos Young, and the assiduous labors, faith, persistency and watchfulness of Bishop John r. Winder, who was entitled to the gratitude and blessing of the whole people, and he, the speaker, pronounced a blessing upon him to endure in time and eternity. President Smith next spoke of the united condition of the Priesthood and of the nature of his feelings, which were deeply stirred and many of the congregation were also moved to tears. In response to a request made by him for an expression as to whether those present felt that the Lord had accepted of the house dedicated to Him, a tremendous and unanimous shout was given.
The Spirit of God filled the house during the services.
The choir sang the anthem Arise ye Saints," (words by Dannettie Smith, music by C. J. Thomas).
Benediction by President Lorenzo Snow.
[Services were continued in the Temple each day until April 24, after which Conference adjourned for six months]
_____
6-8 Oct 1893, 63rd
Semi-Annual Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[6 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 47:520-521, 10/14/93, p 8-9]
SEMI-ANNUAL
CONFERENCE.
_____
The Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, 1893.
The following were on the stand: Of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John Smith; of the Presidency of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, John Morgan, George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston and John R. Winder. There were also many Presidents of Stakes and other leading Elders from all parts of Utah and surrounding states and territories.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come let us anew our journey
pursue, Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
The opening prayer was offered by Elder Brigham Young.
Singing by the choir:
For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, Our God, our Father's God.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
Delivered the opening discourse. He treated instructively upon a variety of subjects. His opening remarks were devoted to the financial affairs of the Saints, and he made special reference to the establishment of the sugar factory. The favorable change of sentiment among the people of the world, especially those of our own nation, was spoken of. The remainder of the discourse was devoted to the question of missionary work in this country and abroad in all the nations of the earth. The speaker predicted many good things concerning Zion.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 47:577, 10/28/93, p 1; CD 3:356-361]
REMARKS
MADE BY PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON,
At the Opening of the Sixty-fourth [63rd]Semi-Annual
Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, Friday Morning, October 6th, 1893.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
By
request of President Woodruff, I arise to make the opening remarks to the
Conference. This is our Sixty-fourth [63rd] semi-annual Conference, and we meet
together this morning under circumstances that, in some respects at least, are
exceedingly favorable to us as a people. We have our trials and our
difficulties to contend with and overcome; but we are in a state of probation,
and it is not to be expected that we shall be free from the ills that trouble
humanity and that are consequent upon an earthly existence; in fact, as
Latter-day Saints, we have been assured, among other things, that we should
have trials to contend with, and they would come in various forms, to test our
faith, to prove us and to give us that experience which is so necessary for us
in our future careers.
We have
had, since we last met, considerable trouble in financial matters. You all are
doubtless aware of this. You have no doubt felt it individually, as we have
felt it as a Church. Probably at no time in our previous experience have we had
to contend with pecuniary embarrassments as we have had of late. It is not
necessary that we should dwell upon the causes that have produced these
embarrassments; they are familiar to you all. You know the burdens that the
Church has had to bear. But the people, in very many instances, have responded
willingly to the calls that have been made upon them. We know of brethren who
have run in debt in order to furnish means that they subscribed for the
completion of the Temple, and the burden was borne, I may say, joyfully by the
brethren and sisters. We resolved that with the help of God we would finish the
Temple and dedicate it to the Most High on the sixth day of April, 1893. The
Lord helped us to keep that resolve and He abundantly poured out His Holy
Spirit upon us, in testimony of His acceptance of that glorious work. But the
people have felt this burden-that is, they have felt the debts that they have
been compelled to incur. The Church collectively, represented by the
trustee-in-trust, has also felt this. Nevertheless we have been greatly blessed
in having abundance of food in our valleys, and sufficient shelter, and
comfortable houses in which to dwell. Contrasting our circumstances in these
days with the past, we have abundant cause for thanksgiving and for glorifying
our God.
It is
very interesting to see the favorable condition of affairs abroad, so far as we
are concerned. The wrath of man has been turned aside from the people of God.
Who could have thought a few years ago, when we were surrounded, it might be
said, by a feeling of intense enmity and hatred, and a spirit that seemed
anxious for our destruction, that such a wonderful change would occur within so
short a period in regard to public opinion? The recent visit of the choir to
Chicago, with the First Presidency, has been most gratifying in its results. I
believe it has done more good than the preaching of a large number of Elders
could have done, and we were received with the utmost consideration and
kindness. I cannot mention anything that is more illustrative of the changed
feeling than to state that the House of Representatives has passed the bill
returning to the Church its personal property. This shows the disposition that
is being manifested to treat us with that consideration and fairness with which
other citizens of the Republic are treated. Well, we can praise our God for His
mercy and kindness to us, because this is in fulfillment of the promises which
He has made. He has told us that when we should pass through the deep waters He
would be with us, and He would sustain and deliver us; and we this day, in this
conference, can praise and glorify His name with all our hearts for having
fulfilled His promises to us. We are living evidences of the truth of that
which He has told us.
Throughout
our valleys we have reasonably good crops. In some places they may be a little
short; but there has enough been raised to sustain us and all who are dependent
upon us, including our flocks and our herds. I do hope, as we all must, that
throughout all these valleys no cry of distress shall ascend to God our eternal
Father, not even from an animal; but that we will administer of that which the
Lord has given to us to supply the wants of all the children of men who may be
brought in contact with us and be destitute, and especially to those who belong
to the household of faith. Our Teachers, our Bishops and our Relief Societies
should take great pains to see that there is no want, and that there will be no
want this winter, for fuel, for shelter, for food or for necessary clothing. We
can in no way better show our gratitude to our Father in heaven for that which
He has done for us than by administering to our fellow creatures; for if we do
not love our brother whom we have seen, how can we love God, whom we have not
seen? How can we better show our love for our great Creator than by taking care
of His children, and thus return to them, in some measure, the kindness that He
has shown to us?
We have,
as you know, done all in our power to promote the manufacture of sugar in our
Territory. The First Presidency and Twelve have taken upon themselves
individually, as well as in their organized capacity, very heavy burdens in
order to carry this project out. We were impressed and impelled to do this by
the manifestations of the Spirit of God through our President and to each one
of us who received that testimony. We felt that this was right, that it was an
enterprise that should be taken hold of; and though we have had many obstacles
to contend with, the greatest of which has been the difficulty of raising
money, nevertheless we have carried the load as best we could, and we have the
gratification this season of feeling that the Lord has been very kind indeed to
His people. He has blessed their fields. He has blessed the crops of beets. We
are told that they are yielding very generously of saccharine matter, and that
the prospect is we shall have good returns in sugar, and begin to be able to
meet the obligations which rest upon us. We want to speak favorably of this
enterprise. We want to urge it upon the Latter-day Saints. We want to say
everything in its favor to sustain it and make it a success, to furnish
employment to our people, and to give our farmers remuneration for their labor,
helping them to produce a crop for which they will receive money, and also save
the money at home that would otherwise go out of our Territory for the purchase
of sugar. This is the true policy. It is the true way to build up Zion.
We must
turn our attention to these matters and discard all foolish theories and all
unwise conduct. There has been a great deal of it in this country about this
sugar factory. It has been dragged down into politics -- a thing that ought
never to be done. We want to lift it out of that. We want to look at these
matters as servants and Saints of God and when God tells us to do a thing, to
do it. God has called us to build up Zion in the earth, and He will build it up
in His own way, and not according to the theories of man. It is our duty, when
He gives us a command, to go to with our might and fulfill that command. If we
do that, He will always stand by us, and sustain us, and carry us off
triumphant over every obstacle.
I rejoice
this morning in being able to make this statement concerning our sugar factory.
The prospects for it are good, and we need the means that the sale of the sugar
will produce. If we could manufacture enough to supply our entire Territory, it
would be a grand thing for us, and for the entire country also. We hope that
you will all take hold of this, buy the stock, and help carry the load, and not
leave it on the shoulders of the few.
Our
missions in foreign lands and in the United States are, generally speaking, in
a good condition. There are 120 Elders in the Southern states alone, and they
are laboring effectively. There are no mobbings to speak of, and the Elders are
doing very well and escape violence. In the Northern states also there is a
great deal of good being done, the missionaries being diligent and active.
There is
this difficulty, however, in all our missions: It is hard for the Elders to
sustain themselves. Some of them do so who have means, but the cry comes from
our missions that unless help is rendered, experienced men will have to come
home. Of course, this means the payment of their passage home, and also the
payment of the passage of others to fill their places who are not so well
qualified through experience. Letters have been written by the presidents of
missions to the Bishops and others, asking for help to be rendered, that they might
be able to keep these men of experience in the field; but the response from
home generally has been that they cannot do it. We should, if possible, avoid
the release of men who are capable until they have filled their missions. You
know, brethren and sisters, that there are many men whose best field is the
missionary field, whose greatest influence is in preaching the Gospel. Many of
them are not good managers at home; they do not seem to have a gift for
financial matters; but you give them a mission, and they are successful in
preaching the Gospel, in warning the people, and in gathering out the honest in
heart. Where there are such men in the field, they should be sustained there.
Efforts should be made to keep them at that which they are best qualified to
do, and not compel them to return and struggle at home.
The work
is doing excellently in northern Sweden. We hear of a great many baptisms in
that region. In Norway also the people are favorably disposed to the work of
God and are willing to hear the Elders. In the Netherlands there are good
openings, but there are no men scarcely to fill the openings, very few among us
being able to speak the Dutch language.
The field
in Germany is an extensive one; but the restrictions there interfere seriously
with the spread of the Gospel, though these are in some places gradually
becoming milder. In Hamburg the work is progressing. It is a remarkable fact,
worthy of note, that during the prevalence of the cholera in that city, though
the Latter-day Saints worked alongside of people who were stricken down with
that dreadful disease, not one of their number fell a victim to its ravages.
The blessing of the Lord appeared to rest upon the Saints, and through faith
they escaped. My son David, who died a year ago in Germany while laboring in
the ministry, opened up a region for the preaching of the Gospel where the
Elders are laboring now with considerable prospect of success, many souls
having been gathered into the fold. Throughout the Swiss and German mission the
feeling is hopeful, and the brethren are encouraged.
France
has scarcely been warned. It is true there have been missions in Paris; but
there are parts of France which our Elders have never visited, Spain remains
yet untouched; no Elders have entered Spain or Portugal, and there are souls
there to be saved.
Our young
men should pay some attention to the acquirement of languages. God has said
that He will give unto us the gift of tongues for this purpose, and the gift of
interpretation of tongues, and I know that these gifts can be obtained if they
are sought for. Our youth should be learning every language that is spoken by
human beings, so that we may have men among us that would be able to go to any
of the countries of Europe-Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Scandinavia,
Holland, Italy, etc., and preach the Gospel of the Son of God. Here is Japan
stretching out her hand for knowledge. We have not an Elder to go to Japan. So
with the rest of Asia. Nearly the whole of the continent of Asia without
Elders, and the people perishing for the want of that Word which God has given
unto us! They are clamoring in their souls, doubtless, as you aged men and
women clamored in your youth; praying to God for the truth. The condition of
the world should appeal to us, and our young men should be trained to speak the
various languages. Here to the south of us is a whole continent of
Spanish-speaking people. We need hundreds of Elders-thousands I might say-to
visit these foreign lands and open the Gospel to the thousands and millions who
are sitting in darkness and who have not that peace and heavenly joy that we
rejoice in. When I think of it, I feel as though I would like to have the
privilege of going out and carrying this Gospel of salvation to these people.
The greatest joy of my life has been to preach the Gospel. I would like to go
to new fields. I have wanted for years to go to Japan. Years ago, if
circumstances had allowed, I would have volunteered to go. Attention should be
paid to these things and our brethren should seek to qualify their sons for
usefulness in building up Zion by giving them suitable advantages as fast as
they can, and our daughters also should devote attention to these various
languages.
We have
three Elders in Turkey, two of them laboring in Asia Minor and one in Damascus;
and they have opportunities there of preaching and baptizing. But how few there
are to do this! The field is wide, the harvest is a great one, but how few the
laborers are! So it is throughout the United States. So it is in England. I was
in London a little while ago. I saw a most excellent opportunity there, it
seemed to me, for the preaching of the Gospel in a way that it had never been
preached in England-that is, among those who are termed the better class. There
was an interest manifested in our affairs that spoke well for the disposition
to listen to the Elders preach. But our meeting houses and surroundings, both
in London and Liverpool, are not of such a character as to invite this class of
people to visit them, because they are not suited to their ideas for the
preaching of the Gospel. I was only there for a very short time, but I felt
while there that the field was an excellent one. I believe it is so in other
places in Great Britain. The trouble is, many Elders go out who are unsuited
for the labor. A good man, energetic and capable, will always do a good work;
while others, with equal opportunities, are failures, not being adapted to it.
I saw that while I was there. This is the case in all kinds of labor; it is so
in the preaching of the Gospel. We hear a great deal about the failure of
Elders in places. It is true that the people are hard in their hearts, and they
are slow to listen to the truth. But there are ways of bringing it before them
which, if employed, would result, in my opinion, in great success. I returned
from California yesterday, where I went for a few days on business. It is a
field with which I am very familiar; for I labored there for some years. I
thought I could see some of the causes why there was not more success in
California. It is a field, probably more than any other, which for palpable
reasons, requires men of peculiar fitness and aptitude. I have no doubt the
Elders there are doing the best they can, but they need experience.
But the
Gospel is being preached. Zion is being advertised. The nations of the earth
are hearing about Zion. Our own nation is learning considerably about her. The
visit of the choir, to which I have alluded, has been productive of great
results. I believe we will feel the effect of it in years to come. Everything,
I may say, is encouraging. We are passing through a trial now, just as we have
passed through other trials; but if we have been guilty of folly in monetary
matters, let us repent before the Lord-repent of our extravagance, of our want
of wisdom, of our disposition to speculate. Where we have indulged in these
things, let us repent with all our hearts and implore the blessing and
forgiveness of God upon us. I say to you there are good days coming. There are
bright days in the future for Zion. We are advancing, and I have nothing but
good to say, I have nothing but encouragement for the people of God. We may be
pinched now; but we have been before. We have been pinched in far worse
circumstances than we are now. Let us be thankful that affairs are in as good a
condition as we find them, and let us try and improve. Let us bear with each
other. Where men owe their brethren or their sisters, let them pay as fast as
they can, and let the creditors be patient. We will all come out right. We will
pay our debts, we will save our credit and our honor, as a people and as
individuals. I promise you this, in the name of the Lord, if you will do right
and put your trust in God, who has never yet failed us.
I have
not alluded to the Pacific Islands. There the Elders are doing excellently. On
the Sandwich Islands, the Samoan and Friendly Islands and in New Zealand and
Australia the Elders are having souls given to them as a reward for their
labors. The Society Islands have been visited by Brother James S. Brown and his
son and other Elders. There were a great many baptized on those islands a long
time ago. There was a mission sent from Nauvoo, led by Noah Rogers, Addison
Pratt, Benjamin F. Grouard and Knowlton F. Hanks. These Elders carried the
Gospel there and thousands were baptized; but they have been left to themselves
to a great extent, and others have gone in and endeavored to seduce them from
the path. The prospects are, however, that our young Elders who are there, and
who are acquiring the language, will do a good work. We hope to save a remnant
of the Polynesian races from the various islands, to be numbered among the
people of God in Zion.
I pray
God that during this conference both speakers and hearers may be filled with
the Spirit and power of God, and that the word of God which is adapted to us
may be given to His servants to give unto us. I also pray God to bless in an
especial manner President Woodruff, to fill him with life and health, and to
make him strong. His visit to Chicago, I believe, restored him to the condition
of health that he had at the Dedication. But he is suffering a little from cold
now, and I pray that he with the rest of us may be blessed with life and health
in the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW
was the next speaker. the following is a brief summary of his remarks.
There never was a day since the organization of the Church that the Saints had more cause to rejoice than now. The Lord had been with us from the time the Church was founded. He accomplished all for us that we could have reasonably anticipated. Tribulation has been the experience of the people of God and He designed that it should be so. Before we came to this probationary life we, doubtless, foresaw that conditions here would be in many respects unpleasant. Trials and afflictions, if we might so call them, were necessary for our future exaltation. It had seemed at times as if we could scarcely endure them without murmuring, but God gave us strength to pass through them unscathed. It appeared to be needful that the Captain of our Salvation had to endure trials, and even He, great as he was, found some difficulty in enduring them. His immeasurable distress in the garden of Gethsemane illustrates this. He said clearly what he would have to undergo. His feelings were so excruciating that He sweat, as it were, great drops of blood, and an angel was sent to give him encouragement and strength.
A great change had come over the feelings of the people of the world in reference to us -- especially with the people of our nation. This has been brought about by the Lord. The work that had been accomplished in the nations had been wonderful, by the preaching of the Gospel by the Elders. Besides, during the last few months a great work had been done for the redemption of the dead. Many thousands had been officiated for in the Temples. The great bulk of those who were in the spirit world for whom the work had been done would receive the truth. The conditions for the spirits of the dead receiving the testimony of Jesus in the spirit world were a thousand times more favorable than they were here in this life. Those who labored in this glorious work to redeem the dead were in a degree saviors of their dead kindred.
It was pleasant to have all worldly concerns go forward agreeably, yet the Kingdom of God was not meat nor drink, but righteousness. As a people we did some things that we became ashamed of. If we repented the Lord would forgive us. In most things we had acted like the wise man of the parable who built his house upon a rock. We had built upon the rock of revelation. This being the case, as Christ said to Peter on a certain occasion -- as a church the gates of hell would not have power to prevail against us. Our prospect was grand and glorious. In the future life we would have our families -- our wives and children. Even if they did not follow our counsels, if we shall be successful in gaining exaltation we would eventually have them, for they will be where we shall be. The Gospel was comprehensive and through that divine system all the sons and daughters of men would be saved to some degree, with the exception of comparatively a very few. The difficulties of our present life perplexed us now, but they ought not to disturb us to any extent, because of the greatness of our promised reward. We could afford, for the sake of what God had promised to the faithful, to sacrifice everything of a worldly character.
The speaker drew a contrast between the conditions of the time when President Woodruff and others went to Independence, Missouri, in 1844, and the situation now. Then the lives of the brethren were endangered by threatening mobs, while during the recent visit to Independence of President Woodruff and his counselors, they were received with great cordiality and treated with respect and consideration. The change was significant as relating to the anticipated future return of the Saints to the center location of Zion. The speaker concluded by praying God to bless all the people.
[Lorenzo Snow]
[DNW 47:609, 11/4/93, p 1; CD 3:362-365]
DISCOURSE
DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW,
At the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday morning, October 6, 1893.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
President
George Q. Cannon's remarks this morning were full of comfort and consolation.
The ideas that he has presented are true. There never was a day since the
organization of this Church when the Latter-day Saints had more cause to
rejoice than they have today. The Church was organized over sixty-three years
ago, and from that day to the present the Lord has been with us. His
manifestations have been our experiences, and He has accomplished in our favor
all that any Latter-day Saint ever did or could anticipate. His glory has been
upon us, as a people and as individuals. As President Cannon has said, trials
and tribulations have been the experience of the Latter-day Saints. God so
designed that it should be. I daresay that in the spirit world, when it was
proposed to us to come into this probation, and pass through the experience
that we are now receiving, it was not altogether pleasant and agreeable; the
prospects were not so delightful in all respects as might have been desired.
Yet there is no doubt that we saw and understood clearly there that, in order
to accomplish our exaltation and glory, this was a necessary experience; and
however disagreeable it might have appeared to us, we were willing to conform
to the will of God, and consequently we are here.
From the
time of our receiving the Gospel to the present, the Lord has from time to time
given us trials and afflictions, if we may so call them; and sometimes these
trials have been of that nature that we have found it very difficult to receive
them without murmur and complaint. Yet at such times the Lord blessed us and
gave us sufficient of His Spirit to enable us to overcome the temptations and
endure the trials. In going through these trials and troubles we are doing no
more than did the captain of our salvation. We are told by the Apostle Paul
that He was made perfect through sufferings. And even He, the Son of God, at
times found it very difficult. For example, in the garden of Gethsemane, when
the time approached that He was to pass through the severest affliction that
any mortal ever did pass through. He undoubtedly had seen persons nailed to the
cross, because that method of execution was common at that time, and He
understood the torture that such persons experienced for hours. He went by Himself
in the garden and prayed to His Father, if it were possible, that that cup
might pass from Him; and His feelings were such that He sweat great drops of
blood, and in His agony there was an angel sent to give Him comfort and
strength. Even the Son of God required miraculous help under those
extraordinary circumstances. So we have needed it at times, and so we may in
the future. Some of us have had this divine help under peculiar circumstances.
God has
wonderfully blessed Zion. It is remarkable the change that has occurred in our
favor in the estimation of the inhabitants of the earth, especially the people
of our own nation. The course that has been taken by the House of
Representatives within the last few days, compared with their action a few years
ago, is amazing. It is God that has effected this change, because He is
disposed to favor Zion, and because through our suffering in the past we have
secured His favor, and He is determined to assist us and accomplish His purpose
in regard to our redemption.
The work
that has been accomplished in the nations of the earth and the islands of the
sea is grand and glorious. And this is not all; within the last few months
thousands of persons in the spirit world have been placed in a condition that
they may receive the word of God and be saved, through the ordinances that have
been administered in these four temples in this Territory. A wonderful work is
being accomplished in our temples in favor of the spirits in prison. I believe,
strongly too, that when the Gospel is preached to the spirits in prison, the
success attending that preaching will be far greater than that attending the
preaching of our Elders in this life. I believe there will be very few indeed
of those spirits who will not gladly receive the Gospel when it is carried to
them. The circumstances there will be a thousand times more favorable. The
brethren are laboring in these temples with their hearts and souls in the
interest of the dead. The Savior said on a certain occasion, "Verily, verily,
I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the
voice of the Son of God;" and He continued and made this remarkable
expression: "and they that hear shall live." I believe there will be
very few who will not receive the truth. They will hear the voice of the Son of
God; they will hear the voice of the Priesthood of the Son of God, and they
will receive the truth and live. These brethren and sisters that are laboring
so industriously in the temples will have the honor of being, as it were,
saviors to their kindred and friends in whose favor they administered these
ordinances.
It is a
glorious work, it is a grand work, and the kingdom of God moves on with force
and power, and with grand and glorious success. Of course, our financial affairs
pinch a little; but we are not dependent particularly upon the condition of
financial affairs in order that we may rejoice. It is very nice to have things
go along pleasantly and agreeably in relation to our interests in this world;
yet we are not dependent upon those accidental circumstances. We are told that
the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and joy in the Holy
Ghost. It is the privilege of the Latter-day Saints to live in the Gospel in
such a way that they will feel approved of God. Of course, we do things
sometimes that we are ashamed of when we come to consider them; but we repent
of them in our hearts and determine to do them no more. That is all the Lord
asks of us; and men and women who so live, live without condemnation. They have
righteousness and joy in the Holy Ghost, no matter what may be their temporal
circumstances. We live above and independent of these accidental things that
occur today or tomorrow. We have acted, I believe, as the wise man that built
his house upon the rock. Jesus said: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a
rock." What rock? The rock of revelation; the rock that Jesus said He
would found His Church upon and the gates of hell should not prevail against
it. We read that when Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea He asked His disciples,
"Whom do men say that I the son of man am?" He wished to ascertain
what sort of opinion the people round about had formed in regard to him. He had
been performing miracles in their midst; He had been teaching and instructing
them in their synagogues, and He wished to know what the people said about Him.
The answer was, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and
others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." "But whom say ye that I
am?" He asked. Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the Living God." Then Jesus said unto him, "Blessed art thou,
Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and
upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it." And He did so. When the gospel was preached, those who
believed were promised that they might know for themselves whether it was true,
and whether the men who preached it had authority from God. They were promised
that they should receive the Holy Ghost, which should be a revelation to them,
and upon that they should be founded; and they should build their spiritual
house upon it, and when the storms came, and the rains descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, they should not be driven from this position. If we
are in this condition, the trials and afflictions that we have to pass through
will not have power to move us, because we are founded upon the revelations of
the Almighty. God has fulfilled His promises to us, and our prospects are grand
and glorious. Yes, in the next life we will have our wives, and our sons and
daughters. If we do not get them all at once, we will have them some time, for
every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Christ.
You that are mourning about your children straying away will have your sons and
your daughters. If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions
and receive a resurrection, you will, by the power of the Priesthood, work and
labor, as the Son of God has, until you get all your sons and daughters in the
path of exaltation and glory. This is just as sure as that the sun rose this
morning over yonder mountains. Therefore, mourn not because all your sons and
daughters do not follow in the path that you have marked out to them, or give
heed to your counsels. Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and
stand as saviors, and as kings and priests to our God, we will save our
posterity. When Jesus went through that terrible torture on the cross, He saw
what would be accomplished by it; He saw that His brethren and sisters-the sons
and daughters of God-would be gathered in, with but few exceptions-those who
committed the unpardonable sin. That sacrifice of the divine Being was
effectual to destroy the powers of Satan. I believe that every man and woman
who comes into this life and passes through it, that life will be a success in
the end. It may not be in this life. It was not with the antedeluvians. They
passed through troubles and afflictions; 2,500 years after that, when Jesus
went to preach to them, the dead heard the voice of the Son of God and they
lived. They found after all that it was a very good thing that they had
conformed to the will of God in leaving the spiritual life and passing through
this world.
God will
have His own way in His own time, and He will accomplish His purposes in the
salvation of His sons and daughters. We are here to do what God requires of us,
and in doing what God requires of us we keep ourselves established upon that
rock referred to, and these difficulties that arise will not affect us
particularly. Go back sixty-three years and see how we have given our coat, and
our overcoat, to our enemies, and given everything that they asked of us, and
we would have given them more if they had asked it. We do this in the name of
the Lord. We know all things will be right with us in the end, and we can
afford to conform to their wishes to a certain extent; we can afford to be
stripped; we can afford to sacrifice our houses and our lands, as we have done
more than once. We can afford to do all these things in order to carry out the
purposes of God, and to make this generation understand that we are the friends
of the world. When President Woodruff and his counselors went to Independence
the feeling there was wonderfully changed since he had passed through there a
good many years before. Then he had to skulk and hide to save his life. But
this time the Mayor came out with a fine span of horses and beautiful carriage
and asked President Woodruff to sit by his side, and did everything that he
possibly could to show him honor and respect. What a wonderful change! I have
wondered, since reflecting upon these things, in regard to our going back to
Jackson County, whether by and by they would not actually be glad to have us
return and build up a city and a temple, and to protect them from various
troubles that they see approaching. I would not be astonished at all, because
the Lord does things so differently to what man does. I would not imagine
naturally that this would be the way we would go back; but the Lord may help us
in this way. We surely will go back; there is no question about that, and we
will build one of the grandest temples that was ever built upon this little
globe.
God bless
you, brethren and sisters. Do not be discouraged is the word I wish to pass to
you; but remember that righteousness and joy in the Holy Ghost is what you and
I have the privilege of possessing at all times. And may God bless our
President, and remove from him the effects of his cold, that he may stand up
here, and that the Holy Ghost may be upon him, that his words may cause our
hearts to burn with joy. Amen.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS,
of the council of the Twelve, testified to the truth of the remarks of the previous speakers. He felt to rejoice in the progress and triumph of the truth and the manifestation of the power of God in our behalf. The repeated release of the Saints from temporal and spiritual embarrassments had been a characteristic of the work of God, and these unfavorable circumstances had been occasions of drawing together the hearts of the people. It was needful that we should experience adversity, that our glory might be increased by our triumph over trials. These things had the effect of enlarging our views and softening our hearts, and, in this respect, they were blessings.
The blessings of God had been upon us in this land, to which we had been driven with a prospect of temporal destruction. Our homes, farms, and other possessions here exceeded in value those acquired by us elsewhere and the building of temples had been attended with greater success and ministrations therein with greater results than previously.
When Peter confessed Christ, the promise was made that the testimony of Jesus should be the foundation of the faith of the Saints for all time, and in spite of periods of doubt and darkness, the same promise made to Peter applied to all who were successful in securing this testimony of Jesus and endured in the faith. The Lord told Peter that he should be proved, as Satan desired to get him. So were we tried, but by the sustaining power of the Lord through our faithfulness, we would triumph over every obstacle which stood in the way of our salvation.
While the body of the Savior was lying in the tomb, His Spirit went to the prison house to open the doors to the captives. The duty of continuing this work rests upon us in this day.
The Saints should maintain a reputation for honor and integrity, and God would assist their earnest labors in this direction, and their credit will remain secure. Extravagance and wastefulness must be avoided, that the means which had been wasted in the past, might be spent in bearing the Gospel to the nations of the earth and gathering Israel. We were apt to forget our great duty in this respect, and this was especially the case in times of great prosperity. If the present hard times would make us realize this duty more fully, they would prove a great blessing.
Zion had stooped to conquer all opposing influences, and through her humility and power with God all obstacles shall be overcome. We should profit by our experiences of trouble, and make them the means of our triumph.
When the Gospel first came to the people of the world, the word was that the hour of God's judgments had come. We were losing sight of this truth and were building "castles in the air," forgetting that we were expected to walk in paths untried before. Examples of fraternity in the world were becoming general, and these would pave the way for Zion to accomplish the unity of the people of the earth by the spirit of Zion. The point of sanctification must be reached by us, where we could say, with the Savior, "The Evil One cometh, but he hath nothing in me."
The Lord was preparing a people of honor and integrity, to make them a depository of all the precious thing in the earth, and we must live so as to be wise in this stewardship. To do this, we must trust in God, for He alone could give us the required assistance. We must not make flesh our arm, for God would be glorified.
If we would hearken to the word of the Lord our triumph over evil would be sure.
The speaker expressed the hope that mutual confidence must be restored, and that the wayward and the erring might be brought to the knowledge of the power of God and the glory of Zion, for the work of this people would not be complete until every soul not doomed to everlasting condemnation had been redeemed from sin.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 47:641, 11/11/93, p 1; CD 3:366-371]
DISCOURSE
DELIVERED BY ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS,
At the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday morning, October 6, 1893.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER]
_____
It is
exceedingly pleasant and refreshing to hear the words of consolation and
comfort which our brethren have been dispensing unto us, and I testify that
they are true as to those things which I know of my own experience, and the
others are true of my knowledge and belief. I testify by the Holy Spirit that
they are the truths of heaven. I rejoice this morning in the progress of the
glorious latter day work, and in so far as we have been blessed to witness, I
rejoice greatly in the triumphs of the truth, in the manifestation of the
wisdom, and the knowledge and the power of God which He has shown forth unto
His people in these latter days.
It is a
remarkable fact that at various times in this dispensation, when the Saints
have been brought down into the most trying circumstances and have in temporal
things, and apparently in spiritual things, been greatly humbled in the sight
of each other and in the estimation of the world, and when it has seemed as if
the gates of hell had prevailed against God's people, then has been the
outpouring of the Spirit of God upon His children, and when they have
manifested the greatest love to each other. In the times of their great
distress in Missouri, when their properties were wasted and destroyed and they
were expelled from the state, and everything looking like destruction, every
brother and sister in that part of the country came forward and entered into
covenant with each other that they would not cease their labors until they had
helped the last of the Saints out from the place of their exile into a freer
and a better place.
It is
needful that we should experience times of what we call adversity, and realize
things which for the time being are not joyous, but grievous; but to this
bitter exercise in righteousness we thereby work out a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory. Therefore, we have reason to rejoice in these things;
and if we will notice our past experience we will see that after every such
time of trial, oppression and adversity the people of God have emerged into a
greatly enlarged sphere of existence and usefulness. It has been exemplified to
us in this land more than in any other. The last most difficult trial has
brought us the most and greatest enjoyment and the most widespread possession of
benefits and blessings, not only of things temporal but of things spiritual. We
have been brought here to the enjoyment of homes, lands, farms, possessions,
and comforts which the Saints had not enjoyed up to that time in any other
place. The blessings of God have abounded unto us in temporal things, as they
have also in spiritual and eternal things; for He has given unto us to build
four temples in this land where to manifest His good pleasure in their holy
courts unto His people, and to encourage us to take hold and labor, not only
for the living, but to have a broad charity to labor for them that are
dead,-because there is an eternal principle, that they without us cannot enter
into the fulness of joy, neither can we. Therefore, our labors are extensive.
And we need not look upon this as any phantom, either. None who are permitted
to labor in the temples can entertain such a view. But there are some who feel
that these things are vain and ephemeral, and have no particular significance
or meaning of importance to them. They are, however, of the most vital
importance to us. We might go until we have gone as far as we can short of
going into the temples, and if we refuse to go there and do these higher and
more exalted and spiritual duties by administering ordinances for our deceased
our light will go out, our faith depart, the testimonies that we have realized
and felt will pass away, and we shall lose the gem, the light, the diadem of
glory that awaits the faithful that are coming and hoping to become not only
the ministers of the Most High God, but kings and priests unto Him for ever and
ever.
While it
was mentioned concerning what the Lord said to Peter, there was a very extended
signification in that answer which He made when Peter told him, "Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God." The Savior took that as a full
answer of his faith and hope, and how quickly He spoke back the glorious
promise to him that the gates of hell should never prevail against him. The
testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy, had come upon Peter, and
he knew that Jesus was the Christ. He realized the verification of those words
when in the hour of the darkest trial; when he saw the holy Jesus ready to be
taken away and nailed to the cross, and when, to all human appearances, hope
was gone, he in his weakness was led to say, "I know not the man;"
yet when he sat in that court and the Savior's eye rested upon him, just as the
cock was crowing, how it went through him! The Savior had said, "All ye
shall be offended because of Me this night;" but Peter felt so certain
with the brightness of that testimony in him that he said, "Though all men
shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I not be offended." He
realized perhaps that he had the glorious promise of the Savior, and felt the
burning influence of that testimony; and although in that weakness and in that
trying time he was led to speak as he did, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ
came true, and the gates of hell could not prevail against him, though, as he
said in his letter afterwards, hope had well nigh gone when he saw the Master
led away. Yet the Lord held him; "I have prayed for thee Peter that thy
faith fail not." His promise was secure, and He made him to bear the keys
of the dispensation after He himself went away. How potent and how important
that glorious promise! I hold it that that promise stands good to everybody who
had obtained that testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and lived so as to keep
that bright and burning within him, that same testimony stands that the gates
of hell shall not prevail against him individually or the church collectively.
Then let us hold to that. Let us abide and endure as seeing Him that is
invisible.
It was a
mighty work that the Savior did in the three days that His body lay in the
grave-a work that we have but a very feeble conception of. We read in the Book
of Mormon that He told the brethren on this continent that He must go to the
people in Jerusalem, and He must call on the brethren of the ten tribes, and on
the morrow he would be with them again. Think of it! Traveling at this rate
with His exalted immortal body. What was He doing three days in the spirit when
His body was lying in the tomb and did not cumber his rapid, powerful transit?
He went and opened the prison doors to them that were bound; He declared the
Gospel to the captive; He started the work to that dispensation that had been
so wicked as to be cut off, that the earth might be cleansed from their
pollutions, and gave them an opportunity in the spirit world to hear of these
things. It is for us to labor for those that are there, who have or have not
erred, who have erred lightly or who have sinned greatly, that we may be able
to carry out the plan of salvation as the Savior commenced to establish it, not
only for here but hereafter.
Now, my
brethren and sisters, we have at one time and another things coming to pass
among us that tend to afflict us a little, tend to make us feel anxious-anxious
to keep our word, anxious for our honor. We want to be like our God-fixed and
true, that our word is our bond, and that our declarations and statements are
as true and sure as any bond that can be fixed upon us. We want to maintain
this character and reputation. Inasmuch as we are true and faithful, if we
cannot do it just exactly as we would, the Lord will open the way that we shall
do it the best we can; and they around us, they that are over us, will see and
know that we are true in the intent of our hearts, true and faithful in the
purposes of our souls, and will lift us up and bear us over these tribulations
and trials; and it still will be the case that the credit, the character and
the honor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be the
brightest, the most potent and untarnished of any power that is in the earth.
These
times must not make us to feel discouraged; they must make us to feel glad.
Where we have erred, let us do so no more. If we have been wasting the
substance that God has given us by living in extravagance or by purchasing and
having things about us that were of no use, while millions of the nations
around us are perishing and going down into their graves without the knowledge
of God, we should repent and realize that it is the duty of all Israel to be
sending the Gospel to these nations that President Cannon has been telling us
about. We have no right to waste our substance in riotous living, nor to
consume our means upon our lusts. It is our duty to make a safe and careful and
righteous use of these things, and let our means be spent to gather Israel, to
preach the Gospel, to go to the nations of the earth and to win some from among
each nation that shall rise up and be witnesses for these nations of the truth
of the Son of God, and that shall have a responsibility to carry it to their fellow
creatures of their nations and families, as we have been doing to the
English-speaking peoples.
These are
duties that devolve upon us, but we are too apt to forget. It was always the
case with God's people, when they got abundance and began to live in luxury and
plenty, and to adorn their persons and habitations, they became proud and
lifted up, or unmindful at least of their duties, so that the displeasure of
the Lord rested upon them. If he has brought us to see these things and enter
more earnestly and honestly, more humbly and powerfully into the work that is
upon us, it will be a benefit to us and to the human family. I pray the Lord to
pour out this spirit upon us more and more, that we may sense the duty that we
owe to the nations that have not been visited and that know nothing of us
except by the distant rumblings of reports. As has been the case in all our
experience that we have stooped and bowed down to conquer, we shall still stoop
to conquer, if we have to; and if we do not have to, we ought to humble
ourselves to that power of God that shall enable us to have strength to
overcome the opposing influence in the earth. Yes, brethren and sisters, we
should strive for the influence of that spirit in such abundance and such
measure that we shall prevail over every influence in the earth that is not
ordained of God. This is the way the Presidency feel, the Apostles feel, and
are trying to act and to live; and we should endeavor by the experience of
these times to profit ourselves, so that we may be established, and so that we
never can be caught again in these unpleasant circumstances and conditions.
Let me
remind you, my dear brethren, that probably the first sermon you heard from the
Elders who brought the truth to you in your nations and countries was that the
angel came flying through the midst of heaven having the everlasting Gospel to
commit unto men, to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, saying with a
loud voice, "Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment
is come." That was the kernel of the story, Fear God, and give glory to
him, for the hour of his judgment is come, and worship him that made the
heavens, the earth, and the seas, and the fountains of waters. Too many of us
have forgotten that we live in the hour of God's judgment. We build castles in
the air, and we arrange for a great many things that we have little idea of the
outcome, because the Lord is leading us by a strange path that people have not
walked in before. He has said that He would lead us in a strange path-in a path
that the eagle's eye hath not seen nor the lion's whelp walked in. It is a path
different from what He has led His people in any age of the world since it was
created. You cannot find in any of the books an account that depicts our circumstances
here, as they have been and as they are likely to be. And it is they who get
the Spirit and keep it, and who walk in the commandments of the Lord, that He
can mould and change to this and that, and move them as He will-send them to
Israel today and to the Gentiles tomorrow. For He will bring to pass His act,
His strange act, that a man would not believe, the prophet said, though his
neighbor declare it unto him. He has told us that He is going to operate in
these times in a peculiar manner. The people of the earth are getting to be
fraternal almost the world around. We have a sample of it this year in their
coming together at the World's Fair, and it needs greater wisdom to know how to
associate with peoples of such varied circumstances and conditions. Where are
there men among them that can rise up in the name of the Lord and prescribe the
rules of happiness and good order? It is not with them; it is with God's
people, and we have reason to rejoice. If we will hearken, the Lord will lead
us in the way which He has determined to lead us, and give to us the spirit of
Zion. In the Book of Mormon one of the prophets said that they who shall be
blessed to build up Zion in the lasts days must do it by the spirit of Zion. So
we must live and keep the spirit of Zion with us, our eyes single to the glory
of God, faithful in keeping our covenants and in everything that He requires of
us, as far as in us is, that we may be sanctified to His work and get to that
position that we can say as the Savior did: "The prince of this world
cometh, and hath nothing in me." We want to feel that we and all that we
have influence over are sanctified and holy unto the Lord our God. The Lord is
preparing us for a very great and glorious future-and He has shown it to some
of the brethren, too. They have seen the people of God blessed greatly, crowned
with wisdom, intelligence and glory, and looked up to by the nations. They have
seen the people coming from the nations afar off, bringing their treasures with
them, wanting to find a place to dwell among us, a place to store their riches,
because they will not be safe in the lands where they belong. And He is
preparing a people that shall be full of truth, purity, honor, integrity, and
all that is excellent and praiseworthy in His sight, that he may make us the
repository of the greatness and excellence which He is about to bestow upon His
Saints. But He has to train us, to discipline us, and prepare us for these
things; else if we had them come upon us, what would we do? How we would
monopolize over each other! We have got to learn how to be directed by the Holy
Spirit in all things.
I want to
say to you that the Lord makes manifest His mighty help to our brethren in
their difficult circumstances, and he raises up friends to them from unexpected
quarters. And so He will do, if we live as we should and trust in Him. It is
vain and futile for us to trust in the arm of the world. We have got to trust
in Him, instead of looking to the world for that sustenance and support, that
overruling help which shall control and advance the interests of Zion. He is
going to have the credit of it himself. He is going to demonstrate the truth of
that saying, "Wo unto him that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his
arm." I rejoice in the work of today and the experience of today, trying
and troublesome as they are to us. The Lord will by our faithfulness bear us
off triumphant; and while the world will fall and break up, if we hearken to
the word of the Lord, He will make us to endure and to overcome, and prepare us
for greater blessings and greater honor and glory in all His works and ways.
I rejoice
with you, my brethren and sisters. I would like to be a son of consolation
among you; I would like to rejoice in all that the people of God can rejoice
in, and share with them in all that they have to try them; that we may go on
together; that your people shall be my people, and your God my God and that we
may abide and endure and realize the fulness of the Savior's promise that He
made to Peter, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us, either
individually or collectively; but that we shall have power to triumph and
overcome.
There is
a day coming when many of those now deemed unworthy will see the error of their
ways; when the sense of their condition will bow them down in humility, and
they will come on their knees and acknowledge that Christ is God, the Lord of
the whole earth. The word has gone forth that every knee shall bow and every
tongue shall confess; and they will be glad to do so. The sinners and the
unworthy, many of them, will come bowing and bending to Zion; and we ought to
be forgiving and exercise all the charity and excellence that our God is
willing to bestow; to assist the wayward to repent and turn from the error of
their ways unto the living and true God. There are quite a number of young
people gone out from among us because they have felt unpleasantness because of
the way things existed at home or in the Church. In some instances perhaps they
have been ruled too much, either in the family or by the Bishop, and they have
gone off by themselves. Now, the day will come when they will sense the
impropriety of this. They will see that they have not found the succor and help
that they want. They will come home to the Church and the people of God. I
believe, my brethren, that none of us who are parents will ever feel that our
joy is complete, or that we have obtained the victory and accomplished our
work, until every soul that God has given to come here in the flesh through our
loins is saved and gathered with us into the kingdom of God. I do not think we
can ever feel our rest and our happiness complete, or ourselves accepted and
perfected in a fullness, even in our own eyes, till we attain unto this. The
Lord has said that all His judgments are not revealed unto man. I believe that
He will reveal unto His people that are faithful line after line and precept
after precept, until He shows them all that is necessary to do to save
themselves and their kindred and generation in His kingdom, His presence and
His glory.
Dear
brethren and sisters, may all the good wishes and blessings that have been
bestowed upon us here in these holy courts today and in the holy places of the
Lord's House be verified and fulfilled in us, through our faithfulness, in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir sung the anthem:
Let the Mountains shout for joy.
Benediction by Elder Moses Thatcher.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 47:521, 10/14/93, p 9]
AFTERNOON
SESSION.
The choir sang:
Come, dearest Lord, descend
and dwell, By faith and love, in every breast;
Then shall we know and taste and feel, The joys that cannot be expressed.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
High on the mountain top, A
banner is unfurled,
Ye nations now look up It waves to all the world,
was sung by the choir.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT
addressed the congregation. He expressed the great pleasure it afforded him to meet with the Saints once more in General Conference, and said he had seldom attended a meeting where so much instruction had been given for the general good of the people of God as was the case this morning. The Latter-day Saints had great reason for thankfulness to Almighty God for the manifestations of His kindness and loving mercy towards His children. The prejudice, the bitterness, and the animosity that a few years ago existed in the hearts of the people of this country against the Latter-day Saints, because of the outpouring of the blessings of the Lord upon us had almost entirely disappeared. Today there was a disposition on the part of the men of this nation to do justice to the Latter-day Saints. We were becoming known for what we are. The Latter-day Saints were an honest, upright, devoted and true people, and the people of the United States, when they learned this, would concede to them their just due. It was because of prejudice and the falsehoods which had been circulated against them that they had been called upon to suffer so much. The American nation was not lacking in generosity, liberality and justice, and when they had done wrong were ready and willing to right it, as was illustrated by the passage of the bill in Congress yesterday restoring to the Latter-day Saints all their personal property which had been taken from them.
The speaker dwelt briefly upon what were termed the present "hard times;" many of the people pulled long faces and declared that we were in a great fix. But there was nothing in this great panic after all; the fact was the people had got scared at nothing, rushed to the banks on mere suspicion and drew out their money. Do not, he urged, let us lose confidence in ourselves or our brethren. We did not want to lose confidence in the institutions of Zion, and do not, he said, let us lock up our money where it will not do any good.
The very stringency through which we have been passing, while it had inspired us with the ideas of being more careful, had also inspired us with the desire to use our means more liberally for the advancement of God's kingdom. Unless we become more Godlike and faithful in keeping God's commandments, we could not expect as a people to become wealthy; and that was what he desired to see among the Latter-day Saints.
The speaker read the revelation given to our martyred patriarch (Hyrum Smith) in May, 1829. Never in his life, he said, had he read a revelation which made a more profound impression upon him than this and the mind of every Latter-day Saint who perused it with a prayerful heart would be lit up and the same inspiration which must have come to our beloved patriarch would come to them, leading them on to all that was pure and good.
[Heber J. Grant]
[DNW 47:737, 12/2/93, p 1; CD 3:372-377]
OUR TALENTS -- HOW TO USE THEM
_____
Discourse Delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday Afternoon, October 6, 1893, by
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I am very
much pleased indeed to once more have the opportunity of meeting with the
Latter-day Saints in a general conference, and I have rejoiced exceedingly in
listening to the remarks that were made to those who assembled here this
morning, and I regretted that so few of the Latter-day Saints were present. I
remarked afterward that it seemed to me that I had never attended a meeting
where so much valuable instruction had been given. It seemed as though all that
was said by the speakers was full of good things for the Latter-day Saints. We many
times listen to the Elders and they speak in a manner that is interesting, and
we are pleased with what they say, and we hear many eloquent discourses; but it
did seem to me that from first to last all that was said in our hearing this
morning was of that character that all of us could receive great benefit and
profit therefrom. I trust that the few who were here will remember what they
heard, and that they will endeavor to communicate to others the inspiration
that we all felt.
I feel
that as a people we have indeed great cause to rejoice and give thanks unto the
Lord for the manifestations of His goodness, kindness and mercy unto us. In a
council meeting that we held a few days ago, at which a majority of the members
of the quorum of the Apostles was present, Brother Thatcher remarked that in
the midst of the financial trials through which the people were passing, it did
seem to him that there never had been a time since the Latter-day Saints came
to these valleys when the Lord had magnified the leaders of the people so much
and so many courtesies had been extended unto them by the people of the world
as in the past six months. The prejudice, the bitterness and the animosity that
a few years ago existed in the hearts of the people of this country against the
Latter-day Saints, have, because of the outpouring of the blessings of the Lord
upon the people, almost entirely disappeared. While but a short time ago those
of us who came to Conference were called upon to look at these stands here and
see hardly a representative of the Apostles, and none of the First Presidency,
today we are permitted to see all of the Presidency and ten of the Twelve
Apostles; and of the two absent, one has just arrived in the city and will be
here tomorrow, and the other is laboring as the president of the European
mission, working for the onward advancement of God's kingdom there. But those
who were absent from us a few years ago were so because of the prejudice and
bitterness that existed against the Saints. Today there is a disposition on the
part of the people of this nation-at least, all whom I have come in contact
with-to do justice to the Latter-day Saints. We are becoming known for what we
are. The Latter-day Saints are an honest, upright and a devoted people; and
when the people of the United States learn this they will concede to us our
just dues: That which we have had to suffer has been because of prejudice and
of falsehoods which have been circulated against us. The American people, as a
people, are not lacking in generosity, in liberality, or in justice, and when
they have done a wrong, because of false statements, they are ready and willing
to right that wrong, as is illustrated by the passage yesterday of the bill in
Congress restoring to the Latter-day Saints all their personal property. Who
could have thought a few short years ago, when the prejudice that existed here
was so intense, that such action would be taken? For wherever you went you
would meet men who would say that if they had the making of the laws they would
not only confiscate the Church property, but they would confiscate the property
of all the members of the Church. That sentiment has almost entirely died out.
As I sat on the stand this morning and listened to the remarks of President
Cannon and the other brethren, referring to the honor that was done to our aged
President and his counselors in their recent trip to Chicago, it was impossible
for me to restrain the tears of gratitude that came to my eyes.
We may be
called upon to pass through financial hardships; but what do they amount to if
we are blessed of the Lord with the light and inspiration of His Holy Spirit,
and if those who stand at the head of the Church are honored and respected and
not looked upon by the world with contempt? The Latter-day Saints have been
through hard times, and there are a great many of us who are pulling long faces
and thinking we are in a terrible fix, when we are in no fix at all. This whole
financial panic is a great hoax from first to last, in one sense of the word. The
people all over the country got scared. At what? At nothing. In the face of
good crops of cotton, corn and wheat, and general prosperity in the whole
country, we have had something over 570 banks fail; and I venture the assertion
that out of that number there were only a very few that failed because they
were in a bad financial condition. Why did they fail? Simply because the people
got scared, drew their money out of the banks and in many cases hid it. In nine
cases out of ten there was no earthly reason for their taking their money out
of the banks. It is estimated that of the trade that is transacted ninety-five
per cent of it is done on credit, and that there is only five per cent of
actual money that changes hands in transacting the business of a country. We
have had such a scare that the ninety-five per cent has been contracted about
twenty per cent; in other words, about four times as much contraction as there
was money in existence to do the business with. The result is that everybody
has become frightened of everybody else, and, as I say, 750 banks have failed,
and almost without exception they were absolutely sound and solvent. Many and
many a bank has been called upon to close its doors that had five hundred
thousand dollars capital and only one hundred and fifty or two hundred thousand
dollars of deposits left when the bank closed, three or four dollars assets to
one of liability. When people put their money in the bank they expect it to be
loaned, and of course the banks loan it; and if a great majority of the people
demand their money at the same time they are sure to close the bank. The Bank
of England could not stand if the people all went there and asked for their
money. The United States government could not pay all its obligations at once. Salt
Lake City, if called upon to pay all her bonds, could not possibly do it. Utah
Territory could not do it, or any other city, state or territory in the nation.
It has simply been a senseless panic from first to last; and the whole of us
have narrowed ourselves down because of this panic, and made matters that much
worse.
I want to
confess to you that I and many others have done wrong. Why? Because we have
been so very anxious to make a dollar that we have run in debt, and now we
cannot promptly pay our honest debts. I cannot; for the reason that $10,000
collateral securities which are good, would not raise a thousand dollars. For
the first time in my life I have had people come to me and ask me to pay money
that I owed them, and I have had to ask for an extension of time. If the Lord
will only forgive me this once I will never be caught again. I have been a
borrower of money since I was eighteen; but if I can only get paid off what I
owe now, I shall be content, I believe, with the blessings of the Lord,
whatever they may be, be it much or little. When I realize the fact that if I
owed a bank a certain amount of money and they asked me to pay it and I could
not, and I stop to reflect that my failure to pay that money in connection with
the failure of others might be the cause, because the people had become
frightened, of breaking that bank, I want to tell you that I would feel
considerably humiliated. We hear many who owe banks complaining because the
bankers have oppressed them and raised their rates of interest, and so on. I
tell you, my friends, that if we have taken a chance and have borrowed the
money, we have done it-for what? In the hope of making something; and we have
no just reason to complain, when we are called upon to make sacrifices to meet our
obligations. I am sure I do not.
I want to
say to the Latter-day Saints that we do not want to lose confidence in
ourselves; we do not want to lose confidence in our brethren; we do not want to
lose confidence in the institutions in Zion; and we do not want to lock up our
money where it will not do any good. If God has given us a talent we should put
it to usury and make two talents out of it. This applies just as much to money
as it does to mental talents. It is our duty, if we have any means, to let it
go into circulation and benefit somebody.
Another
thing that we want to learn as Latter-day Saints-and I have gone to work to
learn it-is to follow the counsel that was given to us here today, and that is,
to confine ourselves to the necessities of life, and not to indulge in
extravagant habits. If we have a surplus, use it as God desires that we should
use it-for the onward advancement of His Kingdom and the spread of the Gospel.
We are ready and willing to spend ten, twenty, and in many cases thirty thousand
dollars for a fine home that has no more rooms in it, no better ceilings, no
more comforts, no more happiness, than a house that did not cost more than
one-tenth of that; but if we were called upon to live in a house costing
one-tenth and expend the balance to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth,
it would break many of our hearts. I believe that the very stringency through
which we have been passing has not only inspired us with the idea of being more
careful, but also with a desire to use our means more liberally for the onward
advancement of God's Kingdom. Why? Because we have seen how little our means
amounted to. We have found out how absolutely worthless, so to speak, is all
our property. I went out here on the street with thirty thousand dollars' worth
of securities and tried to borrow ten thousand dollars, and I would have paid
twenty per cent interest if I could have got it; but I could not get anything.
So far as our property is concerned it is of no actual value to us, only as we
are ready and willing to use it for the advancement of God's Kingdom. It is our
duty to provide for our families; but it is not our duty to live in
extravagance. It is not our duty to labor to gain wealth for the adornment of
our persons. Of course I like to see people have good things, and I hope to
live to see the day when the Latter-day Saints will be wealthy. But I want to
say to you that unless we become more humble, more Godlike, more faithful in
keeping the commandments of God, I do not expect we shall become wealthy.
Whenever we learn to be willing to use the means that God gives us for the
onward advancement of His Kingdom, Latter-day Saints will not have any
particular financial trouble; the Lord will bless them with an abundance. What
we need to do is to seek for the light and inspiration of His Spirit to guide
us at all times, and He will add all other things to us that are necessary.
I
happened to read a revelation on the train the other day, as I was coming home
from New York-one that was given to our martyred Patriarch. I had read it
before, but it never seemed to strike me with such force as it did then. I
thought it was a revelation that every Latter-day Saint ought to read over a
great many times, because I believe pleasure will come to all of us who read
it. When I read it I thought that the next time I was called upon to speak, if
I had a few moments' notice beforehand, I would glance over this revelation and
read a few passages from it; but inasmuch as I was called on today without
notice, I have not had time to look for the passages that I wanted to read. I
will therefore take the time to read the entire revelation:
A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the
children of men.
Behold, I am God, and give heed to
my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the
dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word.
Behold, the field is white already
to harvest, therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle
with his might, and reap while the days lasts, that he may treasure up for his
soul everlasting salvation in the Kingdom of God.
Yea, whosoever will thrust in his
sickle and reap, the same is called of God;
Therefore, if you will ask of me,
you shall receive, if you will knock, it shall be opened unto you.
Now, as you have asked, behold, I
say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the
cause of Zion.
Seek not for riches, but for
wisdom, and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then
shall you be made rich; behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
even as you desire of me, so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you
shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.
Say nothing but repentance unto
this generation. Keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my work,
according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed.
Behold, thou hast a gift, or thou
shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart,
believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto
thee;
For, behold, it is I that speak;
behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these
words unto thee.
And now, verily, verily, I say
unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good; yea, to do
justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously, and this is my Spirit.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I
will impart unto you of my Spirit; which shall enlighten your mind, which shall
fill your soul with joy,
And then shall ye know, or by this
shall you know all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining
unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.
Behold, I command you, that you
need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called;
Wait a little longer, until you
shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a
surety my doctrine;
And then behold, according to your
desires, yea, even according to your faith shall it be done unto you.
Keep my commandments, hold your
peace, appeal unto my Spirit;
Yea, cleave unto me with all your
heart that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which have been
spoken; yea, the translation of my work; be patient until you shall accomplish
it.
Behold, this is your work, to keep
my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind, and strength;
Seek not to declare my word, but
first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if
you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto
the convincing of men;
But now hold your peace, study my
word which hath gone forth among the children of men and also study my word which
shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating,
yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men
in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereunto.
Behold thou art Hyrum, my son,
seek the Kingdom of God and all things shall be added according to that which
is just.
Build upon my rock, which is my
Gospel.
Deny not the Spirit of revelation,
nor the Spirit of prophecy, for woe unto him that denieth these things.
Therefore treasure up in your
heart until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth.
Behold, I speak unto all who have
good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. I am the life and the light of the world.
I am the same who came unto my own
and my own received me not;
But verily, verily, I say unto
you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen.
Remember,
all you Latter-day Saints, this saying: "Behold, I speak unto all who have
good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap." Remember that this
revelation calls upon us to seek, not for riches, but for wisdom, "and
behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you." I do not think I
ever read in my life a revelation that made a more profound impression upon me
than did this as I read it upon the train; and I believe that all Latter-day
Saints who will read it, with a prayerful heart, seeking to God for the light
of His Holy Spirit, will have their minds lit up, and the same inspiration that
must have come to our beloved Patriarch at the time the revelation was given to
him, will come to them. That we may all labor, with all the zeal, the energy,
the talent, the power and the ability that we possess, for the onward
advancement of God's kingdom, and that we may be ready and willing, if need be,
to do as our fellow servant, Hyrum Smith, did-lay down our lives for the cause
of God,-is my prayer and desire, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
said the Latter-day Saints must be an industrious people. He, too, dwelt upon the subject of the recent financial depression and endorsed what had been [said] by the preceding speakers. The thinking, wise and prudent men among any people who failed to assist in the promotion of industries and so furnish employment for the masses were unworthy of the esteem and confidence of those who had chosen them to be their leaders. Speaking of the late Brigham Young, a man with a will of iron, of great judgment and ability, Elder Smith remarked that whatever he set his hand to do, under the guidance and providence of God, he never turned his face from until he had accomplished it. His example was now pointed to with admiration. The Latter-day Saints could not be a penurious or small-souled people, and the Lord would have us restrain selfishness, greed or any desire in the direction of improper ambition; while our names, if we remained true and faithful, would hereafter be found written in the Lamb's book of life. Let us keep the faith and let our hearts not waver in the midst of the conditions that surround us. We could not always read that which might come upon us, but if we remained steadfast the Lord would not fail. The safety of the Latter-day Saints lay in the continuous, honest, sturdy, straightforward determination in the direction of light.
[John Henry Smith]
[DNW 47:673, 11/18/93, p 1; CD 3:388-381]
DISCOURSE
DELIVERED BY ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH,
At the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual Conference of the
Church
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday afternoon, October 6, 1893.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
With
Brother Heber J. Grant, I was very much impressed this morning with the services
held in this Tabernacle. Every word, so far as I now remember, was to me the
balm of spiritual life. The remarks that have been made this afternoon by
Brother Grant in regard to the experiences through which we are going, in
common with the rest of our brethren and sisters in this nation, I believe, are
timely also. The Latter-day Saints should be an exceedingly industrious people
in every direction that tends to their upbuilding in their faith and its
observances, and in the development of every resource that is calculated to
provide for the needs and necessities of our commonwealth. I have during the
past few months done more worrying over the fear that from the conditions that
exist throughout the land and the spirit of doubt and uncertainty that have
been engendered in the breasts of so many people, a spirit of contraction would
take too full possession of the Latter-day Saints, and many of them who are
able not only to make provision for themselves and families, but to give
employment to some of their follow, would become so fearful of the conditions
that surrounded them that a spirit would be engendered in them that would lead
some to do that for which they would have regrets at some future time. I have
discovered in my brief experience among men, in noting the growth and
development of what we regard as the recent boom, that by talking in any given
direction men are worked up to a fever, and many of our brethren and sisters
have sold their property back and forth to each other, carrying by a little
spirited talk the value from a very low price to an exorbitant figure. I have
discovered also that when we regard the times as very hard we meet and shake
hands and express to each other the feeling that the times are exceedingly
trying, and the one spoken to retorts by saying that he is also pressed for
means, and we begin talking and talking in regard to this matter until we work
ourselves, in common with people in other parts of our land, into a feeling of
depression. Men become down-hearted and depressed in spirit, and begin to
withdraw in every way and to curtail themselves in the proper and legitimate
exercise of those powers and that means which our Father has placed under their
watchcare.
I am not
one of those that can find special fault with any of my brethren and sisters
for their extravagant habits. I believe many of us have been unwise in these
matters; that we have reached out with an eye of hope, probably to an extent in
some of these directions that we should not have done. But I say that the
thinking men, the wise and prudent men of any community that do not devise
plans and schemes and seek to create industries and give employment to their
people, are unworthy of the confidence and esteem of the people who have chosen
them to be their leaders. We are not all endowed with the capacity to preach
the Gospel. There are Elders among us whose lives devoted to the ministry have
been enabled to bring into the Church hundreds and thousands of honest souls,
who hung upon their words as they would hang upon the word of the Lord. There
are others in our midst possessed of material minds, endowed richly in the
capacity to organize, to plan and devise, to create and suggest, and to point
out the way. It was the design of Providence in the placing of men at the head
of His Church in this dispensation to have them possessed of all the
characteristics necessary to the upbuilding and development of a people that
should become the head and the front of His children upon this planet; taking
the crude elements as it were, untaught, so to speak, and unlearned, as the
world has been pleased to regard us. He has brought to the front among His
people men possessed of these capabilities, giving them the revelation of His
will, pointing out to them the importance of the growth and development of His
work, directing their movements, and showing the course in which they should
move in planting the standard of our Father upon these mountain peaks and
scattering His children within her vales. The Prophet Joseph, with his spiritual
tendencies, is a sample. He, Joseph, gave the perfect plan of a spiritual life.
The Lord also gave to this people that wise and prudent statesman whom the
world will come to regard as among the brightest minds that have ever lived, in
the development of the material resources of a people-Brigham Young. His will
of iron, his judgment and ability were such that what he set his hand to do,
under the guidance of Providence, he never turned his face from the
accomplishment of that purpose. Today the world, in studying the results of his
labors to mankind, points to him as an example worthy to be followed in this
respect. He used his skill and ability in seeking to make the people whom the
Lord had called him to be a steward of a sturdy, capable and thorough people,
possessing the force and power to develop the resources of the land that had
been given them, bringing everything material in its proper use, and at the
same time schooling and educating His people in the refining influences that
come from the possession of everything that tends to endow men and qualify
women to indeed be pleasant and joyful and acceptable to the Lord whom they
would serve.
Now, my
brethren and sisters, in the consideration of the conditions that surround us
at this time, it is true that, with others of my brethren, I may have been
unwise in seeking to gather together means to aid in the creation of industries
and in the upbuilding of the temporal interests and wellbeing of the people of
Utah, or the Saints throughout this mountain region; but Father in Heaven knows
my heart, and I believe I know the hearts of my brethren; for I have been
intimate with them in those councils looking to the accomplishment of their
desires and wishes in these matters, and I know that President Woodruff in his
soul has yearned to open every door possible, that the Saints might have that
which was requisite to their comfort, provide for their children and their
homes, and to give them that which was for their good and for their
advancement. I know that this is true in regard to his counselors. I know this
is true in regard to the members of my quorum. Whether I possess that feeling
or not, I know they possessed it; and not one of them today holds one dollar in
property or means that would not as speedily and as readily be put upon the
altar for the development of this work as they speak to you proclaiming to you
the truth this day and declaring that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Gospel
we have embraced came from our Father, designed to redeem and save us by our
obedience to the principles which He has given for our salvation.
Therefore
in the midst of the development of this work we cannot be a penurious people,
we cannot be a small-souled people. It is not designed by our Father that our
homes should not possess the comforts and that which tends to beautify them. It
was not His design that we should be clad in the plainest of raiment. But it
was His design that in the possession of wealth we should utilize it for the
good of ourselves and for the well being of everyone of His children whom we
can assist in seeking to make their lives a success in the temporal, in the
physical, in the religious and spiritual sense, bringing out every power and
making them in every respect as near as possible approximate to that condition
of uprightness, of honor, of truth and of worth that they would indeed be
acceptable to their Father in heaven. I know that our Father in heaven does not
delight in penuriousness. I know of all the generous fathers in this world, He
is the most generous to all His children. He showers the rains upon the just
and the unjust. We see the earth clad in its beauty; we discover its bounties;
we understand that He planted in our breasts a love of that which is beautiful,
and a love of that which is clean, a love of that which tends to adorn, and He
desires that we shall cultivate this legitimately, restraining selfishness,
avoiding greed, controlling improper ambition, but giving us reverence,
respect, love, humility, and a legitimate pride, making us stand up in His
fear, bow to His wish, and blessing His children, leading them to develop the
powers within them, that they may stand; because He planted those powers within
us; He gave them to us; He created us in His likeness and in His image, and endowed
us with the ability to do.
While
some of us possess one gift and some another, they that possess the gift to
accumulate and to utilize means will be held to a strict account for the
selfishness they display unjustly and improperly in dealing with their fellows;
and they who possess these other gifts will be held to an account for their
use; and thus in His justice and mercy every one of us will receive all that
belongs to us, be blessed of Him, and endowed with the power to accomplish our
mission, and our names, if we are faithful, will be found written in the Lamb's
Book of Life. We need have no dubiety in regard to this matter. We have not
been deceived. The Prophet was not deceived. He did bow in the presence of God
the Father and His Son. He did hear the voice of the heavenly messenger
declaring the truth. He did ordain and set apart those chosen of the Almighty
to carry this word to you in the homes where the Elders found you; and the
mission that he gave to you in calling you forth and placing responsibility
upon you rests there until the ends of the earth are warned and the cry has
been heard in every land and clime, calling upon men to repent and turn in the
way of life and obey the principles of truth, walking in the pathway thereof.
My brethren
and sisters, let us keep the faith. Let our hearts not waver in the midst of
the conditions that surround us. It is true that we cannot always read that
which may occur to us. Had we planned and devised in our way, had we had our
own ideas in regard to the progress of this work and the accomplishment of our
Father's purpose we would have swamped it years ago; it would have gone to
pieces, and His children would have been scattered broadcast among the people
of the world. But by His own unerring counsels He has made a suggestion, and
His Prophets and Apostles have taken up the counsel and pointed out the way;
and while in our hearts at times we have felt to condemn them for what they
were doing, the Lord has vindicated them and proven that He was their guide and
counselor; and He will continue to be until the great work that He has
established is accomplished, and the people of the east and the west have heard
the cry, and from the north and the south and upon the islands of the sea a
voice will be heard calling upon the sons of men to bow in the presence of
their Maker and receive His word, and obey the requirements which He, as their
Guide and their Governor, has placed upon them.
I have
pleasure my brethren and sisters, in being with you. I rejoice in the Gospel of
peace. God has taken me in the midst of my weaknesses and failings and given me
a knowledge that this is the truth, and I have the greatest pleasure in bearing
that witness to you today. The safety of the Saints is in the continued,
honest, sturdy, straightforward, sustained pull in the direction of right, and
not in their excitements, not in their fears, not in their doubts. We have
proclaimed to the world that our Father's judgments would come upon them. Our
hearts may fail us as these storms we have predicted break upon our heads; our
hearts may shrink in the midst of these conditions; but no matter; our Father's
words were that such should be the case. We are not responsible for His words;
but we are responsible for that which has been imposed upon us of warning our
fellow men to flee from the wrath to come and the judgments that will be poured
out upon the nations. May we accomplish this, and may the blessing of our God
rest upon this people and upon the honorable and good of our nation who are
willing to do their just part by us, willing that we should have our rights, in
common with our fellows. May heaven's blessing ever attend them. May their
hearts be ever sturdy in the pathway of right, and may the right prevail, until
justice shall characterize the sons of men, as I believe our Father designs it
will in His own due time. Amen.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR
also took up the subject of "hard times," a cry, he remarked, which was at the present time heard on every hand. He counseled the people to repose confidence in the banks of this city, and those who had money to deposit it therein as the surest places of safety. It was the duty of those who had it in their power to provide employment for the working man, and so enable him to obtain food for his family during the approaching winter. Instead of harrowing up we should broaden out in this regard. Elder Taylor spoke of the importance of unity among this people and paid a well deserved compliment to Prof. Stephens and the Tabernacle Choir for their recent triumph at Chicago. Adverting to the changed feeling towards the Latter-day Saints among the people, the speaker said that instead of the former cry of "destroy them," there would soon be heard the words, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL
said this great latter-day work would not be taken away and given to another people, but would yet prevail against all its foes. He touched upon the financial condition of today and comparing it with that of thirty-five years ago expressed the opinion that we were not so badly off after all. He believed that a good deal of this so-called stringency was simply a feeling of fear on the part of many among us. Work should be furnished as far as possible for the unemployed, and the Bishops of wards and their counselors would to well to meet together say once a week and see if some means towards this end could be devised. To those seeking employment his advice was "work for what you can get." He believed there was plenty of work for everybody, here and elsewhere; but it was not good policy for a man to sit down and say, "If I cannot get the amount and kind of pay I want I will not work at all." There was room for improvement in our farms, orchards, and fields, north and south, east and west; and the reason why it was said there is no employment was because we had not looked for it in the right directions. The speaker deprecated the practice of borrowing and running into debt, and encouraged the people to support our home industries.
[Marriner W. Merrill]
[DNW 47:801, 12/16/93, p 1; CD 3:381-384]
CULTIVATE THE SOIL.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday Afternoon, October 6, 1893, by
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I am
pleased to have this opportunity, in common with my brethren, to bear to you my
testimony of this work. To me it is a source of gratification and pleasure to
be able understandingly to announce to this congregation that I know this is
the work of the Lord; and although I may fail and come short, yet this work
will not fail, it will not be taken away and given to another people, but there
will be a sufficient number retained in this Church to carry on the work, to
preach the Gospel, to gather Israel, and to build up Zion.
I have
listened with interest to all that has been said today, and I have been deeply
impressed in hearing the different speakers dwell upon the various subjects
that have been presented. The financial condition of the people seems to occupy
to some extent the minds of most of those who have spoken. I have contrasted
our situation today with what it was thirty-five years ago, and I find that we
are not so badly off after all. I believe a great deal as Brother Taylor has
expressed, that much of this stringency is simply in our own feelings. It is
because fear has come upon us; that is, upon some of us, because I can find in
my travels a great many people going along in the even tenor of their way, and
they have no particular concern about anything or anybody. They are trying to
live honest, upright lives, pay their obligations and be good people. They do
not owe anybody anything. I heard it remarked once, in quite a large
congregation, that everybody was in debt. This is far from being the case, in
my view. I believe that there are a great many people that are not in debt. I
believe there are many people that have means to spare-means to assist others
that have not means. While our crops are not as abundant as they have been in
former years in all parts of the country where our people live, yet there is an
abundance of food to supply the wants of the people. I think it a very
excellent idea for people to seek to find ways and means whereby they may
employ the unemployed. This is a matter for the consideration of all the
Bishops of the Church. I have thought it a good idea for the Bishops of the
various wards and their counselors to meet together occasionally and talk over matters
relating to their wards. I speak thus because I have had some experience in
these things, and I know it is an excellent thing to do. They might meet, say,
once a week and talk over the situation of their people, and see if there could
be ways and means devised whereby the people may be employed. There are very
few people, in my opinion, that want others to support them for nothing, or
that want to be maintained on charity. I believe that a great many of our
people that are helped by the offerings of the wards would rather work for what
they get. It is good policy for everybody to work for what they get, if they
are able to. Of course, there are some people who are invalids, or aged, that
need our sympathy; but there are a great many people who are not now employed
that are willing to work, if somebody will employ them.
There is
another consideration associated with this matter that I will here speak of,
and that is in relation to people traveling in a certain groove. They have had
perhaps two or three dollars a day for their labor, and they get it firmly
fixed in their minds that they cannot work unless they get that amount per day.
I do not believe this is a good policy. My counsel has always been for people
to work for what they could get. If they could not get a dollar a day, work for
fifty cents. It is better to do that than not to do anything. And I am not
saying to you anything that I have not done myself. I have seen the time when I
was glad to work for fifty cents a day. When I came to this city in 1853 the
country was undeveloped, and there was scarcely any employment for anybody. I
was alone, a boy, without kindred, without friends-only so far as Latter-day
Saints are friends to each other-and I tell you I was glad to work for fifty
cents a day. And from that day till this I have never seen the time in all my
history and experience that I did not have plenty to do. I have hunted for
work, and if there was not anybody to give me work, I would make work for
myself. I would make shoes for the children, or something of that kind. I do
not believe it is good policy for people to sit down and say, "If I can't
get what I want; if I can't get cash for my labor, or a certain amount per day,
I will not work at all." I believe there is plenty of work for everybody
right here in this city. You can travel today from one end of this city to the
other and see scores and scores of acres of rich ground, that will bring forth
food for man and beast, being uncultivated. And you can see scores of old trees
that ought to be taken down and used for firewood, and new ones planted in
their stead. Then we say there is no employment. And this is the case
throughout the whole country. The country is not half developed yet. It will
sustain five or ten times the present population. When we have nothing to do,
we should look around our neighbor's places and see if we cannot induce him to
make some improvements, whereby the city and the country may be beautified and
Zion be adorned. We have done very well in the past; but there is room for
improvement everywhere; there is room for improvement in the farms and in the
orchards, north and south, east and west. To say that we cannot find employment
shows that we have not looked for it in the right direction.
There is
also plenty of means whereby the people may be sustained. I endorse the remarks
of the brethren in relation to people becoming scared and drawing their means
from the banks. It is all foolishness and all wrong. I have never been one that
has believed in borrowing anything in my life, and I have never encouraged
people to borrow and to give notes, with mortgages, etc. In my view, it is all
wrong. Of course, I may not be right, as I am not a financial man; but I
believe that we, as a people, should be lenders, and not borrowers. A great
many of our people are lenders now, and I would that they were all lenders. But
now, it is said, we owe each other. What is the best thing to do? The very best
thing to do is to pay just as soon as we can, and then profit by the experience
we are now passing through. Let no man in Israel say that his paper will be
outlawed in a few years, and then he won't pay it. That is dishonest in any
man. Pay every man what you owe him, no matter whether that man be Jew or
Gentile, saint or sinner, just as soon as possible; and do not sit down and
say, "Our brother will be lenient with us and will not sue us, and he can
wait." Make an effort; rustle around and try and meet your obligations,
and keep your word good, that people may have confidence in you. There are
people that can be trusted implicitly; and there are others -- Latter-day
Saints, too -- that people are chary about trusting. This should not be. Our
word should be just as good as our note. But we should not be in a position to
have to give notes, if it is possible to avoid it. It is true, there are
industries and enterprises to be established for the benefit of the people in
which it seems to be necessary to borrow, as, for instance, the sugar factory.
I do not believe that there was one man connected with the inauguration of that
industry that went into it with a view of making himself rich. It was done to
benefit the people and the country. I know this to be the case; and if we, as a
people, had risen up in our strength and with one common consent had said,
"Yes, we will sustain this home industry and give our means to support
it," and had taken up the stock of this institution, we would in a little
while be glad of it. This thing will be a success by and by. We need not look
for new industries like that to strike right into affluence at once and be able
to pay dividends the first, second or third year. But we look for it to benefit
the people. I believe it is benefiting the people in the neighborhood where the
factory is located. There are other industries that may be inaugurated that
will also benefit the people. This has been the counsel all the day long. In
cases of this kind perhaps it is wise to lend our credit to get money, that the
enterprise may be established. But as a rule, in private affairs, I do not
believe it is a good thing to borrow. I think we ought to live within our
means; and if we earn fifty cents a day, try and live on forty-five cents a
day, so as to have something laid up for a "rainy day."
This
subject is one that could be talked about a great deal. The Latter-day Saints
understand these things pretty well, because President Young and President
Kimball used to talk about them. I recollect hearing President Kimball in the
fall of 1853. He was talking about cultivating a city lot down here in the
nineteenth ward, I think. He said he had realized $1,100 in cash off one city
lot that year. Now, there could be thousands of tons of food for man and beast
produced right here in this city, where today there is nothing grown. If you do
not believe what I say, get into a carriage and ride over this city, and you
will find it to be the case. God bless you. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
Jesus, I my cross have taken.
Benediction by Elder Seymour B. Young.
_____
[6 Oct, 7 pm]
[DNW 47:521, 10/14/93, p 9]
A PRIESTHOOD MEETING
Was held in the Tabernacle on Friday, Oct. 6th, beginning at 7 p. m. The speakers were President Joseph F. Smith, Bishop William B. Preston, President George Q. Cannon and Elder Heber J. Grant. The subjects treated upon were the present financial situation and the most advisable course to take under the circumstances; the support of the poor, by the establishment of productive industries in each of the wards of the Church; the cultivation of a loving, charitable and forgiving spirit and disposition toward all men and the advisability of appointing home missionaries to spend their time in building up the Saints in the wards of the several Stakes of the Church.
_____
[7 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 47:521-522, 10/14/93, p 9-10]
SECOND
DAY -- OCT. 7.
_____
MORNING SESSION.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word.
Prayer by Elder George Teasdale.
The choir sang:
Behold, the mountain of the
lord In latter days shall rise.
On mountain tops above the hills And draw the wond'ring eyes.
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN
addressed the congregation, expressing the great pleasure which it afforded him to meet with the Saints again in general conference. The Gospel was a gospel of peace, truth and righteousness and it was not possible for men to properly teach it unless they enjoyed the Spirit of the Lord. No man could be a successful Latter-day Saint unless he possessed that Spirit and no man could enjoy that spirit unless he kept the commandments of the Lord and preserved himself in all purity; for the Spirit of the Lord would not dwell in unholy tabernacles. As a man decided in his own heart so would he do; for everything that we did was in consequence of the judgment of our hearts. The reason we were sinners still was because we did not always do the will of the Lord. When a man was out of the way of receiving counsel from his file leader and had to depend on himself, there was always dwelling in his heart, or if faithful he was entitled to, the inspiration of the Lord to guide him correctly. If we had not that Spirit we were not in the line of our duty as Latter-day Saints. If we listened to the promptings of the Spirit we would never give a wrong judgment, whatever our calling or position in the Church of Christ. All the mistakes that we made as individuals were due to our acting independently, unenlightened by the Spirit of the Lord. It would be profitable for us to devote our time and talents towards the accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord in the establishment of His Church upon the earth. If we had not set before us the Church and kingdom of God and the principles of truth and salvation -- if these things were not foremost in our hearts, then all Israel had need of reformation in this regard. The Priesthood of God could be controlled only on the principles of righteousness. The hearts of the Latter-day Saints should be set upon the principles of salvation, which were far ahead of gold and silver and the riches of this world, bringing peace, contentment, happiness and salvation both in time and eternity; but we were apparently unable, owing to the conditions by which we were surrounded, to shake ourselves loose from our fallen state, so attached were we to the things which perish.
A man should always speak well of and defend his brother, and magnify rather than seek to detract from his virtues. The same remark applied to an enemy; for even the wicked possessed some hidden merit. Do not, he said, let the Latter-day Saints set their hearts too much upon their property, and suffer themselves to become alienated from or embittered against each other because of business transactions. He himself would not entertain ill feeling against a brother for all he possessed.
The speaker exhorted his hearers to be faithful and humble before the Lord. Let them not neglect any duty which devolved upon them. If, for instance, they neglected their prayers, the worship of the Lord, or broke the Sabbath day, they stood, indeed, on dangerous ground.
He prayed that God would bless all Israel, help them to be true to their covenants, and pour out His blessings upon them abundantly during this Conference.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[DNW 48:65, 1/6/94, p 1; CD 3:384-388]
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
conference, of the Church
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday Morning, October 7th, 1893, by
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I am very
pleased, my brethren and sisters, for the privilege of attending this
Conference, and, like all the brethren, I feel that I need the assistance of
the Spirit of the Lord or my speaking will not be profitable. We are not given
to preparing discourses, but rely upon the Lord to give us those things to say
that will be suited to the requirements of the Saints. It is a very delicate
position for a man to be placed in to stand between the Lord and the people;
but having taken upon us the name of Jesus and entered into covenant with Him
to perform the duties required of us as bearers of the Priesthood, we are
willing to labor and to give the glory to the Lord. The Gospel is the Gospel of
Jesus; it is the Gospel of truth and righteousness, and it is not possible for
us to properly preach it without the assistance of the Lord. Nor is it possible
for us to live it without the presence of the Holy Ghost. No man can be a
successful Latter-day Saint without the Spirit of the Lord. No man can hope to
enjoy the Spirit of the Lord unless he keep the commandments of the Lord and
preserve himself in all purity and righteousness; for the Spirit of the Lord
will not dwell in unholy tabernacles. Hence we are first required to have faith
in God. If we have faith in Him, we will then repent of our sins. If we repent
of our sins, we will be baptized for the remission of them; and then our sins
are forgiven us and remembered no more against us, so long as we continue
faithful; for all the promises made to us in the Gospel are on condition of our
faithfulness. Therefore, every Latter-day Saint is competent to sit in judgment
upon himself, and to know whether he is in the favor of the Lord or under
condemnation. The Lord has ordered that every man should judge for himself, in
his own heart, in regard to all the duties of life. As a man thinketh, so he
is. As a man decides in his own heart, so he does. If we judge correctly and
under the light and inspiration of the Lord, we will always do right. So far as
we today are doing wrong, it is because we have judged wrongfully, whether it
is in regard to what would be considered important matters or concerning the
minor matters of life; for we never do anything without thinking and deciding,
and exercising our will and judgment. The Savior did nothing but what was in
accordance with the will of God. Hence He was righteous and without sin. The
reason that we are sinners still is because we do not always do the will of the
Lord.
It is not
sufficient for the Latter-day Saints to have good professions and to have
really entered into the Church of Christ; but it is necessary that they should
continue faithful every day, in all matters doing the will of God. The Lord has
revealed to us His will, so that no one need be at a loss to know what to do
and how to do it, for if there is not enough already revealed, or should we not
be where we can refer to the revealed will at all times, we are entitled to the
presence and inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord to inform us what to do. If
we have not that Spirit, we are not in the line of our duty as Latter-day
Saints; we are not serving the Lord and keeping His commandments as perfectly
as we can do. We can do these things if we will, and the Lord is an ever present
help. Our teachers, our Bishops, our Presidents of quorums and of Stakes, and
the Presidency of the Church, may not always be where we can appeal to them;
but our Heavenly Father is always near, we can always appeal to Him, and be
sure of getting an answer; because by repenting of our sins and being baptized
we have entered into a nearness to Him and have made ourselves entitled to the
Spirit of the Lord. If we listen to the promptings of the Spirit of the Lord,
we will never give a wrong judgment. Bishops will not give wrong judgments,
High Councilors will not, Presidents of Stakes will not, if they are prompted
and directed by the Spirit of the Lord. All the mistakes that we make are when
we act independently and upon our natural judgment, unenlightened by the Spirit
of the Lord. These can be avoided by living so that the inspiration of the Lord
may be with us every day. If the Spirit of the Lord dwells richly in our hearts
as it should do, we never forget our prayers, and we never forget to worship
the Lord on the Sabbath day. We always remember that day to keep it holy. If
the Latter-day Saints do not remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, it is
because the inspiration of the Lord is not in their hearts as it should be. All
Latter-day Saints who neglect to meet to worship the Lord and to partake of the
sacrament are not imbued with the spirit of faith. All Latter-day Saints who
are not obedient to the requirements of the Gospel are not enjoying the Spirit
of the Lord to that degree that they ought to enjoy it. Where there is a lack
of harmony, where there is contention and quarreling, it is because the Spirit
of the Lord has not had proper sway in the hearts of the parties concerned.
This is
the Church of Christ, and our Father has established it. There are perhaps two
hundred thousand Latter-day Saints in the world who know this just as well as
they know light from darkness. There is no question about it in the hearts of
Latter-day Saints. They have done the will of the Lord and have obtained
knowledge that this is the Lord's work. This being the case, it will be
profitable to us as Latter-day Saints to devote our whole time and talents to
the accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord and to the establishment of His
Church upon the earth. It will be profitable to all Latter-day Saints to make
this Church first in their hearts and affections. Why? Because the Lord has
told us to seek first the kingdom of God. We have sought the kingdom and have
found it, and now that should have our attention before farming, before
merchandising, and before literary pursuits and the like. The welfare of the
Church of Christ in the earth and the spreading abroad of the Gospel should be
our primary object. But is this the case with us? If it is not, then we have
need for reformation. If the Church of Christ and the principles of
righteousness are not foremost in our hearts, then I say all Israel, so far as
they lack, have need of reformation. If we have set our hearts upon property,
whether it be little or much (for I presume a man could worship a little
property as well as a great deal), then we are idolaters. And God has forbidden
us to be idolaters. He has commanded us not to bow down to worship anything on
earth. Every man should feel that the welfare of the Church of Christ and the
advancement of the principles of truth among men for their salvation are ahead
of his home, of his merchandising, and of his flocks and herds. Let all these
be swept away, but let our hearts be set upon the principles of eternal truth.
Should I allow
my property to cause alienation to come in between me and my brethren? Suppose
a man should even rob me, and he might be a professed Latter-day Saint. Would
he be a brother if he was a robber? I would not care how often he had been
baptized, nor what blessings had been placed upon him, if he was a liar, a
deceiver and a swindler, he would not be a Latter-day Saint; for I say that a
robber and a dishonest man has forfeited his blessings and his right to the
Priesthood of God; or the Priesthood of God and its authority can only be
controlled upon the principles of righteousness. But suppose a man professing
to be a brother should really rob me and leave me without a thing in the world,
what should I do? Why, I ought still to serve the Lord and to enjoy the Spirit
of the Lord. I ought to have the spirit of charity burning in my bosom. I ought
to be able to say that I had not lost the object of my worship in being robbed
of my property; for I did not get wisdom, judgment, light and intelligence from
my property. It was comfortable to live upon and to make me measurably
independent; but my heart was not set upon it. A man never ought to have so
much, or so little, nor have it in such a shape or kind, that his heart should
or could be set upon it. The hearts of the Latter-day Saints should be upon the
principles of salvation. They are far ahead of gold and silver, or of the
riches of this world. They bring peace and contentment, happiness and
salvation, in time and eternity. But the fallen condition that we are in today
has its effect upon us. We are so attached to the wealth of the world that we
do not so easily discern the riches of eternal life; and when men who are
infidels actually deny God and say there is no such person, and ask us if we
have seen or talked with Him, we become measurably bewildered. Our fallen
condition asserts itself because we have set our hearts upon the things of this
world, and it is difficult for us, as has been stated by President Smith, to
love our enemies. Oh, that we could love our friends! The Lord has said that
the very first commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." How can we learn
to love our enemies if we have not first learned to love the Lord our God? I
accept the doctrine that that is the very first and greatest commandment. When
we have kept that, we will love our enemies, and we will keep the second
greatest commandment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
These are
the labors that we have to perform, and they are difficult unless we enjoy the
Spirit of the Lord. It cannot be done with the measure of the Spirit that we
obtained in the very beginning. For this reason it takes years of experience,
of trial and of effort before a man can submit himself entirely to the Spirit
of God. When he has done that, he can love the Lord with all his heart and his
neighbor as himself. Would there be any contentions or quarrels, would there be
any Bishops' trials, or High Council trials, or would teachers have to labor
among us, if we loved our brethren as we love ourselves? No. What man ever had
to submit himself to the judgment of his Bishop to make him do right to
himself, to love himself, and to feed and clothe himself? You never heard of
such a case. Does a man ever have any contention with himself? No. We are
always looking out for and defending ourselves. So ought we to defend and speak
well of our brother. Just as we love to have our own virtues magnified, so
ought we to magnify the virtues of a brother. And so ought we to magnify the
virtues of an enemy. Our enemies have virtues. The virtues are not entirely
monopolized by the righteous. Our enemies are not altogether wicked. They have
some merit and some virtues in them. We ought to discover their virtues, and
magnify them, instead of magnifying their sins. We like our own virtues
magnified. Every man wants to be thought very good. That is natural. But let
that same love of approval and of praise be extended to our brother. But do not
set your heart upon property. Do not allow yourselves to be alienated from each
other and embittered against each other because of property transactions. I
would not have an ill feeling against a brother for all that I own on this
earth-and I am not very wealthy. Possibly I have not enough to justify me in
feeling bad and having a bitter spirit toward a brother. I say that it would be
more serious for me to entertain bitterness in my heart toward a brother than
to lose every dollar that I have in the world and to be left naked. A man
cannot hope to love the Lord and have hatred in his heart toward his brother.
We cannot despise or hate a brother and yet hope to enjoy the Spirit of the
Lord. It is too sensitive and too easily offended. It is grieved at everything
that is wrong. I say, therefore, it takes years for us to learn to subdue
ourselves entirely to the Spirit of the Lord. The key to our success, our
advancement and our perpetuity in the kingdom of God is the enjoyment of the
Holy Spirit. We want to live for that, and to labor for it. And our labors are
just as important in temporal matters as in spiritual matters. It is not enough
for a man to pray; he must be good and honest to his neighbor. It is just as
important to the Lord that I should deal honorably with my neighbor as it is
that I should bow the knee before Him and pray. It is just as necessary that I
should do right to my brother as it is that I should come here and partake of
the sacrament. It is just as necessary that I should deal justly and
righteously with my brother and with my neighbor as it is that I should go into
the Temple of the Lord to receive blessings there for my salvation. The
blessings that we may have given to us in the Temple, or that may be given to
us at our baptism and confirmation, are only ours upon the condition that we
love the Lord our God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves; yea,
that we love our enemies; for we must come to it. President Smith felt that he
was improving in some of these things. I presume we all feel that we are
improving. The longer we live and the more years of experience we have in these
things, the more advancement we make. If we did not, we would be poor scholars
indeed.
Then I
exhort you, my brethren and sisters, to be faithful, to be humble. Do not
neglect any duty that devolves upon you. Whenever you neglect your prayers, you
are on dangerous ground. Whenever you neglect to worship the Lord and break the
Sabbath day, you are on dangerous ground. Whenever you neglect to deal
righteously and honestly by any person in the world, you are on dangerous
ground and in danger of falling into the grasp of Satan. You cannot afford to
do it. Satan has great power in the world, and he is more anxious about this
little body of people gathered in these mountains than any nation on this
earth. Why? Because these people have the Priesthood of God; they have the
ordinances of the Gospel; they have the power of God for salvation to the
world. Hence he is agitated, and he agitates others and stirs them up with
prejudice and evil thoughts against the Latter-day Saints. We have the Church
of Christ here, and it will remain. You and I may get shaky; we may fall away;
but this Church will endure; for it is established and planted here by our
Father who is in heaven. It does not depend upon any one man, or any number of
men. The Lord has chosen spirits that have come at this time; and they have
been sent here for the very work that has to be accomplished. Let us, my
brethren and sisters, develop the fact in our lives that we are among those
that the Lord has selected to come here and perform His work.
I pray
that God may bless you, and that we may be abundantly blessed during this
Conference. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord may rest upon President Woodruff
abundantly; that the prayers offered for him may be answered, that he may stand
up and speak by the power of God to us in this Conference when he feels so to
do, and that he may have strength and power to do it. God bless all Israel and
help us to be true and faithful to our covenants, that we may obtain salvation,
exaltation and eternal life in the presence of God, is my prayer, in the name
of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
Was the succeeding speaker. He said he had been absent for a good many years, traveling and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, endeavoring to establish new settlements, and therefore had not enjoyed the advantages of hearing the word of God from His inspired servants as had the Saints here, conference after Conference and Sabbath after Sabbath. But his faith and love for the Gospel of the Son of God were just the same, and as far as he had heard the expressions of his brethren he was in perfect harmony with them. It cost him everything he had to join this Church. His associations, his family relationships and all his future prospects had to be given up when he accepted of this doctrine. But his soul was filled with thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father when his mind was illuminated so that he could understand these things. The speaker could bear his testimony after an experience of over forty years in the ministry, and officiating in the ordinances of the House of the Lord, that this organization called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the Church of the living God. Who was the Lord our God? He was the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and all that is therein. He was also the Father of the spirits of all flesh, and the whole human family should acknowledge this if the members thereof wanted to be kind to themselves. God was a God of revelation and of miracles, and the Latter-day Saints knew that this great latter-day work was true, because it had been revealed by Him from the heavens.
The speaker invited any strangers who might be present to investigate thoroughly the principles of this the true Gospel, and asked what was the use of men administering in the name of the Lord unless they had the authority from on high to do so. The Elders were sent forth from this Church by divine authority to call the nations to repentance, and he would that the people of the world would throw off their bondage, traditions and superstition and hold communication with the heavens as they all had the most perfect right to do. the people of the world were victims of a false education; they needed to be educated to have full faith in the living God, in the God of revelation and of miracles; to humble themselves and become the meek of the earth if they ever expected to see his face.
Elder Teasdale spoke very briefly upon missionary work in Mexico, where he said they were progressing little by little, the mission being in a better position now than ever before. He prophesied that our Heavenly Father would establish His Church and Kingdom upon the earth in spite of all opposition, and that everything He had predicted by the mouth of His servants the Prophets was going to be fulfilled. In Mexico there were some five settlements, with about 2000 inhabitants. They had Sabbath and day schools and children's Primary associations there, and everything else in proper order in regard to Mutual Improvement and Ladies' Relief societies, presided over by excellent and earnest persons. A good fruit cannery had been started there, also a tannery and a grist mill. The people had, however, passed through a great deal of hardship. The dry weather had been a matter of some perplexity, and sometimes they had had but little to eat; still they had not starved to death. The men and women associated together in those settlements felt that that was their particular field of labor, that the Lord desired them to be there; and that was the reason why they remained.
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON
said that God had commenced a marvelous work and a wonder, and had declared that he would carry it forward in His own way. He did not depend upon the counsels of men for His wisdom, or leave His work in their hands for accomplishment; but He himself directed in all things which pertained to the upbuilding of His Church. He had acted according to the plan which He had designed and had not submitted His purposes for the criticism of mankind.
The speaker believed that in the future, no less than in the past, God would do this. He designed that we should be different men in educational as well as in religious matters from the rest of the world, in financial as well as in social affairs; that in our education we should occupy a higher plane than that which was common in the world. He desired that we should not depend upon the discoveries or inventions of men for our knowledge, but that we should seek and receive from Him that inspiration and revelation which should cause us to see at a glance that which it sometimes took years of study and research on the part of uninspired men to acquire. Men had rejected the true Gospel because of the source from whence it came.
Brigham Young, in founding this Territory, sought the inspiration of the Lord and worked continuously under the influence of the Holy Ghost, and we saw the results of his magnificent labor and of the grand instructions which he was inspired to give. He told the people to pursue a course which was contrary to the judgment of men.
The speaker branched out on the present stringent condition of financial affairs, and said the Saints could not do better than observe strictly every command given them by the servants of God, however much this might conflict with our own ideas of finance, on social or other matters. he did not share in the gloomy forebodings of many persons in relation to the present condition of things, and believed that a brighter future was yet in store, when the clouds which now hung over our heads had passed away.
[Abraham H. Cannon]
[DNW 48:97, 1/13/94, p 1; CD 3:389-393]
DIVINE INSPIRATION.
_____
Discourse delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
Conference, of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday Morning, October 7th, 1893, by
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I hope
and pray, my brethren and sisters, that while I occupy this position for a few
moments I may have an interest in your prayers and faith, that what I say may
be that which the Lord desires to have said.
The
Gospel which we have received, as all must know who have listened to the
remarks of the brethren during this Conference, teaches us different principles
and different ways of doing things than are generally known to the people of
the world. God has commenced a marvelous work and a wonder, and He has said
that He will carry it forward in His own way. He does not depend upon the
counsels of men for His wisdom. He does not leave His work in the hands of men
for its accomplishment. But He directs in all things which pertain to the
upbuilding of His Church. He has said through one of His prophets, "For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." We have seen this exemplified
in all the course of the Latter-day Saints, from the organization of the Church
until the present day. It was not according to the ideas and ways of men that
God established His Church and revealed the Gospel which we have received. He
did it in His own way; and in the carrying forward of that work He has acted
according to the plan which He designed, and has not submitted His purposes for
the criticism of men. I believe that in the future, no less than in the past,
God will do this. He designs that we shall be different to men in educational
matters as well as in religious matters, in financial as well as in social
affairs. He designs that in our education we shall occupy a higher plane to
that which is common in the world; that we shall not depend alone upon the
discoveries and inventions of mankind for our knowledge, but that we shall seek
to receive from Him that inspiration and revelation which shall make us grasp
in a moment that which it sometimes takes years of study and research on the
part of uninspired men to acquire.
God has
shown us, so far as we have gone in His work, that He is perfectly capable of
pointing out to us truths which the human family, even after fifty years'
announcement by the Elders of this Church, have not yet understood. Take, for
instance, the Book of Mormon-a revelation giving knowledge to this people
concerning the inhabitants of this land; telling of their forefathers, of the
cause of the dark skins which they have, and of their destiny; describing the
country which we inhabit and the travels of the people who built these great
cities in the south, the ruins of which we find almost everywhere in the
southern part of this continent. This truth the people of the world are only
beginning now to verify through their explorations and their study; and every
discovery which they make, every truth which they accept, is only a further
evidence of the divine source from which this sacred record came. God has
revealed this truth to the children of men; but they have rejected it, because
of the source whence it came, and because of the bearers of this great
historical record to the people of the earth.
God will
open the heavens to His servants, if they will seek Him in faith. I believe it
is the duty of the teachers of the youth of Israel, not alone to teach from the
text books which are provided for the school, but to have their minds
continually open to the impressions of the Holy Spirit, that when they speak to
their pupils they may speak by the Spirit of God. I do not feel that a man or a
woman who occupies the position of teacher among the youth of Israel is filling
the position in its completeness who does not teach by the spirit and
inspiration of Almighty God. The Bible itself is even now a book of science and
revelation to the world, notwithstanding all the advancement we have made thus
far in science and in art. It speaks there of the rotundity of the earth-a
truth which was rejected in ancient times. In that book which was written so
many centuries ago, we read of God having given to the air its weight; but not
until Torricelli announced to the world that the air had weight would the
people accept it. We read in this sacred book that the promise to Abraham was
that his seed should be as the stars of heaven, innumerable; and yet in early
days people ridiculed the expression, because it was announced to the world
that there were only some one thousand stars in the heavens above us, and if
his seed was to be limited to this small number it was no very great promise.
But through the discoveries of the telescope it is revealed to us that the
heavens are beset with the workmanship of our God, and the truth which Joseph
Smith announced in one of the revelations, that there is no space in which
there is no world, is verified by the discoveries which have been made through
the inventions of modern times.
Now it is
said that in one system alone, which we can see by means of the telescope,
there are at least eighteen millions of worlds like this upon which we stand!
And of systems there is no end.
God spoke
by His Spirit through the holy men of old, and thus revealed truths which it
will take the people of the world many years yet to discover by their slow
processes of study and research. He intends to speak to this people and reveal
to them scientific truths, as He has religious-truths which the world will not
readily accept; and it will take years for them to be brought to the knowledge
of that which God will reveal instantly to His servants who will seek knowledge
from this source.
I believe
that in every affair of life it is our privilege to have the guidance of the
Spirit of God. Brigham Young, in founding this Territory, sought the
inspiration of the Lord and worked continually under the influence of the Holy
Ghost. We see the results of his magnificent labor and his grand instructions which
he was inspired to give. He told the people to pursue a course which was
contrary to the judgment of men. You older people will remember how it was in
the early settlement of this valley. When the gold excitement was raised in
California he counseled the Saints not to leave these valleys, forbidding as
they were, to which God had led them, and he promised that those who would
remain should receive a richer reward than those who sought their fortunes in
the golden west. The results proved the truth of his prediction; for those who
remained not only prospered in their temporal affairs, but their spiritual
strength increased. Many of those who left this land and went west lost their
faith, or wavered in the truth, the people who remained here, pinched by hardship,
tried by adversity, were stronger in their faith and in the Lord, and they
today are numbered among the rich and wealthy among the people of God. He told
the Saints again that they should not engage in mining. He told them that the
basis of their prosperity was the cultivation of the soil and the manufacture
of those things necessary for their sustenance. The principle revealed in the
Doctrine and Covenants was made expressive in the midst of the people of God,
and they were advised to have the beauty of their apparel the workmanship of
their own hands. The results which have followed show the wisdom of the counsel
which God gave through His servants in those times. For while the mines have
been opened, and I am thankful to the Lord for the wealth they have yielded for
the benefit of the people, we find today that the prosperous people of this
Territory are those who have devoted themselves to the cultivation of the soil
and who have sought to produce, according to the ability which God has given them,
that which they needed for the sustenance of themselves and their families.
A few
weeks ago I supposed in my ignorance that nearly all the Latter-day Saints were
in a species of bondage, through their indebtedness. I thought that almost
every farm in the Territory was mortgaged, and almost every home possessed by
the Latter-day Saints was obligated to some person or firm, because of the
indebtedness of the owner. But within a few days I have had this illusion dispelled,
and I am happy to say that the condition of the Latter-day Saints is not by any
means as bad as I supposed it was. The census bulletin of the government of the
United States which was recently issued concerning this Territory, shows how
wise and farseeing was the prophet of God in counseling the people to take the
course which he suggested, because it shows that of the farm population of this
Territory there are out of every one hundred families eighty-six that own
unencumbered the land upon which they dwell and the houses that they occupy;
five out of every hundred occupy encumbered possessions; while only nine out of
every hundred families who are living upon farms are tenants. You go from the
farms into the villages and towns of the people, compare their condition with
that of the farming population, and you will find that out of every hundred
families who have their homes in the country, without owning the farms, there
are fifty-six families only that own their homes, while five own homes encumbered,
and thirty-nine rent the places they occupy. Then you come into Ogden and Salt
Lake City-the only cities mentioned in this census-and we find there the happy
condition of the farming people reversed. In this city and Ogden, out of every
hundred families occupying homes there are only thirty-two who own unencumbered
the homes in which they dwell; nine out of every hundred have mortgages upon
their residences; while the remaining fifty-nine hire the places in which they
live. Now you see how it is. People in the country have not the temptations to
extravagance which are presented daily to those who live in the cities.
They have
not encumbered themselves, and they are comparatively free. They can go to bed
at night knowing that the roof that covers them is their own. The labor that
they expend upon their home is for their own benefit. On the morrow they cannot
be thrust out into the world without home or possession. It is theirs. People
should be happy who have their homes in this condition, and they should seek to
pursue such a course that they will not lose possession of their lands; but
bring them up to the highest possible state of cultivation, make them places of
beauty, and use the energies and talents which God has given them for the
benefit of themselves and those who are dependent upon them.
I say
that herein we can see how God has inspired His servants to teach the people;
and though at times they have not understood the wisdom concealed in the
counsel that has been given, yet in following strictly that counsel they have
found blessing and profit. Take, for instance, the principle of tithing. If you
announced that to the world and asked them to observe it, would they not
consider it one of the most burdensome taxes that could be inflicted upon them?
Yet every Latter-day Saint is my witness that those who follow strictly this
law of tithing among the people of God do not find it a burden, but rather find
it a temporal as well as a spiritual blessing; for their property has been
abundantly blessed, so that they have not missed the tithing which they have
given to the work of the Lord. Take, again, the missionaries which we send into
the world. If a man in the world was called to leave his business for two years
or more to preach the Gospel, he would think it was ruinous to all his temporal
affairs. But here are Elders who go out and spend year after year, and the very
men who have spent the most time in the missionary field, and who stand at the
head of the Church today, are the men who are the most prosperous and the most
free from debt. And so the Lord will show forth the wisdom of the course which
He presents to the people through the results which follow the efforts of the
Latter-day Saints. We can do no better than to observe strictly every command
that is given us by the servants of the Lord, however much they may conflict
with our present ideas, and God will bless us in pursuing this course. We have
before us the promises of great blessings. Only yesterday we had announced from
this stand a prophecy in which all of us can take comfort-that we should come
out of our present troubles with more credit and in a better financial
condition than we have ever yet seen. I know men around me-and I have shared in
the feeling myself-who have considered with horror the thought that our names
were to be dishonored, our credit ruined, because, perhaps through our lack of
wisdom or from some other cause, we have involved ourselves in debts which it
seemed we would be unable to pay. We have thought this the greatest trial of
our lives, because we are in the midst of it. We thought at one time the
greatest trial was that which sent our brethren to prison, exiled our families,
and scattered them here and there on the face of the earth without any human
prospect of their ever again being gathered together, or of our being permitted
to see on these stands the men whom we honored as the leaders of God's people
on the earth. Yet out of that dark cloud the Lord has brought the glorious
light of His Spirit, and today we are enjoying greater freedom and greater
blessings than any we have had for many years. So I believe He will yet bring
us out of our present troubles with no loss of honor. I testify that the
prophecy which was uttered yesterday is the word of the Lord; for every man who
will serve God and hold in his heart the influence of His Spirit will come out
of these troubles and these seeming disasters brighter and clearer and better
for the experience through which he has been called to pass. It is just as
possible for God to do this, with all the darkness which appears before us, as
it was for God through His servant to tell the widow who went out to gather
sticks that she might bake a cake with which to feed herself and son once more
before they died, and who out of that gave to the prophet, that her barrel of
meal should not waste nor the cruse of oil fail until the earth brought forth
again in its abundance. So it will be in this case. The famine for money which
has spread over us and the lack of things which seem necessary for our
prosperity, God will supply in one of the many ways which it is possible for
Him to adopt to bring about salvation, temporally and eternally, to His
children upon the earth. Amen.
When the soul is sad and dreary, Seek relief in prayer,
was sung by the choir.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[7 Oct, 2 pm*]
[DNW 47:522-523, 10/14/93, p 10-11]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
_____
Singing by the choir:
Hark! listen to the
trumpeters! They sound for volunteers;
On Zion's bright and flowery mount, Behold the officers.
Prayer by Elder Angus M. Cannon.
Singing:
Captain of Israel's host and
guide Of all who seek the land above,
Beneath the shadow we abide -- The cloud of Thy protecting love.
A number of reports were read by President Geo. Q. Cannon.
Report of Karl G. Maeser, superintendent of the
CHURCH SCHOOLS,
Addressed to President Wilford Woodruff, president of the General Board. I contained, among other information, the following: Students -- male 3035, females 2459; total 5484. Grades -- Primary department 932, preparatory 1218, intermediate 1905, commercial 101, academic 376, normal 952; total 5484.
Thee had been laboring in the Church schools during this year 128 regular and 26 special teachers; total, 154. Besides these 26 specialists the regular teachers were reported as 4 holding academic diplomas, 47 certificates and 77 licenses.
PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS.
The annual report of the associations for the year ending Aug. 31, 1893, showed: Number 412, members 29,282, average attendance 12,565, regular meetings held 8708, officers 483, conferences 157, fairs 25, entertainments 218.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the voice of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven President of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball and Rulon S. Wells.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. burton as his First and John r. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
As the Church Board of Education; Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee in Trust to the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General conference.
All the voting was unanimous.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
addressed the Conference. He spoke upon the evidences of the growth of the Saints in godliness, in knowledge, in depth of sympathy and breadth of views. This development was in harmony with the Gospel of Christ, which was broad as eternity. Fighting our enemies was no part of the labor of the people of God. The chief contention of each individual Saint was with himself, in overcoming his own weaknesses. A portion of the discourse was devoted to describing the virtues of the late President Young and the veterans who had sustained him in accomplishing what he did under the inspiration of the Almighty. The men now at our head were worthy of all confidence, and their counsels should be reverently regarded and acted upon. The speaker urged his hearers to be diligent in the detailed performance of every day duties. Nothing in that line was too small to be well and faithfully performed. This applied to matters that were called temporal as well as to spiritual concerns. He also gave some practical views in relation to the cultivation of the soil. He continued at some length, giving instructions that, if carried our could not fail to result in material benefit to the people.
ELDER MOSES THATCHER
first touched on the subject of sacrifice, and instanced some of the sacrifices which had been made by this people. He next dwelt upon the changed feeling which had taken place towards them during the last few years, making mention of the cordial greetings which the First Presidency and the Tabernacle choir received on the recent visit to Chicago. The financial outlook came in for review, the speaker expressing the opinion that in this matter one extreme would follow another. He advised the people to pay their debts, both principal and interest, as soon as they could and so extricate themselves from a weighty burden. The speaker inveighed against the accumulation of wealth to the exclusion of higher things, advocated the promotion of home industries, and said he was thankful that, throughout the recent trying times, not one of Salt Lake's institutions had been pressed to the wall. He predicted brighter times in the near future and said let us not do anything in our distress that will alienate our friends from us.
[Moses Thatcher]
[DNW 48:129, 1/20/94, p 1; CD 3:393-397]
THE BONDAGE OF DEBT.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday Afternoon, October 7th, 1893, by
ELDER MOSES THATCHER.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
The words
to which I have listened during this Conference appear to me to be opportune
and suited to the needs of the people. I have nothing specially resting upon my
mind upon which to speak during the brief time I may occupy; but I have noticed
that as the pendulum swings to the right so it must swing back again to the
left, if the clock continues to do its duty; or if it swings to the left it
must swing back again to the right; and thus extremes follow each other. It is
written that "sacrifice brings forth blessings." Three years ago the
Latter-day Saints laid a great sacrifice upon the altar of their consciences,
for when the Manifesto was then read in this building many men and women with
aching hearts voted for it. However much the world may have thought us
mistaken, there had been ties formed that were sacred to the heart of many a
father and mother. Upon the brow of their children at no time had appeared the
blush of shame. But the pendulum had gone far in the direction of oppression.
It was useless to argue with prejudice dark as midnight. It was useless to
supplicate at the feet of cruelty, for the public mind was wrought up to such
an extent that it demanded a sacrifice unparalleled in the history of the
world. That sacrifice was given. And all around us we see today the blessings
that have followed. Yet had it been left to this people to have decided the
time and place wherein and when such an announcement should be made, we
possibly would have been until today in doubt. Some said it was too late;
others said it came too soon. But we, having a man of God standing at our head
able to communicate with Jehovah, he noted the time and fixed the place, and
the results are before us. Brother Grant stated that "the American people
are a generous people." And so I state. They are a broad-minded people.
They have built upon the broad foundations of human liberty. But they like
others when prejudiced are blind. Give prejudice play among this people, and we
have not wisdom; for they go not hand in hand. Witness the recent trip of the
First Presidency, allusion to which has been made. A perfect ovation! Where
they had been hated and despised before, honor was done and every courtesy extended
to them. Is not this one of the blessings that have followed that great
sacrifice? Listen to the sweet singing of our choir, and note the homage done
them. See the impression made upon the hearts of thousands of people by the
revelation contained in that beautiful hymn, "O, my Father." Why,
when a certain train left Utah and passed through the before intolerant State
of Missouri, it was difficult to state for whom the cries of the people were
loudest, Grover Cleveland or Utah. Who brought about this change, and caused
men of the world to grasp the hand of our venerable President, and from the
inmost depths of their hearts desire God's blessing upon him? That which was
despised has been exalted, and the Joseph that was cast into the dungeon
wrongfully accused by Potiphar's harlot wife, who took from his shoulder the
garment of innocence and laid it at the feet of her husband with accusations-I
say Joseph the innocent who was thrust into the jail, while guarding the honor
of Potiphar's house, has been called out of the dungeon, and if he does not
wear the golden chain of honor today, he will wear it in the future, and he
will wear the signet ring, too, and will yet ride in one of the first chariots
of the land, honored, glorified, and the magnanimous savior of his brethren and
father's house, with his hand against anarchy and misrule in every land and
clime. God will raise up this people. He having permitted them to be trodden
down, He now will exalt them. I rejoice in the words of encouragement offered
yesterday by President George Q. Cannon. I, too, bear my testimony that the
clouds will break away.
But as we
have learned by the experience of our trials in the past, in reference to the
Manifesto, in reference to the political division of the people, so let us
learn, my brethren and sisters, wisdom by what is occurring around us day by
day. Money has been scarce. A man being worth a thousand dollars and owing a
hundred dollars, if he was pushed might have to sacrifice all he had to meet
that obligation. One extreme will follow another; and unfortunate is he who,
through untoward circumstances, has had to create obligations at high rates of
interest; for when the panic has passed by, those who have money in abundance
in the East will not find it so easy to place it again among the people. Those
who have had their fingers burned; industries that were paying more in interest
than they could produce, will withdraw themselves from the productive fields
and the result will be, if I can read the future, that one extreme in this also
will follow another. Money today in New York at call is bringing but one to two
per cent per annum, however scarce and high it may be here. They are not
offering it to the people on time loans, because they are waiting for the
action of Congress. Whatever action Congress may take, those who hold the money
will desire again to throw it out among the people and when that desire comes
strongly upon them they will throw it out upon securities that they would not
today look at at all. I have had but one advice to give to people, and that is,
pay your debts as soon as you can, both principal and interest. Pay every
farthing; give the pound of flesh if it is required. But remember that the
power of money is not a natural power. It has force only in legal enactment.
Unlike the tree that produces the fruit, unlike the germ in the grain of wheat,
it is dead except it is given power by legislation.
We speak
of the interest on money. Really there is no such thing as interest on money.
It is the rent of the land or of the house that you occupy, if the money is
invested in land or in the house. The farmer borrows today, we will say a
thousand dollars. He does not put it in the safety vault and lock it up. He
does not put it in his stocking and bury it. If he does, at the expiration of
the year, if thieves have not broken through and stolen, it is just the
thousand dollars that he borrowed; it has not increased a single farthing. But
if he takes that thousand dollars and puts it in land which with his labor produces
a thousand bushels of wheat, what is the result? Two hundred bushels of that
wheat, at prices ruling today, are needed to meet, not the principal, but the
interest. One fifth part of his labor meets the interest, so-called, of money,
but really meets the rent upon his land; for money produces nothing. You may
lock up a hundred million of dollars for a thousand years, and when you bring
it out it will be no more, no less. The manufacturer borrows a hundred thousand
dollars at ten per cent interest per annum. For what purpose does he borrow it?
If in the manufacture of his goods last year he found no market that was
remunerative, he borrows the money to pay his obligations, in order that he may
hold his goods until he finds a better and advanced market; and if he finds not
that better and advanced market, he borrows again-or goes into bankruptcy. It
is, then, his goods that produce the income or the rent on the money.
Careful
reading of history discloses this fact beyond any question: that as money receives
its power through legislation, so from the beginning of time that legislation
has been in the interest of those that accumulate, rather than in the interest
of those who produce the wealth of the world. At the close of the war we owed
nearly four billions of dollars, bringing ten per cent per annum. What did it
mean to pay interest on it annually? At the price of wheat this year it would
require eight hundred millions of bushels of wheat annually to meet the
interest alone. You farmers in Utah who have borrowed money on your real
estate, have you ever thought that your farm, being valued at twenty thousand
dollars when interest is six per cent, shrinks to the value of ten thousand
dollars the very moment interest reaches twelve per cent? Did you ever think of
it in that light? Take the interest today on the debt of Great Britain and
destroy that amount in property, and then compel her to pay one hundred and
twenty millions per annum, and it would paralyze the whole nation. Take our
condition in Utah. All the products of Cache county put together-one of the
fairest counties in the Territory-are not sufficient to pay its interest on the
annual indebtedness of this Territory alone. Now, if the tithings of the people
there have represented one-tenth of all the tithings of the people; if their
contributions have represented one-tenth of the contributions of the whole
Church, then we have reached a point in financeering where one-tenth of the
labor of the people is being expended on interest account alone. Is it wise or
prudent? No, it is not. It is not in the line marked out by President Brigham
Young. It is not in the line taught by President John Taylor. It is not in the
line of the wisdom of President Wilford Woodruff. Bondage is debt; and whoever
heard of the rich of any nation meeting together to plan for the good of the
whole people? The poor inveigh against the extravagance of the rich and the
luxury in which they live; and yet, my brethren and sisters, the very thing
against which they inveigh is their only valve of safety. It is a boon to the
poor that some of the rich expend their money like water thrown on the ground.
It is a boon also that the rich must die as well as the poor; for children
rocked in the cradle of luxury-and I may say, too, in the cradle of
immorality-will throw to the winds the wealth accumulated by their parents. A
few rich men in any community, outside of the influences of the Gospel, by
combining under special laws, living the habits of industry and practicing
usury, can soon reap the wealth accumulated by the labor toiling masses. That
is the history of the world. In Belgium they have salutary laws, however, that
we may copy after later on in our nation. If a man dies possessed of fifty
thousand dollars of property, five per cent, I think, of that property must go
to state institutions of learning. If he dies possessed of a hundred thousand
dollars' worth of property he is taxed ten per cent, and so on up until
reaching a certain point, which, as I remember, is half a million dollars; and
anything above that goes to the state for the education of the people of the
state and for charitable institutions. Whatever we may say in praise of
civilization, a nation cannot be Christian that does not have a system of
income taxation, thereby placing the burdens of taxation according to their
ability to bear it equally upon the poor and the rich; justice, equity and
statesmanship put it upon the income of the rich man, because the poor man,
when the nation is in danger, is the foremost man to bear the flag of his
country in the front of the battle; he not only offers his sacred honor, but
his life. Why then should legislation be in favor of the few as against the
many?
The
kingdom of God will rectify all the evils that we speak of. But the world has
not been willing to give it place. Let the genius of the Gospel of the Son of
God have play in the midst of the nations of the earth, and there will be none
of these inequalities that we now complain of. Brighter times are before us.
Utah in passing through what she is now passing through will turn her attention
to the wealth around her-to the silk in the leaves and the honey in the flowers
whose fragrance we breathe; to the wealth that we dig out of the soil, to the
gold and silver in our mountains, to the sugar in our ground, to home
industry-and we will become a great people; and as we advocate and practice
this, we will stand up erect as God made us, not only independent within
ourselves, but able to feed the alien that may come to us. They will come, and
will bring their gold and silver by the millions; and will lay it, too, at the
feet of the servants of God, asking for wisdom to invest it. Up to date none of
the institutions of Utah have been pressed to the wall; not a bank, not a
single Mormon institution of note. Their credit is still maintained, and the
honor of the Church is the pride of its people. That is something for which we
ought to feel grateful.
I feel
that I have spoken as long as I should. But my heart is not depressed. All
things do not seem dark to me. Much light is beyond the clouds that hover over
us today; and God will give them not only a silver but a golden lining.
Abundance will come upon Zion; for He hath decreed that He will glorify her and
He will make the feet of those who bring glad tidings very beautiful upon the
mountains. God bless President Wilford Woodruff, and speedily take from his
heart and mind the load resting upon him by reason of the financial distress
upon the whole people, that he may be free from these things; permitted during
his remaining days and by his remaining strength to pour blessings upon the
people. And may the Spirit of the Lord make strong all the quorums of the
Church, uniting them like a threefold cord that cannot be broken; and in the
midst of our trials and tribulations let us see to it that we wound not the
hearts of our friends. Let us do nothing in the hour of distress that will
alienate our friends from us. And, whatever else we do, let us not forget the
worthy poor in the midst of the people; and if we have no labor for them, let
us at least divide our crust with them. Let the rich who have abundance dispose
of their surplus and give liberally to the worthy poor. And above all things,
let no thought enter into the heart of any Latter-day Saint that we shall ever
reach a point when it will be honorable not to pay our honest debts, not only
to the Gentile, but also to the Jew, and to Latter-day Saints. I believe that
the Senate will pass the bill that the House of Representatives passed, and that,
too, promptly. I believe also that President Cleveland will sign the bill,
restoring to the Church its property, now so much needed. May God grant that
this people may continue to advance and prosper until they shall see as they
are seen and know as they are known. Amen.
The choir sang an anthem, "The God of Israel."
Benediction by Elder John Morgan.
_____
[8 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 47:523-524, 10/14/93, p 11-12]
THIRD
DAY -- OCT. 8th.
_____
MORNING SESSION.
Singing:
Our God we raise to Thee Thanks for thy blessings free We here enjoy.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
Singing:
Softly beams the sacred
dawning Of the great Millennial morn,
And to Saints gives welcome warning That the day is hastening on.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
delivered an instructive discourse. The introductory portion of it was devoted to a consideration of temporal affairs and the principles which govern them. the speaker showed clearly the course that ought to be pursued by the Saints as in individuals and as a community in order that they might become pre-eminently prosperous, dwelling specially on the duty of all to be productive and to expend less than was produced. He spoke of the sugar works and the beneficent character of the object of their establishment and the prospect of their being a future success. The need of cultivating industrial habits among all the people, young and aged, rich and poor, was forcibly argued.
In conclusion the speaker explained that humility and unshaken integrity to God constituted the basis of eternal exaltation in His presence.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 48:1, 12/23/93, p 1; CD 3:398-406]
TRUE ECONOMY.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, October 8, 1893, by
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
____
It is
with a feeling of great dependence and weakness that I arise before the
congregation this morning to speak. I took a severe cold a couple of weeks ago
and have not recovered from it yet; therefore, unless I am blessed of the Lord
I shall possibly not be able to make myself heard, or to occupy much time.
I have
felt blessed in listening to the instructions which have been given by the
brethren who have spoken during this Conference, and I can bear my testimony to
the counsels which they have given and the instructions which have proceeded
from them by the inspiration of the Almighty. I hope that the same good Spirit
which has attended our meetings so far will continue throughout today, that all
who hear may rejoice in the manifestations of the mercy, kindness and love of
our Heavenly Father toward His children. We have been greatly blessed of our
Father in our spiritual labors as well as in our temporal affairs. We have
heard a little during Conference about the hard times that are being felt
throughout the land; but if all the truth were told, I believe it would be
found that the people of Utah have felt the effects of the hard times about as
little as, if not less than any other portion of our country, or of the world.
Not long
ago one of the brethren, who lived out in the country, came to the President's
office and said to President Woodruff, in substance: "I have made up my
mind to go back to the old country and visit my relatives. It is a long time
since I was there, and I have come to the conclusion that I will go back once
more and look at them, and see what I can do before I get too old." The
President remarked, "Well, if you can afford to do this in these hard
times, I don't see that there can be any objection to it."
"Why," he said, "President Woodruff, I live out in the country
and I don't know anything about hard times." He then went on to say that
the people out in the country did not feel the hard times like those in the
city. They lived from the products of their farms; they had their little flocks
and herds; they reaped what they had sown, and gathered what they had strewn,
and they were about as comfortable now as they had ever been. It did not appear
to him, he said, so long as the Lord blessed the soil and the flocks and the
herds, that hard times would come very near to them. These were about the
sentiments expressed by this good brother. He said he had plenty of means to go
and visit his relatives. Then, said President Woodruff, go and be blessed. He
has been, and I think he has returned. This expresses, I believe, pretty nearly
the condition of a great many of the Latter-day Saints throughout Utah and
elsewhere. We heard yesterday some statistics, given by Brother Abraham H.
Cannon, concerning the people in the country who had been prudent and taken
care of that which the Lord had given to them. He said that eighty-six per cent
of the people living in the country were possessing their homes and their farms
unencumbered, while only a portion of the remaining fourteen per cent had their
places so much encumbered that they were in danger. This speaks very well for
the condition of the Latter-day Saints outside of the more populous centers. I
would that we could say the same, in every particular, with regard to the
Latter-day Saints who live nearer the business centers of the Territory. Yet I
do not think that the statistics show the precise condition of the Latter-day
Saints in this regard. In Salt Lake City and county, or in Weber and other
counties, where it is shown that a larger percentage of the people are living
in mortgaged homes and in rented houses, we must bear in mind that within the
last few years a large number of strangers have come amongst us to live, and I
think likely a large percentage of this class of people are living in rented
houses, and a large percentage also of those who have speculated in lands have
been under the necessity of mortgaging them in order to pay their obligations.
I think if the real facts were known it would be found that there is no class
of people, in the business centers, that are so well provided for, or so free
from debt, as are the Latter-day Saints. If this is not so, it is very plain to
me that they have not very carefully observed the good and wise counsels which
have been given to them from time to time by their Presidents and Bishops; for
the counsel to our people from the beginning has been to live within their
means, to be economical, and as far as possible self-sustaining. If we have not
followed this counsel and are suffering from the consequences of disobedience
to it, I trust that we will now profit by the lesson, and in the future seek
more faithfully to carry out this wise counsel than we have done in the past.
We heard
from Brother Merrill his opinion with regard to going into debt. He believes it
to be an unwise thing for individuals to run in debt, having to pay large sums
of interest, which must come out of their labor, or the product of their soil,
or from their flocks or herds, or from their business; for the money which they
receive is not that which in itself produces the interest which they have to
pay, but it is from the proceeds of their business or toil that they must get
the means with which to pay interest on the borrowed money; unless, perchance,
they can borrow money at a low rate of interest and then loan it to a less
fortunate brother for a higher percentage. Then he has to earn it somewhere. It
has to be produced from some source. Money itself will not produce its
increase; it will always remain the same. It does not sprout and grow; it does
not produce seed or fruit; but remains the same. If they cannot convert it into
some other property that will be productive, it is a dangerous thing for them
to borrow and obligate themselves to pay interest. In my younger days I
followed the example of President Woodruff. I have heard him say that in former
years he had never borrowed a dollar-he had studiously avoided signing notes,
and had never run in debt; but of late years he has had to sign a great many
pieces of paper. He commenced a few years ago, when the Government of the
United States seized our property, and it became necessary for us to pay over
money in lieu of real estate and other property which had been disposed of, the
proceeds of which had been used in the regular business of the Church. Either
we had to borrow money to pay for that or the courts would commence proceedings
to disturb the titles of property that had been sold and passed into the hand
of so-called "innocent parties." We had to raise several hundred
thousand dollars at that time, and then it was that President Woodruff began to
sign notes. And from that day to this we have had to keep borrowing more or less,
in order that we might meet our obligations, pay interest, help to complete the
Temple, and do what other things were needful. The Presidency of the Church
have had to do this. Of course, the Church has been behind them, because it is
the Church that gives to them the influence they have. We do not ignore this;
we cannot ignore it. The influence they may have among the people is due to
your faith in them and to the position they occupy in the Church. Therefore,
they receive what of credit, influence and honor they may have from God and
from this people.
We
started the sugar works here a few years ago. Why? Because when we came to
reflect about it we saw that we had reached a point in our history where there
was not a single enterprise of a public character that was calculated to give
employment to our people. The railroads had gone into the hands of outsiders,
as we term them, and instead of their pursuing a wise policy, they abandoned
the course that had been pursued by their predecessors, and discharged the Mormon
people from their service, brought strangers from the east and west, and gave
them employment. I will relate here a remark that I heard Superintendent John
Sharp make about one year after the change in the policy of the railroads. He
said to me and to others that within a year there had been more railroad wrecks
and more destruction of railroad property on the Utah Central than there had
been before from the time the last rail was laid in this city on that line from
Ogden. Why? Because of the recklessness on the part of those who had been
employed; while those who had been faithful to the interest of the road had
been discharged. If you will take the pains to look up the question in the
newspapers of that period, you will see that this statement of Superintendent
Sharp will be verified by the accounts of wrecks and destruction of property in
them. The government of the city has also been turned over. Every man that was
suspected of having the least color of Mormonism about him was discharged from
the service of the city, and strangers were imported and given work. There was
not a thing being done of a public character calculated to give employment to
the Latter-day Saints in any direction; and we began to feel that there was a
responsibility resting upon us which required something to be done, in a small
way at least, in the direction of giving employment to our people. So we
started the sugar works, although few people had confidence in the success of
the undertaking. Some of our best men lacked confidence in it. Men of means
were very chary about it, and did not feel to take any very active part in
attempting to start it. There appeared to be a feeling of mistrust on the part
of the people generally. It seemed as though all the people lacked confidence
in the enterprise, fearing it would be a failure, and if they put their money
in it, it would be lost. On the back of all this, "hard times" came
on; scarcity of money began, and it became a very difficult matter indeed to
continue the enterprise to success. Therefore, some of the leading brethren
felt obligated to raise means in some way to carry it on and save that which
had already been expended upon it. The result was, we had to borrow very large
sums of money, for which, until the present, we have had to pay interest. What
for? For any benefit to us? No. Who for? For the Territory and for the
inhabitants of these valleys; for every dollar that is saved here helps to
build up the country and benefit the people. Now there is a prospect of this
enterprise becoming a success. They are manufacturing over fifty thousand
pounds of sugar daily out of beets that are produced in these valleys by the
Latter-day Saints, giving not only employment to farmers, but to the children
or widows and to many of the poor among the people. The farmer today who
successfully raises the sugar beet is getting from $60 to $90 an acre from his
farm that heretofore only yielded from $10 to $25 an acre. This is a benefit to
the people and to the country. Yet we have had to bear this burden, and we will
have to do it, I presume, unless the people will rally to our help for a year
or two, until these works are able to carry themselves, pay the principal and
interest, and by and by begin to pay dividends on the means invested. And it is
bound to do it, because it is a home industry that the people will learn by and
by to appreciate as a blessing, as well as a necessity. When this proves to be
a success and a blessing to the Latter-day Saints, the people of Cache Valley
probably may begin to consider the propriety of doing something of the kind,
and perhaps also those of Weber and this county, until we can supply all the
sugar that the people of the Territory can consume, and perchance have a little
surplus to ship abroad.
We were
told yesterday by one of the speakers that just so long as we consume more than
we produce, as individuals or as a people, just so long we would continue to
grow poorer, until by and by we would come to the bottom. This is true. We must
produce as well as consume. It follows upon natural principle, and it is as
plain as anything can be, if you do not earn as much as you consume, there will
be a time-and it will depend upon just how much more you consume than you
produce as to how long that time will be put off-when you will possess nothing
in the world, will be in debt to your neighbors, and dependent upon charity.
But the moment you begin to produce a little more than you consume, that moment
you are able to lay up something and begin to get rich. This country has been named
Deseret-the honey bee; and we all well understand the character of this little
insect. It usually gathers more than it consumes, and lays aside a little. So
should it be with the bees of the hive of Deseret. If we only earn fifty cents
a day, we should try our utmost to live upon forty-five, and lay five cents
away for "the rainy day." That is true economy, and was the counsel
of President Brigham Young from my early recollection till the day he passed
away. It has also been the counsel of his successors, and of all the leading
members of this Church. Save something; and when you have a surplus, use that
portion of it that is needful for the building up of the Kingdom of God, for
the spread of the truth, for the gathering of the poor, for the building of temples,
and for the accomplishment of the purposes of the Almighty. In this way the
promises that the Almighty has made to us will be fulfilled; for it is His
promise to make us the "richest of all people," provided we will seek
first those riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto us, and only
in this way is it possible for this promise to be fulfilled. While we spend
more than we gain we never can become the "richest of all people,"
neither in spiritual nor in temporal things, but we will be the "tail, and
not the head;" we will be the poor of the earth, not the rich; we will be
the borrower and not the lender, and they who control wealth will be our
masters and we their servants. Now, let every man, woman and child among the
people try to be producers in some way.
I am
going to tell something about my own family. You will pardon me perhaps for
bringing family affairs before this vast congregation, but it may illustrate
the condition of some of the rest of you, and it may be a lesson to some of
us-a lesson perhaps that does not need to be taught to many; but I am fearful
that there are far too many of us that need to be taught it. I said to some of
my folks some time ago, when money seemed to be plentiful in the country and
goods were cheap, and it was so easy to run to Z.C.M.I. to buy everything that
was needed, that there was scarcely anything that we ate or wore that we did
not have to buy. How is this? I asked. "I can remember," I said,
"when you used to knit my stockings and stockings for the children and
yourselves; but now every stocking has to be bought and the money paid for it.
And these stockings are not made in Utah. Our people are not employed in the
manufacture of them. We are building up somebody else away over in the east,
and we are wearing their shoddy, giving them employment, and letting our own
people go without. I do not like this. I will get some yarn from some of our
factories here, if you will go to knitting again." Well they have gone to
knitting stockings, and I hope the little ones will be taught to knit their
own. When I was a little boy, in Nauvoo, my mother used to have some difficulty
in keeping track of me. I used to like to go off and play with the boys. So my
mother conceived the idea that it would be a very nice thing to set me to
knitting; and she set me a pattern of a suspender and showed me how to do it,
and I knitted myself a pair of suspenders. I then learned how to knit, and
being a little handy at it perhaps, although I always drew the thread pretty
tight (the suspenders did not stretch much after I knit them), she started me
on stockings. So I learned how to knit stockings. The Bishop the other day was
complaining about our boys playing from morning till night. They climb trees,
play marbles, tear their clothes and wear out the knees of their pants,
destroying everything and saving nothing. They ought to be taught how to work,
to be economical, and to save something, that when they get old they will not
depart from the right way. It is bad policy to let children run around all the
time with nothing to do but play, from morning till night. Let the boys be
taught habits of industry, and teach the girls how to make their own dresses
and keep house, and thus learn to do what is needful for themselves, without having
to hire somebody to do it for them. I believe in this policy. It is true
economy. It is necessary to do this in order that our children may not grow up
in idleness and in unbelief of the Gospel, for an idle brain, it is said, is
the devil's workshop; and if there is any better workshop for his satanic
majesty than the idle brain of a little boy, I would like to know what it is.
Neither boys nor girls ought to be left idle, but should be taught to do
something useful as well as ornamental. What if their parents are wealthy and
can well afford to feed and clothe them without labor? If you have millions of
wealth, so much that you do not know what to do with it, you could not do a
more foolish thing than to rear your sons and daughters in idleness; for as sure
as you do this, they will grow up to squander the wealth you leave them, and
curse you, perhaps, because you did not leave them more. Teach them how to
work, and to be industrious, though you may be rolling in wealth, and they will
grow up to respect you, and your name will go down from generation to
generation, through your posterity, in honorable remembrance. The secret by
which Joseph the Prophet governed the Saints, as he once said, was that he
taught them correct principles and they governed themselves. It is only the
sick that need a physician; it is only the criminal that needs the penalties of
the law. Honest and honorable men need no officers of the law, no policemen, no
justices of the peace, no courts, no lawyers. They live above crime, beyond the
reach of the law. The law is not made for them, except to protect them from the
criminally disposed. If every man was taught to do right, and did right, there
would be no use for courts and for laws such as we have today. It is only
because people will not do right that these things are needful, and that we
have expensive forms of government and expensive officers to administer and
execute the law. Latter-day Saints ought not to be so. They ought to know how
to do right, and then do it; and they ought not to have to be prompted or urged
to do it, either by the chastisement of God or by the counsels of His servants.
Well, says one, if we all do right, then what? Will we all prosper? Yes, we
will all prosper. In temporal things? Yes, in temporal things, and in spiritual
things. But we may not be without our trials even then. For it is said in the
scriptures "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth." There are several examples of this in the scriptures.
One of them was the eleventh son of Jacob-Joseph. He was a rather remarkable
little boy, and his father loved him, and was a little partial towards him,
perhaps because he was the firstborn of his beloved Rachel, and Rachel was
dead. Jacob erred perhaps a little in the partiality that he showed to Joseph
on this account. He may have made a mistake there like some other parents do
when they make a favorite of one of their sons. This is a mistake, no matter
who the mother of the boy is. Whenever a father begins to discriminate in favor
of one son as against another, it begets jealousy in the hearts of the
brothers, and possibly hatred toward their fathers. It is a dangerous thing to
do. Because Jacob erred somewhat in this matter, the Lord gave to Israel a law
on the subject (Deuter. 21:15-17). The Lord endeavored to correct the evil that
grew out of what Jacob did in his favoritism, by giving a law on this subject
to govern the people thereafter. But Joseph was not only favored of Jacob; he
seemed to be favored of the Lord also. He might have been a little better than
the rest. We cannot help being a bit favorable towards those that are better
than others. Of course, merit should be rewarded everywhere, but we should be
just. The Lord favored him, for He had a work for him to do. Like some others
that have been reserved to come forth in other dispensations to do a special
work, Joseph, no doubt, was reserved to come in his generation to accomplish
the mission that he had to perform. But though he was chosen for this work and especially
favored of the Lord, he might have felt for a long time as though the Lord had
turned His back upon him and did not love him. For the Lord suffered his
brethren to persecute him. They became jealous of him and sought to destroy
him; but one of his brothers repented of the cruel thought of killing him and
persuaded the others to sell him to strangers, that they might not be guilty of
his blood. So they sold him, and he was carried to Egypt, and there the Lord
fulfilled His purposes concerning him. At first Joseph had great hardships to
go through. He was wrongfully and wickedly accused by Potiphar's wife, because
of which he was thrust into prison. If he had been like some of us, he would
have said, "If the Lord is going to treat me this way, there is not much
reward for virtue." That is the way some of us feel when we are pinched a
little with poverty, or sickness, or other misfortune. We begin to murmur
against the Lord, and feel that He has forsaken us and is not as good to us as
we merit. And we withdraw our affection from the Lord. Joseph might have done
this, because he had many occasions of trial. He might have felt in his heart
that the Lord was not just, not merciful, and not mindful of His servants; for
he seemed to have had some reason for feeling that way. But the Lord saw the
end from the beginning. Joseph did not; but he had faith in God, and put his
trust in Him; and by and by the Lord brought out what He intended, and made
Joseph the savior of his father's house as well as of all Egypt.
God
moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
This is
the way in which the Lord often deals with the children of men, and it is not
for us to judge Him. We should not complain or murmur when we have afflictions
and trials to pass through, or when He chastises us. We should think all the
more that we are the loved of God, and that He is feeling after us for our
good; to humble us perchance, and to keep us in the right way.
Job was another example. Job was a righteous
man, perfect in all his ways. There were none like him in all the earth. Satan
observed this, and he appeared before the Lord, and the Lord said, "Whence
comest thou?" Satan replied, "From going to and fro in the earth, and
from walking up and down in it." And the Lord said unto Satan, "Hast
thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a
perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil." Ah!
says Satan, but "hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his
house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of
his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand
now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." The
Lord said, "Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself
put not forth thine hand." So a short time after this a messenger came
unto Job, and said:
The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
And the Sabeans fell upon them,
and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the
sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there
came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath
burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped
alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there
came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon
the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the
edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking, there
came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
And behold, there came a great
wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell
upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
Then Job arose, and rent his
mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped,
And said, Naked came I out of my
mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord
hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
With all this, Job was not shaken
in his integrity. He "sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." And
Satan appeared again before the Lord and said unto him again:
Hast thou considered my servant Job,
that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one
that feareth God and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity,
although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
And Satan answered the Lord and
said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
But put forth thine hand now and
touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the Lord said unto Satan,
Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
So went Satan forth from the
presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his feet
unto his crown.
And he took him a potsherd to
scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Then his friends came to comfort
him, and they began to upbraid him because of something he had done, which had
brought upon him the destruction that had befallen him. But Job knew that his
heart was right, that he had not sinned, and that he had not denied God in his
heart. Therefore, he bore the upbraiding of his friends with all patience; and
when his wife came to him and upbraided him for his patience and for his
humiliation, and called upon him to curse God and die, he said unto her,
Thou speaketh as one of the
foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and
shall we not receive evil?
This shows the integrity of Job.
Here is an example for you and for me. He did not curse the Sabeans for
carrying off his cattle, nor the fires of heaven for consuming his flocks, nor
the winds of heaven for destroying his habitation and children. He did not
swear and blaspheme and deny the Lord because of this.
But he said, "The Lord gave,
and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return
thither." And further he said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust
in him."
As I
understand, here is exemplified the principle that should underlie all the
faith, the hope, the charity, the love, the labor, the desire of all
mankind-that they will serve God, no matter what may befall them. Though they
suffer imprisonment, though they suffer persecution, though they suffer
poverty, though God should try them to the very core, and put them to the
utmost test to prove their integrity, they should say like Job, "Naked
came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Thus
magnify God, love Him with all thy heart, might, mind and strength; then love
our neighbor as ourselves; that when trials come we may endure them and not
complain, but wait until God shall develop His purposes. Then we will see that
there is no love like that of God for His suffering children; there is no mercy
so broad, no purpose so grand, and great and noble as the purpose of God
concerning His children. If we will do this, we will learn this eventually and
we will bless God with all our hearts; which may God grant, in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
President George Q. Cannon stated that, in response to a general desire, Brother Robert C. Easton had consented to sing the beautiful hymn composed by Sister Eliza R. Snow, beginning O, My Father. This hymn was then exquisitely sung by Brother Easton to the great pleasure of the vast congregation.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
alluded to the enthusiasm with which the singing of this hymn had been received at Denver, Kansas City, Independence, St. Louis, Chicago and Omaha on the occasion of the recent trip taken by the Tabernacle choir. In some of these places, especially at Independence, persons among the congregation had been melted to tears by the sentiment and music of this beautiful song, which embodied the doctrine of the pre-existence and heavenly parentage of man. It doubtless stimulated thought on this subject in the minds of those who heard it and would lead them to inquire into a theme so interesting. The appreciation of the singing of the choir on that journey was very marked and the speaker said that, in no small degree our choristers had been instrumental to preaching the Gospel.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
I hope that the Saints will pardon beforehand the remarks that I am about to make. I must confess that although I have had the privilege of listening from Sabbath to Sabbath to the singing of our choir, I had to go abroad to find how the music is appreciated.
The audience before whom the choir sang while abroad, who seemed to appreciate their singing most like the congregations of this tabernacle, was the audience that greeted them in Chicago after the contest. And I think it was the universal expression of the choir themselves and everybody of our city who was there, that it was the coldest and most critical audience before whom the choir had sung at all, and apparently the least appreciative, but they were forced to applaud, nevertheless. Now then, if our choir were in Denver with sufficient notice to give a concert, and there was a hall there as large as this in which the people could assemble, judging from the appreciation that they expressed of the singing of the choir when they were there, that hall would be filled to overflowing to hear them. but when they give out notice that there will be a concert here, the people come, a few of them, and fill up the body of the hall, while a great portion of it is vacant.
Now, you don't need to think that I am criticizing anybody; I am stating the fact as I have seen it myself. We get the beauty of the earth, the music of the earth, gratuitously, from Sunday to Sunday, and we get the word of the Lord, and with many of us it has become a common thing, which we have ceased to appreciate very much.
Let us appreciate good instructions and good music, even though we are treated to them from Sabbath to Sabbath. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
Our Father in heaven, Before Thee we bend.
Benediction by Elder George Reynolds.
_____
[8 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 47:524-525, 10/14/93, p 12-13]
AT
THE TABERNACLE.
The choir sang the "Hosanna" anthem.
Prayer by Elder David H. Cannon.
Singing by the choir:
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
The sacrament was administered under the direction of the Bishopric of the Thirteenth ward.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
made the opening remarks, stating that although suffering from a severe cold on the lungs, and therefore feeling indisposed, he yet desired to say a few words to the vast congregation in Conference assembled. He referred to the many great and interesting truths which had been laid before the Saints by the brethren during Conference, and then proceeded to enlarge upon the subject of faith, through which, he said, so many marvelous things had been accomplished. He looked upon faith as one of the most important principles that God had ever revealed to man. The arch-enemy had labored against the Church of Christ in every age of the world; the enemy had labored against the people, but they had , nevertheless, great cause for thankfulness for the many mercies which the Lord had vouchsafed unto them. President Woodruff touched upon the vast resources of this Territory, and made special reference to the establishment of the sugar factory, which project was deserving of their hearty support. The Church has shouldered this responsibility to a large extent, in order to make the undertaking a success. The speaker paid a tribute to Brigham Young for the great work which he accomplished while among the Saints on behalf of this Church, and acknowledged the faith and prayers of his brethren and sisters through which he knew, in the mercy of God, his life had been preserved to this hour.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 48:193, 2/3/94, p 1; CD 3:407-411]
THE POWER OF FAITH.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the Sixty-fourth [63rd] Semi-Annual
Conference, of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, October 8th, 1893, by
PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I have
never attended a conference since I have been a member of this Church-now
nearly sixty years-at which I have refused, when called upon by the proper
authority and the Spirit of God, to speak and to bear my testimony according to
the light that I had in me, and I disliked to pass over this conference without
saying something. I have been in poor condition for public speaking, having had
a severe cold upon my lungs during the past week, which has prevented me from
doing almost any kind of business.
I have
been deeply interested in the testimonies of the servants of God who have
addressed us during this conference. They have laid before us many great
truths. My mind rests upon the subject of faith. Faith is the first principle
of the Gospel. What is faith? Paul, in writing to the Hebrews, undertakes to
explain it. He says that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen," and to prove this he goes on to tell what
different men accomplished through faith (See xi chap. of Hebrews). I look upon
faith as one of the most important principles that God ever revealed to man.
Here we have four temples in these mountains, and hundreds of people are
laboring in them. Who for? Both for the living and the dead. Why do they labor
for the dead? Have they ever seen the resurrection of the dead? No, except by
vision or revelation. But they have faith in it, and as an evidence of that
faith they perform this work. They look forward to the resurrection and eternal
judgment, to the celestial kingdom and the great blessings which God has
revealed for the salvation and exaltation of the children of men. They do this
by faith, and it is by this power that they have accomplished what they have
during the last sixty years. By faith this tabernacle has been built, these
temples have been reared, and these people have been gathered from the nations
of the earth. Thousands of Elders have been called, not from colleges, but from
the various occupations of life, and sent forth into the world to preach the
Gospel without money and without price. Now for many years they have gone forth
and preached this Gospel. Men have listened to them, and some spirit or power
has convinced them that the testimony which these Elders have borne was true.
These humble men of God have gone forth and said: "The fullness of the
everlasting Gospel has been revealed by the administration of angels; the Lord
has raised up prophets and inspired men; He has organized the Church on the
earth as it was in the days of Jesus Christ and the Apostles; we have brought
you this Gospel; hearken to it, and we promise you, in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, if you will receive our testimony, repent of your sins, go down
into the water and be baptized for the remission of your sins, you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost, that shall bear record and witness unto you that
what we say is true." What has been the result of this? Thousands have
believed that testimony and proved that it was true. These Elders labored by
faith; they traveled by faith; they worked by faith. It was faith that
sustained them all the way through. They traveled without purse and scrip, and
through their faith the God of heaven fed and clothed them, and opened the way
before them. This has been the case now for sixty years. And many people
believed the testimony of these simple men. They repented of their sins, were
baptized for the remission of them, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost; they received that Holy Ghost, and it bore testimony to
them of the truths of the Gospel.
Brethren
and sisters, it is by faith that you are here today, gathered from the nations
of the earth. By that power you have been sustained, until you have
accomplished these things that are now before you in your history. We ought to
look at these things as they are. We ought to have faith, not only in what is
past but in what is to come. It is by faith that we look forward to the
resurrection of the dead. Our forefathers are in the spirit world. They died
without the Gospel. They never saw the face of a prophet or an apostle. They
laid down their bodies, and their spirits went into the spirit world. There
they have listened to the Gospel of Christ. Jesus taught the Gospel in the
spirit world while His body lay in the tomb. Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and
those Elders of Israel who have been martyred and who have died for the word of
God and testimony of Jesus have gone to preach this Gospel there. Spirits in
prison have received their testimony. The prison doors have been opened. These
spirits will come forth in the morning of the resurrection, and they will
receive these blessings and glories, the same as if they had heard and received
the Gospel in the flesh. And these Latter-day Saints have built these temples
and gone to work in them with just as much assurance of the truth of these
things as though it had been sounded in their ears by the trump of the
archangel of God. They have had this faith, and they will not be disappointed.
That is
the condition the Latter-day Saints are in today. As to opposition, we may
expect that, because the arch-enemy has labored against the work of God in all
ages of the world. But we have reason to rejoice and to be thankful to our
Heavenly Father that we are as well as we are today before Him. I want the
Latter-day Saints to bear in mind that the ancient patriarchs and prophets
spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the truth. The
Lord has said just what He meant, and meant what He said. The word of the Lord
will never fall unfulfilled. If you want to know what is coming to pass, read
the revelations of God in the Bible, in the Book of Mormon and in the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants. The revelations of the Lord through the Prophet Joseph
Smith are glorious revelations. What the Lord promised in the commencement of
this work has been fulfilled to the very letter up to the present. So it will
continue. We should lay these things to heart.
There has
been a good deal said with regard to our temporal affairs. That is all right.
What the brethren have said concerning our temporal condition is of importance
to us. I still am of the opinion that inasmuch as Zion is going to be built up
on the earth, it is the mind and will of God that we should do something for
ourselves. We ought to cultivate the earth. We ought not to wait for the world
to come and plant and dig our potatoes, or plant and harvest our wheat, or to
build railroads and carry them on. The Presidency of the Church have shouldered
a very heavy load connected with this sugar factory. Why should we not make
sugar? Utah sends a very great amount every year out of the Territory for
sugar. This should not be. The soil is here and the talent is here to raise
beets and to make sugar. Why should not the Latter-day Saints do this and keep
their money at home? Is there any sin in this? Not at all; the more of these
things we would do, the better, I think, the Lord would be pleased with us. I
know there has been quite a feeling one way or another, because we have
burdened ourselves with these labors. But it is our duty to try to get the
Latter-day Saints to cultivate the earth and to produce what they eat and drink
and what they wear. We have tried to do this. It is true, it cost a great deal
to establish the sugar plant, and the Church had to shoulder a great measure of
responsibility in connection with it, in order to carry it out. I do not think
we have done wrong in that. When I go before my Father in heaven I am willing
to bear my part of the responsibility, because if there is anything on earth
that I was ever moved upon by the Spirit to do it was to unite in that
enterprise with my brethren. I believe it is our duty to manufacture what we
use, as far as we can, at home. We refer to these temporal things because they
are and always will be connected with us.
I feel to
rejoice myself that we are as well off as we are. There has never been a period
when we have been any better off than we are today. I look back to the days
when we came here. We found a barren desert. The man that led us here was
Brigham Young. He was a prophet, seer and revelator. He was never destitute of
revelation from the day that I first knew him until his body was laid in the
tomb. He was a great man-a man of God. We see the result of his work here. He
was our architect, so to speak. He fulfilled his mission in a great and
wonderful manner, and when he laid his body down he went to mingle with his
brethren and the Gods.
The
Gospel of Christ is true. The Zion of God is true. We are here in fulfilment of
the revelations and visions of the ancient patriarchs and prophets. Read
Isaiah, Jeremiah and the other prophets, and see what they said. We came here
by the revelations of God. Many of the brethren felt it hard to leave our
beautiful Nauvoo and to go to the mountains. Had we not done this, some of the
revelations of God would have fallen unfulfilled. I say to the Latter-day
Saints, have faith. Let us have faith in the promises and revelations of God.
Do you comprehend what is manifest in the earth today? The seeds of destruction
are everywhere. The judgments of God are beginning to go forth. But who
acknowledges the hand of God in these things? I rejoice that the cloud of
darkness is being lifted from the eyes of our countrymen in regard to the
Latter-day Saints, and that they are manifesting kindness towards us. Speaking
of our visit East, I confess it was marvelous in my eyes to see how different
these things are today to what they have been in the past. They begin to see
that the people in the mountains of Israel are white men, and that they have
some talent. I thank God for these things. I thank Him for the kindness we have
received at the hands of the friends of our nation. My prayer to God is that
His blessings may rest upon our nation and upon the leaders thereof, and that
the spirit of liberty, of law, of righteousness and of truth may rest upon all
American citizens and everybody that dwells under this great government. It is
one of the greatest governments God ever raised upon the earth. What has it
been raised up for? That in the midst of it the Lord might establish His Zion
and His work.
Brethren
and sisters, let us be true and faithful to our duties and to our God. Let us
look forward to the exaltation and the blessings that God has in store for those
who keep His commandments. Every man will be judged according to the deeds done
in the body. There are laws celestial, laws terrestrial, and laws telestial. We
speak of the celestial glory and of the heavenly hosts. Who are the heavenly
hosts? They are those who have tabernacled on this earth, been faithful to God,
and passed behind the veil. And they are interested in the welfare of the
inhabitants of the earth. They are interested in the salvation of the human
family. They have labored for it in the flesh; they do so today in the spirit
world. These are the people we look to by faith. We are here upon a mission. We
are trying to fulfill that mission. I hope we may be true and faithful to it.
I am
thankful before the Lord for the blessings that I have enjoyed in this
conference and for the testimonies I have heard from these Apostles. They speak
as men having authority, inspired by the Spirit of God, and they speak the
truth. Many of our friends that have labored with us have passed away. We
ourselves shall pass away in our time. I may say that if it had not been for
the prayers of these thousands of Latter-day Saints, I today should have been
mingling with my brethren in the spirit world. I know that I have been
preserved by the prayers of my brethren and sisters, and I am still with you. I
feel very weak, and hardly qualified to magnify my calling as an Apostle, as
the leader of the people of Israel; in fact, no man is, only as moved upon by
the power of God. What little time I may stay here I hope my heart will not be
set on the riches of this world, but on doing the will of God and uniting with
my brethren in bearing off the great work and responsibility resting upon us.
If we will do this, all will be right. When we get to the other side of the veil,
we shall know something. We now work by faith. We have the evidence of things
not seen. The resurrection, the eternal judgment, the celestial kingdom, and
the great blessings that God has given in the holy anointings and endowment in
the temples, are all for the future, and they will be fulfilled, for they are
eternal truths. We will never while in the flesh, with this veil over us, fully
comprehend that which lies before us in the world to come. It will pay any man
to serve God and to keep His commandments the few days he lives upon the earth.
With regard to our position before we came here, I will say that we dwelt with
the Father and with the Son, as expressed in the hymn, "O my Father,"
that has been sung here. That hymn is a revelation, though it was given unto us
by a woman-Sister Snow. There are a great many sisters have the spirit of
revelation. There is no reason why they should not be inspired as well as men.
We dwelt in the presence of God before we came here, and we have been sent here
upon a mission, and I do not want to live any longer myself than I can magnify
that calling. What benefit is it to any man to dwell here and to miss the
object for which he was sent, even eternal life? Therefore, it does not pay any
man to sin. When a man sins it is because he yields to the enemy, not because
the devil has power over him irrespective of his agency. The devil is laboring
for the destruction of the human family. But the Gospel is sent into the world
to save them.
Brethren
and sisters, God bless you. I am glad to meet with you and to have a little
time to speak to you. I hope and trust we may be true and faithful to the end
of our days, that we may be satisfied when we get through with our work; that
our hearts may not be set upon anything that perisheth, but that we may do what
we can to build up Zion and bring forth salvation to mankind as far as we have
the opportunity while we dwell in the flesh. God bless us and guide us all in
our work, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
read a portion of scripture from Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, where in he said, was set forth with great plainness the reason why there should be Prophets and Apostles in the Church of Christ. The speaker dwelt at length upon the authority and power of the Priesthood, and also spoke on the subject of revelation. Adverting to so-called spiritualism and Christian science, he said that Satan was doing his utmost to bind the unwary down in chains of darkness and lead them to everlasting destruction. He desired therefore to lift his voice on this occasion in warning to all Latter-day [Saints] against the insidious advances of so-called spiritualism and Christian Scientists, who professed to work miracles. Let the people beware of the cunning and sleight-of-hand of men. President Woodruff was a man of God's selection, just as were Brigham Young, John Taylor, and others who had been associated with him, and He had preserved his life until now. God grant that this people might never step beyond the line of duty which the Lord through His chosen servants had marked out for them, and they would always remain steadfast to the truth.
The speaker made some closing remarks in opposition to the so-called doctrine of re-incarnation -- the re-appearance in this life of certain men who had lived in other dispensations. He characterized the theory as false, and warned the Saints against entertaining it.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 48:413, 3/24/94, p 1; CD 3:411-418]
TRY THE SPIRITS.
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Discourse Delivered at the General Conference of the Church
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 8th, 1893, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
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[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
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I will
read a few words from Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians:
Wherefore
he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what it is but that he also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that
he might fill all things.)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some
pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the working of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is
the head, even Christ.
In these
words Paul sets forth with great plainness the reasons why there should be
Apostles and Prophets in the Church of Christ. They were necessary, he says, to
bring the Saints to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of
God. When this Church was organized it had in it Apostles; it had the
Priesthood. It is a remarkable thing that the Prophet Joseph Smith, although
gifted by the Lord with revelations and with power to translate the Book of
Mormon, and though he had received the ministration of angels, and had even
been permitted to behold the Father and the Son, yet he never presumed to
officiate in any of the ordinances of the Gospel until he was ordained. One
might think, that, having had such high privileges and blessings bestowed upon
him, he would have thought he had the authority to administer the simple
ordinance of baptism. But he did not. He awaited the bestowal of the authority.
And he received it-not from man, because there was not a man on the face of the
earth that we know of that held the authority, but from a messenger of God,
endowed with the power to bestow the authority. John the Baptist came and
announced himself as the servant of God who held the keys of the Aaronic
Priesthood, being a literal descendant of Aaron, by virtue of which authority
he had baptized the Son of God in the waters of Jordan. This heavenly messenger
came qualified in every way to bestow upon the men to whom he was sent the
authority to baptize. Could there be any more suitable personage thought of
than the one who had baptized the immaculate Son of God himself? Concerning him
Jesus said, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a
greater than John the Baptist." Yet John the Baptist never did any
miracles. But what greater honor could a man have than to come in the flesh and
baptize the Son of God? That holy being, I say, came and laid his hands upon
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood, by
virtue of which they had authority to baptize. Then there was something else
needed. John said, "I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but
He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to
bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Though
John had the authority to baptize the Son of God, he did not have the authority
to baptize with "the Holy Ghost and with fire." He did not have the
authority to confirm upon men and women the Holy Ghost; but he said that one
should come after him with that power-referring to Jesus. Jesus ordained men,
He himself having been ordained. We do not have the full account of what Jesus
received; but we know that angels administered unto Him, and He did not presume
to act in the ministry, though He was the Son of God and the Redeemer of the
world, until He had been ordained to that authority. You remember what took
place in the transfiguration on the mount. He was there ministered to by
heavenly beings, and He and they doubtless ministered to Peter, James and John.
He ordained twelve Apostles, and sent them forth as witnesses with the same
power and authority which He himself had received. In speaking to them on one
occasion, He said, in answer to a question put by Peter: "Ye which have
followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of
his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel." Although they were the intimate companions of the Son of God,
they did not go forth until He had ordained them to the authority which He
himself had exercised. He selected these twelve out of the disciples that
followed Him and gave unto them the Apostleship, by the authority of which they
were able to do all that Paul said the Apostles should do-to regulate the
affairs of the Church, to teach sound doctrine, to be, in fact, revelators,
prophets and seers, when the occasion should demand it; to possess all the
gifts that God gives to man in the flesh. They were ordained to this, and until
they were they did not presume to go forth and minister in the authority among
the children of men. But when they received this authority they went forth,
accompanied by might power; and they cast out devils, healed the sick, and
performed many wonderful works in the name of the Lord and through the
authority which they had received from Him. While the Church was under their
guidance the members thereof were not carried about by every wind of doctrine.
They were not deceived by the sleight of men, nor their cunning craftiness.
They knew that while they followed the guidance of these inspired and
divinely-authorized men, there was no danger of division or strife; but they
were led to the unity of the faith. Therefore, in the last days, God being
about to restore His Church in its primitive purity and power to the earth, He
deemed it necessary to bestow the Apostleship once more upon men. After the
Aaronic Priesthood had been conferred, therefore, and John the Baptist had
transmitted that power (which had been taken from the earth through the
wickedness of men and the shedding of the blood of those who bore it) again to
the earth, others came from the mansions of bliss and committed to men once
more in the flesh the keys and the authority which they had held when they were
in the flesh, and which keys and authority were necessary to complete the great
work of God in the last days. The Lord, when He was upon the earth, said unto
Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Peter, James and
John were the three presiding High Priests over the Church of Christ, after the
Savior's departure; and these three Apostles descended from the mansions of
glory and laid their hands upon the heads of these two young servants of God in
this day and ordained them to the authority which they held, committing unto
them all the keys and powers of Priesthood which they had received in their
day, and which had not been transmitted by them to any others, because of the
wickedness of the children of men. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were
ordained to the Apostleship of the Son of God by Peter and his fellow Apostles,
and thus was restored to the earth once more that great authority and glorious
power which the Son of God had bestowed when in the flesh. I doubt not that the
angelic hosts rejoiced and every heart that surrounded the throne of God was
gladdened at the thought that once more on earth were men to be found clothed
with the eternal authority of the everlasting Priesthood, by means of which men
should be led from the lowest depths of ignorance and sin back into the
presence of the Great Eternal! No doubt peans of joy resounded throughout the
vaulted heavens when that event took place; for it was an event pregnant with
more importance to the children of men than any which had taken place since the
days of the Savior. When that authority was restored in its fulness, then the
Church was organized. Men and women were baptized and received the Holy Ghost,
and officers were ordained in the Church. The organization was not completed
all at once; but the authority to complete the organization was there, and as
the Saints increased in numbers, so the organization of the Church increased in
perfection, each officer being appointed and ordained as the necessity arose
for that office to be filled.
Now, it
was a new thing in the earth. It startled Christendom. Up to that time no one
had pretended to say-at least very few-that there was not all necessary
authority on the earth. The religious world looked to the Bible. They asserted
that it contained the entire word of God. Nothing more was necessary. God had
completed the canon of scripture. There would be no more revelation from Him.
Everything had been given that was necessary for man's salvation. And the
inference was that God, having done this, had retired from any active
participation in the affairs of the earth, and had left the whole business to
men. Therefore, it was a startling declaration to have anyone say that God
himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus Christ, had revealed himself to man once
more; and equally startling was the statement that angels had come, and that
the authority of the Priesthood had been restored again to the earth. These
were astounding declarations to the great bulk of the people. Of course, there
were honest souls who rejoiced at this proclamation. They had been searching
for the truth. Dissatisfied with the existing order of things, they were
yearning for the restoration of that power, and were anxious to find men who
held and exercised it. Therefore, their hearts were gladdened by the
intelligence that God had spoken. It was almost too good to believe. But they
investigated it. They prayed unto the Father about it. The result was, they
received testimonies concerning it, and embraced the Gospel. But at that day-sixty-four
years ago-there were very few men in Christendom who dared to say that God
would speak from the heavens, or who believed that such a thing was possible.
Revelation from God was a thing of the past. It belonged to ages anterior to
this. The ministers of religion contented themselves by making these
statements.
How was
this new declaration received? Let me call your attention to this. During the
first persecution against the Saints of God in Jackson County, one of the main
charges made by the mob was that Joseph Smith was accepted by the
"Mormons" as a prophet, and that they believed in revelation from
God. It was about as strong an appeal as could be made to the prejudices of the
age, to arouse intense hostility against the people. This shows how the people
felt at that time. But I heard Joseph Smith predict that the day would come
when there would be false spirits go forth among the children of men, and that
they would deceive them. I remember on one occasion his speaking about the
false prophet that should call down fire from heaven, and he warned the people
in the most impressive and solemn manner against being deceived by these works
that should be wrought to deceive the children of men. It was only two years
after his death that spirit-rapping commenced in Rochester, New York. We had
been driven out here in the wilderness, and we did not know much that was
transpiring in the eastern world. But I happened, while on the Sandwich Islands
in 1851, to get hold of a book that had been issued by spiritualists, and I was
surprised at the manner in which they presented their claims to the public.
Arguments that our Elders used they had taken and revamped, so to speak, and
adapted them to their ideas. A more deceptive book in the interests of
falsehood and false doctrine could not, in my opinion, have been published. And
from that day until the present, belief in spiritual agencies and
manifestations has spread and increased, until at the present time there is
scarcely a person to be found who does not believe that there is something
connected with man that he can use to bring him into close and intimate
relation with the spirit world. Since that day there has been a wonderful
stride taken in this direction. The world has been progressing-if that can be
called progress-in a most remarkable manner. Theories that prevailed when the
Gospel was revealed and the Priesthood of the Son of God was restored have been
discarded, and today the popular magazines are filled with communications concerning
these occult powers that are being brought to light. Talk to men about dreams
and visions and spiritual manifestations, and they admit that such things are
possible; but they cannot explain them.
This is
one of the results that followed the revelation of the Gospel and the bestowal
of the authority of the Holy Priesthood. The doctrines taught by the Elders
have had their effect. They have been received, to a greater or less extent, in
the world, without the source from which they came being acknowledged. I hear
that there are advocates of what is called Christian Science in our midst. I
hear that they creep into our houses and lead silly women astray by telling
them of wonderful things that can be done by means of Christian Science. A few
days ago a father came to me and told me about two of his daughters, one of
whom had been afflicted and had been told by some of these persons how she
might be cured. Now, that is a comparatively new doctrine in the world. It was
not heard of until the Church of Christ was organized. We taught this, and were
persecuted for teaching it. Every kind of obloquy was thrust upon us, because
we believed that there was a power which God would give to those who obeyed His
commandments, that would result in the healing of the sick, the casting out of
devils, and other miraculous things. But a great change has come over men.
Satan has been busy. Men say, as the Book of Mormon says they would in the last
days, that there is no hell, and no devil. Satan is whispering this into the ears
of the children of men; and today there are thousands of people who do not
believe that there is any hell, or any personal devil. Nevertheless, there is a
personal devil, just as sure as there is a personal God. He has not a
tabernacle; but he is a living entity, and he is endeavoring to destroy the
work of God by producing imitations of it and showing unto the inhabitants of
the earth that they can obtain power without obeying the laws of God. Wherever
spiritualism has a foothold, faith in God decreases. Whenever you see a
Latter-day Saint begin to dabble in spiritualism, you will find that he begins
to doubt the atonement of the Savior and the redemption wrought out by the
shedding of His blood, and the doctrine of the resurrection of the body. These
are signs that accompany spiritualism. Satan is laboring with all his might to
lead men and women to these conclusions, binding them in chains of darkness and
leading them down to everlasting destruction. It is the same with Christian
Science, whose doctrines are being insidiously spread throughout the country.
They are publishing books and circulating them gratuitously and endeavoring to
undermine the faith of the people in the ordinances of the Gospel and in the
words of Jesus contained in the New Testament. They tell the sick not to
believe they are sick, to exercise their will power, and to consider sickness
as imaginary; and we are told they are doing mighty works in healing the
people. I would not be surprised at that, because I know that Satan is almost
capable of deceiving the very elect. I believe that Satan can make himself
appear to those who cannot discern, as an angel of light; and if he has that
power, he has power also to deceive men and women in the flesh by performing
mighty works. Was not this done in the days of Moses? Was not Pharaoh's heart
hardened by the works of the magicians? He did not believe that Moses and Aaron
were servants of God, but that they had a little more skill perhaps than his
magicians had. So it is now. Satan is capable of deceiving the people.
I want in
this conference, before we separate, to lift my voice in warning to the people
of God against these insidious advances-against spiritualism, against Christian
Science and against all such isms, however much they may profess to be of God.
I hear that men who claim to be the Reorganized Church say that they have power
to work miracles. Perhaps they have; but that is not evidence of the divinity
of their cause, or that they are the authorized servants of God. This evidence
is to be found, my brethren and sisters, in the blessings that God bestows upon
His people. Read the words that I have read in your hearing. Remember them. The
Apostleship has been placed in this Church to lead men to the unity of the
faith. That is what Paul said in ancient days concerning the Apostleship. What
have been its fruits today? What have been the fruits that have attended the
restoration of the Apostleship in this Church? Has it not led all who have been
guided by it to the unity of the faith? Latter-day Saints here assembled from
almost every nation of Christendom, what do you say? Has not the Apostleship,
restored by the ministrations of holy angels to the earth, brought you from the
ends of the earth to the unity of the faith in this land? Where will you find a
people more united? Nowhere. That is one of its fruits. Another is, it is for
the perfecting of the Saints. I leave it to the Latter-day Saints to say
whether the teachings and the labors of the Apostles in your midst have not led
to greater perfection among you. You are our witnesses and God's witnesses to
this; for you know for yourselves whether these have been the results that have
followed or not. If you have followed the teachings of the Apostles, you have
not been carried about by every wind of doctrine; nor have you been deceived by
the cunning craftiness of men. None of you have been misled in this way. But
you have been guarded against this. God has placed Apostles in the Church for
this express purpose. They are not self-chosen. God knows, and you know, that
those who bear the Apostleship have not sought this authority. Do you think
that we are presided over by a man who has sought this office of himself? We
all know the man too well to suppose that Wilford Woodruff would ever, if he
had lived to the age of Methuselah, have put forward his hand to guide this
work of our God. God has preserved his life and spared him to this people,
clothed with the Apostleship of the Son of God, to lead the people, just as He
did John Taylor, just as He did Brigham Young, and the others who have been
associated with them. I appeal to you, ye Latter-day Saints, in conference
assembled, to know whether these are not truths that I am speaking; whether you
have not had in your midst the evidences of the divine origin of this work and
of the authority which presides over this Church. God has borne testimony to
this by the fruits that have followed our ministrations. I include myself,
although I consider myself unworthy to be in the ranks of these men. God has
blessed the people in listening to the counsels of His servants. He has brought
us to these mountains and built up a mighty people here. We have erected
temples, and have gone into them and performed ordinances which God has
revealed. Where else can you find these things upon the face of the earth? By
whom are such doctrines taught? What would you do for your dead, if it were not
for the light that God has revealed through the Apostleship concerning the plan
of salvation for the dead? The whole world is groping in darkness regarding
these matters. They cannot tell what shall be done with the heathen, or with
those who have died in ignorance of the Gospel of Christ. Yet they teach that
there is no other name given under heaven whereby man can be saved, excepting
the name of Jesus. Already some ministers of Christendom are rejecting the
doctrine that salvation is confined to those alive, thus following in the wake
of the teachings of the servants of God. But how shall we know these things if
the heavens are as brass over our heads, and if there is to be no communication
from God to man? "Oh," says one, "We might receive it, if it
came from some other source than it does." Now, it is a peculiar feature
of the work of God in all ages that He chose men for this purpose. He did not
send angels to minister unto all men; but He chose men to minister unto their
fellow men. The prophets are men, and full of failings and frailties. Even the
Son of God, perfect as He was, was not recognized among men as divine. Now, God
has chosen men in this day. Although they may feel unworthy of such high honor,
and that He could have chosen probably better instruments, nevertheless God has
chosen them, and He will honor them in the eyes of the people, if they will be
humble. He will make them His mouthpieces to declare unto the children of men
His word and will. He will fill them with the Holy Ghost, and the people who
listen to them will be led in the path of salvation, and be delivered from the
many evils that are coming upon the inhabitants of the earth.
My
brethren and sisters, these are solemn truths. I would like to arouse faith in
your hearts. I say to you that the sick can be healed, and are healed, in this
Church, and the prayer of faith is heard. The proper way for people to receive
an answer to their prayers and to have the blessings attend that are desired,
is to obey the ordinances of the Gospel. Do not go straying after false gods.
Do not be looking after those who have no authority, but are false guides; for
I tell you that they will lead those who follow them down to destruction. I do
not care how holy they may profess to be; I do not care how many miracles they
may profess to perform; I do not care though they may be the sons of the
holiest men that ever trod upon the earth, if they do not keep within the lines
which God has prescribed, I tell you that they will lead those who follow them
to destruction. I bear testimony to this, and am responsible for it. It is not
miracles that are the sole evidence of the truth of anything. We have been
taught that from the beginning. But it is the spirit and power of God when it
is poured out upon the people, uniting their hearts, filling them with love,
prompting them to confess their sins one to another and to the Lord. These are the
fruits that we see in these valleys among the people who keep the commandments
of God. When you hear men begin to doubt, and say, "Well, I don't know
about this, or that," it is an evidence that they are in the dark; for if
they would live in the light God would bear testimony to them by the power of
the Holy Ghost concerning these things. I therefore say to all who are here, if
any of you have felt in your hearts that you would follow what I call false
gods-false lights, false teachers; if any of you have felt to weaken in your
attachment to the work of God and to entertain doubts concerning its validity-I
ask you this afternoon to repent truly and sincerely of that, and turn to God
with full purpose of heart and with a determination to serve Him all the rest
of your days. If you ever had the love of God in your hearts, and that
inexpressible joy that God gives unto those who keep His commandments, you know
it is sweeter than the sweetest honeycomb. There is nothing on earth sweeter
than the spirit of God when it is enjoyed by a humble Latter-day Saint. And God
has placed this within our reach. He has opened a fountain to us at which we
may drink until our souls are filled to overflowing. I say to you that Satan
would tell you nineteen truths and would perform nineteen miracles to get you
to accept one untruth and to take a wrong step. That is the kind of power he
exercises. Do not be deceived, my brethren and sisters. Try the spirits, and
see whether they are of God or not. Cling to the authority of the Priesthood,
which God sent His messengers to bestow upon man. If you do so, I will assure
you, as a servant of God, you will be led back into the presence of God and the
Lamb, there to dwell eternally and to receive that glorious reward which He has
promised unto the faithful. God grant unto us that we may receive this, that we
may never step a single inch from the path which He has marked out, nor do a
thing that will grieve the Spirit of God, from this time henceforth and
forever. Amen.
conference adjourned to meet on April 6th, 1894.
the choir sang the anthem,
Let all Israel sing.
Benediction by President Wilford Woodruff.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
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[8 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 47:524, 10/14/93, p 12]
AFTERNOON
SESSION.
AN OVERFLOW MEETING WAS HELD IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL, COMMENCING AT 2 O'CLOCK.
Elder Abraham H. Cannon presided.
The congregation sang:
We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet.
Prayer by Elder Lewis W. Shurtliff.
Members of the Tabernacle choir who had come in and occupied seats in front of the organ sang:
He died, the Great Redeemer died.
The Sacrament was administered by the Bishopric and other officers of the Fourteenth ward.
ELDER JOHN MORGAN
was the first speaker. He referred to the glorious results of the teachings and words of wisdom which the Latter-day Saints had received in years gone by; a compliance with the same kind of advice and instructions would secure their future happiness and prosperity. The instructions of the late President Brigham Young and other leading men in Israel imparted years ago in relation to the Saints becoming a self-sustaining people were good today. While we were at the present time purchasing canned fruits and vegetables from abroad, our own productions of the same kind were permitted to perish for want of proper care and management. The same could be said of various kinds of manufactured goods. We had been also in the habit of selling hides at a nominal price to be shipped to Boston and other cities of the East, there to be tanned and manufactured into boots and shoes and shipped back to us. This was a ruinous policy to pursue. As Saints we should endeavor to act wisely in temporal as well as in spiritual matters. It was hoped that the Saints would learn from the things they were suffering at the present time, and by their action in the future prove that they meant to follow the admonitions of the Lord through His servants. If they did this Zion would prosper and flourish.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG
read from the Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 68, par. 3 and 4; and remarked that the doctrines which had been taught during this Conference are in accordance with that revelation. Many years ago, when the Saints resided in Jackson county, Missouri, the Lord revealed certain grand and sacred principles which were calculated to make His people free and prosperous temporally, but mobs arose against the Saints in that land and drove them away from their homes. The speaker was highly pleased with the change in feelings and sentiments which apparently had taken place in that part of the country. In this we could see the mercy and hand-dealings of the Almighty, in answer to the prayers of His people, and in fulfilment of prophecy. After reading extracts from Church history concerning the Pentecost enjoyed in the Kirtland Temple, when the Savior said that He had forgiven the sinners their sins, the speaker referred to the recent dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, on which occasion the Lord through his servants also declared that He had accepted of His people and blotted out their transgressions. This was a cause of great rejoicing among the Saints, and should stimulate us to renewed efforts in serving the Lord, who is merciful and full of forgiveness toward His children.
ELDER RULON S. WELLS
spoke of the opportunities which the business world afforded men for being dishonest, and questioned whether some of the Latter-day Saints had risen above temptations of this kind. If not, they should take heed from now on, and strive to be perfectly honest and fair in all their business transactions, and not take advantage of any opportunity that might present itself for them to be otherwise. The speaker also discouraged back-biting and slandering among the Saints, which alway resulted in great evil, and admonished to a life of purity and consistency.
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON
spoke in relation to the children of the Latter-day Saints, some of whom had gone astray, though their parents had always been faithful and true to God and their religion, and had done their utmost to train their families to the path of duty and righteousness. We were not to suppose that such wayward sons and daughters were lost forever. The speaker believed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was broad enough to provide for the final redemption of these; that in due course of time, [as] in the case of the prodigal son, the parents of these erring ones should rejoice in the repentance and salvation of their offspring; but perhaps not until after they had suffered the penalties of their misdeeds. But no one should take license from this and excuse themselves in committing sin. The sons and daughters of Zion should understand that their exaltation in the Kingdom of God depended largely upon their virtue and purity; and if they wilfully and knowingly sinned against God, their parents or society, they would have to pay the penalty. The speaker regretted the change for the worse to this congregation which had taken place in Salt Lake City and other places in our Territory of late years. At one time virtue, good morals and the best of order were leading characteristics of the inhabitants occupying these mountain valleys; wives and daughters were safe by day and by night; but now we were surrounded by wickedness and abominations of all kinds. The wicked had desired to defile Zion, if possible; they had laid their traps for corrupting the youth of Israel and all who were not sufficiently founded in the love of the truth and in the strength of the Holy Spirit. The speaker admonished the Saints to be o their guard against the abominations of the world and encouraged husbands, wives and children to love each other, to be true and faithful and act so that confidence and good will would be the crowning characteristics of the household. Parents should be careful in the example they set before their children, and pursue a course of consistency, which God could approve and which finally would become the means of saving their offspring, even if some should temporarily stray away.
The choir sang:
Captain of Israel's host and Guide.
Benediction by Elder A. H. Raleigh.
_____
6-8 Apr 1894, 64th
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 48:509, 4/14/94, p 1; Millennial Star 56:273, 289, 303]
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 48:509-510, 4/14/94, p 1-2]
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE.
_____
The
Sixty-fourth General Anniversary of the Church
_____
The Sixty-fourth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 6th, 1894. The following were on the stand: Of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John smith; of the Presidency of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds and Jonathan G. Kimball; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder. There were also a number of Presidents of Stakes and other prominent Elders from different parts of Utah and surrounding territories and states.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang:
Redeemer of Israel, Our only
delight. On whom for a blessing we call;
Our shadow by day, and our pillar by night. Our King, our Deliverer our all.
Opening prayer by President Joseph F. Smith.
Singing by the choir:
Praise ye the Lord! my heart
shall join In work so pleasant, so divine.
Now while the flesh is my abode, And when my should ascends to God.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
delivered a brief opening address. He expressed his gratitude to God for the privilege the Saints enjoyed in assembling in the Sixty-fourth Annual Conference of the Church, and that there were present the entire First Presidency, ten of the Twelve Apostles, and other members of organizations and authorities. It was a matter of congratulation that the work of the Lord was progressing at home and in the nations. The Lord was with us and would continue to be so long as we sought the salvation of our fellowmen and performed our duties. The President spoke of the testimonies which had been borne and left on record by all the holy prophets, from Adam down, concerning the raising up of a Prophet in the latter days to establish the Church of Christ in fulness and prepare a people to meet the Savior when he should come to reign during the millennium as King of Israel. He concluded by expressing a fervent desire that the spirit of inspiration and revelation might rest upon speakers and hearers during the present Conference.
ELDER A. H. CANNON
said he rejoiced in the testimony of the Gospel which the Lord had given him, and though he felt his own imperfections and weaknesses and saw them every day he lived, yet he hoped, through the faith and power which God would give him, to bring himself in due time under complete subjection to His mind and will. He was greatly pleased in traveling among this people to find how richly God was blessing them, especially in spiritual matters. It was said in some quarters that the Saints are gradually drifting away from the old love which inspired their hearts formerly and brought them into such close communion with the Lord our God. There were doubtless many cases of this kind -- too many considering the day in which we live and the momentous events which lie before the people. But he was thankful to know, and to bear his testimony, that the vast majority of the Latter-day Saints were striving to live their religion and [were] in possession of the Holy spirit. But he realized also that there was still much room for improvement, and never before had there been so great an effort made by the adversary of our souls to lead away the children of God, to deceive the people and lead them into darkness, as at the present day. The speaker warned his hearers to beware of the false doctrines and lying statements of those who were going abroad among mankind. We might be sure by the testimony within us, if we lived faithful to the covenants made with God, that when Christ came again we should know Him; there would be no need then for men to tell us that He had again come to the earth. Elder Cannon offered some good counsel to the young in this regard, and referred to the signs which had and would accompany those who believed. It was fashionable nowadays for some men to ridicule those who prayed to God. Infidels made light of the supplications which were offered to the Throne of Grace; but we might rest assured that God always gave to those who sought Him in prayer the things which would be for our good. The subject of faith was touched upon, and illustrations were given to show how the Lord, to teach us some divine lesson, sometimes tested us to the uttermost by sending afflictions which we seemed hardly able to endure. The speaker testified that the Lord was near unto us; He heard and answered our prayers and gave to His children who served Him faithfully and sought Him continually those blessings which would be for their temporal as well as their eternal happiness. He admonished the young to seek Him while he was near, for there were troubles coming upon the earth which would try the souls of all men; and those who leaned upon the testimonies of others instead of depending upon their own faith and works leant upon a broken reed. In conclusion Elder Cannon prayed that the peace and blessings of God might rest upon all present during this Conference.
[Abraham H. Cannon]
[DNW 48:801, 6/16/94, p 1; CD 4:25-29]
FAITH BRINGS BLESSINGS.
_____
Discourse delivered at the General conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 6, 1894, by
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I
sincerely trust that the wish expressed by President Woodruff concerning the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who speak to the people may be fully
realized throughout this entire Conference. In standing before you I desire to
receive and impart such instruction as the Lord may desire to make me the
instrument of bringing forth. I rejoice in the testimony of the Gospel which
the Lord has given me; and though I feel my own imperfections and weaknesses
every day that I live, yet I hope, through the faith and the power which God
shall give me, to bring myself in time under complete subjection to the mind
and will of God.
I am
greatly pleased in traveling among the people to find how richly God is
blessing them, especially in spiritual matters. The remark is sometimes made
that there is less faith among the people than formerly, that we see fewer
manifestations of the power of God, and that the saints are drifting gradually
away from the old love which inspired their hearts and brought them into such
close communion with the Lord our God. There are doubtless many cases of this
kind-too many, considering the day in which we live and the momentous events
which lie before the people; but I am pleased to note and to bear my testimony
this day that the vast majority of the Latter-day Saints are striving to live
their religion, and that they are in possession of the Holy Spirit of God; that
they enjoy also the gifts of the Gospel. These gifts do not always come into
such prominence as was the case in the early days of the Church, when almost
every instance of the manifestation of the power of God was recorded; but I
believe they are none the less numerous. I believe that the sick are healed by
the power of God. I believe and know that the dead have been raised to life. I
know that the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues are experienced by
the people. I know that the gift of prophecy is heard frequently among the people,
and sometimes from those from whose mouths prophecy is least expected. I know
that in the conferences of the people there is the power of God manifested to a
remarkable degree. The reason that some fail to experience the power which God
has poured out upon the people is because they prefer to look upon the dark
side of the picture, and do not see the glorious Gospel which God has bestowed
upon us, His children. But while I testify to these things being in existence
among the people, I realize that there is still much room for improvement. I
realized that never before has there been so great an effort made by the
adversary of our souls to lead away the Church of God, to deceive the people,
and to lead them into darkness, as in the present day. On almost every hand, we
hear, "Lo! here is Christ;" and even among the Latter-day Saints
there have men arisen who testify that Christ has come, that He is living among
the people, and they point out some personage whom they profess to recognize as
the Savior of the world again come to visit the earth. These, my brethren and
sisters, are the deceptions of Satan; and if you will live near unto the Lord,
you may instantly discern the evil spirits which are abroad among the children
of men; you may detect them when they come to you with their false doctrines
and lying statements. If you live faithful unto the covenants which you have
made, you will know by the testimony of the Spirit within you that when Christ
comes you will know Him. There will be no need for any man to say to you that
Christ has come again to earth; but by the knowledge which God shall impart
unto you, by the sight of your own eyes and the hearing of your own ears, you
shall be able to testify that the Savior has again come to earth, clothed with power
and immortality, and bringing with Him the holy men and angels who exist with
Him in the eternal world; and if you are faithful, you shall be caught up to
receive from Him the blessings which your acts upon earth have merited.
I realize
that there is indifference to some extent among the Latter-day Saints. I have
thought sometimes that they have felt it was not necessary for them to seek an
individual testimony of the truth of this work. They have satisfied themselves
with the knowledge which their parents possessed of the divinity of the Gospel
and the prophetic power which God conferred upon Joseph Smith. They are willing
to listen to the counsels of the authorities of the Church and accept the
theories which are advanced concerning our religion; but they do not seem
disposed, for some reason, to seek for a practical and an undying testimony of
the truth of this Gospel, without which no man or woman is sure of eternal
life. They doubtless attend meetings because in this day it is fashionable to
attend church; it is fashionable to study theology and to read the scriptures;
not seeking therein the inspiration which the scriptures contain, but reading
them because it is considered an excellent literary work. In this spirit many
of the young people read it. They read the works of the Church because of the
historical information therein to be obtained. But they do not dig down to the
root of things, to gain for themselves a testimony of the truth. The result is,
we find a great many young men who go forth to the nations of the earth as
missionaries without the testimony of the Gospel in their hearts. Time and time
again have young men told me, when they have been set apart for their
missionary labors, that they firmly believed that this was the work of God, and
they could go forth to the people telling them of what they believed, but as
for the knowledge of which they have heard their seniors testify, this had not
come to them. They have acknowledged their neglect in not seeking it as
earnestly as they should. They have gone on missions, and these same young men,
I believe, without a single exception, laboring with earnestness and zeal in
the fields to which they have been appointed, have not been left long without
the testimony of the truth; and when they have returned there is not one of
them whose words I have listened to but has testified that he knew for himself
that the Gospel was true, that God had spoken from the heavens, and that Joseph
Smith was a prophet of God. It is well that they receive it even under these
circumstances; but better far would it be if they could receive the testimony
of the truth in their childhood, that it might grow with their stature and
increase with their intelligence that it might become within them a living
fire, which no amount of opposition or sophistry could quench. And this
testimony is within the reach of every one. God has said that none who seek Him
shall be turned away unsatisfied. Sometimes the testimony does not come in the
way that we have desired. We do not receive the outward manifestations which we
have been led to expect. But it is not the outward appearances; it is not the
healing of the sick, nor the hearing of tongues, that gives a man or a woman
the greatest strength in the work of God; for those who have never seen angels,
whose eyes have not been closed to the glories of eternity, and to whom it has
seemed impossible for God to forbid even anything which they asked-they have
turned away from the truth, lost the testimony of the Spirit, and again gone
into darkness. Better by far for us to possess is the still small voice of the
Spirit-the inward feeling which is experienced in every fibre of our
organization, which tingles in our veins, which reaches the extremities of our
bodies, and tells our whole being that this is the work of God. This testimony
it is possible for each to obtain and to retain by a constant observance of the
requirements of the Gospel of the Son of God. I have heard men relate that they
have prayed to see angels, and they have seen angels through their repeated
importunities before God. Those same men today are outside of the Church. I
have known men who have testified that they have seen the dead raised unto
life; but these same men are today outside of the Church. I have known men to
testify that they have spoken in tongues, and that they have prophesied; they
are today outside of the Church. I know men and women who have not seen or
heard any of these things that were remarkable, but have had a testimony of the
Spirit, and they are still in the Church, firm, to all appearances, as these
everlasting hills that surround us. Their feet are grounded upon the rock of
revelation, and they never seek the Lord in prayer but they receive an answer,
when they ask for those things which are for their good.
It is
fashionable in the world now to ridicule men for praying to God. Infidels make
light of the petitions which are sent unto the throne of grace. God always
gives to those who seek Him in prayer the things that will be for their good.
What would you parents do if your child should cry that he might have in his
hands a live coal? Would it be wisdom in you to place in his hands that which
would burn him? Would it be wisdom in you, because your child cries for some
poisonous substance, to permit it to partake of it? No; you would be unwise to
do so, though he would plead with you to receive that which his childish and
foolish desires might prompt. Instead of giving it a live coal, or some poison,
you would seek to give it something that would satisfy it and would be for its
good. So it is with our Eternal Father. We pray to Him sometimes for those
things which would bring about our destruction, if granted unto us. With our
limited vision we cannot grasp the result of such giving; but God, who knows the
end from the beginning, and who overrules all things for good, understands what
would result from our receiving the desires of our hearts, and He turns aside
from us those things which we seek and which we fail to receive, and gives to
us that which will be for our good. Take your own experience, brethren and
sisters, in this and you will be able to see that God has operated with you, if
you have been faithful, in your whole career through life. You have asked Him
for blessings; they have seemed necessary to your welfare and to your success;
you have not received them; your faith perhaps has been weakened at the time,
because these things were forbidden you; but allow the time to pass, and in
after years, looking back upon your experience, you see frequently wherein the
reception of these things for which you prayed so earnestly would have been to
your great injury here upon the earth and in eternity.
Sometimes
in your pleadings with God for your sick you see that they do not realize the
healing power of the Spirit of God. Your faith is exercised; you pray earnestly
to the Lord, and He seems at times to be near unto you; you call in the Elders;
they are led in a certain way, and they promise life unto the one who is
afflicted; yet you see this same sick one fail and die. How does this happen?
The faith of men is tried in this respect. Is it because God does not hear
prayer that your sick are not healed? Is it because He has turned a deaf ear to
our entreaties that He takes away from us those we love? No, it is not. It is
for some divine lesson He desires to impress upon our minds that He permits
these things to occur-sometimes perhaps to try our faith and see if we will be
true to Him under all circumstances. In administering to your sick you
sometimes see that they recover for a short time under your administration, and
time and time again the administration of the Elders and the faith they
exercise seems to give new life to the one afflicted; and yet after repeated
trials and the repeated exercise of faith, we are sometimes led by the Spirit
to pray to the Lord that He would rather take the afflicted one from us than
that he should be continued in his suffering, and that we should continue to
hold on to him by the exercise of faith.
It is
proper for us to feel this way. It is right for us in our prayers to God not to
set up our wills and our desires in opposition to Him; but when we have
expressed to His, with all the faith which we are capable of exercising, our
desires, either concerning our friends or ourselves, then it is the duty of
every Latter-day Saint to say as the Savior said when He prayed that the cup
might be passed by Him, "Not my will, but thine, be done;" and even
though afflictions come, the Lord will pour out upon us of His Holy Spirit, so
that we may submissively yield to His righteous will and reap the blessings
which even sorrow and trouble bring upon us. Better far to do this than by our
faith-as I believe has been the case among the Latter-day Saints-rescue the
sick from death, and yet see these same children who have been saved by our
faith suffer something that is worse than death; for some children who have
apparently been snatched from the grave by the faith exercised by the servants
of God and their parents, have in time lost the faith, and have brought sorrow
and affliction to the family to which they belong. There are things in this
life far worse than death. There are sins which burden our hearts with grief
far worse than to follow to their last resting place the bodies of our loved ones.
It better by far that we take to the tomb our loved ones and bury them in their
purity and holiness than that by our faith and our constant wrestling with God
we save them from temporal death and consign them to an eternal punishment.
I testify
to you, my brethren and sisters, that the Lord is a God who is near unto us. He
hears and answers prayer, and He gives to His children who serve Him faithfully
the blessings which are for their temporal as well as their eternal prosperity
and happiness. I would admonish the young people to seek Him while He is near.
There are troubles coming upon the earth which are to try the souls of men, and
those who lean upon the testimony of others are leaning upon a broken reed, and
at a future day they will find themselves without the support of those whose
testimony is now so strong to them. It is necessary, in order to secure eternal
life, that every man and every woman should have within himself and herself the
unquenchable testimony of the Spirit of God, and then whatever comes will only
serve to strengthen our faith in Him, and will only chasten us to receive in
greater measure the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon us. Amen.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL
was the next speaker. He said it was a matter of congratulation that we had with us the First Presidency, and that we had heard the voice of Brother Woodruff, who was so much beloved by the Saints. We were fortunate in having a part in this glorious work in the Lord. It was not necessary that any member of the Church should be in the dark. Each could have a testimony concerning the divine mission of Joseph Smith for himself. We had seen some persons occasionally who presumed to have revelation to direct others. We had seen men arise up in the ranks of the Saints with a feeling in their hearts that they were of more than usual importance and had the right, in certain instances, to direct the affairs of the Church. But sensible and thinking people looked upon that class with pity. The Lord had His work organized, His servants appointed to labor in the various callings of the Church and each had his allotted place. The training of the young in the work of the Gospel was dwelt upon, and examples cited for their guidance. We wanted, he said, to see our young men valiant in the cause of God, willing when called upon to go forth and proclaim the Gospel tidings without excuse or hindrance. We should teach our children the principles of the Gospel as fast as they were capable of comprehending them; here a little and there a little as the opportunity presented itself. He knew there was a feeling in the midst of the Latter-day Saints in some directions, on the part of parents -- how extensive he did not pretend to say -- that in regard to baptism their children should be left alone until they arrived at maturer years, and that they might then judge of the matter and what they wished to do for themselves. The Lord had said this was wrong. Our children were given and entrusted to us to bring up in the ways of the Lord; and we should see that they were not neglected in any religious duty. The speaker deprecated the too common practice of card playing among young men, even for purposes of amusement; he believed it led to evil and should therefore be condemned. There was no harm in dancing if conducted aright; it was proper to have social amusements and gatherings of that kind; but the great danger lay in the excess of these things, and he warned the young to be careful as to how far they went in these directions. There was, he feared, too much indifference at this time in reference to the spreading of the Gospel, and the welfare of Zion. Let us resolve, therefore, henceforward to labor with all our might and put forth our hand whenever the opportunity offered for the carrying of God's message throughout the earth. Then the Lord would reward us as we deserved, and His blessing would continue to rest upon this great latter-day work.
[Marrier W. Merrill]
[DNW 48:769, 6/9/94, p 1; CD 4:30-33]
TRAINING OF YOUNG PEOPLE,
_____
Discourse delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 6, 1894, by
ELDER M. W. MERRILL.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I am
pleased, my brethren and sisters, to be here this morning, and glad to see with
us President Woodruff and so many of the Council of the Apostles. The people
who come from a distance to the conference have an anxiety to see and hear the
Presidency of the Church, especially President Woodruff, who is so loved and
honored by all the Latter-day Saints. This is the sixty-fourth annual
conference of the Church. When the first was held the majority of us were in
the spirit world. We had not been born. But in the providence of the Lord, we are
here and associated with this work which He has revealed and established
through the medium of His appointed ones. We are very fortunate indeed to have
a part in this glorious work of the Lord, and He has so arranged that none need
walk in the dark, but that each member of the Church may have the light and
inspiration and testimony of the Holy Spirit. Every member of the Church,
according to my view, is entitled to an evidence of the divine mission of the
Prophet Joseph, and it is within his reach to have a testimony relative to the
Apostles and Prophets that direct the affairs of the Church now. Not that it is
our right or prerogative to have revelation directing the affairs of the
Church; but we may have the revelations of the Spirit of God for ourselves,
that we may be firm and stand upon the rock, that when the winds come and the
storms rage we may not be moved. We have seen occasionally unfortunate people
that presumed to have revelations to direct other people. We have seen men rise
up in the midst of the people, having a feeling that they were important ones
and had a right, in some instances, to direct the affairs of the Church.
Sensible and thinking people will look upon that class with pity. The Lord has
His work organized. He has His servants appointed to labor in the various
callings of the Priesthood, and He has given minute directions how and upon
whom the Priesthood shall be conferred. All the quorums have their
presidencies, and the Lord has given these things in detail. I have thought
sometimes that, as Stakes and Wards, we did not give this matter the
consideration that was necessary. There are young men who have been born and
reared in the Church, and of goodly parents, who seemingly have been neglected
with regard to the callings in the Priesthood. I believe that the Lord designed
that the brethren should come up in their regular order in the ordinations of
the Priesthood; first, deacons; secondly, teachers; thirdly, priests; fourthly,
Elders, and so on.
Wherefore, from deacon to teacher, and from teacher to
priest, and from priest to elder, severally as they are appointed, according to
the covenants and commandments of the church (D&C 107:63).
We have
found sometimes young men coming into the Temple to receive their blessings who
have never been ordained to the office of a Deacon and have never had any
experience in the callings of the Lesser Priesthood, and of necessity they then
have to be ordained Elders. I believe if this were properly considered by the
Stakes and Wards in Zion, these young men would be brought into the quorums of
the Lesser Priesthood in their youth; and as a rule they are willing, if there
is some one to look after them and give them a little experience in their
callings. We should give more attention to this, that our young men may grow up
and become valiant in the testimony of the work of God. We read in the Book of
Mormon of an incident that should be a lesson to us in this connection. The
ancient inhabitants of this land at that time had frequent wars, and on one occasion
two thousand young men took up arms in defense of their country. They were
young men who had been taught, under the direction of their mothers, to believe
in God, and they had mighty faith in Him; and when they went to battle they
fought with miraculous strength, and so great was their faith in God that not
one of them was slain. This faith had sprung up into their hearts as a result
of their early training and education. This is a good example for us to follow.
As parents, we have anxiety relative to our sons and daughters. We want to see
them valiant in the work of God and full of faith. We want to see them willing
when called upon to go on a mission to preach the Gospel, and we are very sorry
if we hear them make any excuse. This being the case, it is important that we
should consider the condition and circumstances of our children while they are
under our care. When they go from us, we lose more or less of our influence
over them; but while they are with us we should endeavor to teach them all along
the line the principles of the Gospel, here a little and there a little, as
their minds are capable of understanding the doctrines of the Church. When we
fail to do this relative to our young people, we fail thus far to do our duty,
and peradventure we may have sorrow and regret because of our negligence in
teaching and instructing as the Lord has directed we should do. The Lord has
not been unmindful of this; for He has given us His word that "inasmuch as
parents have children in Zion, or in any of her Stakes which are organized,
that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ
the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of hands when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the
parents" (D&C 68:25). I know there is a feeling in the midst of our
people (how extensive it is I do not know) to let children remain without
baptism until they come to years of accountability, when they can choose for
themselves. The Lord says this is wrong. God has entrusted these children to
us, and we are supposed to exercise control or jurisdiction over them and to
teach them in all the ways of the Lord. I have frequently heard remarks of this
kind, and I have thought that such parents have yet failed to receive the
testimony of the Spirit of God relative to the divinity of this work, because
if we have this testimony in our hearts, then oh! the anxiety we have that our
offspring may be honorable men and women in the Church of Christ. I believe we
are held responsible to a degree in regard to the training and educating the
young people. I believe in some cases we are willing that they should go to
excesses in amusements. We let them go to the extreme in many things that are
not pleasant in the sight of the Lord.
Nowadays
there seems to be a mania among the people for card-playing. We often see in
the newspapers that So-an-So had a nice card party, and they tell of the
different games played. Now, I do not know really that there is any particular
wrong in a game of cards. I am not a judge in this matter, because I have never
yet learned to distinguish one card from another. I am quite ignorant to talk
about cards when I do not know anything about them, am I not? But I have had
some experience in considering this matter and studying the results of this
social game of card playing. Perhaps it is not in the game itself, but in the
fascination that results from it. People become fascinated with the game. I
have known in my experience where young people would wake up in the night and
get out of bed to have a game of cards. I believe that it leads to evil, and I
do not think it a good thing for our people to indulge in to the excess that it
has been and is being indulged in throughout the Church at the present time. We
ought to exercise our judgment and consider the welfare of our children; for
because of this some have turned out to be gamblers. We would not have to go
far to find such cases. They have lost their faith, as well as their money, and
many have died in disgrace. I am not prepared, my brethren and sisters, to
condemn this amusement in toto; but I say where it goes to excess it is a bad
thing. Where people sit up to unusual hours in the night to indulge in these
games, I tell you it is a bad thing, because the wine and the beer have to be
brought forward, that the players may be stimulated to continue the game, and
whenever that occurs you may set it down that it is wrong. I believe we can run
to excess in these amusements that the Lord has kindly permitted us to indulge
in. We can go to excess in round dancing, for instance. It is all right and
proper for people to have social gatherings and amusements; but let us see to
it, my brethren and sisters, that we do not go to excess in these things. When we
do, we grieve the Spirit of the Lord, and it will take its departure, "and
when it is withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks;
to persecute the Saints, and to fight against God."-(D&C 121:37-38).
We should
be considerate in these matters and look well after the welfare and the proper
training of our children, because we want to see them honorable men and women
in the earth. Our hearts are swelled with joy when they go abroad to preach the
Gospel and they write back and tell how prosperous they are and how the Lord
has listened to their prayers. What a joy it brings to the soul of the father
and mother and kindred! We ought to have an anxiety in this direction. Instead
of feeling, when our sons are called to go abroad, "Oh! I don't know where
to raise the means, now how to send him," we ought to feel like making
every effort to send our sons agreeable to the commandments of the Lord. I
believe the great majority of the people do feel this way.
The Lord
has called us to build up Zion and to establish His kingdom. He has called us
to labor in the ministry. He did not call us here to aggrandize ourselves. Here
we have veterans before us that have labored a lifetime to build up Zion. They
have gone on missions, without food or raiment being left for their families;
but God has sustained them. They have not labored for the wealth of this world;
but they have labored for the salvation of the souls of men. Now God is
honoring them; He is lifting them up before the Saints and the world, and
giving them blessing and glory, and eventually will give them eternal lives.
And this will be the case if we labor with all our might to sustain Zion and
the work of God. I hope this may be our lot, in name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR
was the next speaker. He was thankful for the privilege of meeting in Conference with the Saints, where temporal affairs could be put aside for a season and the spiritual things of the Kingdom of God could be solely considered. He read a portion of the first chapter of Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, including the following verse: "If we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed." He also read that part of the epistle of the same Apostle to the Romans which treats upon baptism as being typical of a burial and resurrection. This language, he contended meant that the mode of administering that ordinance was by immersion in water. This was a part of the Gospel which was taught by Paul. The speaker next referred to the incident in point related in the 19th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, when certain persons were baptized by Paul and received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of his hands. The administration of the same ordinances -- baptism in water and the laying on of hands for the imparting of the Holy Ghost -- were sustained by reference to the 8th chapter of the Acts, which speaks of certain ministrations to believers in Samaria. Other passages were cited for the same purpose. Elder Taylor at the same time dwelling upon the fact that these doctrines, which formed a part of the system of religion taught by Paul, were not taught by the churches of the day, aside from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord had established His Church and Kingdom upon the earth. He himself knew that the community of Latter-day Saints were today but in their infancy, and that they would grow stronger and stronger until the Gospel had been carried unto all the nations of the earth.
The choir sang:
From afar, gracious Lord, Thou hast gathered Thy flock.
Conference adjourned until 2 o'clock p. m.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[6 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 48:510-511, 4/14/94, p 2-3]
AFTERNOON
SESSION.
2 p.m.
The choir sang:
Great God, attend while Zion
sings The joy that from Thy presence springs;
To spend one day with Thee on earth Exceeds a thousand years of mirth.
Prayer by Elder George Reynolds.
Singing:
Glorious Things of thee are
spoken, Zion, city of our God!
He whose word cannot be broken Chose thee for His own abode.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
was called upon to address the congregation. He said it was always a pleasure to him to have the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints, and especially was this the case at the annual Conference. He rejoiced exceedingly in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the plan of life and salvation that had been revealed in this our day, and he prayed that he might never break any of the covenants into which he had entered with God. His great desire was to know the mind and will of God and to act in accordance therewith. In proportion to our diligence, faithfulness and humility in keeping His commandments would He bless and assist us in the labors of life. A man who possessed the testimony that we were engaged in the work of God valued that testimony more than life itself, and the most earnest desire of every true Latter-day Saint, male or female, was that their children may grow up in the nurture and admonition of the Gospel, and so keep the commands of God that they may be saved in His Kingdom. We received a testimony of the Gospel by obeying its laws and ordinances; we received a knowledge of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged by keeping the commands of God; and our children would receive that knowledge exactly as their parents had before them. The Lord had commanded that we shall teach our children the principles of the Gospel, and that they shall be baptized when they are eight years of age. If we failed to keep that commandment the blessings which He had promised us would be revoked and we would have mourning and sorrow in seeing our offspring grow up without a desire to serve God. In after years, when we endeavored to instill into their minds the principles of the Gospel, failure would come, because the seeds of error and distrust would have been already sown, and we would be unable to control them; whereas had we done our duty the opposite of this would have been the result. In conclusion Elder Grant invoked the blessing of God upon this people.
[Heber J. Grant]
[DNW 48:737, 6/2/94, p 1; CD 4:33-35]
DUTY OF PARENTS TO CHILDREN.
_____
Remarks made at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 6, 1894, by
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
It is
always a pleasure to me to have the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day
Saints, and I rejoice in being present here today. I have rejoiced in the
counsels that have been given, and I earnestly desire that while I may stand
before you this afternoon I may have the benefit of your faith and prayers to
assist me in speaking. I rejoice exceedingly in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that
has been revealed in this day, and I earnestly desire that I may be able, in
connection with the rest of the Latter-day Saints, to so order my life that my
mind may never become darkened, that I may never depart from the truth or break
any of the covenants which I have made with the Lord. I earnestly wish to know
the mind and will of my Heavenly Father and to have the ability and strength of
character to carry the same out in my life. I have this same desire for all of
the Latter-day Saints. I appreciate fully the fact that in proportion to our
diligence, faithfulness and humility in keeping the commandments of God, He
will bless us and assist us in our labors; and it is the duty of every one to
seek earnestly of the Lord to learn His ways.
When I
heard Brother Merrill this morning say that he had met many of the Latter-day
Saints who thought it was not obligatory upon them to teach their children the
plan of salvation, and to baptize them when eight years of age, but who
proposed to allow their children to grow to years of accountability and then to
present to them the Gospel and allow them to receive or reject it-I could not
help but feel that all such individuals placed their judgment and their ideas
as superior to the commandments of God; that they lacked faith in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, and that they did not have an abiding testimony of the divinity
of the work in which they are engaged. A man who has a testimony that we are
engaged in the work of God values that testimony more than life itself; and I
believe I am safe in saying that the most earnest desire of every true
Latter-day Saint is that his children may grow up in the nurture and the
admonition of the Gospel, keeping the commandments of God, so that they may be
saved in His kingdom. It is simply absurd to imagine that if a child has the
seed of falsehood and evil sown in its mind through life, you will all at once
be able to sow in that mind one crop of truth and have it bring forth a harvest
of truth. I remember remarking recently at a conference that we would look upon
a farmer as a natural born idiot who would call upon everybody who passed his
farm to throw in a few seeds of weeds, to do this for a period of twenty-one
years, and then expect he could sow a crop of grain and expect to get a good
harvest. I may know the multiplication table, and my wife may also, but I
cannot on that account expect my children to be born with a knowledge of the
multiplication table in their heads. I may know that the Gospel is true, and my
wife may know it; but I do not imagine for one moment that my children will be
born with this knowledge. We receive a testimony of the Gospel by obeying the
laws and ordinances thereof; and our children will receive that knowledge
exactly the same way; and if we do not teach them, and they do not walk in the
straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, they will never receive
this knowledge. I have heard people say that their children were born heirs to
all the promises of the new and everlasting covenant, and that they would grow
up in spite of themselves, with a knowledge of the Gospel. I want to say to you
that this is not a true doctrine, and it is in direct opposition to the
commandment of our Heavenly Father. We find that it is laid down to the Latter-day
Saints, not as an entreaty, but as a law, that they should teach their
children:
And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in
any of her Stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the
doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of
baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands when eight
years old; the sin be upon the heads of the parents;
For this shall be a law unto the
inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her Stakes which are organized;
And their children shall be
baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the
laying on of the hands,
And they shall also teach their
children to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord.
And the inhabitants of Zion shall,
also, observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
And the inhabitants of Zion, also,
shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all
faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.
Now, I the Lord, am not well
pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and
their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly
the riches of eternity; but their eyes are full of greediness.
These things ought not to be, and
must be done away from among them.
And
again:
Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not
fulfilled? I command, and man obeys not. I revoke, and they receive not the
blessings. Then they say in their hearts, This is not the work of the Lord, for
his promises are not fulfilled. But woe unto such, for their reward lurketh
beneath, and not from above.
The Lord
has given us a commandment that we shall teach our children the principles of
the Gospel and have them baptized when they are eight years of age. If we fail
to keep this commandment, the blessings that are promised to us by the Lord
will be revoked, and we will have mourning and sorrow in seeing our children
grow up without a desire to serve God; and in after years, when we endeavor to
instil into their minds the principles of the Gospel, we will make a failure of
it. It is boasted by the Catholics that if they can have the training of a
child until it is twelve years of age, they will defy the world to turn that
child from Catholicism. If we do our duty in teaching our children the
principles of the Gospel, we ought to be able to defy the world to turn them
away from the truth, if the Catholics can defy the world to turn them away from
error. Every father who loves the Gospel is ready and willing to go to the ends
of the earth to preach it, and one of the greatest joys that any man can have
is to be found in bringing souls to a knowledge of the truth. It ought to be a
greater joy to us to train our children in the plan of salvation, realizing
that by so doing we will be able to save and exalt them in the kingdom of God.
May the Lord bless you. Amen.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
was the next speaker. He said that he appreciated the privilege of associating with the Saints in Conference. He spoke briefly of his recent labors, in connection with Apostles Brigham Young and John Henry Smith, in the Mexican mission. He remarked that the Saints were there located in a beautiful country, and they had passed the most laborious part of opening up of that region for prosperous homes. The mission was in good condition, which, so far as related to settlements, was about seven years old. There was a tannery, a flouring mill, a good deal of fruit-raising, and the progress made was surprising.
The speaker referred to the words of Paul, who said he was "an apostle not of man." He was an apostle raised up by Christ that the Gospel might be preached by him. The words of Christ in reference to the necessity of being "born of water and of the spirit" in order to see or enter the Kingdom of God were dwelt upon the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the ordinances thereof could only be done acceptably by those holding divine authority, being "called of God, as was Aaron." Even as Paul was called to be "an Apostle not of man" but of Christ. He who administered baptism must say to the candidate for entrance into the Kingdom of God -- "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." To reject the Gospel was a serious matter. That authority and plan were withdrawn after the days of the ancient Apostles because the people rejected the message. The same Gospel as they preached has been restored and a Prophet (Joseph Smith) had been raised up in this age to establish the true Church of the Savior. This was the testimony of the Latter-day Saints to the world. But the great bulk of the people had no faith, and without faith it was impossible to please God. He wished to bear his testimony that we were living in the hour of God's judgment, and the Gospel was being preached to all nations for a witness; and the Latter-day Saints were the witnesses. He knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and had seen the signs follow the true believer continually; and he also knew to his great satisfaction that this organization known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the Church of the living God. The speaker stated that since the year 1852, up to which time he was a member of the Episcopal church, he had been engaged more [or] less in the work of the ministry in this organization; during that period he had had a variety of experiences, preached a good deal, and traveled very many miles for the Gospel cause. Will we, he asked, be faithful and true, or be satisfied with the mere theory of the Gospel? Let us teach our children the principles of righteousness by practice as well as by precept; and example had greater force and more influence upon the people than precept. Elder Teasdale dwelt upon the importance of family prayer and the training of our children in this regard. He concluded by exhorting the Saints to be meek, humble and faithful.
[George Teasdale]
[DNW 49:33, 6/30/94, p 1; CD 4:35-42]
MEDITATIONS ON THE GOSPEL.
_____
Discourse delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 6, 1894, by
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I am
deeply thankful to our Heavenly Father for the privilege of visiting this city,
associating with my brethren in council and attending this Conference. My soul
has rejoiced in the instructions given and the spirit that is here.
I left
Colonia Juarez on the 3rd of March to attend two days' conference meetings at
Colonia Dublan, of the Mexican Mission. We went from there to Sonora, visited
Colonia Oaxaca on the Bavispe river, enjoyed very much the association of the
Saints and organized a ward. It is a lovely country for those who desire plenty
of room and a beautiful climate. We returned from Sonora to Colonia Diaz, held
two days' ward conference meetings there, and then came to Deming, on our way
to attend this Conference. We were very much blessed in our administrations.
Apostles Brigham Young and John Henry Smith and myself have been laboring in
the Mexican Mission, and have had a very profitable time with the Saints. We
have five or six settlements in Mexico, and are growing and increasing. We
consider that we have got over the worst of our experience in laying the
foundation of new settlements. The brethren and sisters that are in Mexico went
there because they believed that was where the Lord wanted their labors. One of
the brethren, on some intimation of his being released from that Mission,
stated that he had no desire to be released. Our Heavenly Father had opened his
eyes to the understanding that that was where his labors were required, and he
was perfectly willing to stay. I believe we should be satisfied in our own
minds that where our labors are there is where the Lord wants us. Then we will
build up and make glad the earth, beautifying it as well as we possibly can,
and making it blossom like the rose. I will say for the benefit of those who are
interested that we are prospering in the Mexican Mission, and that we are doing
as well as we could hope to do. We have only been there seven years, and we
have some very creditable buildings. We have a good tannery and a flour mill.
We have also a cannery that uses more fruit than we can supply. The progress
that we have made there is certainly wonderful. Those who visit us are very
much surprised. It is a good country for those who feel that that is the place
of their mission. We are going the way the prophets have declared concerning
that Mission and the future of Zion.
I desire
to offer a few meditations this afternoon in connection with the principles of
the Gospel that were spoken of by Elder John W. Taylor this morning. These
words I wish to refer you to that he read:
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither of man, but by Jesus
Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the death;)
Paul, an
apostle, "not of men". Did Jesus Christ ordain him? I think not. Who
ordained him? Peter, I presume. And who ordained Peter? Jesus Christ. To what
end was this ordination? In order that this Gospel might be preached by
authority; that mankind might be called to repentance, and, repenting, have
baptism for the remission of sins by authority, and hands laid upon them for
the reception of the Holy Ghost. Why? Because this is the doctrine of
Christ-the only way to be saved. The principles of the Gospel are eternal
without beginning of days or end of years. The Lord Jesus Christ said:
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.
Again:
Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.
We
believe that Jesus Christ understood the principles that He advocated. We
believe that His is the only name under heaven whereby mankind can be saved;
and when we appeal to our Heavenly Father for anything that we desire, we ask
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, in speaking of the necessity of
authority, said:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except
they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things?
On
another occasion, Paul, in speaking of the necessity of being called of God, to
preach His gospel, said:
No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is
called of God, as was Aaron.
Paul
declared that he was called of Jesus Christ. Were not all the apostles called
of Jesus Christ? And when one fell into transgression, and Mathias was chosen
to fill his place in the quorum, was he not called of Jesus Christ? Was he not
ordained by authority and sent forth to preach His Gospel? My brethren and
sisters, it is necessary, if the principles of truth are preached, that they be
advocated by men who have authority. In the formula given concerning baptism,
the person having authority to baptize says to the candidate for baptism,
calling him or her by name,
Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Now, this
would be terrible blasphemy if he did not have the authority. He does not
officiate in his own name, but in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost, having authority to do so. I look upon the rejection of this
Gospel as a very serious thing. I have wondered why the apostleship was taken
from the earth, and why the church was not continued upon the earth, and the
only answer that I could get to give me satisfaction was, because of the
dreadful condemnation that rests upon the inhabitants of the earth when they
reject the word of the Lord, through His authorized servants. We understand
that the apostles were murdered and the world rejected them. Paul said,
speaking of the organization of the Church of Christ:
God hath set some in the Church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers.
What for?
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity
of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.
Jesus taught
that to know God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent was eternal life, and this
knowledge is promised unto the children of our Heavenly Father. When we go
forth to preach this Gospel we bear testimony that our Heavenly Father has
again spoken from the heavens: that He has organized His Church upon the earth,
and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet sent of God; and we call upon the
people to worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the seas and the
fountains of waters. We call upon men to accept of His doctrine and to repent,
that they may obtain the remission of their sins by baptism and be prepared for
the reception of the Holy Ghost, so that they may be guided by it and taught of
God. Our Heavenly Father says:
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.
He
encourages us to hearken unto Him. The ancient apostles, under the influence of
His Spirit, encouraged the people in their day, as we do today. We say,
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth
to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But the
people have not faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God. We
must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek
Him, or we will not seek Him. We know very well that in all organizations and
governments it is necessary to have authority, and that no man can act in any
position except he has authority, unless he does it fraudulently. There are
those whose right it is to issue that authority, and all agents have to receive
their proper credentials. Do you not think that the house of God is a house of
order? Do you not think that our Heavenly Father has a perfect organization in
His Church? Why, certainly. We learn from the history which has been handed
down to us in the sacred scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ chose twelve
apostles. Those were the first officers that He chose. He ordained them and
sent them forth to preach His Gospel. Jesus Christ was a High Priest and an
Apostle. He also had the power to ordain other Apostles and High Priests.
Afterwards He ordained seventy others, and sent them forth to preach His
Gospel, giving them authority to go forth and to heal the sick and perform such
miracles as the people might have faith to receive. Now had that church
continued upon the earth, there would have been no necessity for that which
John saw in a vision when he was upon the Isle of Patmos. He says:
I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear
God, and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship
him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
As I say,
there would be no necessity for this angel flying through the midst of heaven
if this Gospel were on the earth. But John, in the revelation given unto him,
had seen the church go into the wilderness and the priesthood taken up into
heaven. He had seen the establishment of a great power that was to hold all
nations in subjection, in the which all would drink of the wine of her
fornication-and this prior to the judgments of the Almighty being poured out
upon the inhabitants of the earth, because they had rejected His gospel and
broken the everlasting covenant, they had changed the ordinances, and they were
teaching false doctrines, and would not repent. I wish to bear my testimony
that we are living in this hour of God's judgment, and that the Gospel of the
kingdom is being preached to all nations for a witness, thus giving the nations
a time for repentance. This Gospel reached us upon the isles of the sea, and
upon the continents; and we all received our blessing through that priesthood
that our Heavenly Father restored to the earth. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
bore testimony that John the Baptist visited them and conferred upon them the
Aaronic Priesthood. They also bore testimony that Peter, James and John visited
them and conferred the Apostleship and High Priesthood. These testimonies are
true. Those of this congregation who have obeyed the Gospel and received the
Holy Ghost know that their testimonies are true. As I know, so they know. And I
know that God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that Joseph Smith
was a true prophet sent of God. I have seen the signs promised by Christ follow
the believer. It was said by one of the brethren this morning that some claimed
we did not enjoy the gifts and the blessings of the Gospel like we did in the
early days of the Church. I would be sorry if that were true. Why? Because it
would demonstrate to me that instead of increasing in faith the Church was
waning in faith. I can testify that where I have labored that faith is not
decreasing; for I have seen marvelous healings by the power of God. That the
people have confidence in the ordinances of the house of God is manifested on
fast day by the number of bottles of oil that are brought to be consecrated, to
be used in the administrations unto the sick. I do not know how it is with you
here; but with us generally the oil is consecrated upon the Thursday fast day.
I know
that the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the
church of the living God. I have known it for a great many years. I was
educated in the Episcopalian church. I came out of that church in 1852, and
from that time to this I have been more or less engaged in the work of the ministry
in this church. I have had a variety of experiences, have traveled a great many
miles, and have preached a great many times-to the glory of our Heavenly
Father, be it said. I have borne testimony to the establishment of the Church
of Christ time and time again, and I am not afraid to meet anybody behind the
veil who can say to me, "your testimony was false." I have had ample
demonstration that the gifts and blessings promised are in the Church. I know
that the spirit of prophecy is in the Church. I have been on missions. I have
been set apart for these missions under the hands of Apostles, and they have
predicted concerning me as though they knew the work that I was about to
accomplish, and those prophecies have been fulfilled. I am here today a living
witness to testify to that.
Now, in
all loving kindness, we offer this Gospel to priest and people. We ask them to
consider these things. We ask them, for their own sakes, to repent of their
sins, to turn from the error of their ways, and to worship the only living and
true God; to come and assist us in the establishment of His righteousness upon
the earth, to cease their false doctrines, and to humble themselves like little
children before our Heavenly Father, as we had to do, and to present unto Him
the acceptable sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. It is on the
same principle that we entreat the Saints to be kind to themselves, to pay
their just tithes and offerings, to live their religion, to be faithful in
prayer and in setting a godly example, to act honorably and uprightly, to be
honest and chaste, to be loving, gentle and kind. We thus appeal to them with
all love in our hearts that they may enjoy the blessings that are bestowed by
our Father upon those who love Him and keep His commandments. The Lord has said
that if we will love Him and keep His commandments we shall prosper in the
land. He has also said, in reference to the law of tithing:
If my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by
this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments
may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you,
it shall not be a land of Zion unto you.
Then what
shall we do? Will we be faithful and true and do His will, or will we be
satisfied with the theory of the Gospel, and be like the man that sees his
likeness in the glass and goes away and forgets what manner of man he is? Are
we going to establish the character that we heard the word, but never obeyed
it, and that by our example we used our influence against His statutes being
kept in the land? We are making some kind of a record; we are either willing
and obedient or we are unwilling and disobedient. This comes to us
individually. Do I keep the commandments of God? Do I rob God? Do I treat Him
with contempt? Do I despise His counsels? Or am I willing and obedient,
learning of His ways and walking in His paths, doing His will that I may be
established in His everlasting righteousness? I tell you if we were to do so,
there would not be any question with regard to our children; for we would have
such love for our children that we would not neglect them, but we would teach
them the principles of righteousness, by practice as well as by precept. We
would be able to say to them, "Follow me as I follow Christ." If we
are His disciples, ought we not to be Christlike? I think so. This is what our
Heavenly Father requires of us. I think He has exhorted us to be exemplary men
and women, and to teach the principles of righteousness by example. That is the
commission we have in Mexico. We believe that there is greater force in example
than in precept. It has more influence upon the people. We would have more
influence everywhere if we were all living the principles of the Gospel and
glorifying God in our good works. We are going to be judged according to the
deeds done in the body. We are going to be rewarded according to our works. For
every idle word that we utter we will be brought into condemnation. Straight is
the way and narrow is the path that leadeth to the exaltations, and few there
be that find it. Why? Because they do not want it. God knows men's hearts. He
knows whether a man desires the truth. He knows whether he is serving Him, and
whether he meditates upon His ways. He understands all about our outgoings and
our incomings, and He would do a great deal better for us if we were more
faithful and would give to Him our hearts. He says, "My son, give me thine
heart." Why? Because if He has our affections we will do anything for Him.
We will do His will because we love Him, and because we understand that our
days of probation are but small upon the earth; yet the records of our lives
today are going to influence us more or less throughout the countless ages of
eternity.
My
beloved brethren and sisters, ought we not to be kind to ourselves? I cannot
think how it is that men and women having children despise to teach them the
principles of righteousness. I believe it is a bounden duty upon all parents to
teach their children correct principles, and then our skirts are clear. But are
our skirts clear if we never demonstrate unto them anything concerning the
principles of the kingdom of God? If a man is never seen on his knees praying
with his family, and having them take part in prayer; if he does not teach them
the value of the fellowship of the Spirit of God, can he expect his children to
grow up with a love for these things? What is there like unto the fellowship of
the Spirit of God? I do not think there is anything. Not the wealth of this
little world? I would sooner have the fellowship of the Spirit of God than I
would have the wealth of this world and all its scholastic attainments. Why?
Because then I would be taught of my Heavenly Father. Then I would enjoy light
and truth. I would have faith, hope and charity, and be filled with the divine
love of God. I would be a blessing to myself and to my fellows, making an
everlasting record for righteousness. Let me entreat you, as your friend, be ye
reconciled to God, and seek wisdom at His hands. The condemnation of the world
is that they have no faith in God but they prefer darkness to light. They have
faith in priests, in ordinances, and in dogmas; but they have no faith in the
living and true God. They have no faith to go and ask Him, in the name of Jesus
Christ, for revelation. He is a God of revelation. I know that He reveals His
mind and will unto His children who seek it, and He satisfies the mind. To have
a living testimony and to know that God lives is a thousand times better than
the visit of angels, than gifts and signs and wonders. To have the fellowship
of the Spirit of the Lord; to know that you are right when you lie down in bed;
to know when you arise from you bed that you are in the straight and narrow
path that leads to eternal life-this is far better than dogmas, miracles or
outward manifestations. Every man that has the fellowship of the Spirit of God
mourns over his fallen condition and his bad disposition; he sees himself and
strives to improve his disposition, and to make his individuality more
Christlike, be more gentle, more loving, more humble, more meek, and strive to
crucify the flesh. When a man has his eyes opened that he can see, his ears
opened that he can hear, and his heart that he can understand; when he is
redeemed from false impressions and the Holy Spirit brings light and truth into
his soul, then he has liberty indeed. That is the glorious liberty of the
Gospel. I cannot see how it is that it does not fill the hearts of men with
thanksgiving and praise, as well as fear lest they should do anything by which
they might lose these bright hopes and aspirations. What is there outside?
There is nothing. I know what I am talking about. I know that we can only be
sanctified by the truth. The Saints have been fed by the revelations of the
Almighty, and they are philosophical and as firm as the everlasting hills. We
may reject them, but they remain the same, and always will. God is the same
yesterday, today and forever, and His course is one eternal round. We cannot
prescribe conditions to Him; we must subscribe to His conditions. We have to
obey the principles of the Gospel and to be humble and meek if we ever expect
to attain to the exaltations. One of my beloved brethren mentioned to me the
other day at the funeral of Brother Jesse W. Fox that there was not a man
present but would like to speak a word concerning him. What was the matter with
Brother Fox that everybody should love him so? Why, he was one of the meek of
the earth, and every meek man is loved. Meekness is a natural principle, which
we all admire. It is said that Moses was a meek man. Every servant of God has
to be a meek man, or else he will never be able to stand in his lot and
calling. He has to say, as the Savior said, "Not my will, but Thine, be
done." "Teach me to see as my brethren see. Let no false impression
be upon my mind; but let me be sanctified by the truth." That is the
prayer of every man who desires to be established in the everlasting
righteousness of God.
My
beloved brethren and sisters, let us strive to do the will of our Heavenly
Father. Let us be true and faithful and exemplary. Let us pay our just debts
and be honorable. Let us glorify God in our good works, and you will see the
establishment of His righteousness upon the earth. Look at our glorious Temple.
It seems to me that anyone who sees that Temple would have a holy inspiration,
and would understand that administrations were being done by divine authority
for the living and the dead. Do we understand it? Do you not fear lest you
should become a castaway? Do you not fear lest that light that is within you
should become darkness? I do. I have seen great and strong men fall and go the
way of the sinner, and I have feared lest I, after preaching to others, should
become a castaway. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;"
and all our scholastic attainments do not amount to anything if we have not the
fear of the Lord; we are like sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. But if we
have the fear of the Lord and the knowledge that comes from Him, we grasp
everything, and all things are subject to us, whether it be principles or
theories of men or the perishable riches of the earth. They are our servants,
and we stand at the head. We know that all good comes from our Heavenly Father,
who has given us the brain power to comprehend intricate principles and
difficult problems, and we glorify Him because we love Him. I am thankful
beyond expression that I have the privilege of being a member of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-of being adopted into the royal family of our
Heavenly Father; and I earnestly desire to be true and faithful unto the saying
and the doing of His will and the keeping of His commandments, that when I pass
behind the veil I may have the privilege of the association of those who have
gone before us in the Church of the Firstborn, and be able to continue in this
redemption of the earth and the human family until every soul shall be saved in
some degree of glory. I pray that the blessings of our Heavenly Father may be upon
us. I know that the Spirit of the Lord is here, and I rejoice in its influence
and power. I pray that it may always be our companion, to guide and direct us,
and to make us faithful for the testimony of Jesus, that we may be true and
valiant unto the doing of His will and the accomplishment of His purposes. I
ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
was the succeeding speaker and his opening remarks were directed to the subject of revelation. There had been one continuous stream of light and knowledge, he said, coming to the Latter-day Saints, through the various channels which our Heavenly Father had selected, ever since this Church was first organized. We were too apt, however, to become forgetful of the great responsibilities which rested upon us as a people. Men and women were too unmindful of the obligations which they took upon them selves when they entered into their covenant with God. Let us henceforward resolve to be more faithful, and more earnest in our efforts to advance the onward progress of this great latter-day work. He dwelt for some time upon the authorities and regulations existing in the Church for the maintenance of peace and union, and urged the strictest conformity thereto. Much depended upon due regard being paid to this matter. The judgments of the ecclesiastical tribunals should be respected, as they were based upon the evidence presented and a clear understanding obtained therefrom as to the rights of the principals interested. The system was so organized as to give the fullest protection to those who had differences with their brethren. A spirit which had appeared in some localities to foment dissension should be rebuked wherever it was exhibited. Instances had occurred where people whose cases has been adjusted by the Church tribunals had shown dissatisfaction with the result, because it had not been favorable to them. Others had sympathized with them instead of directing them to appeal to a higher court than that which had investigated the dispute. Thus a spirit of disunion had been encouraged by those who ought to have counseled wisely in the interest of peace.
The speaker turned his attention to the world, and the threatening and unsatisfactory condition existing in its affairs. It had been taught the Latter-day Saints to place their affairs in such a condition as would enable them to rise above such disastrous situations and furnish an object lesson to all peoples. The question of the necessity for their doing this was becoming more and more apparent. If we failed in conforming to the commandments of God in this respect we would not deserve His full confidence and approval. He urged the people to patronize and encourage home manufactures.
[John Henry Smith]
[DNW 49:1, 6/23/94, p 1; CD 4:42-46]
PROPER REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
_____
Discourse delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 6, 1894, by
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I have
enjoyed the remarks that were made this morning by President Woodruff and the
other brethren who have spoken to us, as well as the remarks that have been
made this afternoon by Brothers Grant and Teasdale. There is certainly no lack
so far as the teaching of the Saints in a knowledge of the principles of the
Gospel is concerned. From the days that the heavens were opened in this
dispensation until the present time there has been one continuous stream of
light and knowledge, through the various channels that our Father in heaven has
selected, coming to the Latter-day Saints. There is no condition of our lives,
whether we regard it in the light of our temporal or spiritual well-being, that
in His mercy He has not sought to impress upon our minds the sacredness of the
obligations which rest upon us in this day and time. It is true that we have
not always been as ready to obey the promptings of the Spirit and fulfil the
obligations which rest upon us as we might have done; but my observation has
convinced me that the great mass of Latter-day Saints are desirous of having
the companionship of the Spirit, of following its lead, and of enjoying the
results that flow from obedience to the wishes of our Father expressed in the
revelations that were given in the early days of the Church and that have come
to us in these latter times. We, like our children-for we are but children of a
larger growth-become forgetful of the responsibilities that rest upon us; but
when we are confronted with the truths contained in the Gospel, and they are
expounded in our hearing, I have yet to find among the branches of the Church
men and women so far unmindful of the character of the obligations into which
they entered, when the witness of the spirit of truth was given to them, and
the ordinances of the Lord's house were administered unto them, that they do
not call up in remembrance those teachings, and their hearts are gladdened and
they are awakened to the character of the responsibilities that rest upon them.
There
are, however, evils in our midst, and warnings are necessary to be given to us
from time to time. Some of our spirits are cold and do not receive the impress
as they should do upon some occasions; while on other occasions the warnings
that may be sounded in our ears find at once a place in our hearts, and we
renew our covenants with our Father in prayer, signifying our determination to
be more faithful, more fruitful in good works, more earnest in a desire to be
proper in our own lives and to encourage those with whom we mingle in
exhibiting more fidelity and more faith, and in general striving to advance the
cause of our heavenly Father.
Among the
evils, in my judgment, which need correction among the Latter-day Saints is one
that arises frequently in wards and neighborhoods from not complying with the
conditions prescribed in the Gospel in regard to our course of conduct. The
Bishop of a ward with his Counselors may possibly call in question some member
of the ward. This member may have been, perchance, a sabbath-breaker, or he may
have failed in the payment of his tithes and offerings to the Church. It may be
that he has forgotten himself in the midst of anger and been guilty of using
profane language. This individual who is called in question, instead of
desiring to conform to the requirements that may be placed upon him, commences
an agitation in the neighborhood where he resides, directing the efforts of
this agitation against his presiding officers; and our brethren and sisters,
instead of assuming the position that they should, commence to sympathize with
the individual. We have discovered, in mingling among the Saints, and in
seeking to adjust among them troubles that are continually arising, that it
frequently happens that wards, or branches, or districts become divided in
sentiment in regard to the character of the treatment that the Bishop and his
associates, or the Presidency of the Stake and the High Council, may have
prescribed in the case of some individual, and, as a result of this continued
agitation and gossip an effort is made to overturn the Church government in the
ward or stake and belittle the officers, who should be respected and esteemed
in the positions that they occupy. Recognizing the fact that in the Church of
Christ it was the design of Providence to guard sacredly the rights and
liberties of every man, woman and child, He placed upon us the responsibility
of seeking, so far as lay in our power, first to adjust our own troubles. If we
have wronged one of our neighbors, or if, perchance, we may imagine that our
neighbor has wronged us, the obligation rests upon us to seek to adjust those
matters and preserve our individuality intact. If we fail in the accomplishment
of that reconciliation, then we may call in any of our brethren who act as
teachers, who will exercise a spirit to modify our feeling and to bring us into
that condition where we would desire to act justly and fairly to our brother or
our sister. Failing in the accomplishment of this, under the rule that exists
in the Church, we go before the judges of the Church in the form of an
organized Bishopric. They pass their judgment upon us, after having sought, by
persuasion, to modify the conditions. They make that judgment from the best
light and knowledge they can obtain. If we are not satisfied with the decisions
made by our brethren, then an appeal lies to the Presidency of the Stake and
the High Council; and as elders of the Church we should learn that it is a
violation of the obligations resting upon us to create dissension and to try to
belittle the men whom the Lord has chosen to be our counselors and advisers.
Instead of working up an agitation against them we should seek to guard their
reputation and their honor, as well as the principles that the Almighty has
established. When judgment has been given we should conform to the requirements
of that judgment as near as it is possible for us to do. But there is an
increasing tendency, in my judgment, in a wrong direction, in that the Bishops,
High Councils and Presidents of Stakes are being assailed from time to time by
men and women in the Church of Christ, who should know better their duties and
responsibilities, and who should fulfil their obligations in the form our
Father has prescribed, instead of working up agitations and exciting their
wives and children, and causing neighborhood troubles which result in
confusion, disorganization and the hurting of men as innocent of a desire to do
wrong to their fellows as men can possibly be. I trust, in the spread of the
good work, in the understanding of the principles of life and salvation that
our Father has given to us and in the love that we bear to our kind, exercising
judiciously and prudently our rights with each other, that none of us will make
the effort to destroy and overturn the influence of our brethren. I believe that
men in this Church should be handled for their fellowship who become agitators
in the wards and branches where they live, looking to the disunion and
destruction of the organization that our Father has created. Having the way
pointed out before them by which their grievances can be adjusted and failing
to receive satisfaction from the organizations of the Stakes of Zion, there
lies a door open to the presiding quorum of the whole Church. I trust,
therefore, that the spirit which has grown up in some neighborhoods to agitate,
to create confusion and dissension and to cause strife shall be met and rebuked
wherever it presents itself, until the Latter-day Saints, comprehending the
justice of the system which our Father has established (which seeks to guard sacredly
the liberties of every member of the Church), shall keep themselves within the
purview of the discharge of their duties, and that the day will soon pass by
when any of us, having misunderstandings with our brethren, shall seek to
exercise what influence and power we may have to their hurt or injury.
I do not
know, my brethren and sisters, but that this is enough for me to say upon this
subject. It is a subject, however, that should be considered, and considered
wisely and well in every branch of the Church of Christ. We should frown down,
under every circumstance and in every place, this tendency which has been
awakened in neighborhoods to an alarming extent, in some places dividing wards
in two and creating a condition of things that no man who holds the priesthood
of the Son of God should encourage. During the past year the nations of the
world, including our own nation, have passed through an experience fraught, I
trust, with eventual good to the human family. We have at least learned
this-that no matter how wisely or prudently men may build, it takes but a few
moments to unsettle the conditions that surround them and change in a great
measure the whole bent of their lives. This Gospel has been preached now
sixty-four years among the children of men. We have been sent into the world to
say unto them, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of
her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues." Our Father in heaven has
revealed to us that the creations of man shall fall in pieces when the touch of
Deity rests down upon them; and that nothing shall be able to withstand the
fierceness of His wrath, only that which is builded upon the rock of eternal
truth. We have seen the world in its great financial concerns shaken to its
very center; and distress, suspicion, and fear engendered in the breasts of the
strong ones, who had regarded themselves as possessing the influence and power
to wield and control the destinies almost of the human race. We have
anticipated, in the growth and development of the system that our Father has
revealed, and which we preach to the world as the Gospel of Christ, that there
would come a time, after the witness had been borne to all lands and climes,
when the world would be in confusion, when suspicion, doubt and fear would find
place in the hearts of men and they would look abroad to see where they could
go or how they could act to avert the calamities that were pressing upon them
which forboded the destruction of the systems they had established and an
overturning of that which man had built. The day may not have yet arrived when
this will occur in its fulness; but the experience of the past year has borne
its witness in stronger language and with more force and power than the voices
of the elders of the Church have been able to do among the children of men,
that when the time shall arrive to accomplish His designs in the regeneration
and the humbling of His children, it lies within His power to accomplish that
purpose and bring them to His feet, their pride broken, and they willing to
acknowledge His hand and bow to His wish. In the time that has gone by it was
the view entertained by the Latter-day Saints-in fact, it was part and parcel
of their faith,-that it was their duty to make every effort within their power to
put themselves in a condition of independence, that when these storms should
come and the winds should break with fierceness upon our brethren and sisters
who refused the faith we had espoused, and they should long to know whence to
flee, there would be a people so established and so fixed in the principles of
right and of proper government to whom they could go and in whose companionship
and association they could be freed from their unsettled surroundings. I trust
that the Gospel which we have embraced has written itself so thoroughly upon
our minds and has become so established in our hearts that we can see and sense
fully the gravity of the responsibility that attaches to us, and, so far as
lies in our power seek by every means we have to enhance every temporal
interest of the people, providing for their wants and necessities, and giving
to them the employment by and through which they can obtain that which will
sustain them and the households that our Father has placed under their
watchcare. To my mind, we are unworthy of the confidence and esteem of our
Father in heaven if we fail in seeking to the best of our ability to advance
every temporal interest and to establish everything wherein it is possible to
bring independence to ourselves as well as to those not of our faith who may
reside within our borders and be interested in the upbuilding and development
of that which is around us.
My
brethren and sisters, I look over this congregation and I wonder how many hats
worn by the men have been made within the confines of our own Territory. I look
around and see the heads of my sisters bedecked with hats and bonnets and the
question arises in my mind, how many of them are the workmanship of their own
hands, or go to create employment for our brethren and sisters? I might go on
and name a hundred things that are necessary for the comfort and well-being of
man, which it is possible for us to provide for ourselves; and before we can
reach that condition of independence that the Lord expects us to reach, we will
not only be making our hats and bonnets, but everything that is necessary to
the clothing and adornment of men and women and the beautifying of Zion will be
brought into being by the industrious and earnest hands of those reared within
this commonwealth.
That we
may learn the truth; that we may appreciate the principles which have been
taught unto us, bearing upon the observance of those requirements which rest
upon us in seeking to preserve peace and harmony, and in making the proper
provision for those who lack the ability to care for themselves; that the sons
and daughters of our heavenly Father may be a united family, blessing each
other and all with whom they come in contact, is my prayer, in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem,
Jerusalem, my glorious home.
Benediction by Elder C. D. Fjeldsted.
_____
[7 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 48:511-512, 4/14/94, p 3-4]
SECOND
DAY
Saturday, April 7, 10 a. m.
The choir and congregation sang:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation; No longer as strangers on earth need we roam,
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Singing by the choir:
Glory to God on high; Let heaven and earth reply.
ELDER F. M. LYMAN
was the first speaker. He said he believed he felt the importance of the present gathering and the business transacted more than ever he did in his life before. In the month of January last he was called to go on a mission to Southern California, and it fell to the lot of Elder B. H. Roberts to be his traveling companion and spokesman. They spent nearly two months there, visiting the principal cities of the state, and gave the people the privilege of hearing the Gospel as the Latter-day Saints had received it. But they found there were other people who claimed to be Latter-day Saints, professed followers of the Prophet Joseph Smith; and some of their hearers were somewhat doubtful as to whether they should listen to them or to others who claimed to be the legitimate followers of the Prophet and the Church which he established.
This was about the 101st Conference that had been held since the death of the Prophet Joseph, and from that time until now the Latter-day Saints had gathered together twice every year and by their unanimous vote had sustained those men who were designated by the voice of the Lord to bear the keys of the kingdom. The Latter-day Saints should keep a little account of the line of the Priesthood that had come down to us, in order that every man might know that he had received his ordination from those who stand in fellowship with the Church. The Josephites claimed that we had been cast out; that when the Saints left Nauvoo and went out into the wilderness they went away from Zion; that Nauvoo is Zion, and no other part of the country. But fortunately the Prophet Joseph, during the very last Conference of the Church that he attended, in April, 1844, announced that the continent of America was the land of Zion, both north and south. And on the following day the Prophet Hyrum Smith stated the same fact. This Church was as much the work of God now as it was in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and there had never been a moment when there was a chance for any reorganized church, or any other, to come in and break the thread of authority and succession of men gathered together in this place, bearing the Priesthood, he knew that God was still with this great latter-day work and would never desert it. The people must guard the authority of the Priesthood, then, as steadfastly as they would their lives. The Twelve never would be disorganized, from this day forth; and God had so ordained it that this Church would remain and endure, and its greatness would increase from this time forward until the final winding up of the scene.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[DNW 49:65, 7/7/94, p 1; CD 4:46-50]
THE
TRUE CHURCH.
_____
Discourse
delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 7, 1894, by
ELDER
FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I have enjoyed myself very well during this Conference, and I trust that the same spirit that has animated my brethren will also rest upon me. I believe that I feel the importance of these gatherings and of the business transacted on occasions like this more today than ever before in my life.
In the month of January I was called to go into Southern California on a brief mission, and it fell to the lot of Elder B. H. Roberts to be my companion and spokesman. We spent nearly two months, and in several important cities in Southern California obtained halls, advertised, and gave the people the privilege of hearing the Gospel as we have received it. We found that there are other people in the world who claim to be Latter-day Saints and followers of the Prophet Joseph and our hearers were somewhat confused to know whether they should listen to us or to others who claimed to be the legitimate successors of the Prophet Joseph and the Church that he established. I am reminded that this Conference makes about one hundred and one conferences of the Church that have been held since the death of the Prophet Joseph. Examining the history, we find that at the death of the Prophet Joseph there were standing, in their places in the Church, ten of the Twelve Apostles, including Brigham Young, President of the Twelve Apostles-ten of the very men who were designated by the voice of God himself as the chosen Twelve in this last dispensation to bear the keys of the Kingdom of God among all the nations of the earth. From then until now the Latter-day Saints have gathered together twice every year and by their unanimous vote have sustained the men who were designated by the voice of the Lord to bear the keys of the kingdom. Today you see on this stand ten of that same quorum who have been selected and designated by the voice of God to fill vacancies occasioned by death, or by the re-organization, from time to time, of the First Presidency of the Church. From the day of the Prophet Joseph until the present time there has not been a conference but has sustained, by unanimous vote, the men that were selected by the Lord during the days of the Prophet Joseph, or their lawfully selected successors, chosen by the voice of God just as perfectly as they were selected in the days of the Prophet Joseph. There has never been a man placed in this quorum or in the Presidency of the Church but has been placed there by the word of God; and they have been sustained by the people up to the present time. I have thought it would be wise if we would keep an account individually of the line of the priesthood that is given to us, so that every man may know that he received his ordination from men in fellowship with the Church. It takes the whole of the quorum of the Twelve to hold the keys of the kingdom; one cannot lead off from the body and build up a kingdom himself. Every Apostle is subject to the direction and counsel of the Presidency of the Church. With all the authority and power that an Apostle holds, he has no right to go to California, or to any part of the earth, and build up a church independent of the direction and counsel of the Presidency of the Church. Yet every Apostle, in his labors and travels in the earth under the direction of the First Presidency of the Church, has power to organize churches and to regulate them in all parts of the earth. And when there is no First Presidency the Twelve are the presiding quorum over the Church. The Lord provided that the quorum of the Twelve Apostles should be equal in authority to the First Presidency of the Church for the very emergencies that arise whenever a president of the Church passes away; so that there should still be a quorum with the same authority as the Presidency of the Church. But can one of these Apostles separate and, without asking any odds of his brethren in the quorum or of the Presidency of the Church, build up a church and accomplish the purposes of the Lord? No. Whenever an Elder, a High Priest, a Seventy, or an Apostle leads off on his own account and operates contrary to the rules and regulations of the Church as the Lord has laid them down, Amen to that man's authority. There have been but about two of the Twelve who have gone off and undertaken to establish a church unto themselves-William Smith and Lyman Wight. President Rigdon led off also, but he was never one of the Twelve. The authority and power that Apostles hold must be exercised upon the principles of righteousness and in accordance with church rule and discipline or their operations are void in the sight of God.
We find that the "Josephites" claim that we have been cast out; that when we left Nauvoo and came into the wilderness we were going away from Zion; that Missouri is Zion and no other part of the country. But, fortunately, the Prophet Joseph, during the very last conference of the Church that he attended-in April, 1844-announced that America, both North and South, is Zion, and on the following day the Prophet Hyrum Smith announced the same fact. It would be very small for our Heavenly Father to be satisfied with the State of Missouri. Why, we would want the State of Missouri with just the few Latter-day Saints there are today. We occupy very much more country than there is in the state of Missouri. But this is the land of Zion; from one extreme to the other, as announced by the prophets of God. The "Josephites" hold that when we left Nauvoo we went wrong because we were going away from Jackson County, Missouri. I wonder if we had not good company when we left Independence. The Prophet Joseph was at the head of the people when they departed from Independence and went to Far West and to Adam-Ondi-Ahman, and on up to Nauvoo. The Prophet was with the people in all these movements. Not only that, but he crossed the Mississippi and was on his way for the west when his friends-his false friends-began to complain that he was cowardly and like a shepherd leaving the sheep. The Prophet Joseph replied, "If my life is not valuable to you, it is not to me." And to all human appearances the Prophet Joseph would have been living today and at our head had it not been for that. But the Prophet Joseph directed us here. He announced before his death that many of the brethren who were present on a certain occasion, while across the river in Iowa, would live to go to the Rocky Mountains and would help build cities, towns and villages. He understood that, as also did the Prophet Brigham and his brethren-the very men that were designated by the voice of the Lord. Read of this, if you please, in the revelation given in 1841. The Lord says:
I give unto you my servant Brigham Young to be a
president over the Twelve traveling Council.
Which Twelve hold the keys to open
up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after
that to send my word to every creature;
They are: Heber C. Kimball, Parley
P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page,
Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, Geo. A. Smith.
Every one of these men stood solid and firm by the side of the Prophet Brigham after the death of the Prophet Joseph. Later some of them fell away, but not very many. Apostles have not apostatized and fallen away from the Church since the days of the Prophet Joseph so frequently as they did before. They have been men who have been found worthy, and who have been willing to lay down their lives for the kingdom and for their brethren, just as the Prophets Joseph and Hyrum did; and these men have stood at the forefront of the people and they have walked in the very path that the Prophet Joseph trod all his life-the path of persecution and trial. As the Prophet Joseph, from the very beginning, was wrought upon in regard to the building of temples and died while a temple in Nauvoo was being built, just so was President Young; and he passed away while temples in these valleys of the mountains were being built. He laid down his life, not by violence, but in peace at home, and at the time when this great temple here, now finished, and others were being built. The burden of his anxiety and that of his brethren was that these temples should be finished and the work of God accomplished in them for the living and the dead. We have been a temple-building people. Are there any other temple-building people today? Not on this earth. There are no other people on this earth doing work for the dead, giving endowments, sealings for eternity and the like. There are no other people preaching the gospel of gathering. The very missions that were opened and established under the direction of the Prophet Joseph have been worked from that day to the present, and many others have been opened. The Prophet Joseph gave the word of the Lord to the Latter-day Saints in his lifetime, and when he spoke by the inspiration of the Almighty he spoke the revelations of the Lord just as much as he did when he wrote. The words of the Prophet Joseph, when remembered and known today, are prized just as highly as though they had been shaped into a revelation, for he spoke by the power of God. And I say that he did not speak more by the power of God than did President Brigham Young and his brethren who have followed up to this day. When the Prophet Wilford Woodruff, standing at the head of the Church, the mouthpiece of God, gives to us the word of the Lord, it is just as binding and just as sacred as that that was given by the Prophet Joseph. When the word of the Lord is given through the Apostles, as they travel among the people, laboring, organizing, regulating and setting in order the Church of Christ, that is also binding on the people; and the labor performed by them, under the inspiration of the Lord, is as much the work of the Lord as that that was done by the Prophet Joseph.
This is my testimony to you today, my brethren and sisters. I say that there never has been a moment when there was a necessity for any re-organized church or any other church to come in and break the thread of authority and of succession in the Presidency of the Church that we have here today. This body of men gathered together today, bearing the holy priesthood, is the nucleus of the kingdom of God upon the earth. This is the Church that Christ established himself; and the God of heaven graced the earth with His presence when it was established, in accordance with the words recorded in the Old Testament by Daniel, that in the last days the God of heaven should set up a kingdom which should stand upon the earth and all other kingdoms and powers should pass away. The Lord has established this Church and His authority is among men. We must hold that authority and guard it as sacredly as we would our lives. A man should prize the authority of God more than he does this mortal life; for it would be much better that a man should lose his life than that he should forfeit his right to the priesthood, or in any manner dishonor it. We cannot afford to dishonor it, for it is a most precious legacy that God has given to us. It is to bring us back into His presence, that we may dwell with Him and have eternal life with our families, our kindred and our friends.
This is the testimony that I desire to bear to all Israel-that the Church has never been disorganized. There has never been but one quorum in the Church disorganized, and that is the quorum of the First Presidency, when the President has passed away. The quorum of the Twelve has never been disorganized; and never will be from this time henceforth and forever. The Twelve will remain standing at the head of the people, in the absence of a Presidency, bearing the same authority and power and the keys of the kingdom. God has so ordered that this Church is to remain and endure, and no power is to interfere with its progress and its advancement; and its greatness will increase from this time forward. God bless you, my brethren and sisters and all Israel, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
next addressed the assemblage. He was specially glad to be once more among the Saints in General Conference, as he had been absent from Salt Lake City for several months, visiting members of the more southern stakes of the Church, including Mexico. He had been much interested in witnessing the improvements that had been made in those remote settlements, especially in Juarez, which was already a beautiful little city. He had never witnessed so much of the power of God manifested in the Church as recently. The Saints had been forgiven their sins at the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, and it was evident they had not returned to the practices that then required the special exercise of the clemency of the Almighty. Experience had taught the speaker that although the Saints did not fully obey the commandments embodied in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, if they strove to reach as high a degree of perfection as practicable the Lord would forgive them their trespasses. They knew that the revelations contained in that book were true. All these things were for the perfecting of the people of the Lord, and for the building up of the Kingdom of God. The day would come when the law of God must be kept upon this and every other land, when the fiat would go forth, "Thus saith the Lord God," and it would affect not only this people, but every other nation under the whole heavens; it would be obeyed and Christ would come whose right it is to reign. The times were near at hand when the commandments of God would be given to us in things which never had been before. In conclusion the speaker prayed that His heavenly blessing would rest down abundantly upon this people.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
rejoiced in the opportunity which had been given to the Latter-day Saints of again meeting together in General Conference, and in the testimonies which had been borne by preceding speakers. A variety of subjects had been touched upon. When this Gospel first reached us and we were permitted to investigate it, we found therein that which would amply satisfy the human soul in its longing and searching after the truth. And what blessings it gave to the repentant sinner, to know that by going down into the waters of baptism, under the hand of one authorized to officiate in that ordinance, his sins were all forgiven. The power of the Latter-day Saints had been increasing and extending every since the organization of this Church, not merely upon earth but with the heavens. The Lord had watched over this people and would never desert them nor suffer their prayers to go unanswered. We were on the road to exaltation in fellowship with angels, with the just made perfect, to be made hereafter partakers of God's kingdom. Elder Richards spoke on the subject of the building of temples and the sacred work for the dead performed therein; he also touched eloquently upon the beauty and importance of the labors of the Saints in that direction. If we were living correctly before the Lord our testimonies would increase, our light would shine brighter and brighter, and we would be still further strengthened in the ways of righteousness and truth. He counseled the Latter-day Saints to be diligent in keeping God's commandments and to remain steadfast to their covenants with Him. Let them depend not on falling Babylon. The speaker touched briefly upon the question of home industries and advocated the supporting of these as far as possible by the People. Utah had obtained a good reputation in the East for the firm stand which she had made during the late trying crisis, and there was no reason why we should not continue to maintain it. If the Latter-day Saints only kept their lamps trimmed and sought to do the will of God, the Holy Spirit would give them understanding and guide them onward unto the perfect day.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 48:669, 5/19/94, p 1; CD 4:50-54]
GROWTH OF FAITH AND WORKS.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 7, 1894, by
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER]
_____
Beloved
hearers, I rejoice greatly in the opportunity that is given us in this
Conference. The testimony that has been given by the brethren who have spoken
has been so varied and diversified that it would seem as if every inquiring
mind must have found something that he could take home to himself and feel that
he had been fed, edified and enlightened in the knowledge of the truth. The
growth of the work of God in these latter days brings to us from day to day
such new developments of experience as to call forth also corresponding
instructions suited to our every condition; so that as varied as our
circumstances are, or may be, we get line upon line, precept upon precept, here
a little and there a little, for all the conditions through which we are
brought to pass; and it brings to those who are truly living their religion
increased testimonies of the truth. Those who were in the world living honestly
before God according to the light they had, prior to the revelations of the
present dispensation by the Prophet Joseph, were in a position of
justification. Nevertheless, there was a constant yearning for something more,
which we did not yet possess; and in looking around and trying to find that
something else which would satisfy the human soul, we could not find it among
our fellows. They who claimed to be our teachers had it not to give to us. We
were told we must not pry into mysteries, and that what had been revealed and
laid down was all they had the right, or the power, to offer us.
When this
Gospel came to us and we were permitted to look into it; when our near kinsmen
came and told us that God had raised up a Prophet, that He had given new
revelations, that He had revealed a record called the Book of Mormon, behold,
what did we find? We found that in searching these principles thus revealed,
there was that which satisfied this hungering and thirsting that we had after
something more. We found that in giving obedience unto these principles there
was given us in turn from the heavens a testimony that made us to know, and
that verified the word of the Lord wherein He had promised that if any man
would render obedience to those doctrines he should know, and that knowledge
should be increased. We commenced thus searching, and in that search we have
been successful to find that which satisfies the soul, even the most
intelligent among mankind, when they apply humbly at the feet of Jesus for the
knowledge of the truth and the testimonies of His Spirit. Finding a fulfillment
of His promises at the very threshold of our search into the order of the
kingdom of God, we were thus satisfied, thus fed, thus strengthened and led to
feel that for these testimonies we could offer ourselves, all that we were and
had, and lay our lives upon the altar, for the knowledge which God had thus
given unto us. This was the solid and satisfying start that we made in our
search for the truth. And oh! what blessing it gave to the repentant sinner to
know that by going down into the water and coming forth out of the water, under
the hands of one authorized of God, his sins were forgiven and remitted; and
further, to receive by the laying on of hands that gift of the Holy Ghost which
should abide with him. It abode with us, and led us from knowledge to
knowledge, from faith to faith, increasing our light, and it has been growing
brighter and brighter, as the faithful can all testify to this day.
With the
knowledge of every new principle our joy has been increased, our cup has been
filling up; and if we have been active laborers in the ministry, our influence
and power have been increasing and extending, not merely with our fellow-men on
the earth, but with the heavens, so that the blessings and favor, intelligence
and revelation to which the Saints are entitled, have been increasing and
growing brighter and brighter until the present time. The great and grand
object with us is that they shall by our faithful lives grow brighter still
until the perfect day, when what we now see in part we shall then see in full,
and when we, having placed our evil propensities under our feet and triumphed
over them by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and by our testimony, shall
obtain the crown in the kingdom of our God. The pathway to this is through
obedience to every principle that has been revealed, and that shall be
revealed, making it a part of our lives and practice.
The Lord
graciously told the brethren in the early days that "the Priesthood hath
continued through the lineage of your fathers, for ye are lawful heirs,
according to the flesh, and your lives have been hid from the world with Christ
in God." What a glorious development! What! the Priesthood come down from
the days of the ancients, through the dark and bloody channels of war and
rumors of war, crusades and persecutions? Yes, certainly. It is evident the eye
of God has been over us, and the eyes of His angels have watched over the
continuation of the fathers down through the generations that have come unto
us. This is shown by the very fact that the Lord has cared for a lineage which
has given you and me the right to the Holy Priesthood, and has awakened our souls
to trace back that lineage as far as it can be discovered by records, or
dreams, or visions, or revelation, or by the Urim and Thummim, until we go back
with our labors on that lineage, and thus return the only grateful
acknowledgment we can make to them for being our fathers and mothers and giving
us such honorable birth, and at such a period of time, when the Priesthood is
revealed again, and that we can receive blessings of untold worth, that we
never ourselves shall know the full value of, until we overcome this mortality,
put on immortality and enter into the exaltation which is promised unto the
faithful.
Speaking
concerning the testimony of Elder Lyman about those who have sought to rise up
and appear to the world as having a right to the Presidency. They claim to have
obeyed all of the revelations which were given to the Prophet Joseph. The
Prophet received the word of the Lord that it was our duty in Nauvoo to build a
temple, which, said He, "my people are always commanded to build unto my
holy name." Yet concerning those who make the claim to being the only true
Latter-day Saints on earth, we have not heard even of their undertaking to
build a temple; while we have built half a dozen of them. I need not stop to
talk about that. We are on the road to exaltation, in intelligence, in
fellowship with the angels and with the just made perfect, and are already made
partakers in some measure of the powers of the world to come.
How
glorious it was after that Elijah had come and revealed this ancient order of
things concerning the fathers and the children in the Temple at Kirtland, in
pursuance of what the Prophet Malachi had said he would do, before the great
and terrible day of the Lord! How our fathers that have gone before have turned
unto us? And so have we turned as children unto our fathers, to love them and
to seek after them, and to know that we cannot be made perfect without them,
nor they without us. It is a glorious work. People come into the Church and
gather with the Saints almost from the antipodes. They have received the Holy
Ghost, and what does it do? It makes them just as one of the Apostles anciently
said: "God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts,
crying, Abba, Father." They naturally incline after the lineage of their
fathers; and if they have not obtained it, they persevere until they find one
who shall teach, instruct and lead them along unto eternal life. If they cannot
find their lineage, they feel afflicted and distressed and cut off in their
parts. This is that feeling which comes upon the people when they receive the
Holy Spirit that makes them to cry, Abba, Father. They want to know the spirit
of the fathers and the doctrines of the Gospel revealed unto them. We have
great reason to rejoice in God, who has revealed these things. Soon after the
Prophet Elijah appeared in the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph was led to
teach us the doctrine of baptism for the dead.
Oh, what
a world of labor that has given us! What a joy it has imparted to us! Many felt
that they would die cheerfully if they could give to their fathers and mothers
who were dead the blessings that they enjoyed in the Church of Christ. Yet
there are many who have not yet put off the ways of the Gentiles, and have not
come to this sensibility. We have only just begun with this labor, and perhaps
some of us have not begun just right. I recollect when the Prophet Joseph first
revealed the baptism for the dead, some went down in the river and were
baptized, men for women and women for men. But the Lord soon gave to the
Prophet Joseph to organize and systematize the whole thing, and so He will
about this order of the fathers being turned and united, bound and sealed to
the children, and the children to the fathers; and we will yet have the
privilege of seeing our generations connected back. If we continue on and
inherit eternal life, we shall see them connected clear back, no doubt, to
ancient Noah and to our more ancient Father Adam. In the early days of
tribulation in the Church the Lord encouraged the brethren by telling them that
they were laying the foundation of a great and mighty work. I recollect how it
used to cheer us up in the midst of our persecutions.
If we are
living correctly before the Lord, our testimonies increase, our light grows
clearer and clearer, and we are strengthened in the way of righteousness and
truth. I testify that during the past year I have realized more abundantly the
freedom of the Holy Spirit, more blessing and manifestation of the power of God
among the people, than before. The blessings in the increased flow of the
Spirit that have come upon them since the dedication of the Temple in this city
has been like an endowment of the whole people. Brethren and sisters, cling to
it. Be diligent in keeping the commandments of God, abiding in the covenants,
seeking to do good, and in your temporal things to provide for your wants and
not depend upon falling Babylon. If prophecy is fulfilled in us today, what
about that prophecy that says that a great cry shall come up from Babylon,
"and the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man
buyeth their merchandise any more?" Brother Brigham tried incessantly to
persuade us to establish home industries here; provide our own boots and shoes,
and our own clothing; and he talked to the sisters about making their own hats,
instead of sending our money abroad as we have done for everything that we
wanted. We have been like a carcass with eagles gathered around. They have
found that we are a good people to trade with. We have had the credit of
keeping our promises, and we have earned a character in the East as being a
people that have the fewest number of bad debts of any territory or state in
the West. They love to come and deal with us, persuading us to buy this, that and
the other. If we would be constrained to make our own boots, shoes and clothes,
and patronize home productions, we could soon get the balance of trade on to
the other columns of our ledgers. Why cannot the Latter-day Saints take this as
a piece of counsel from the authorities of the Church? Let us also raise our
own provisions. There is no part of the broad land of Zion that yields better
wheat, better grain of nearly all kinds, better potatoes, or better fruit. We
were renowned from ocean to ocean for our choice fruit until the worms and
insects got into it and made it undesirable; but if we will turn to the Lord
with all our hearts and put away our wrong dealing wherein we strew our ways to
strangers He will turn away the destroyer for our sakes, and will make
everything again to bloom and prosper for us. Then the merchants from abroad
will be able to say that nobody buys their goods, because we will have the
goods of our own manufacture.
What did
the angel of the Lord who brought the Gospel through the midst of heaven to
every nation, kindred, tongue and people say? He said, "Fear God, and give
glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." Do we not see that
His judgments are spreading destruction all around us? But we have not yet had to
taste much of them. He has been uncommonly merciful unto us, making our fields
to abound with plenty, and giving us to rest in peace here. His judgments are
in the earth, and in all our calculations we ought to remember this.
Let us
keep in mind the parable of the rich man, whose ground brought forth
plentifully, and who thought to build larger barns to hold his produce. He said
within himself, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take
thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." What was the result? The Lord said
to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then
whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?" We should be frugal
and enterprising; provide for our necessities and for those who may come to us,
and become an independent people. We can do it if we will. All these
necessaries come out of the earth. It is the farmer that should be the
independent man; get up and cultivate his land in the season thereof, and at
his convenience he can read his newspapers and his books. There is no branch of
human labor that gives a man such a variety of exercise for all his faculties
as does that of good agriculture. The farmer is the man that should be
encouraged. The miners could not dig the mountains down nor open the bowels of
the earth if they had not bread to eat. The gold and silver would have to lie
there till eternity came and went if they did not have the victuals to eat and
clothes to wear. President Young was sensible and wise in this. He told us if
we would raise the bread and dinner, others would come and do the uncertain
work of digging down the hills.
My
brethren and sisters, this our great work, as I have said, opens new methods of
conduct, new features of corresponding doctrine and precept to guide us. If we
but keep our lamps trimmed and the Holy Ghost burning in us to give us
understanding in all our ways, the pathway of our feet will grow brighter and
brighter unto the perfect day. May the Lord grant this to be the common lot of
His people, and the particular lot of every man and woman that will take the
revelations of divine truth for the light of their counsel, keep the
commandments and covenants they have made diligently and faithfully to the end;
God will help us according to His own good pleasure, to accomplish the work He
has assigned unto us. Amen.
ELDER LORENZO SNOW
was the next speaker. He read from the Book of Doc. and Cov., section 84. The question refers to the blessings predicated upon the reception and magnifying of the two Priesthoods, and also the results of turning away from the Priesthood after having received it. The speaker also read from the 8th section of the same book. He had sometimes asked himself the question, where did he come form, why was he here and what was his destiny? We had a first estate and had obeyed its laws and conditions, otherwise we would not be here. We were here because we were worthy to come, having kept our first estate. It was his view that before our advent to mortality we made certain covenants with those who were in control -- that we would seek to discover the will of God as it should be revealed. We had forgotten these things, but God was bringing them to our recollection. What we wanted to know was how to be worthy of securing the positions we formerly occupied in the previous life, together with the additions resulting from experience gained in mortality. No man nor woman could afford to do anything in this life except it be what was in accord with what God revealed. As a general thing there would be no failure associated with the work of the Lord. It might seem as if we were moving backward, because we had sacrificed what was dear to us. We had come along through these conditions and there had been no failure, because the majority of the people had sought to be guided by the Spirit of the Lord. There was a course that could be taken which would obviate failure. It was implied in the verses which had been read, "If your eye be single your whole body will be filled with light." There was the key. The Lord had said "I can of my own self do nothing, as I hear I judge, and My judgment is just because I seek not to do my own will but the will of my Father who sent me." According to this saying we should forget ourselves and try to discover how to spend our energy and our means to the honor and glory of God. If we did this there could be no failure. When our Elders were sent into the world, who sent them? It was the Lord who sent them, and none were so much interested in them as he. A man's mind should be single to the glory of God in everything he undertook. Here was the grand secret. We were too apt to forget that we were working for God. The work in which we were engaged was that of the Almighty, and His watchful eye was constantly upon us. God bless the Latter-day Saints, and he prayed we might so live as to be worthy to receive the blessings which had been promised upon the faithful.
[Lorenzo Snow]
[DNW 49:637, 5/12/94, p 1; CD 4:54-58]
I
will read from D&C 84 of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants:
For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two
Priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are
sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies;
They become the sons of Moses and
Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and the elect of God;
And also all they who receive this
Priesthood receiveth me, saith the Lord;
For he that receiveth my servants
receiveth me;
And he that receiveth me receiveth
my Father;
And he that receiveth my Father,
receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given
unto him;
And this is according to the oath
and covenant which belongeth to the Priesthood.
Therefore, all those who receive
the Priesthood, receiveth this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot
break, neither can it be moved;
But whoso breaketh this covenant,
after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have the
forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.
In
connection with this, I will read the following, from the 88th section:
And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies
shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you, and that
body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
Therefore sanctify yourselves that
your minds become single to God, and the day will come that you shall see him;
for he will unvail his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in
his own way, and according to his own will.
Brethren
and sisters, with you help, through the exercise of your faith and prayers, I
wish to say a few things. I have been very much pleased and edified by what has
been said during this conference. It has been to me a feast of fat things. The
instructions that have been given and the principles that have been elucidated
have been presented to the people by the power of God.
I often
ask myself, what am I in the world for? Where did I come from, and where am I
going? Well, we have learned something in regard to this. We have learned that
we existed with God in eternity before we came into this life, and that we kept
our estate. Had we not kept what is called our first estate and observed the
laws that governed there, you and I would not be here today. We are here
because we are worthy to be here, and that arises, to a great extent at least,
from the fact that we kept our first estate. I believe that when you and I were
in yonder life we made certain covenants with those that had the control that
in this life, when we should be permitted to enter it, we would do what we had
done in that life-find out the will of God and conform to it. I have not the
least idea that I would be here today talking to you, unless it was distinctly
understood in that life that when I came into this I would be obedient to the
will of God as it should be revealed. Of course, we have forgotten these
things; but he Lord is beginning to illuminate our understandings and is
bringing to our recollection certain things in regard to how we were there, and
for what we have come into this world. What you and I now want to know is how
to secure the position we occupied in the other life when we go back, and that
which will naturally be added to us in consequence of the experience that we
had in this life; for the Lord has told us that those who would keep their
second estate, glory should be added upon their heads forever and ever. It
seems to me that no man or woman can afford to do anything in this life only
that which, directly or indirectly, will be in conformity to the will of God.
There is
a course that men and women may pursue wherein there will be no failure.
Whatever disappointments may arise or seeming failures may result, there will
be in reality no failure, as a general thing. As we have heard from the
different speakers, there has been no stoppage with this Church. Apparently
there has been. There have been times when it seemed as though we were moving
backward; at least, it has to those who were not fully enlightened in regard to
the mind and will of God. The Church has passed through very strange
experiences, and the people have made great sacrifices. No people were ever
raised up, excepting perhaps Enoch's, that have sacrificed to the extent that
this people have. But we have come along through these sacrifices, and as a
people there has been no failure. Why has there been no failure? Because the
people, as a whole, have had their minds fixed upon the true principles of
life, and they have conformed to their duty, as they did in the other life. The
people generally have had the Spirit of the Lord, and have followed it. Hence
there has been no failure. So it may be with individuals. There is a course for
every person to pursue in which there will be no failure. It will apply to
temporal as well as spiritual matters. The Lord has given us the key word in
these verses that I have read from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants:
If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall
be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you, and that body
which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore sanctify
yourselves that your minds become single to God.
That is
the key by which a person can always be successful. Paul says:
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.
A grand
object that every Latter-day Saint ought to have before him constantly. What is
that prize? I have been reading it. "All that my Father hath shall be
given unto him." The Savior on one occasion made an extraordinary
statement. It is in the 5th chapter of St. John, and is as follows:
I can of
mine own self do nothing.
It is
remarkable that the God who made the worlds, who came down here clothed with
flesh, performed mighty miracles, and sacrificed his life on Mount Calvary for
the salvation of the human family-that He should say, "I can of mine own
self do nothing." And He goes on to say:
As I
hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but
the will of the Father which hath sent me.
That is a
wonderful saying, and there is a great deal in it. Now, what we want is to have
that spirit in every act of our lives and in every undertaking, whether
temporal or spiritual, and not think of self. We should try to ascertain how we
should spend the money and the information that God has given us. The answer is
simple-for the glory of God. Our eye should be single to the glory of God. That
is what we have left the other life for and come into this. We should seek to
promote the interests of the Most High God, and to feel as Jesus felt, "I
can of mine own self do nothing." Inasmuch as we act today and tomorrow,
this week and next week, in the interest of God, and have our eye single to His
glory, there can be no failure. We send our Elders to preach the Gospel. Who
sends them? President Woodruff? In one sense, no. The God of Israel sends them.
It is His work. There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the
success of an Elder when he is preaching the Gospel as the Lord that sent him
to preach to the people who are the Lord's children. He begot them in yonder
world, and they came here because the Lord wanted them to come. As we are told
by the Apostle Paul, "the creature was made subject to vanity, not
willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope." It
was not a pleasing idea to come here. No one wished to come, only as it was the
will of God, and that we would receive through this greater glory. I have not
found it so very pleasant in my experience; still I have tried in the scenes
through which I have been called to pass to enjoy the circumstances as far as
God would give me wisdom and power to do so. A man's mind should be single to
the glory of God in everything that he starts to accomplish. We should consider
that of ourselves we can do nothing. We are the children of God. We are in
darkness, only as God enlightens our understanding. We are powerless, only as
God helps us. The work that we have to do here is of that nature that we cannot
do it unless we have the assistance of the Almighty. Those who go into these
temples to accomplish the glorious labors there performed feel that they cannot
do this work satisfactorily to the parties in whose interest they are
officiating unless God gives them His Holy Spirit. Here is the great trouble
with men of the world, and too much so with the Elders of Israel; we forget
that we are working for God; we forget that we are here in order to carry out
certain purposes that we have promised the Lord that we would carry out. It is
a glorious work that we are engaged in. It is the work of the Almighty; and He
has selected the men and the women whom He knows from past experience will
carry out His purposes, as a general thing.
What
wonderful promises are contained in this 84th section! Can you comprehend them?
I cannot. I can see that God means a great deal in these promises which He has
made to us. There may be some strangers here who will say, "You read that
from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which we do not know anything about.
Why don't you read something from the books that we believe in?" Now, what
I have read here conforms exactly with what the Lord has said in the Bible. The
Lord has said that He will give us all that He hath-and this according to the
oath and covenant which belongs to the Priesthood. Nobody ought to doubt what
Jesus says, and He declares, as recorded in the Revelations of St. John,
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as
I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." Can
anything be said greater than that? Does not that comprehend everything? And
there are many statements of this kind recorded in the Old and New Testament.
Brethren
and sisters, my testimony is that this is the work of God in which we are
engaged. I had not been in this Church two weeks when the Lord revealed to me a
knowledge that He was God, and that He sent His Son into the world to be
crucified for the sins of the world. No man ever did or ever could receive a
more perfect knowledge in regard to the existence of God and of the truth of
this work than God gave to me by revelation and the opening of the heavens.
From that time on I have tried to live in such a way as not to lose His Holy
Spirit, but to be guided by it continually, trying to get rid of my selfishness
and any wrongful ambition, and endeavoring to work in His interest. I believe
these are the intentions and feelings of the Latter-day Saints generally.
God bless
President Woodruff and his two counselors with a fullness of His Holy Spirit;
and may we all live in that way that we may be prepared at any moment to go
back into the other life and inherit the position that we occupied there, with
the additional blessing and glory that we receive by conforming to the mind and
will of God in this life. The prayer which Jesus made before His crucifixion
may be offered by the Latter-day Saints: "And now, O Father, glorify thou
me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world
was." God bless you, my brethren and sisters, and may we so live as to be
worthy to receive these wonderful blessings and promises is my prayer, in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
Praise ye the Father.
Benediction by Elder Seymour B. Young; after which Conference adjourned till 2 p. m.
_____
[7 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 48:512-513, 4/14/94, p 4-5]
AFTERNOON SESSION.
2 p.m. The choir and congregation sang the hymn beginning:
Our God, we raise to Thee, Thanks for Thy blessings free.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
The choir sang the anthem:
Light and truth the world are waking.
THE AUTHORITIES
of the Church were presented by President George Q. Cannon for the votes of the assembly, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, John Morgan, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball and Rulon S. Wells.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
All the voting to sustain the authorities as presented was unanimous.
An approximate statistical summary of the Stakes of the Church was read. It was stated, however that it was somewhat incomplete. It did not include the missions in this nor in foreign lands.
A report of the Young Ladies' Improvement Associations for the last seventeen months was read. Among other matters of information it showed as follows: Number of associations, 386; number reported, 358; number of members, 13,372, increase, 1,815; average attendance, 6,786. Number of books in library, 5,587. The receipts were -- Cash on hand at last report, $2,085.83, cash received, 5,173.02; total, $7,258.85. Property on hand at last report, $2,605.89; property received, $761.49; total, $3,367.38. The disbursements were: to charities, $1,772.65; miscellaneous, $3,557.85; balance on hand, $1,928.35. Property disbursed, $436.98; property on hand, $2,930.40; total $3,367.38. Also on hand, fifty-three bushels of wheat. The report is signed by Elmina S. Taylor, president; Maria Y. Dougall, first counselor; Martha H. Tingey, second counselor.
The Sunday schools report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1894 [1893], showed as follows: Number of male officers and teachers, 5,593; number of female officers and teachers, 3,842; total 9,425. Male pupils, 36,627; female pupils, 37,595; total, 74,222. Grand total 83,657.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
addressed the Conference. His introductory remarks were directed to the concert to be given in the Tabernacle this evening and its worthy object. He invited the whole audience to attend it.
He then turned his attention to Sabbath schools and the necessity of men and women qualifying themselves to be efficient workers in those institutions, and spoke commendably of the normal class which had been established at Provo to enable the brethren and sisters to graduate for this work. Similar remarks were made in reference to the Young Men's Mutual Improvement normal class in the Brigham Young Academy. He announced that, to meet the expense connected with this important department, it was expected that the members of the Church would contribute 50 cents a year.
The speaker next alluded to card playing, the tendency of which was in the direction of evil.
In relation to round dancing, he said he did not believe that any good came form it and it ought not to be encouraged. He understood this to be the sentiment of the First Presidency who regretted that the young people were disposed to go to extremes in this matter.
The discourse then turned in the direction of Latter-day Saints becoming connected with secret societies. This theme was elaborately and instructively dwelt upon, the position of the Church in reference to it being clearly defined.
The closing remarks of Brother Smith were mostly devoted to the correction of certain fallacious ideas in reference to the Godhead, in which the three were represented as one person. The speaker read from the book of Doctrine and Covenants and the Bible, passages showing clearly the erroneous character of the views to which he referred.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 48:605, 5/5/94, p 1; CD 4:58-66]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, april 7, 1894, by
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I shall
require the assistance of the congregation this afternoon in order that I may
make myself heard and speak of those things which will do good. I feel my
dependence upon the Lord for His Spirit and for strength to do my duty on this
occasion. We have had a variety of subjects treated upon during our meetings,
ten of the Twelve Apostles having addressed you, each of them having spoken
upon one or more different subjects-all of interest to the people, and it is
necessary that these things should be weighed carefully by us, that our coming
together may not be in vain.
THE TABERNACLE CHOIR
There are
a few things which I would like to call to your attention. One thing is the
concert that is to be given here this evening by the Tabernacle Choir. Perhaps
many of the Latter-day Saints are not aware of the fact that it is through the
proceeds of these concerts that Brother Evan Stephens and the Choir are able to
meet their legitimate and necessary expenses-and the expenses of so large a
choir are by no means inconsiderable. They have their music to procure, and
many other expenses attending their labors; and they raise means to meet these
expenses by giving to the people their delightful music. It is through practice
and indefatigable labor that they have attained the proficiency which they have
reached, by which, as you are aware, they went to the World's Fair last summer,
and if justice had been done them they would undoubtedly have carried away the
first prize as the best singers in competition with all those contestants from
the United States and from foreign countries. Without being an authority on the
subject, my decision was rendered on the spot that the Salt Lake Tabernacle
Choir carried off the first prize at the Fair, but they were awarded the
second. Having said this much, I invite this whole congregation to be present
this evening, no matter what it costs. It will not cost you a great deal, and
you will get your money's worth, if you love music. If you don't love music,
you ought to come here and get a little of the love of it stirred up within
you.
SUNDAY SCHOOL AND Y.M.M.I.A. NORMAL CLASSES
I suppose
the Latter-day Saints are generally aware of the fact that we have Sabbath
schools, which are of vast importance to our children, and which are necessary
for the good of our youth. It is requisite at this advanced stage of our
proceedings and experience that men and women should have opportunity of
becoming qualified for the labor and duty of Sabbath school instructors. For
this purpose we have established in the Brigham Young Academy at Provo a normal
class, to which Sunday school teachers may go and receive instruction from the
best intelligence and under the best rules that we know of, by which they may
become qualified to more efficiently and effectively teach the children in the
Sabbath schools. To meet the expenses of this normal class in the Brigham Young
Academy provisions have been made by the Sunday school authorities.
There are
also Mutual Improvement Associations organized throughout the land. In these
associations many a young man has received that impetus in the work of the Lord
which has made of him in after life a successful minister of the Gospel to the
nations of the earth. Your sons who attend these associations will give you
pride and joy when they are called to go out to the world to preach the Gospel,
because having attended these associations and qualified themselves to preach
the Gospel, they go out prepared to meet the errors and traditions of men, and
to advocate the principles of the Gospel with power and in the demonstration of
the Spirit of God. They do themselves and the cause which they represent honor;
they do their parents honor; and they do honor to the associations in which
they have received their preparation. Yet these associations are comparatively
in their incipiency and much more labor is necessary to make them more
effective in the education and qualification of our young men for this work. In
order that we may the better teach our young men in regard to these matters, we
have also established a normal class in the Brigham Young Academy at Provo,
where today there are in attendance from sixty to ninety young men, from all
parts of the country, taking a ten weeks' course of instruction, that they may
go home and become in turn teachers to the young men of the associations to
which they belong. But, unfortunately for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement
Associations, we have not been so successful as the Sunday schools have been in
collecting means for the payment of the expenses of teaching this large class
of our young brethren; and it has been agreed by the General Superintendency
that fifty cents a year shall be required of every member of the associations
in order to pay for this and for other expenses connected with publishing the
record books, certificates and circular letters which are necessary. The object
in referring to this matter here is to say, before the President of the Church
(who is also the General Superintendent of the Y.M.M.I.A.) and the Twelve
Apostles, and the Presidents of Stakes and Bishops, as well as those who are
associated more directly with the mutual improvement work, that we expect to
collect from the members of these associations the sum of fifty cents a year
from each one, in order that we may meet our legitimate expenses; as the choir
have to have means to meet their expenses so do we to meet ours; in getting
theirs they give you music and enjoyment; we help to educate your sons. So with
the Sunday schools. What benefit do the people receive from these sources? Can
you compute the value of these institutions in dollars and cents? You cannot;
and yet it costs you very little, while you are preparing a corps of
intelligent and valiant men and women for this good work by the little
contribution required. So you are preparing your sons to be ministers of the
Gospel, defenders of the faith, and exponents of the principles of life and
salvation to the world by merely contributing this insignificant sum of fifty
cents per year. Parents ought to urge their children to be faithful to this
little duty; and children who are not able to furnish this themselves ought to
ask their parents to assist them, that we may not allow these interests to be
uncared for and not sustained while they are such means of benefit to the whole
people of the Church.
CARD-PLAYING
Brother
M. W. Merrill referred yesterday to the subject of card-playing. I desire not
to prolong the meeting by going over this subject again, but merely to refer to
it by way of emphasizing, if I can, that which he said. I want to tell you a
circumstance that I heard of. I think the person is in this house who told me,
and I shall therefore be very careful to tell you only what I heard from that
person, for fear I might be charged with overstating matters. This person is
aged, reliable, and a good Latter-day Saint. I am not going to tell you whether
it was a woman or a man; at all events, I shall not tell you if I can help it,
though it may slip out. This person told me that he or she went to Manti to
attend to some Temple work. While at Manti she (laughter) or he was stopping at
a house where a number of other people were stopping who had gone to Manti for
a similar purpose that my informant had gone for. After supper, a number having
gathered together, the question arose, "What shall we do to pass the
time?" And it was determined that the best and most profitable, the most
intellectual and useful expenditure of the time, from then until three o'clock
the next morning, was to sit down at the tables and play cards. A gentleman
whose wife was at a distant settlement, in order that she might be present to
enjoy this game of cards, had sent all the way to her home and invited her to
come by rail and take a hand in it. My informant was invited to play also, but
refused, but was there and witnessed the others' enjoyment until a late hour
and finally retired to bed, but was informed the next day that this party had
kept up their card-playing until three o'clock in the morning.
Here is
an instance of people who have gone to administer in the ordinances of the
House of God for their dead, occupying their time in the worse than idle habit
of playing cards. I say that this was an evil. I say that evil will grow out of
such practices as this; and I say that every Latter-day Saint, whether he goes
to the Temple or stays at home, ought to constitute himself a teacher in
relation to this matter, and set his face like flint against this evil and
pernicious practice. The best you can say of it is that there is no good in it,
except to kill time; and if people have time which they can murder in this
manner, they have more leisure on their hands than ever I have. I call it the
murder of time; and not only so, but the murder of the spirituality of men and
women that engage in such a practice. Its natural tendency is to evil, and not
to good. I asked one person what good there was in it, and I was told,
"Oh, it killed time!" This is the only virtue that I have ever yet
heard in regard to card-playing. I do not signalize card-playing as a
pernicious thing in contradistinction to other practices that simply tend to
consume time, to waste precious moments, and to dull the sensibilities of the
head and the heart. Anything that tends to a morbid desire for that which is
not beneficial is a sin in the sight of God, and it ought to be cried down,
whatever it is. It is no more card-playing than it is checker-playing, if
checker-playing is indulged into the wasting of time. Perhaps the one is as
pernicious as the other, although I have not noticed in my life the same
tendency to evil in playing checkers for amusement as there is in playing
cards. As I understand, it takes four or more to make a good party at card
playing, and they get to cheating one another and practicing fraud in order to
win. You cannot do that in checkers. I know a little about checkers myself. I
protest against every practice that has no better recommendation for it than
the wasting of precious time. I pronounce it wrong. And I say to the Latter-day
Saints that idleness is one of those things set down in the revelations of God
to this Church as evil, which we should not indulge in, "for he that is
idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer," and
"the idler shall not have place in the Church, except he repents and mends
his ways." Card-playing creates idleness, and worse than that. Much might
be said to show you the great danger there is of people who indulge in this
practice being led from step to step until they become gamblers-and worse than
that; for one crime leads to another, and when men get started upon the road of
crime, however small the beginning, they go with accelerated speed the longer
they continue in that path, until they fall finally into utter ruin.
ROUND-DANCING
I am
going to preach another little discourse in regard to round dancing. I have
been out in the country lately, visiting the conferences, and at one place I
understood that the President of the Stake had finally concluded that the
Presidency of the Church had let up with regard to their objection to round
dancing, and he had actually gone and danced in that way himself. Wherever I
have been, the Presidents of Stakes have enquired of me as to what is the wish
of the Presidency of the Church with regard to this practice of round dancing;
for they say that in the parties in Salt Lake City and those held in the
theater, round dancing is all the rage, and "is it possible for us to
prevent this practice here when it prevails so much at headquarters?" The
question is, have the Presidency of the Church let up on this matter, and do
they counsel the people now to round-dance all they please? Now, I do not
suppose that any more evil would grow out of two innocent persons dancing a
waltz (if innocent persons do such a thing), than would out of the playing of a
game of cards. Two or three persons might sit down and play a game of cards and
no evil come out of it, for that once; but if they indulged in it until they
became infatuated with it, then it results in harm and may lead to destruction.
So in relation to round-dancing; people become infatuated with it. It is a
practice, to say the least of it, out of which nothing can possibly come
calculated to ameliorate the condition of mankind or to elevate the moral
standard of men and women. Therefore, the Latter-day Saints ought not to tread
where no good can be found. We ought not to cross the line from our own ground
on to that of the adversary; for when we do we place ourselves in his power and
he will take advantage of us if he can. I think I may safely say here, speaking
as I do in the presence of the authorities of the Church, that the First
Presidency do not encourage, do not endorse, and do not recommend
round-dancing. On the contrary, they deprecate it. They are sorry that some of
our young people desire it and will indulge in it in spite of counsel; and we
hope and pray that the day will come when they will pay stricter attention to
the counsels of men who have experience, and whose only desire is the welfare
of the youth of Zion. We do not give you counsel with a view of curtailing your
legitimate enjoyment. We would rather increase your enjoyment in every proper
way. But this is not something that will add to your enjoyment ultimately,
because the tendency of it is toward passion, lust, and immorality. Some may
call me an old fogy for making this declaration; but I have been young myself,
and have passed through the stages of youth, as many are passing through them
today. I have had an experience perhaps that some of my younger friends have
not; and I say, without fear of successful contradiction, that round-dancing is
an evil, because, if for nothing else, there is no good in it. Further than
that, it is wrong because evil may come out of it, and often very great evil,
too. As a result of this familiar contact of men and women in the dance, their
native modesty, and that respectful regard for each other, and proper decorum
which should exist between men and women, are broken down. They become familiar
with each other's touch and feelings in such a way as to lead on to greater
evil. Therefore, I say it is an evil in Zion. And I think I can say, as
speaking the minds of the Presidency of the Church on this subject, that we
deprecate it, and wish that it did not exist among us, and we would like you to
curtail it as much as you can and if possible stop it. We do not want you to be
unwise in this matter. A skillful horse trainer who has a fractious horse does
not draw the reins tight all at once, but he pulls up gently, guiding and
directing and, so far as possible, steering clear of the obstructions in the
road, until in time he is successful in quieting his fractious animal and
getting it under control. Deal gently with the youth. Act cautiously and warily
with them, and kindly withal; for it is our love for them that causes us to
speak in this way. We want to save and exalt the youth of Zion, and bring them
back into the presence of God. Therefore we talk this way. We say to the
Presidents of Stakes, to the High Councils, to the Bishops, to the presidents
of Seventies and the Seventies, to the High Priests, and to the Elders in Israel,
set an example in these matters that I have referred to, and wield an influence
where you labor that will be felt for good. It is necessary that this should be
done.
SECRET SOCIETIES
There is
another little thing I want to speak upon. It is in relation to a subject that
has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the Presidency, and especially
to my attention while I have been attending the conferences in the outer Stakes
for the last few weeks. Last night, after meeting, a good brother approached me.
I trust he is here, because I want to talk to him. He is an eminent man, in
some respects. He has been on missions, I believe, and has borne many
responsibilities at one time and another in the Church. He put into my hand a
copy of the constitution and by-laws of a certain society which is seeking to
enlist the Latter-day Saints as its members. When he spoke to me about it, I
saw in a moment that he was thoroughly imbued with the idea that to join this
secret association was the proper thing for Latter-day Saints to do. I read it
in his countenance and saw it down deep in his heart. This alarmed me. I have
been alarmed a little about it a good many times, from the representations that
have come to us in relation to this matter. I could read you the principles
laid down in the constitution of this particular association, but I do not wish
to name it, because I wish to make no distinctions, nor to antagonize one
against another. I do not consider one better or worse than another. For my
part, I hold this position: that as for me and my house, we have enlisted to
serve God, and I have come to the conclusion long since that it is impossible
for me to serve God and Mammon. I cannot carry water on both shoulders without
spilling some of it. I cannot wear the yoke of Christ and the yoke of Belial at
the same time, and call the yoke of Christ easy and His burden light. Some of
these articles in this constitution are most excellent. There are no better
contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, simply because they are taken directly
from the Gospel. They are: peace on earth and good will to men, charity,
forgiveness, longsuffering, patience, love unfeigned, kindness one towards
another, every effort to be exerted to prevent brethren from going to law one
with another, and to settle their difficulties between themselves. They have a
chaplain, and a lecturer or preacher, and among other things it is the duty of
the chaplain to be present and open the meetings and officiate in all the
burial services of the members of the association. I suppose that these are
some things that are common to all these secret organizations. It is no harm
for any one to believe in all these good things. President Woodruff has been
preaching these very same principles for some sixty years, and he has at no
time advised you to join a secret association in order that you may be taught
these principles or that you may the better practice them. He has taught that
these are the commandments of God to the people, and that it is their duty to
observe these precepts, and that, too, without taking an oath to become
associated with any secret society. But one of the provisions of this
constitution requires that each member of this secret association shall stand
by the principles of the association unto death. That is pretty strong.
Suppose, for instance, an Elder of the Church has entered into this association
and has taken upon himself this covenant, and something should arise which
should be derogatory to his interests as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, what position would he be in? He would be under the
necessity of either violating his covenants with the Church or the oath that he
had taken in that secret society. He would prove himself in either case a
traitor. Therefore, it is better that we should not mix up with these
entangling alliances. I tell you, in the name of Israel's God, that the
Almighty has established in this Church every principle necessary for the
salvation, for the happiness, prosperity, development and growth, both in
temporal and spiritual things, of the children of God; and we have no need to
go outside to find these. In connection with this, I want to read a word or two
from the revelations of God to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith:
Otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the
truth, that they become blinded and understand not things which are prepared
for them;
Wherefore a commandment I give
unto you, to prepare and organize yourselves by a bond or everlasting covenant
that cannot be broken.
And he who breaketh it shall lose
his office and standing in the church, and shall be delivered over to the
buffetings of Satan until the day of redemption.
Behold, this is the preparation
wherewith I prepare you, and the foundation, and the ensample which I give unto
you, whereby you may accomplish the commandments which are given you,
That through my providence,
notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church
may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world.
This is
the purpose that God had in view in establishing this Church and calling you
from darkness into the marvelous light of the Gospel, that His "church may
stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world," in
which the foundation is laid of every provision necessary to be carried out for
the feeding and clothing of the poor, the protection of the weak, and the
administering of comfort and cheer unto the widows and fatherless, the
destitute and sick. All these provisions have been amply established in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and there is not a soul within the
pale of the Church upon the earth that needs to go and seek succor or comfort
from the world, whereby he enters into covenant and agreement with the world
that he may find protection, or assistance, or means for his burial. Cannot the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bury its own dead who unfortunately
lack the means for their own burial? Are we so poor that we cannot look after
our members under such circumstances? Have we ever deserted the widow and the
fatherless when they have made application for assistance? Have we turned our
back upon the poor, the imprisoned, and upon those that were afflicted, when
they were faithful and worthy members in the Church? Never, to my knowledge;
and we never will. It is wrong to join these associations. By doing it you
place upon yourselves burdens and you put bands around your necks by which
others will lead you whithersoever they will; and you are no longer free to
serve God as men and women ought to be who are made free by the liberty of the
Gospel of Christ.
PERSONALITY OF GOD
I have
one more subject in mind, though it may be unnecessary to speak of it before
this congregation, or to dignify those who are in error by mentioning them
here; but when you take into consideration the fact that these very men who are
advocating error and false doctrine, and finding sympathizers in the Church,
are Elders in Israel, men who have been on missions, you may see the propriety
of referring to them here. They have got their thoughts fixed on one idea,
which they have followed to an extreme, and they have formulated a plan by
which they suppose they have defined how God can be three Persons and yet one
Person, and they tell you all about it by publishing a series of pamphlets.
Taking the scriptures for a standard, they try to show that God the Father, God
the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are one Person, as well as being one in
attributes. If you will indulge me just a few moments, I desire to call your
attention to a few things that are written with regard to this matter, and then
I trust there will be no necessity of talking about it any more. Those who are
indulging in this fallacy ought to be guided by the Holy Spirit, by common
sense and by the judgment of men who have had experience in the Church, and
forsake their error and folly, call in their pernicious publications, and cease
to try to lead away the unwary and the ignorant. In the first place, I will
read a few words from the Second Lecture on Faith in the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants:
We here observe that God is the only supreme governor and
independent being in whom all fullness and perfection dwell; who is omnipotent,
omnipresent [that is, not in person, but by His power and spirit], and
omniscient; without beginning of days or end of life; and that in him every
good gift and every good principle dwell; and that he is the Father of lights;
in him the principle of faith dwells independently, and he is the object in
whom the faith of all other rational and accountable beings center for life and
salvation.
Again, in
the Seventh Lecture on Faith:
All these sayings put together give as clear an account of
the state of the glorified saints as language could give-the works that Jesus
had done they were to do, and greater works than those which he had done among
them should they do, and that because he went to the Father. He does not say
that they should do these works in time; but they should do greater work,
because he went to the Father. He says in the 24th verse: "Father, I will
that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may
behold my glory." These sayings, taken in connection, make it very plain
that the greater works which those that believed on his name were to do were to
be done in eternity, where he was going and where they should behold his glory.
He had said, in another part of his prayer, that he desired of his Father that
those who believed on him should be one in him, as he and the Father were one
in each other. "Neither pray I for these (the Apostles) alone, but for
them also who shall believe on me through their words, that they all may be
one;" that is, they who believed on him through the apostles' words, as
well as the apostles themselves, "that they all may be one, as thou,
Father, art in me and I in thee; that they also may be one in us."
Here is
the language of the Savior himself, quoted by the Prophet Joseph, distinctly
setting forth a principle that your minds cannot be blinded upon, if you will
only open your eyes and your understanding to this saying. How can the Apostles
become one in Christ as Christ and God are one, if Christ and God are one
person? Can the Twelve Apostles become one person? And how can all they that
believe on the words of the Apostles also become one with the Apostles in
Christ as Christ is one with God, if God and Christ are one person? Of course,
the absurdity appears at once. I do not need to multiply words in regard to this
matter, because every child ought to know better than that because Christ is
God because of the Spirit and the Son, because of the flesh, therefore that He
and the Father are one person, or body, and the Holy Ghost is one in them, and
they three are only one being. Strange as it may seem to you, this is the
doctrine advocated by men who profess to be Elders in the Church.
In
conclusion upon this matter, I want to read the positive word of the Lord, that
cannot be denied. You may twist the scriptures as you please; but if you
believe the truth and are willing to be guided by it, you will have to come
back to this that I shall read to you, and then it will clear up all mystery
from your minds with relation to the personality of the Father and the Son. Joseph
Smith, on April 2nd, 1843, declared as follows:
The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as
man's; the Son also.
Then how
are you going to get them into one person? President Cannon says this agrees
with what Paul says. Of course; it agrees with all the scriptures of divine
truth, and with every manifestation of God to man since the beginning of the
world to the present time. Then the Prophet says:
But the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but
is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.
When
Joseph Smith, a boy of 14 years of age, went out into the woods to ask the Lord
to guide him into the right church, he knelt down and prayed, and after he was
delivered from the power of the adversary, who tried to destroy him, two
heavenly personages appeared before him. One of these personages, pointing to
the other, and calling Joseph by name, said, "This is my beloved Son; hear
him." Here were two distinct persons-the Father and the Son, each with a body
of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Father bearing testimony of the
Son, not only to Joseph Smith, but through Joseph Smith to all the world of
mankind. These are truths, and you need not care what you read about the Father
and the Son being one. Of course, they are one-in attributes. They are one in
love, one in knowledge, one in mercy, one in power, one in all things that make
them united and powerful, glorious and great, because in them is perfected all
truth, all virtue, and all righteousness. But they are two persons, as much as
my father and I are two persons. Yet there is unto us but one living and true
God. Paul says:
There be gods many, and lords many, but to us there is but
one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
And Jesus
Christ says:
This is
life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent.
That
alone should be enough to dispel from the mind of every intelligent man and
woman the fallacy that the Father and the Son are not two beings.
Let us
seek for the knowledge of life eternal. Let us work out our salvation in fear
and trembling before our Father, and be faithful to the end. Remember that you
have enlisted in this work for time and for all eternity. There is no backing
out of it, no falling away from it, except in sin, and then comes the penalty
of transgression. But if you expect exaltation; if you expect fathers and
mothers, brothers and sisters, kindred and friends; if you expect glory,
intelligence and endless lives, you must get them in God's work; for nowhere
outside can you get them. Therefore, let every sympathy and interest be centered
in this cause. Let all your love go out toward this cause, and this alone. Let
the world go. Let it have its secret combinations, and let it have its own way;
but let us preach the Gospel to them and show them a better way, and that men
can only become one when they are Christ's. They can never be united until they
do become Christ's; but when they become Christ's, then they can be one with
the Father and with the Son, as the Father and the Son are one. God grant that
we may come to this knowledge, and be faithful to the end. Amen.
PRESIDENT WOODRUFF
expressed the hope that if mothers brought small children here tomorrow that they would take seats near the doors, so that they could leave the building, if the little ones should begin to cry. It was desirable that all should hear what would be said, as matters of great importance would be presented.
The choir sang:
Let the mountains shout for joy.
after which the congregation joined in singing the Doxology.
Benediction by Elder Moses Thatcher.
_____
[8 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 48:512, 4/14/94, p 4]
THIRD DAY.
Sunday, April 8th.
The choir and congregation sang:
The spirit of God like a
fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth.
The visions and blessings of old are returning, And angels are coming to visit
the earth.
Prayer by Elder John Nicholson.
Singing by the choir:
Earth, with her ten thousand
flowers, Air, with all its beams and showers
Heaven's infinite expanse, Sea's resplendent countenance,
All around and all above Bear this record, God is love.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
addressed the Conference. After he had made a few preliminary remarks upon the necessity of the servants of God being influenced by the power of His Spirit in their ministrations, he announced that President George Q. Cannon would read from the 128th section of the book of Doctrine and Covenants. This revelation treats upon the power of the Priesthood to bind on earth and it is bound in heaven; also of the means of salvation or redemption of the living and the dead. After the reading President Woodruff resumed his remarks and delivered an important and instructive discourse, throwing additional light upon the process, under the law of adoption, by which the children and the fathers are to be united and bound together by indissoluble ties The method of procedure for the accomplishment of this great purpose had been manifested by the Lord to the President and his counselors in the First Presidency, and also the Twelve Apostles had received a witness on the same subject. The presidents of the Temples and their associates were to be henceforward governed by the principles of adoption enunciated by President Woodruff in their labors in that department. The subject is too important to admit of the presentation of a mere synopsis of the discourse in which it was embodied.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 48:541, 4/21/94, p 1; CD 4:67-76; UG&HM 13:145]
I feel
thankful for the privilege of meeting with so many of the Latter-day Saints
this morning. In order to present my position before the Saints I wish to say
that I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
over sixty years, a member of the Quorum of the Apostles fifty-five years, and
the President of the Church for a short time. During all these years, and in
all my travels, I have never seen a moment when I have had the power to preach
the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to administer in any of the ordinances of the
House of the Lord, acceptably to God or to myself, only by the assistance of
the Holy Ghost; and I do not know of any other man that could ever do this.
Even the Son of God, in referring to His work, said: "I do nothing of
myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." So it has
been with all the prophets and patriarchs in every age of the world; they have
had to be assisted by the power of God. I occupy that position to-day before
this assembly. Therefore, as the Lord commanded us not to speak only as we are
moved upon by the Holy Ghost, I desire that, and in order to obtain it I want
the prayers and faith of the Latter-day Saints.
I have
some things resting upon me that I wish to present before the Latter-day
Saints, and in order to do this I will call upon President George Q. Cannon to
read from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants concerning the subject which I
wish to speak upon.
President
Cannon read from D&C 128, as follows:-
It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk
of-a power which records or binds on earth, and binds in heaven. Nevertheless
in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the
Priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has
always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of
the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful
record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be
annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful
saying! Who can hear it?
And again, for the precedent,
Matthew xvi: 18,19, "And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter: and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it; and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven."
Now the great and grand secret of
the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying
before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to
whom these keys are given, there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of
facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the
dead as for the living.
Herein is glory and honor, and
immortality and eternal life. The ordinance of baptism by water, to be immersed
therein in order to answer to the likeness of the dead, that one principle
might accord with the other. To be immersed in the water and come forth out of
the water is in the likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth
out of their graves; hence this ordinance was instituted to form a relationship
with the ordinance of baptism for the dead, being in likeness of the dead.
Consequently the baptismal font
was instituted as a simile of the grave, and was commanded to be in a place
underneath where the living are wont to assemble, to show forth the living and
the dead; and that all things may have their likeness, and that they may accord
one with another; that which is earthly conforming to that which is heavenly,
as Paul hath declared, 1 Corinthians xv: 46, 47 and 48:
"Howbeit that was not first
which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is
spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord,
from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is
the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly." And as are the
records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so
also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the sealing and binding
power, and, in one sense of the word, the keys of the kingdom which consist in
the key of knowledge.
And now, my dearly beloved
brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation
to the dead, and the living, that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining
to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary, and essential to our
salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers "that they without us cannot
be made perfect;" neither can we without our dead be made perfect.
And now, in relation to the
baptism for the dead, I will give you another quotation of Paul, 1 Corinthians
xv:29, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the
dead rise not at all; why are they then baptized for the dead?"
And again, in connection with this
quotation, I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his
eye fixed on the restoration of the Priesthood, the glories to be revealed in
the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects
belonging to the everlasting gospel, viz., the baptism for the dead; for
Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th, "Behold, I will send you
Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart
of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse."
I might have rendered a plainer
translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it
stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten
with a curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between the
fathers and the children, upon some subject or other, and behold what is that
subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made
perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we
be made perfect, without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is
necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness of times;
which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and
perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and
glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the
present time; and not only this, but those things which never have been
revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise
and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this the
dispensation of the fullness of times.
Now, what do we hear in the gospel
which we have received? "A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from
heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a
voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy; how
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of
good things; and they say unto Zion, behold! thy God reigneth. As the dews of
Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them."
And again, what do we hear? Glad
tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfillment
of the prophets-the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness
of Fayette, Seneca County, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the
book. The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil
when he appeared as an angel of light. The voice of Peter, James, and John in
the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville, Broome
County, on the Susquehanna River, declaring themselves as possessing the keys
of the kingdom, and the dispensation of the fulness of times.
And again, the voice of God in the
chamber of old father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca County, and at sundry times,
and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the voice of Michael, the arch-angel;
the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or
Adam, down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights,
their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their
Priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and
there a little-giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come,
confirming our hope.
Resuming,
President Woodruff said:-
Thus you
have before you the subject which is resting upon us, and which we wish to
present to the Latter-day Saints. Let me say that age has very little to do
with revelation. In the early age of the world, old father Adam, three years
previous to his death -- he being nearly one thousand years of age -- called
together his posterity in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and he stood upon his
feet for hours, clothed with the power of God and the revelations of Heaven,
and blessed his posterity, some seven of whom, each representing a generation,
were High Priests. Among them were Enoch and Methuselah, both great men of
their day and generation. He prophesied upon them what should transpire with
their posterity unto the end of time. His old age did not have any effect
whatever upon the revelations of God to him. Joseph Smith, when fourteen years
of age, while calling upon God in the wilderness, had the heavens opened unto
him. Both the Father and the Son presented themselves unto him in the clouds of
heaven, and the Father said, "This is my beloved Son; hear him." The
age of man is very short indeed in this day to what it was in ancient days. Men
anciently lived to a very great age. When four or five hundred years old they
took wives, begat children, and raised up posterity. To-day our age is limited
to something like three score years and ten.
I wish to
say to the Latter-day Saints that we live in a very important generation. We
are blessed with power and authority, holding the Holy Priesthood by the
commandment of God, to stand upon the earth and redeem both the living and the
dead. If we did not do it, we should be damned and cut off from the earth, and
the God of Israel would raise up a people who would do it. The Lord would not
permit me to occupy this position one day of my life, unless I was susceptible
to the Holy Spirit and to the revelations of God. It is too late in the day for
this Church to stand without revelation. Not only the President of the Church
should possess this gift and give it unto the people, but his counselors and
the Apostles and all men that bear the Holy Priesthood, if they magnify their
calling, should possess that gift for themselves and to assist them in their
duties, although they may not be called to give revelations to lead and direct
the Church. The spirit of revelation belongs to the Priesthood.
But to
come to the subject before us. Perhaps it may be said by the inquiring or the
objecting mind, What have you to say about redeeming the dead, or the work of
the Temples of our God, that is not already revealed? I will say this: When the
Prophet Joseph had this revelation from heaven, what did he do? There are
witnesses here of what he did. He never stopped till he got the fullness of the
word of God to him concerning the baptism for the dead. But before doing so he
went into the Mississippi River, and so did I, as well as others, and we each
baptized a hundred for the dead, without a man to record a single act that we
performed. Why did we do it? Because of the feeling of joy that we had, to
think that we in the flesh could stand and redeem our dead. We did not wait to
know what the result of this would be, or what the whole of it should be.
Finally the Lord told the Prophet: "When any of you are baptized for your
dead, let there be a recorder, and let him be eye witness of your baptisms; let
him hear with his ears, that he may testify of a truth, saith the Lord; that in
all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven; whatsoever you bind on earth,
may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed in
heaven." That was the beginning of this work.
Joseph
Smith, instead of living to be nearly a thousand years of age as Adam did,
lived to be about thirty-eight years of age. He brought forth the record of the
stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim -- the history of the ancient
inhabitants of this continent. By the power of God he translated that, and it
has been published in many languages. Besides this, he organized the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints upon the foundation of apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone. Men were ordained to the Priesthood
and sent forth, from the various occupations of life, to carry this Gospel to
the world. God informed Joseph Smith that he was called to prune the vineyard
once more for the last time before the coming of the Son of Man. Since that,
thousands of Elders of Israel have been sent into the world to preach the
Gospel. Joseph Smith did all this during the fifteen years he held the
Priesthood. Let any man read the revelations in the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants, which were given through him during the little time he spent here in
the flesh. It is one of the greatest records that any man ever gave to the
human family. Not only this, but he organized the endowments and did a great
deal of other work. Who could expect him, during the short time he lived in the
flesh, to do more than he did? I received my endowments from under his hands.
He brought forth all these ordinances that have been given unto the Latter-day
Saints. In fact, it is a marvel and a wonder that he performed as much as he
did.
I want to
say, as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that
we should now go on and progress. We have not got through revelation. We have
not got through the work of God. But at this period we want to go on and
fulfill this commandment of God given through Malachi-that the Lord should send
Elijah the prophet, "and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite
the earth with a curse." Ye sons of men, I say unto you, in the name of
Israel's God, those very principles that God has revealed are what have stayed
the judgments of the Almighty on the earth. Were it not for these principles,
you and I would not be here to-day. We have had prophets and apostles.
President Young, who followed President Joseph Smith, led us here. He organized
these Temples and carried out the purposes of his calling and office. He laid
the foundation of this great Temple on this block, as well as others in the
mountains of Israel. What for? That we might carry out these principles of
redemption for the dead. He accomplished all that God required at his hands.
But he did not receive all the revelations that belong to this work; neither
did President Taylor, nor has Wilford Woodruff. There will be no end to this
work until it is perfected.
I want to
lay before you what there is for us to do at this present time; and in doing
this I desire particularly the attention of President Lorenzo Snow, of the Salt
Lake Temple; President M. W. Merrill, of the Logan Temple; President J. D. T.
McAllister, of the Manti Temple; and President D. H. Cannon, of the St. George
Temple, and those associated with them. You have acted up to all the light and
knowledge that you have had; but you have now something more to do than what
you have done. We have not fully carried out those principles in fulfillment of
the revelations of God to us, in sealing the hearts of the fathers to the
children and the children to the fathers. I have not felt satisfied, neither
did President Taylor, neither has any man since the Prophet Joseph who has
attended to the ordinance of adoption in the temples of our God. We have felt
that there was more to be revealed upon this subject than we had received.
Revelations were given to us in the St. George Temple, which President Young
presented to the Church of God. Changes were made there, and we still have more
changes to make, in order to satisfy our Heavenly Father, satisfy our dead and
ourselves. I will tell you what some of them are. I have prayed over this
matter, and my brethren have. We have felt, as President Taylor said, that we
have got to have more revelation concerning sealing under the law of adoption.
Well, what are these changes? One of them is the principle of adoption. In the
commencement of adopting men and women in the Temple at Nauvoo, a great many
persons were adopted to different men who were not of the lineage of their
fathers, and there was a spirit manifested by some in that work that was not of
God. Men would go out and electioneer and labor with all their power to get men
adopted to them. One instance I will name here: A man went around Nauvoo asking
every man he could, saying, "You come and be adopted to me, and I shall
stand at the head of the kingdom, and you will be there with me." Now,
what is the truth about this? Those who were adopted to that man, if they go
with him, will have to go where he is. He was a participator in that horrible
scene -- the Mountain Meadow massacre. Men have tried to lay that to President
Young. I was with President Young when the massacre was first reported to him.
President Young was perfectly horrified at the recital of it, and wept over it.
He asked: "Was there any white man had anything to do with that?" The
reply was No; and by the representations then made to him he was misinformed
concerning the whole transaction. I will say here, and call heaven and earth to
witness, that President Young, during his whole life, never was the author of
the shedding of the blood of any of the human family; and when the books are
opened in the day of judgment these things will be proven to heaven and earth.
Perhaps I had not ought to enter into these things, but it came to me. Men are
in danger sometimes in being adopted to others, until they know who they are
and what they will be. Now, what are the feelings of Israel? They have felt
that they wanted to be adopted to somebody. President Young was not satisfied
in his mind with regard to the extent of this matter; President Taylor was not.
When I went before the Lord to know who I should be adopted to (we were then
being adopted to prophets and apostles), the Spirit of God said to me,
"Have you not a father, who begot you?" "Yes, I have."
"Then why not honor him? Why not be adopted to him?" "Yes,"
says I, "that is right." I was adopted to my father, and should have
had my father sealed to his father, and so on back; and the duty that I want
every man who presides over a temple to see performed from this day henceforth
and forever, unless the Lord Almighty commands otherwise, is, let every man be
adopted to his father. When a man receives the endowments, adopt him to his
father; not to Wilford Woodruff, nor to any other man outside the lineage of
his fathers. That is the will of God to this people. I want all men who preside
over these temples in these mountains of Israel to bear this in mind. What
business have I to take away the rights of the lineage of any man? What right
has any man to do this? No; I say let every man be adopted to his father; and
then you will do exactly what God said when he declared He would send Elijah
the prophet in the last days. Elijah the prophet appeared unto Joseph Smith and
told him that the day had come when this principle must be carried out. Joseph
Smith did not live long enough to enter any further upon these things. His soul
was wound up with this work before he was martyred for the word of God and
testimony of Jesus Christ. He told us that there must be a welding link of all
dispensations and of the work of God from one generation to another. This was
upon his mind more than most any other subject that was given to him. In my
prayers the Lord revealed to me, that it was my duty to say to all Israel to
carry this principle out, and in fulfillment of that revelation I lay it before
this people. I say to all men who are laboring in these temples, carry out this
principle, and then we will make one step in advance of what we have had
before. Myself and counselors conversed upon this and were agreed upon it, and
afterwards we laid it before all the Apostles who were here (two were
absent-Brothers Thatcher and Lund, the latter being in England), and the Lord
revealed to every one of these men-and they would bear testimony to it if they
were to speak-that that was the word of the Lord to them. I never met with
anything in my life in this Church that there was more unity upon than there
was upon that principle. They all feel right about it, and that it is our duty.
That is one principle that should be carried out from this time henceforth.
"But," says one, "suppose we come along to a man who perhaps is
a murderer." Well, if he is a murderer, drop him out and connect with the
next man beyond him. But the Spirit of God will be with us in this matter. We
want the Latter-say Saints from this time to trace their genealogies as far as
they can, and to be sealed to their fathers and mothers. Have children sealed
to their parents, and run this chain through as far as you can get it. When you
get to the end, let the last man be adopted to Joseph Smith, who stands at the
head of the dispensation. This is the will of the Lord to this people, and I
think when you come to reflect upon it you will find it to be true.
Another
principle connected with this subject I want to talk about. A man has married a
woman, and they have a family of children. The man lays down in death without
ever hearing the Gospel. His wife afterwards hears the Gospel and embraces it.
She comes to the temple and she wants to be sealed to her husband, who was a
good man. The feeling has been to deny this and to say, "No, he was not in
the Church, and you cannot be sealed to your husband." Many a woman's
heart has ached because of this, and as a servant of God I have broken that
chain a good while ago. I have laid before every woman this principle and let
her have her choice. Why deprive a woman of being sealed to her husband because
he never heard the Gospel? What do any of us know with regard to him? Will he
not hear the Gospel and embrace it in the spirit world? Look at Joseph Smith.
Not one of Joseph Smith's fathers or brothers or sisters were in the covenant
when he received the keys of the kingdom of God and translated the Book of
Mormon. They afterwards received it. Every brother and sister that he had, and
his father and his father's brothers, except Uncle Jesse Smith, embraced the
Gospel. Now, suppose that any of these had died before they had the opportunity
of entering into the covenant with the Lord through the Gospel, as his brother
Alvin did; they would have been in the same position as Alvin, concerning whom
the Lord, when Joseph saw him in the celestial kingdom, said:
All who
have died without a knowledge of this Gospel, who would have received it if
they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of
God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would
have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom, for I,
the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire
of their hearts.
So it
will be with your fathers. There will be very few, if any, who will not accept
the Gospel. Jesus, while His body lay in the tomb, went and preached to the
spirits in prison, who were destroyed in the days of Noah. After so long an
imprisonment, in torment, they doubtless gladly embraced the Gospel, and if so
they will be saved in the kingdom of God. The fathers of this people will
embrace the Gospel. It is my duty to honor my father who begot me in the flesh.
It is your duty to do the same. When you do this, the Spirit of God will be
with you. And we shall continue this work, the Lord adding light to that which
we have already received. I have had friends adopted to me. We all have, more
or less. But I have had peculiar feelings about it, especially lately. There
are men in this congregation who wish to be adopted to me. I say to them
to-day, if they can hear me, Go and be adopted to your fathers, and save your
fathers, and stand at the head of your father's house, as Saviors upon Mount Zion,
and God will bless you in this. This is what I want to say, and what I want
carried out in our temples.
The
Almighty is with this people. We shall have all the revelations that we will
need, if we will do our duty and obey the commandments of God. When any of us
get so that we cannot receive these revelations the Lord will take us out of
the way and put someone in our places who can. I am here to-day, on borrowed
time, I may say. I would have been in the spirit world to-day, mingling with
the spirits in the presence of God, had it not been for the cry of this people
for my life when I lay at the gates of death a year ago. I have been preserved
by the power of God. How long I shall live I do not know. It does not make any
difference to me. But while I do live I want to do my duty. I want the
Latter-day Saints to do their duty. Here is the Holy Priesthood in these
mountains. Their responsibility is great and mighty. The eyes of God and all
the holy prophets are watching over us. This is the great dispensation that has
been spoken of ever since the world began. We are gathered together in these
mountains of Israel by the power and commandment of God. We are doing the work
of God. This is not our home, as far as mortality is concerned. We shall soon
pass away. But while here let us fill our mission. I want to say to Brother L.
Snow, Brother M. W. Merrill, Brother J. D. T. McAllister and Brother D. H.
Cannon, and all associated with you, carry these things before the Lord and see
for yourselves. If you are not satisfied with this order of things, go and ask
the Lord about it, and the Holy Ghost will reveal to you the truth of these
principles.
This is
all I ought to say at this time perhaps upon this subject. I am glad to meet
with you. I have had a great anxiety over this matter. I have had a great
desire that I might live to deliver these principles to the Latter-day Saints,
for they are true. They are one step forward in the work of the ministry and in
the work of the endowments in these temples of our God. When you get to the
last man in the lineage, as I said before, we will adopt that man to the
Prophet Joseph, and then the Prophet Joseph will take care of himself with
regard to where he goes. A man may say, "I am an Apostle, or I am a High
Priest, or I am an Elder in Israel, and if I am adopted to my father, will it
take any honor from me?" I would say not. If Joseph Smith was sealed to
his father, with whom many of you were acquainted, what effect will that have
upon his exaltation and glory? None at all. Joseph Smith will hold the keys of
this dispensation to the endless ages of eternity. It is the greatest
dispensation God ever gave to man, and he was ordained before the world was to
stand in the flesh and organize this work. He was martyred for the word of God
and testimony of Jesus, and when he comes in the clouds of heaven he will wear
a martyr's crown. Those of you who stand here -- I do not care whether you are
Apostles or what you are -- by honoring your fathers you will not take any
honor from your heads; you will hold the keys of the salvation of your father's
house, as Joseph Smith does. You will lose nothing by honoring your fathers and
redeeming your dead. It is a glorious work. When I returned from England in
1841 and heard Joseph Smith give this revelation, that we had power to redeem
our dead, one of the first things I thought was, "I have a mother in the
spirit world." My father was in the flesh. I baptized and ordained him and
brought him up to Zion where he is buried. But I never saw my mother to know
her. She died when I was an infant. I had power to seal my mother to my father.
Was not that a satisfaction? It was to me. I have gone to work with the
assistance of my friends and redeemed my father's and my mother's house. When I
inquired of the Lord how I could redeem my dead, while I was in St. George, not
having any of my family there, the Lord told me to call upon the Saints in St.
George and let them officiate for me in that temple, and it should be
acceptable unto Him. Brother McAllister and the brethren and sisters there have
assisted me in this work, and I felt to bless them with every feeling in my
heart. This is a revelation to us. We can help one another in these matters, if
we have not relatives sufficient to carry this on, and it will be acceptable
unto the Lord.
Brethren
and sisters, lay these things to heart. Let us go on with our records, fill
them up righteously before the Lord, and carry out this principle, and the
blessings of God will attend us, and those who are redeemed will bless us in
days to come. I pray God that as a people our eyes may be opened to see, our
ears to hear, and our hearts to understand the great and mighty work that rests
upon our shoulders, and that the God of heaven requires at our hands. Great and
glorious are these principles which God has revealed to us concerning the
redemption of our dead. I tell you when the prophets and apostles go to preach
to those who are shut up in prison, and who have not received the Gospel,
thousands of them will there embrace the Gospel. They know more in that world
than they do here. I pray God that as a people we may have power to magnify our
callings in this great and mighty dispensation while we dwell in the flesh,
that when our work is done we may be satisfied with this life and this work.
This is my prayer and the desire of my heart, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
followed on the same theme, and showed the beauty, power and efficacy of the Gospel, by which, through the authority of the priesthood, all the endearing relations of life were made eternal, because they were by that mean cemented under the law and the direction of the Almighty.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 48:544, 4/21/94, p 4; CD 4:76-81]
_____
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
I am sure
that every Latter-day Saint who has heard the announcement made by President
Woodruff will feel thankful in his heart for that which the Lord has made
manifest through him. This subject of adoption is one that has engaged the
attention of the Saints, to a greater or less extent, for some time. It was
revealed by the Prophet Joseph that there is a principle of adoption by which
one generation will be sealed to, and connected with, another, and in his words
which have been read he foreshadows the welding together, by this principle of
adoption, of the various dispensations. It is a revelation that the Lord gave
through him. He said:-
And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife,
and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is
not by me, or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit
of promise, through him who I have anointed and appointed unto this power-then
it is not valid, neither of force when they are out of the world, because they
are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of
the world, it cannot be received there, because the angels and the Gods are
appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my
glory, for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.
On this
account, marriages of the children of men are only binding as between
themselves while the covenant lasts. Our fathers made their covenants with our
mothers for time, and when time ended of course the covenant and the union
ended also. Now, the Holy Spirit revealed that this being the case, every man
and woman, and every child born as the offspring of these unions, would stand separately,
unless a new bond was formed. Without this should be done, there would be no
binding link to unite woman to man and children to parents; for all the
obligations and all the covenants had terminated; and, therefore, members of
families would each stand separately, without any connection of a binding
character between themselves. Of course, there was what we call the bond of
blood existing (there is no blood, however, in resurrected beings); or, in
other words, there was the bond that arose through kindred. That would remain.
The Lord has taught us, however, that this is not all that is required; that
there must be an authority exercised by which parents should be bound together,
and then their children bound to them. We have been taught also that through
the revelation of the Priesthood and its bestowal upon men, and the exercise of
that Priesthood in sealing wives to husbands, the children begotten in these
marriages are born, as we phrase it, in the covenant, that is, they are
recognized by the Lord as legitimate children of the covenant. He having
recognized the marriage of their parents, having given the authority to man on
the earth to bind on earth, and that bond should be sealed in heaven. In this
way the Latter-day Saints are being bound together in the new and everlasting
covenant, wives being sealed to their husbands, and children, the offspring of
these marriages, being born in the covenant, under the blessing and the
recognition by the Almighty of the bond that exists between their parents. Thus
you see that there is a new order of things growing up among us. It is not
necessary, where parents are thus sealed together by the authority of the Holy
Priesthood for time and for eternity, that their children should be adopted or
be sealed to them. They are legitimate heirs of the Priesthood and of the
blessings of the new and everlasting covenant. But not so with those who have
been born outside of this covenant. There has to be some ordinance performed in
order to make them legitimate; and that ordinance, the Prophet Joseph revealed,
was the ordinance of adoption; that is, that which covers the ordinance or law,
although we do not use the word adoption when we seal children to parents; we
call that sealing. But to illustrate the principle and explain the law, the
word "adoption" is used. You will find it frequently in the
Scriptures, and it has become a subject among us that has been very much
thought about; and every man and woman, who has wished to do all that is
required of them in order to obtain all the blessings that can be had through
obedience to the commands of God, has desired to understand something about the
principle of adoption.
We are
told in the words that were read in our hearing that one dispensation must be
linked to another, or, in other words, that the dispensations given to the
children of men must be united; that we must all be united to our father Adam;
that there must be a bond of union between us and our great parent; and that
that will be done through the ordinance of adoption where children are not born
in the covenant.
Hence it
is that it falls to our duty to trace up our lineage; and, as has been
beautifully explained this morning by President Woodruff, it is our duty to be
sealed to our parents, that our lineage may be preserved; that we may preserve
our families in direct descent, and trace them back, ascending lineally until
we reach, if it be possible, our ancestors who held the everlasting Priesthood,
and who were either born in the covenant or who were sealed to their parents
under the law of adoption when the Priesthood was upon the earth. This has to
be done by this generation and their successors. It is the labor devolving upon
us as a people to perform this. The Prophet Joseph revealed this, but he died
before it was fully explained.
When
President Young died, the St. George Temple was the only one finished, and it
had barely been dedicated when he passed away. There is not a doubt in my mind
that, had he lived, his mind would have been directed to this great subject and
he would have inquired of the Lord to know that which was right; for in the
minds of many there has been a feeling of doubt in regard to this principle of
adoption as it was being practiced among us. I well remember myself in my
boyhood days that which President Woodruff has referred to-the spirit that was
manifested by many at the dedication of the temple at Nauvoo when the
ordinances were administered there. Some men though to build up kingdoms to
themselves; they appeared to think that by inducing men and women to be adopted
into their families they were adding to their own glory. From that day until
the present, I have never thought of this subject of adoption without having a
certain amount of fear concerning it.
There is
nothing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to disunion. There is no true
principle of the Gospel that will produce division. There is no true principle
of the Gospel that will separate this people and divide them. And this
revelation that God has given to His servant, the President of our Church,
removes all the danger which seemed to threaten us through an imperfect
understanding of the manner in which the law of adoption should be carried out.
To
illustrate this point, let me suppose that the First Presidency of this Church
were to seek to build up families for themselves from among this people, each
one seeking to have men and women sealed to him in order that he might have a
large following; and suppose each of the Twelve Apostles was to do the same;
and suppose the High Priests and the brethren officiating in the temples were
to do the same, what would be the result? You can see at once that in a little
time we would be divided into tribes and clans, each man having his own
following, and each following looking to the man to whom they had been adopted
for counsel and for guidance, and in this way the governing authority of the
Holy Priesthood in our midst would be divided and lessened. Who can not
understand the danger there would be under such a condition of affairs. But how
to obviate it, how to remove it so that it should no longer exist! God has
removed it by making it plain that it is the duty of every man to be sealed to
his father, where his father is not a man that has proved entirely unworthy.
And when such a case arises-which will be very seldom-we have the man in our
midst who has the keys of the Priesthood and unto whom this question can be
submitted for him to decide what should be done.
My
brethren and sisters, I have this belief concerning us: that it was arranged
before we came here how we should come, and through what lineage we should
come. We were not born of the seed of Ham; we were not born of some
questionable race; but as the Lord has taught us in the eighty-sixth section of
the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, our Priesthood has been hid with God. That
section says:-
Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the
Priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers,
For ye are lawful heirs, according
to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God;
Therefore your life and the
Priesthood hath remained and must needs remain through you and your lineage,
until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy
prophets since the world began.
I am as
convinced that it was predestined before I was born that I should come through
my father as I am that I stand here. And if God chose to give to Wilford
Woodruff's father the honor of begetting him, and it was so arranged before
they were born, who shall step in and deprive him of the honor which God gave
to him, and give it to somebody else? Reflect upon it and you will see that it
would lead to endless confusion if this were done. We would be broken up in
families and in our lineage, and there would be no distinction, consequently it
would result in great confusion. Paul says, "that in the dispensation of
the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him; in whom also we
have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him
who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." I believe we
were predestined to come here. I believe that it was arranged that we should
come here as we have done. No doubt when we trace our ancestors back, we will
find that they trod in muddy places. We shall find that there was wickedness
among them. There can be little doubt about this, because they were human
beings; they were exposed to temptation and to sin. Nevertheless, that was the
arrangement; and when we meet with cases about which there will be question, we
can then inquire of the Lord concerning them, and whether it would be right to
continue the sealing of the children to them, and through them to somebody
else, or whether there shall be a break in the link; for we shall all be linked
together as a chain. One generation will be linked to another by the power and
authority of the Holy Priesthood until we get back to the time when the
Priesthood was upon the earth, and when the authority to administer these
ordinances was among men in former times.
Another
thing that what we have heard to-day will effect. There has been a disposition
manifested among our people, to some extent, for some men and women to gather
up all the names of families they could find, whether they were related or not,
and perform ordinances for them. I am a believer in this when it does not
interfere with the rights of heirship. We should do all we can for those for
whom we have friendship, or to whom we are attached in any way, and who have no
living representatives that we know of in the Church. But you can see the
advantage of pursuing now the course that is pointed out by the word of God to
us. It will make everyone careful to obtain the connection, and to get the
names properly of the sons and of the daughters of men, to have them sealed to
their parents. It will draw the line fairly. It will define the lineage
clearly. "But," says one, "that may take a long time."
Well, we have got a thousand years to do it in. We need not be in such hurry as
to create confusion. The Lord will give us time enough to do it all; and when
we have gone as far as appears possible, He will give to us opportunities that,
at the present time, we are ignorant of; and we will find that everything will
be made plain, and each man will trace his genealogy clear back, and we will
know our connection, and what to do in relation to these matters for the Lord
will reveal it to us.
My
brethren and sisters, suppose that each of us should seek some great man in the
Church to be sealed to. For instance, we would like to be sealed to the
President of the Church, because it would be a great honor to be adopted to
him, and we think, "well, that man is much better than my father. I would
rather be adopted to him than to be sealed to my father. I do not think very
much of my father or my mother." Now, I think, when we feel that way, that
we are, to a certain extent, despising the arrangement which the Lord has made.
We should not despise our origin. On the contrary, we should seek to preserve
it, and honor those who have given us birth.
It always
has seemed to me, in reflecting upon this, that the Prophet Joseph honored his
father who begot him; yet Joseph was the man chosen by the Almighty to stand at
the head of the entire people of this dispensation. We all have to look to him.
Every Apostle, and every great man in the Church, must of necessity turn his
eyes toward the Prophet of God, whom He chose to lay the foundation of this
work. You don't find anything in Joseph's life nor in his history, as it is
recorded, that would give the least idea that he thought himself of so superior
a nature that he could not honor his father and mother. In fact, I remember
well the Prophet, in speaking about the sepulchre that he had prepared near the
temple-block, describing the joy that he would have in rising from the dead and
striking hands with his father and with his kindred, and how delighted he would
be to come up in the resurrection and grasp them by the hand. That spirit
attended him in all his allusions to his kindred, to his father and mother
especially. There is no doubt in my mind that the Prophet Joseph would be
sealed to his father. He will honor his father and mother, He will be sealed to
them, and they and their lineage will doubtless be connected with him by the
sealing ordinance as the head of this dispensation. They will have to be
connected with him by some link or bond that will be created, if it does not
already exist, as we all will be connected with him because he is the head of
the dispensation. But as a son he will be connected with his parents; he will
honor his parents; and in his turn he will be honored by his ancestry and all
who come within the range and under the jurisdiction of this dispensation. All
such will necessarily be sealed by some bond to the Prophet Joseph. In this way
we shall all be united; and there can be no question on our part as to the
propriety of being all connected with Joseph, carrying up every lineage
directly as far as we can, and then linking them on to the head of the
dispensation. There need be no jealousy, then. There need be none to say,
"Well, I am sealed or adopted to a greater man than you. I am adopted to
Joseph, or to Brigham, or to John Taylor, or to Wilford Woodruff, or to this
man or the other man." There will be no need to pride and plume ourselves
on the fact that we are adopted to these various men, and thus divide the
people asunder in their feelings, creating to a certain extent a feeling of
rivalry which does not belong to the Gospel of the Son of God. Every man that
reflects upon it can see that this revelation which God has given through his
servant Wilford Woodruff removes that danger out of our pathway and prepares us
to go forward and honor our kindred and do everything we can for their
salvation, concentrating our feelings upon our ancestors, and not upon somebody
else's ancestors. In thus honoring our parents we also observe that ancient law
which was given by God to the children of Israel, and which has such a great
blessing attached to it:-
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long
upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Why
should a man come to one of the Apostles and be sealed to him and then trace
his genealogy through him and his ancestors, and neglect his own? There have
been some cases of adoption, I suppose, where the parties have not felt clear
in their minds concerning this. This light, however, that we now have clears it
all up and makes it plain; and we can see and understand it.
God bless
you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem,
Daughter of Zion.
President Cannon here stated that it had been deemed proper to discontinue from this time forward the administration of the sacrament of the lord's Supper at the regular services held in the Tabernacle on the Sabbath day. He cited the 18th chapter of third Nephi, Book of Mormon, which embodies reasons for the taking of this step. In future this ordinance would be administered under the direction of the Bishops of the wards, in their Sunday meetings, where they could carry out the requirement which forbids that the unworthy shall partake of the sacred emblems.
Benediction by Elder Jonathan G. Kimball.
_____
[8 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 48:513-514, 4/14/94, p 5-6]
AFTERNOON
SESSION.
_____
Overflow
Meeting at the Assembly Hall
At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon [Sunday, April 8th] an overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall. Apostle Franklin D. Richards presided.
The services were commenced by singing the hymn:
We thank thee, O God, for a
prophet, Top guide us in these latter days;
We thank thee for sending the Gospel To lighten our minds with its rays.
Prayer was offered by Elder Lyman Martineau, and the congregation sang the hymn beginning:
Come, come ye saints, no toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way.
ELDER H. J. GRANT
was the first speaker. He was very pleased, he said, to meet with the Saints, and rejoiced in the fact that the Tabernacle was full to overflowing; that so large an attendance was present and that there were as many people outside as would fill over again the building in which they had met. He rejoiced to see so great a manifestation on the part of the Saints of the spirit that brought them together to hear the Gospel, and hoped that they would be strengthened and built up in their most holy faith. The sooner the people awoke to the truth of the fact that it is in proportion to their faithfulness that the Lord will pour out His blessings upon them, the greater would be their progress. He rejoiced exceedingly to have had the privilege of listening to the remarks made in the forenoon by Presidents Woodruff and Cannon, for the doubts that have hitherto been in the minds of the Saints concerning the ordinance of sealing and the principle of adoption had been cleared away. The speaker urged the necessity of a general work of purification among the Saints, and asserted that there was no question but that sacrifice brought forth the blessings of heaven. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so broad and magnificent in its proportions that there is sufficient for all to do, and there was no necessity to infringe on the prerogatives of others. If the commandments of God are kept, the Gospel is the power of life and salvation unto all who believe. Not only will it secure exaltation in the eternal world but it would promote prosperity in material things in the present life. He thought that some of the Saints had been too narrow and contracted in their opinion of the plan of life and salvation, and was glad to hear the servants of God say that, though it was written but few in this probation walk the narrow path that leads to eternal life, in the spirit world the great majority of souls would accept the Gospel and be redeemed through the vicarious work of the Saints on earth. Reflection on the boundlessness and magnificence of the plan of redemption was fraught with thoughts of the great love and mercy of the Heavenly Father; and in further elucidation of the Gospel of Christ the speaker read the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, from which he said he derived more joy and pleasure than all besides. In conclusion he hoped that as the Saints grew in years they would also continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, which he asked in the name of Jesus Christ.
ELDER A. H. CANNON
knew of no doctrine or principle, he said, that gave him more joy and pleasure than that which he had heard that morning. It was one of the advanced doctrines of the Gospel. It opened up to view the great depth and breadth of the plan of salvation more than had been hitherto accepted, and answered many questions that had come up in the minds of the Saints for many years. As soon as the first principles of the Gospel had been preached to the nations of the earth, the people had naturally concerned themselves as to the condition of their ancestors, for if faith, repentance and baptism were essential to salvation now, they had always been and always would be. Hence, when the gospel came to them and they were told of the plan of the redemption of the dead, it filled them with great joy and satisfaction. It was a pleasure to know that before the bar of God no man would be judged without having had an opportunity of accepting or rejecting the Gospel, and that it would be preached to them in the spirit world. The family organization existing on the earth was symbolical of that which will exist throughout eternity, and through the medium of the plan of salvation all would be united in the world to come. The speaker treated upon the principle of sealing husbands and wives and stated that though in years gone by there were but few instances where wives had been sealed to husbands who had died without the faith, yet good men withal, the opportunities now were greater because of increased knowledge having been received. To think that the family organization is to extend back link by link to the very beginning; that those who are dead would not be robbed of their children whose progress, integrity and faithfulness their hearts are yearning for, and who by such would yet stand at the head of their kindred as saviors upon Mount Zion, was replete with comfort and joy. But those who at that day do not stand as saviors upon Mount Zion will not receive the highest glory in the Kingdom of God. There are none so feeble now who can not perform some work, and though they have but few kindred that they know, they can perform the work for others and obtain a blessing. To those who are faithful and anxious to do this, God will reveal to them the names and lineage of their kindred as He has done to many in the temples before. The Lord does not wait till the millennial day for such work to be done. Link by link must be completed now and henceforward, and during the millennial reign the chain of ancestry will be revealed back to the beginning of the race. This is a principle new to this people, but old as eternity, and the increased light shed upon it by the servants of God had come in fulfilment of a desire on the part of the people. They had longed for this with which to satisfy their souls. They had gone as far as they could and it was necessary for God to reveal His mind and will. This shows that God must needs be sought, that He desires His people to draw near to Him. "Coming events cast their shadows before," and in like manner the necessity for further light had foreshadowed itself through the general anxiety in the hearts of the people and was known to God. If the people are discontented and feel that the Lord has withdrawn His face from them, the way to overcome the difficulty is to draw near to Him that the soul may be satisfied. The speaker rejoiced that God had filled the hearts of the Saints with love and charity to all mankind, both living and dead, for God Himself was full of mercy and was loving and kind. He was not one to condemn by outward appearances nor to condemn to all eternity any who sinned against him, unless they placed themselves beyond the pale of pardon. Though their sins were as scarlet they might be made as white as wool if they would but repent.
ELDER MOSES THATCHER
was the next speaker. He had not sufficiently recovered his strength of body, he said, to be able to speak with perfect ease to so large an audience, and he desired the aid of their faith and prayers and careful attention. He had not the good fortune to be present with his brethren during the discussions they may have had in connection with the subject just mentioned, but this much he would say: the Almighty, in order to turn aside a curse that should come upon the world, ordained or foreordained that one of His servants should come and turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children, and how this could be brought about more fully than by the plan outlined by the brethren in the Tabernacle during the morning services could not be conceived. He was glad to have had none of other kindred sealed to any of his family nor any of his family to others, for a doubt had always remained with him as to the accuracy of such a proceeding. but the principle as now revealed , and which has turned away the curse that must have come upon the world, was such that all should fully appreciate it.
In a recent visit to California there was one thing, the speaker said, that had been deeply impressed upon his mind, and it was this: Thirty-eight years ago the Elders of the Church had been sent out to buy a tract of land which was known as the San Bernardino ranch. It was purchased and payments made upon it. The best location was selected upon which to build a city -- that upon which the town of San Bernardino now stands. Not far away is the city of Riverside, a perfect Garden of Eden in many respects, where there is everything to gladden the heart of man. Everywhere around a picture of surpassing loveliness enchants the eye, and beauty reigns in a wealth of tree and flower. San Bernardino had a quarter of a century the start of Riverside and thirty years of Redlands, but what is its condition today? It is almost a picture of desolation; fences are down, weeds and decaying vegetation cover the ground and insects blight the growth of tree and shrub. All around the alkali glistens in the sun as if the land were sown with salt. Has a blight fallen upon San Bernardino, because it has also fallen upon her people? Shall the inhabitants of this glorious mountain valley permit that same spirit of inertia to fall upon them? Shall they cease to beautify their homes, trim their lawns, and plant trees and flowers to gladden the hearts of wives and children? The speaker made a comparison between the condition of this city and Riverside, and urged that the spirit of sloth and carelessness be abandoned. He hoped that by next October the many thousands of acres of untilled land would be made to produce something more than weeds.
The evils of ambition were then taken up. The priests of India, Elder Thatcher said, held that all disease was the result of unsatisfied ambition, and that man being the highest creation of God, his mind should have control over all matter. The latter part of the proposition is a true doctrine, and it is a part of Mormonism. These priests also hold that to do this there must be concentration of thought; it was necessary in its application, such as in healing the sick and such like.
"When I hear the word 'great' mentioned in reference to the servants of God," said the speaker, "It makes me shudder. I think of Alexander, Napoleon, Grant and Lee and others. History has been so written that these men have been marked out as great; but in the life of Jesus Christ every word and act breathes of love and power. One word from Him would have called down the hosts of heaven, but it was not to be. His whole life was one of sacrifice. It is, therefore, goodness we want, not greatness, the crucifying of ambition. The very foundation on which we rest is the principle of victorious sacrifice. Why do we try to love our neighbor as ourselves? Because in its practice alone is peace and power. There is no greater mistake than to suppose that peace or power will come to us if we become imbued with the spirit of the world."
Continuing, he said that gold was the god of this world, and because money was recognized as a power men tampered with legislatures and governments with it. The world was bowing down to the golden calf, but the Saints should look to the power of love. A people could not be controlled without love and confidence, even as a father could not control a son without them. Confucius has said that three things essential to the perpetuation of a stable government were an army, a well-fed people and confidence in their rulers; that the first could be dispensed with if necessary, the second also, since it was ordained that all had to die, but that if a nation lost confidence in its rulers that nation would perish. Confidence was being lost in the government of this country, as was evidenced by the growth of anarchism, nihilism and other societies, and this was something that the Church should forever prevent as far as lay in its power. He had done business in Cache valley for ten years and never asked a bond nor a mortgage, but trusted to honor and had never lost a cent. He hoped that a change for the better would be instituted in our dealings one with the other, and that the Saints would follow their file leaders as they followed Christ.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG
spoke on the subject of the redemption of the dead on the same lines as those followed by Elder A. H. Cannon, and he rejoiced exceedingly that the Saints had a Prophet and revelator who gave them the word of God. He bore testimony to the truth of the work and the purity of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ELDER F. D. RICHARDS
added his testimony to the truth of the words already spoken and said that this was the beginning of the restoration of that which was lost by ancient Israel. He urged the people to be more diligent in tracing their genealogy and performing the duties devolving upon them in behalf of the dead. If they only could see through the veil, a world of anxiety would appear because of the desire the spirits in prison had for the hour of their release to come, and the Saints ought not to shut their eyes to the importance of this great work. Though there were many difficulties in the way at times, everything pertaining to the work of the Lord opens up continuously as the ear of corn does until it is filled with ripeness. In conclusion he called upon the Saints to cherish every virtue that attaches to the family, the Church and the State, that all may be steadfast in the principles of government and prepared to act in time of need.
Oh, say what is truth, 'tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce.
was sung by the congregation, and benediction was pronounced by Elder B. H. Roberts.
_____
[8 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 48:514, 4/14/94, p 6]
AT THE TABERNACLE.
2 p. m. The anthem, "let all Israel sing," was sung by the choir.
Prayer by Elder William W. Cluff.
The choir sang the hymn beginning:
O, my Father, Thou that dwellest In the high and glorious place.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
took up the thread of the remarks made by him at the morning session and further elaborated the subject of the organizing and binding character of the Gospel, by the power and efficacy of which the whole human family would be placed in perfect order clear up to Father Adam. In this great scheme of redemption no individual, no matter how insignificant he or she might appear to be, would be overlooked. Only those who committed the unpardonable sin would be omitted from the benefits of the divine plan. This great labor devolved upon the Church of Christ, with whose Priesthood there would always be sufficient light from the Lord to conduct it.
The speaker then treated upon the subject of secret organizations, and showed with great clearness that the Church possessed all the organization, power and principles to correct every evil existing in society and was destined to accomplish this mighty reformatory triumph. It was unnecessary for any person claiming to be a Latter-day Saint to seek relief elsewhere. President Cannon also spoke of the system (the United Order) concerning which God had already given revelation, and which would some time, when conditions were propitious, be established, and all the children in mortality would finally enjoy its beneficent effects.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 48:701, 5/26/94, p 1; CD 4:81-90]
THE LINKING OF GENERATIONS BY THE LAW OF ADOPTION --
EQUALITY IN TEMPORAL AFFAIRS AND HOW TO ATTAIN IT.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 8, 1894, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
This is
an immense congregation, and in order to edify those assembled it will require
the presence and assistance of the Spirit of God. It would seem presumptuous
for any man to arise to address such an audience of intelligent human beings if
he were depending upon himself for that which he should say. I sincerely trust
that in the remarks I shall make I may be assisted by the faith and prayers of
those who are present.
I look
upon this as one of the most interesting conferences that have been held for a long
time. It must be gratifying to the Latter-day Saints to receive, as they do,
the continued evidences that God is with the people, that He has not forgotten
His promises, and that He has the oversight of the affairs of His Church, and
regulates and conducts those affairs according to the counsel of His own will.
I never attend a meeting where the Spirit of God is manifested in power without
feeling profoundly grateful in the reflection that God is with us, and that He
condescends to honor us and to testify to the people by giving His Holy Spirit.
This, also, brethren and sisters, is a consolation and a comfort that no human
tongue can describe: to know by testimony from the Lord that we are in the path
that He has marked out for our salvation; to know that we have a standing among
the people whom He acknowledges to be His, and that through His condescension
we have the communion of the Holy Spirit. It is a consolation to know, when
light is needed, when questions arise which require more than human wisdom for
their solution, that we have access unto our Great Creator, and that through
the spirit of revelation which He has promised to bestow, we can know and
understand for ourselves. What mighty importance attaches to that which was
explained to us this morning by President Woodruff! How wide-spread and
far-reaching is the ordinance to which allusion was made, by which children
will be sealed to their parents, one generation connected with another, and the
whole human family be brought within the family of God, to be his recognized
and acknowledged sons and daughters, bound together by the power of the
everlasting Priesthood and in the new and everlasting covenant which he has
given to man. What a glorious system of salvation spreads out before us in the
contemplation of that which the Lord has revealed! What a feeling of tenderness
and love wells up in our hearts in thinking that we are the children of God,
and that we are and shall be bound together by ties that never can be broken!
How this draws us together and makes us feel interested in one another! How it
causes our souls to expand as wide as eternity; not confining our hopes and our
labors to any individual, or to any one family, but embracing in our feelings
the entire brotherhood of man.
Certainly
the Latter-day Saints should be the most thankful of any people upon the face
of the earth. You travel throughout the earth and ask the wisest and the most
learned what object our Creator had in placing man on the earth, in surrounding
him with the circumstances with which he is environed, and what He has in view
for him in the future, and who could answer you? I know that religious
denominations have their explanations concerning the future; but how
unsatisfactory they are! How little there is in them to comfort and cheer, to
create hopes and anticipations that are bright! Even the Indian, when he talks
about his happy hunting grounds, probably expresses a more cheerful view. In
the sectarian world there is vagueness. In the pictures they present as to the future
life there is nothing that is really satisfactory. Very few of them believe
that these ties which make our human lives so delightful will be perpetuated in
the eternity to come. The great majority believe that husbands and wives,
parents and children will be nothing to each other in the eternal world; that
is, their relations to each other within the family circle will be no more
close or definite than their relations to beings without these holy ties. Now,
the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has taught us that ties are formed here
which are eternal in their character; that family associations are created that
never can be dissolved; that men and women are bound together for eternity;
that man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord;
that they have their children; and that the greatest blessing they can enjoy is
to have confirmed unto them for ever the privileges which they possess in this
life. There is something grand in the contemplation of this glorious principle.
It gives certainty unto every man and woman who will seek for it. The woman is
not lost, the man is not lost. However obscure and insignificant we may be, we
cannot be lost sight of. We will be felt after and brought out, unless we have
committed unpardonable sins, and somebody will take interest in us. There is no
one in the whole family that will be so insignificant as to be forgotten. This
creates peculiar feelings in our hearts, and it ought to make the Latter-day
Saints a broad and expansive people in their minds, and I have no doubt it will
have that effect.
I look
for the communication that was made to-day by our President to have a great
effect upon this people. It will stimulate our love for our families. At the
same time it will check any feeling of building up anything like tribes among
us. It will attach us to our own kindred and race. It will promote the love of
race in our hearts, and it will give our children something to live for; for
when a man comes of a family that is an honorable family, there is something
that appeals to his pride to do nothing that will bring discredit or disgrace
upon his name. Our lineage is not known to all of us. We may not know our
origin; but this we may be assured of: that we who have received the truth are
choice spirits. The Latter-day Saints have shown their integrity, their valor,
and their independence of character in the midst of contumely and reproach, of
persecution and hatred, and the threatened loss, in many instances, of
employment, property and life. They have come out from the world and have been
indifferent to its popularity. They have espoused the principles of truth and
righteousness, and valued them more than any other earthly consideration. Where
do you think this nobility of character has come from? It has come from
ancestors who obtained promises from God, through their faithfulness, in regard
to their posterity. Our ancestors may have come through poverty and obscure
channels; and some of them may not have possessed any noted characteristics;
but when our ancestry is known it will be found that the noblest men and women
of God have been the progenitors of this people. God has chosen us for a great
purpose. He has brought us out of the world, has shaped our lives and the lives
of our parents, and has thrown around them His providences, for the purpose of
bringing a people forward in the last days that would help lay the foundation
of His kingdom and be willing to bear every persecution and trial connected
with it. Of this I feel assured. I can testify of it, and know it to be so. As
was said this morning, the communication which the Lord has designed to give to
us through His servant enables us to see how we can honor the ancestry through
which we have come, and also prevent the breaking of the ties that should
connect us with them, and avoid confusion and disorder in regard to these
matters.
There are
many things that the Lord will give us revelations about from time to time. He
has done this in a marvelous manner thus far. There has been nothing that we have
needed for the progress of the Church that has not been given. We have built
these temples, and we are doing a very important work connected with them; and
it is necessary that that which we do should be done aright. It is necessary
that adoptions should be correctly made. Think how important this is! It
affects the whole human family. How important it is that we should know the
plan that the Lord wants carried out, and not the plan that man wants! And
there will be many things revealed from time to time. You will see difficulties
probably in carrying this out, and it will require the wisdom of heaven and the
word of the Lord to settle points connected with it; but the Lord is able to
give the necessary light. His hand will be manifest, and we shall see how good
and kind He is to us in making communications upon every point that is
necessary for the progress of His work.
There are
other matters that I would like to mention this afternoon, if I can get the
Spirit to do so. We have heard from President Joseph F. Smith a little
concerning secret organizations. I do not know any subject that needs to be
spoken upon with greater plainness to the Latter-day Saints than this.
Of
course, there are many other things that we need to be warned about. We need to
be warned about these false spirits that are going abroad. I do not suppose
there ever was a time when there were so many delusive spirits going abroad
among the people as at the present time-false Christs, false prophets, and all
sorts of things to lead away the people of God. Everything, it is said, will be
shaken that can be shaken. God is going to have a pure people. Those who commit
sin and persist in it will lose the Spirit of God and be removed from among the
people of God. We may expect that sinners will leave us, and that we shall have
men and women falling into the dark because of transgression; but it is our
duty, as watchmen upon the walls of Zion, and as the shepherds of the flock of
Christ, to lift up our voices and warn the people of the dangers there are
around them, and to point out the path of safety, that they may not stray away
from the flock and be devoured. We therefore feel to warn the Latter-day Saints
in regard to these delusive spirits. We warn you to be on your guard, to watch
carefully, to pray earnestly, to live in purity, so that you shall have
constantly the light of the Spirit of God to be with you. Do not be carried
away by every wind of doctrine, nor by deceivers; but listen to the voice of
the Spirit of God, which bears testimony to you in your hearts concerning the
truths which you hear. You ought to be able to tell the voice of the true
Shepherd from all other voices, so that no one assuming sheep's clothing and
professing to be what he is not can deceive you. It is your privilege to
recognize the voice of the true Shepherd, and to know by the testimony of Jesus
whether that which you are taught is true or not.
There are
now many societies being formed that make great professions. They claim to be
benevolent societies and to do great good to the people. I have not the least
objection to this. I would not say one word to cast any reproach upon any
organization, by whatever name it may be called, that has objects of this
character in view. It is not my purpose to decry them. It is not my purpose to
belittle philanthropic efforts by individuals or by societies for the welfare
of their fellow creatures. The Lord forbid that I should ever do anything of
this kind! It is not in that spirit that I allude to these things. But I want
to say to the Latter-day Saints that the Lord has organized a system which is
perfect in all its details. There is no need to have it supplemented by
anything of man's device. It is that thought which I desire to impress upon the
Latter-day Saints. God has founded Zion, and the poor of His people will put
their trust in it. There is nothing lacking in this organization. There is no
benevolent society that exists, or that can be formed by human beings, that
will reach the wants of the children of men as effectively as the organization
which the Lord has given to us, and of which we now are a part. I know that
there are men who have very plausible and attractive ideas concerning the evils
that exist in society and the manner of correcting them. Attempts to correct
them have been made for years and years; but they have not resulted
successfully. I can state, without the least fear of successful contradiction,
that the Latter-day Saints have done more as an organized society towards
redeeming the people and correcting the evils that exist in society, and under
which society groans, than any other organization on the face of the earth. I
make that statement with a full understanding on my part of its meaning and
extent. And that which we have done is only the beginning of that which we
propose to do in the Lord's good time. The Lord has not left us in ignorance
concerning these matters. This doctrine of equality that the anarchists,
nihilists, socialists and such people dwell upon (some of them are resorting to
the most dreadful violence to carry out their schemes), is understood by us,
for the Lord has revealed to us how and to what extent it shall be fulfilled.
He has given us the law with a great deal of plainness. But we are not prepared
to carry it out. The leaders of the people are doing their best in teaching the
people the primary principles of equality; but it will take time, it will take
the power of God, it will take circumstances that will almost compel us to
adopt that which God has revealed, in order to carry out that which He has laid
before us as a duty that we must perform. I want to say to you that the day
will come-and it will be brought about by the Latter-day Saints-when there will
be such an equality in all things among us that there will be no want, no
deficiency of any element necessary for man's happiness, no monopoly; when one
man will not have more than he can use and another man be destitute. We are
aiming at that, my brethren and sisters, and we are the only people, I am free
to say, that can entertain the least hope that they will ever accomplish it.
These secret organizations may throw down thrones; they may destroy dynasties;
they may cause blood to flow in torrents; but they will never accomplish this
reform that we shall achieve, and that, too, by peaceful methods-by the
operation of the laws which God has made plain, so plain that, as the Bible
says, a wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein.
The Lord
has given enough to the earth to make all its inhabitants happy. There is no element
that is not in sufficient abundance for all. And it is contrary to the will of
God, so He has revealed to us, that one man shall possess so much above
another-one wallow in luxury while his neighbor goes destitute. He has taught
us the way by which this shall be corrected. This being the case, shall we turn
our eyes from the Zion of God in this or in the other direction, looking for
something better? If we do, we despise the wisdom and counsel of God; we throw
aside that which He has revealed in the greatest plainness, and we turn our
backs upon the history and experience of this people.
Let me
say to you that it is in vain for men to endeavor to patch up systems to remedy
the existing evils. They have not the wisdom to do it. You can see the condition
of the world in consequence of man's wisdom being exercised. On every hand
there is confusion, turmoil, strife. There is poverty and misery on one hand
and luxury and a superabundance on the other hand. This is not right, and it
will be corrected. How? Well, the Lord attempted it in the early days of this
Church; but the people did not have faith. He is now schooling us. We shall
have faith sooner or later, and we shall be chastened probably till we do it. I
do not want to prophesy any evil concerning Zion. I do not want to threaten. I
have none of the spirit of gloom about me connected with Zion. I feel to
prophesy good always about Zion. But the Lord will bring us through
circumstances that will open our eyes, and cause us to see the value of the
counsel that He has given to us. We should teach it to our children. We must
unlearn the traditions that we have received from our fathers. Those traditions
teach us that it is the duty of each one to look out for himself and to care
but little for his neighbor. We have got to unlearn that lesson. We have got to
live for the benefit of all. But, like all benefactors, in doing so we shall
very likely be misjudged. Did you ever see a man that was a benefactor, from
the Lord Jesus down, that was not loaded with opprobrium and misunderstood?
Jesus set us the example of self-sacrifice. What a life His was! The Redeemer
of the world, coming down from the mansions of glory, taking upon himself
mortality, living in humility, and doing all that He could for man's redemption;
yet He was hung upon the cross, crucified between two thieves! So it has been,
to a greater or less extent, with every man that has attempted to benefit his
fellow-man. He must expect to be misunderstood, to be misrepresented, and to
have his motives traduced. He must not expect to have the love of those he is
trying to save. He may have a little of it; but men are so ungrateful by nature
that they do not recognize their true benefactors. It requires the Spirit of
God to enlighten the mind. You Bishops who have labored incessantly; you
Presidents of Stakes, you Apostles, and all who have labored among the people,
you know by experience that your labors are not appreciated as they ought to
be, that your motives are frequently misunderstood and traduced, and you have
to labor with the expectation of getting reward from the Lord and with the
satisfaction of having the approval of your conscience. So it is in relation to
this whole people. We are the benefactors of mankind; but we do not get credit
for that which we are doing. We need not expect to get the praise of the world,
or even ordinary credit. Nevertheless, the labor devolves upon us. We shall,
doubtless, see evidences of selfishness in carrying it out, and advantage will
be taken by one and another before this system can be fairly introduced among
the children of men.
In these
remarks I refer to what is known among us as the United Order. I know that many
have thought that this has passed off; that it is a phantasy, an idea that
cannot be carried out; that it is impossible, as human nature is constituted,
to make it practical. Probably many among us entertain that idea. But I can
assure you that this is not the case. It is the plan that God has devised, and
I want to hold it up before you if I can, so that you will see it and
understand that God has devised a plan that is far superior to that which men
have concocted. And it can be and will be carried out. By what means has Satan
power to-day over the hearts of the children of men? It is by the misuse of
this world's goods. Would there be any thieving if men did not have property as
it is now? Here is what the Lord said sixty years ago:-
It is wisdom in me; therefore, a commandment I give unto
you, that ye shall organize yourselves and appoint every man his stewardship,
That every man may give an account
unto me of his stewardship which is appointed unto him;
For it is expedient that I, the
Lord, should make every man accountable, as stewards over earthly blessings,
which I have made and prepared for my creatures.
I, the Lord, stretched out the
heavens, and built the earth as a very handy work, and all things therein are
mine:
And it is my purpose to provide
for my saints, for all things are mine;
But it must needs be done in mine
own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide
for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low;
For the earth is full, and there
is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the
children of men to be agents unto themselves.
Therefore, if any man shall take
of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to
the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked,
lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.
He will go with the rich man under
whose table Lazarus would pick the crumbs that fell, and whose dogs licked the
sores of the poor man. Lazarus went to Abraham's bosom; but the rich man, as
this says, lifted up his eyes in torment, being in hell.
In
another part of the revelation the Lord says:-
And again, a commandment I give unto you concerning your
stewardship which I have appointed unto you.
Behold, all these properties are
mine, or else your faith is vain, and ye are found hypocrites, and the
covenants which ye have made unto me are broken;
And if the properties are mine,
then ye are stewards, otherwise ye are not stewards.
But, verily I say unto you, I have
appointed unto you to be stewards over mine house, even stewards indeed;
And all moneys that you receive in
your stewardships, by improving upon the properties which I have appointed unto
you, in houses, or in lands, or in cattle, or in all things save it be the holy
and sacred writings, which I have reserved unto myself for holy and sacred
purposes, shall be cast into the treasury as fast as you receive moneys, by
hundreds, or by fifties, or by twenties, or by tens, or by fives;
Or in other words, if any man among
you obtain five talents (dollars), let him cast them into the treasury; or if
he obtain ten, or twenty, or fifty, or an hundred let him do likewise;
And let not any man among you say
that it is his own, for it shall not be called his, nor any part of it;
And there shall not any part of it
be used, or taken out of the treasury, only by the voice and common consent of
the order,
And this shall be the voice and
common consent of the order; that any man among you say unto the treasurer, I
have need of this to help me in my stewardship;
If it be five talents (dollars),
or if it be ten talents (dollars), or twenty, or fifty, or an hundred, the
treasurer shall give unto him the sum which he requires, to help him in his
stewardship.
Until he be found a transgressor,
and it is manifest before the council of the order plainly, that he is an
unfaithful and an unwise steward;
But so long as he is in full
fellowship, and is faithful, and wise in his stewardship, this shall be his
token unto the treasurer, that the treasurer shall not withhold.
This is
the plan that the Lord has devised. Will this be abused? Some men say,
"Yes; the men that are wise and prudent, and good managers will work for
the rest, and the idle man and the poor manager will derive the benefit."
That is the argument used. But the Lord who has devised this plan will be able
to provide means to carry it out successfully. On what principle can you make
men equal in earthly things, in order that they may be equal in heavenly
things, unless it is upon some such principle as this? Here are men who have
labored their entire life for the benefit of this people. Are they any poorer
for it? Here is the oldest man among us, the people's leader, the longest in
the service of God-Wilford Woodruff-who for years and years worked in his
Apostleship and never drew a dollar to support himself or his family. Here is
Lorenzo Snow, eighty years of age who did likewise. Ask these two veterans in
the cause of God if they have not worked incessantly and without thought about
themselves for the work of God, supporting their families as best they could;
and ask them if God has not blessed them abundantly for all they have done. Do
they begrudge the labor they have bestowed upon this people? And when I allude
to them I also allude to their predecessors, from Joseph down, who labored
night and day, in season and out of season, for the benefit of the people. Have
they lost anything by it? No, they have not. God has been with them, and has
rewarded them. So it will be whenever we carry out this Order. There will be
men, doubtless, that will labor harder and to greater profit than others; but
God will reward them, because they are carrying out His purposes and seeking to
elevate their fellow-beings, laboring with an eye single to the glory of God
and the salvation of the human family.
I do not
know that you understand how this will be done. Suppose that we have our
stewardships appointed to us, each according to his family. That was the order.
Edward Partridge as the Bishop of the Church, was instructed in very early days
to assign to the people property, each according to his family. Now, a man
takes his stewardship. He has his land, his cattle, his horses, or whatever his
vocation requires. It is assigned to him. He manages it, and makes a profit on
it. Is that profit his? No; that goes into the treasury, for the benefit of
others who may need. But suppose he is a wise steward. He manages his affairs
in a way to bring profit. He wants more capital. When this is brought before
the council of the Order, and it is allowed to him, if the circumstances are
such as to admit of it, he makes increase with that also. But he does not build
himself up. He does not take all the profits of that business and consume it
upon his own family. He does not take it and build fine houses, or spend it on
horses and carriages, or on elaborate furnishings. He does not do this, only so
far as will be compatible with the general weal. All will be built up together.
But will all, under these circumstances, have the same? If this Order were
established, would every man have the same sized house, the same sized garden
or field, the same number of fruit trees, or the same number of cows? Why, no.
That is not the equality that the Lord means. The Lord will give to us
according to our circumstances and our wants. Some families will be larger than
others. Some men will need more cows than others. Some men's business will
require more horses than other men's business will. In this way there will be
differences. Then there will also be diversified circumstances. Every man will
have the opportunity of exercising all his talents. There will be no
restriction. He will have the opportunity for the exercise of the most
commanding talents. The field will be before him, and he will have means to
carry out His purposes and plans, if they be wise and such as his brethren will
think prudent and judicious. Thus the poor will have their wants supplied, and
there will be no want in the land. The equality which the Lord teaches us to
look for is this:
And you are to be equal, or in other words, you are to have
equal claims on the properties, or the benefit of managing the concerns of your
stewardships, every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his
wants are just;
And all this for the benefit of
the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that
every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into
the Lord's storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church.
So that
each man in his stewardship will not be laboring for himself; he will be
laboring for the whole, every man and woman being looked after, having a common
interest, through inheritance, from our Great Creator, who created this earth
for us. He did not create it for a few, not for a class, not for an
aristocracy, not for monopolists; but for every one of us, each of us having an
equal claim on the elements, and all laboring for the whole human family. Every
want supplied, every proper desire of the heart gratified, until misery will
flee from the face of this fair earth, until want will be unknown, until the
cry of the widow and the fatherless and the distressed will not be heard in the
land. The heavens will not be pierced with the cries of suffering humanity, and
neither man nor beast will be destitute of that which is good for him. This is
the plan which God has devised. It may require what many trained as we have
been under the old and existing conditions may look upon as sacrifices to bring
it about; but it will come; for God has devised it, and it is the only plan by
which we can ever get into the celestial kingdom and become joint heirs with
Jesus Christ. He has set us the example of deserting all things in the heavens,
leaving His power and high estate to come down here and suffer for his brethren
and sisters. We must look to Him and follow Him.
The
lesson that I would like to impress upon our hearts-for in speaking to you I
speak to myself-is, let us teach our children these principles; let us teach
them that they are in the earth, not to labor for their own gratification, and
to accumulate wealth for themselves, but to benefit humanity, to be a blessing
to their race, to fill the earth as far as they can with gladness by their
presence, that we may raise an unselfish race of men, men that will have higher
aspirations and aims than the mere gratification of their personal wants,
passions and appetites. Teach the children self-denial. It is a thing that is
much needed among us. Brethren and sisters, I want to say to you that as sure
as God lives this Order will be brought about; and it will be with us as it was
with the children of Israel who came out of Egypt-if we do not do it we will be
removed, and a generation will be raised up that will do it; for God is going
to carry out His purposes, and no power can prevent it. Remember the condition
of the children of Israel and what befell them. Their carcasses fell by the
roadside in the wilderness, because they would not come up to the standard that
God had revealed. They not only perished, but the Melchizedek Priesthood was
taken from their midst, and everyone over twenty years of age that came out of
Egypt, except two, of all the hosts of Israel, laid down his life in the
wilderness. We do not want to be in this condition. We want to live, and our
children to live, and to be the heirs of all the ages. We want to lay the
foundation of this great work in this manner; for it is the great reform that
cries aloud to be carried out among mankind at the present time.
Our
circumstances at present do not admit of our entering upon these things. There
are many changes that will have to occur in order to make that which I have
said unto you practical. Laws perhaps will have to be changed, because they might
interfere with this now; and it might not be wisdom for us under the present
circumstances. I do not speak of this because I think it ought to be carried
out immediately. I do not want you to go away from this Conference with the
idea that I, as one of the First Presidency, am giving counsel to you to carry
out the United Order. What I have desired to do is to draw your attention to
the fact that God has revealed a plan, and that you need not go after every
will-o'-the wisp, every false guide, every deceptive light that may appear, and
think, "Oh! if I join this, we shall have the millennium right off."
I speak on this to warn you; to put you on your guard; to show you that the
Lord's plan is broad enough to cover the whole subject and to furnish all the
relief that could ever be desired by human beings. I trust that we will be a
stable people. We have the credit in the world for being united; and I would
say to you, do not act unwisely and foolishly. When you hear any new doctrines,
political as well as religious, do not be deluded by them and run after them;
but maintain your steadfastness. You have divided on party lines. Do not split
up into fragments because you have done this. Do not think you are manifesting
your independence by cutting loose from everything; but be a stable and a
conservative people, and act up to your convictions. Maintain the influence
that God has given you, and by your wise course cause it to increase in the
land, so that men from all parts of our nation will look towards this community
and say, "There in the Rocky Mountains the Mormon people live; they are a
reliable people; they mind their own business, pay their debts, are punctual in
their engagements, are an honest people, are not all the time running after
office, but are content to maintain good government." Let us get a
character of this kind. We have it to some extent, and let us maintain it. I
want to say that whenever you see men aspiring for office and planning to get
office, do not encourage them. Let the office seek the man, and let us not be
plotting and resorting to all sorts of dodges to secure success to our party,
in order that some of us may get into office. Such arts are despicable. They
are the arts of the low politician. We want to stand on a higher plane, and
look at these things as men who have been enlightened by the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and try to maintain our credit; for I say to you, that the people
in Washington or in Kane County in the south, or in Cache or Rich County in the
north, or anywhere else in the Territory, cannot be guilty of folly without its
reflecting on the entire people of God. We are a part of a great whole in that
respect; and the Saints in Idaho or Arizona can do foolish things and entail a
great deal of trouble upon the Church in this country because of their want of
wisdom. Therefore, be wise. Why do I say this? If you get into trouble, to whom
do you come? You know how it has been in our troubles that commenced nine years
ago. We looked all around and where could we see friends? To whom could we
appeal? Why, the eyes of this people turned to the men who were their leaders,
who had planted these settlements in these mountains, and who had made
everything successful that they had put their hands to. The people appealed to
them to know what they should do. So it will be always when there is trouble.
Therefore, it is the duty of leading men to counsel the people in wisdom-not to
take away the people's agency-to avoid snares and to pursue a course that will
avert trouble, so that we will not have burdens to bear. I do not say this
because of any desire to interfere in the least with political matters, but to
give you a little counsel on these points.
I pray
God to bless you and to fill you with His Holy Spirit, and to help you to
remember the excellent instructions you have heard during this Conference, in
the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
made a few closing remarks relating to the importance of the subject treated in his morning discourse -- the binding of the children and the fathers together back through the generations according to lineal descent.
The choir sang the anthem,
"Hosanna."
Benediction by President Wilford Woodruff.
Conference adjourned until October 6, 1894.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
5-7 Oct 1894, 64th
Semi-Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 49:529, 10/13/94, p 17; Millennial Star 56:689, 705, 721]
[5 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 49:529, 10/13/94, p 17]
General
Semi-Annual Conference.
_____
The Sixty-fifth [64th] Semi-annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m., on Friday, Oct. 5th, 1894, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
Conference called to order by president George Q. Cannon.
The following were on the stand: Of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith; of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John Smith; of the Presidency of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder. There were also a number of Presidents of Stakes and other prominent Elders from different parts of Utah and surrounding territories and states.
The choir and congregation sang:
The time is far spent, there is little remaining To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.
The opening prayer was offered by President Lorenzo Snow.
Singing by the choir:
Praise ye the Lord! My heart shall join In work so pleasant so divine.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
announced that President Wilford Woodruff had been suffering from a severe cold, which had almost prostrated him for a number of days. He had sufficiently recovered, however, to be able to attend the Conference, though his voice was in such a condition that he would not be able to speak to the congregation this morning. President Cannon referred to the present comparatively satisfactory conditions in Utah, remarking that the Lord had wonderfully blessed and preserved all those who dwelt in these mountain valleys. This was, indeed, a land favored of the Lord, one of the most choice spots on the whole continent of America. In every direction the protecting hand of God was seen over this people. In the northwestern and southern states the Elders had been of late greatly favored and encouraged in their labors. It should be the aim of the presidents of stakes to call young men into the ministry and put upon them the burden of preaching the true gospel. In the islands of the sea a great work was being accomplished and many were being brought into the fold of Christ. The speaker incidentally adverted to the successful labors of the Elders in Australia, Tasmania, Sweden and elsewhere, and said that other fields seemingly remote and impenetrable were being opened to the missionaries. At present the presidents of the European and other missions had been instructed not to rush the people who joined the Church out here too fast, because many had arrived in Utah before they had become thoroughly rooted in the faith and prepared to meet the vicissitudes which they had necessarily to contend with on coming to a strange land. They did not want people to join the Church, come out and join the general body of the Saints and then apostatize. Looking over the entire field, the prospects of the latter-day Saints were now most encouraging, and God and the heavenly host were doing their part in the furtherance of this great work which our Father had established.
Many other important points were mentioned and treated upon in President Cannon's opening discourse.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 49:641, 11/10/94, p 1; CD 4:145-149]
CONDITION OF CHURCH AND PEOPLE
_____
Discourse delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday morning, October 5th, 1894, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
It must
be a pleasure to all of us to have President Woodruff with us this morning. He
has been suffering from a very severe cold that almost prostrated him for a
number of days; but he is recovering and is able to be with us. He desires,
however, an explanation made to the Conference that his voice is in such a
condition that he does not feel able to speak this morning. In other respects
his health is good.
The Lord
has been kind to us in permitting us to once more meet together in general
conference, in the enjoyment of a great many blessings, especially that we can
come here undisturbed and offer our praise and our thanksgivings to our God.
Though
the season that is now passing has been in some respects a trying one, in
consequence of the financial straits in which the people have been placed, I
think we can come before our Father in Heaven and worship Him with hearts
filled with gratitude for His mercy, His kindness, and His long-suffering
toward us His people. Our land in the most of places has produced in abundance.
There is no likelihood of famine in the land, either for man or beast. Our
fields have yielded plenteously, and forage for our animals is abundant; food
also of all kinds necessary for human beings is plentiful throughout all our
settlements. It is true many suffer for lack of employment; but this is not
confined to Utah, it being almost universal. And even in this respect our
circumstances are undoubtedly better than those of the great majority of the
inhabitants of this continent. We have escaped tempests, cyclones, fires, and
great disasters; war has not obtruded itself upon us; there has not been even
elemental warfare to disturb us such as has prevailed in some places. The Lord
has blessed the Latter-day Saints, and not only them, but all who live in these
mountains and valleys. We believe that His blessing is upon this land, and will
be upon it as long as the people are disposed to keep His commandments. I
believe that not only do the Latter-day Saints appreciate the bounties of
providence that we enjoy here, but that others not of our faith plainly see
that this is a blessed land, and that the favor of God is shown to it in its
climate, and in all the elements necessary for the comfort and sustenance of
human beings. Hundreds of people bear this testimony, and when they leave Utah
they look back to their residence here as a delightful spot in their memories.
If others not of our faith can appreciate these features, certainly we who have
been gathered here by the hand of God can appreciate them and feel thankful for
them. And I believe that in no part of this great republic do the prayers of a
thankful people ascend more unitedly unto the God of heaven morning and
evening, for the blessings bestowed upon them than in Utah. The incense of
praise, the thanksgiving of grateful hearts, ascends from the habitations of
the Latter-day Saints, and nowhere throughout this broad land is this praise
offered more unitedly and more sincerely than from the hearts of those who
compose the majority of the people of this territory. Heaven is not deaf to
these thanksgivings. This incense ascends gratefully unto God our Eternal
Father, and the angels rejoice over a people who appreciate the blessings of
the Great Creator. It has seemed to me, in view of all the Lord has done for
us, every tongue that has railed against the Saints because of their
willingness to obey the doctrine of gathering and to come to this desert land,
would now keep silent; for prosperity has attended the Latter-day Saints since
they came here, and the eyes of the whole nation are now attracted to this
land, which is one of the choicest spots upon the whole continent. What a
contrast there is between the feeling that now exists and the feeling that
prevailed when the Latter-day Saints came here and for years subsequent
thereto! How plain it is to be seen that God did not make promises in vain, or
that His servants in making promises to the people did not speak without
authority. Today our land is almost the envy of the people, and our situation
is looked upon as most desirable. The wisdom, the foresight, the intelligence,
the unselfishness that have been manifested by the leaders of the Latter-day Saints
in the arrangement of these settlements, in the distribution of the land, in
the conservative course taken in regard to water, and in the distribution of
the blessings of providence with as much equality as possible, and in the care
that has been shown for the welfare of the poor-all these things are beginning
to receive attention. People now are beginning to recognize that the men who
led the Latter-day Saints here, and who founded this commonwealth, were men of
great wisdom. They will admit now that they were men who labored for the public
weal. I never heard a stronger eulogium delivered about any man than I listened
to in Denver recently in the testimony that was borne by a prominent gentleman
at the Irrigation Congress concerning President Young. The truth upon these
points is beginning to be recognized, and the day is not far distant when the
example of the men of Utah will be quoted for others to follow, in building up
communities that shall be self-sustaining, free from debt, and in which the earth
and the waters and other blessings shall be distributed with some degree of
equality and with respect to the rights of all. I thank God for the change that
has taken place in this respect, and that though recognition has been so long
deferred it is coming our way, and the worth of the people, their patient
labors, their constant and untiring endurance, their fidelity to principle,
their attachment to the soil, combined with their frugality, and their
disposition to help each other, are now beginning to be recognized as they
should be. This ought to be a cause of rejoicing for all of us, because we know
that we have suffered in the past through misrepresentation, falsehood and the
misconstruction of motives.
Look now
where we will, wherever the Elders of this Church are laboring, and we can see
the hand of God with them and His Providence over them. Our Elders who go out
to preach the Gospel have the same success in some respects that they had in
early days. They may not convert so many, but the same blessings, the same
gifts, the same power that attended the preaching of the Gospel in the
beginning of this dispensation still accompanies that preaching by the Elders
of this Church. They bear testimony to the inhabitants of the earth that God is
as willing today to bestow gifts, graces and blessings upon those who do His
will as He ever was, giving the lie to the false statements of those who have
apostatized from the truth, and showing the world that God has organized His
Church, that He has restored the Priesthood, and that that Priesthood will be
continued until Jesus shall come, through the authority of the apostleship
which He conferred upon his servant Joseph and upon his servant Oliver Cowdery.
During
the past six months, in the Northwestern and Southern States, the Elders have
been very successful in finding people willing to listen to their testimony.
There has not been that spirit of persecution that our brethren suffered from
in former years, and the Elders are encouraged in their labors. Throughout our
own Territory there has been a great deal of traveling and visiting done by the
Apostles and others. In the various Stakes of Zion missionaries do a great deal
of local labor. It is necessary in the growth of the work of God that the
labors of the ministry should be more widely distributed, because the people
are increasing, and it is out of the power of the First Presidency, the Twelve
Apostles and the Seven Presidents of Seventies to do all the labor that was
done formerly. It should be the aim of the Presidents of Stakes to call into
the ministry young men and to lay the burden upon them of preaching the Gospel
at home. Let them cultivate the gifts that they may be enabled to speak in
power, and in the demonstration of the Holy Ghost, to the people, and I know,
and you know, that when men have that power resting upon them, though they are
not Apostles, or members of the First Presidency, the people listen to them
with delight, and receive their teachings with avidity. I hope the idea will
never prevail among our people that God confines his gifts and graces to the
First Presidency or to the Twelve Apostles, or to the Seven Presidents of
Seventies. I know that God is the God of this people, and every young man, or
middle-aged man, or aged man who will seek for the power of God can obtain it,
and he can declare the truth of God in the power and demonstration of the Holy
Ghost, and it is just as good as if it were told by the President of the Church
or by one of the Twelve Apostles. I would like to encourage the Elders with
that view. The field is white for the harvest, and laborers are wanted. It is
beyond the power of the First Presidency and Twelve to do all the labor.
Therefore, the Elders are called to the ministry, and they should seek for the
gifts and for the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood and exercise it,
and not think because they are not Apostles, or Presidents, that therefore they
have not the right to teach and to speak with authority. If you have any doubts
upon this read, the sixty-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants and see
what the Lord says upon this point.
Among the
nations where the Elders are laboring the blessings of God rest upon them. In
the islands of the sea a great work is being done. Samoa has received the glad
tidings. The Friendly Islands have been preached to. Doors are being opened
there for the conversion of these degraded remnants of the House of Israel. The
Sandwich Islands is a long-established mission. The Elders are laboring there
with a good deal of success. On the Society Islands our Elders are bringing
many into the fold of Christ. In New Zealand and Australia the work is
prospering. The Elders have lately opened a new field in Tasmania, and are
laboring there with some degree of encouragement. In Scandinavia the work is
progressing, particularly in Sweden, and souls are being gathered out. In
Germany the accounts are most favorable. There is an immense field opening up
before the Elders in those regions. Austria and Hungary and the Danubian
principalities will yet hear the Gospel. The Lord will break down the barriers.
As the Elders go forth He will open the way before them, and they will be the
means of bringing souls into the fold. There are regions which seem almost
impenetrable at present, but if we are zealous in our labors, if the spirit of
our calling rests upon us, and our souls are filled with ardor, the Lord will
open the way for the preaching of the Gospel in lands now closed to the bearers
of the Gospel. In Great Britain the work is apparently reviving there, and we
receive reports that there are more baptisms now than there have been. The
people are paying better attention to the preaching of the Elders, and at a
recent conference at Preston the hall was filled to overflowing. Preston, you
know, is the place where the Gospel was first preached in Great Britain.
These are
encouraging reports, considering the circumstances which have surrounded the
Elders and the missions. The First Presidency have been led to advise the
President of the European mission not to rush the people out here too hastily.
We have suffered from this. Some of our Elders in the south and in the
northwest and our Elders in Europe have seemed to think that as soon as a man
is baptized into the Church he must be rushed off to Zion. This is unwise, and
we have cautioned the presidents of these missions not to do this. Let the
Saints stay there and get a little knowledge and experience of the work, and
not come here almost entirely unacquainted with the trials that Latter-day
Saints generally have to contend with. Let them remain and be a sustenance for
the Elders who are laboring there, to comfort them and strengthen their hands,
and not leave the mission wholly destitute of experienced members. There has
been too much of this disposition manifested by many Elders. You who have had
experience know that to have new members immediately gather to Zion is not
attended with good results. They come here unprepared to meet the trials that
they have to contend with, and frequently apostatize. We do not want to bring
people to this country to apostatize. We want to bring them here to be
steadfast to the faith and to prove a support to the work of God. Their faith
should be ripe through experience, so that they can endure the vicissitudes and
trials which naturally have to be contended with in coming to a strange land.
We believe that this policy will be attended with good results. According to my
view there has been too much of a spirit prevailing that Elders must go away
from here well equipped financially-not without purse and scrip, as in former
years. I do not believe in such doctrine. I never have believed in it. God will
have to give me revelation that I have not yet received to cause me to believe
in it as a proper method of preaching the Gospel of the Son of God to the
nations of the earth. I do not believe in the Elders going with purse and
scrip. I believe God is able to feed and clothe His Elders today as He ever
was. This is my personal expression. I do not speak for everybody. It may help
the Elder, if branches can be left awhile to be strengthened by the addition of
new members and to be a support to the Elders who go there to preach.
Our
prospects, therefore, looking over all the field, are encouraging. We have
nothing to mourn over, unless it be our follies and sins. God is doing His
part. As every one of you who read the newspapers must be conscious of, He is
bearing testimony now by the judgments which He said should follow the
testimony of His Elders. His agents also, invisible to us, are doing their
part. We need not think that we are alone; for God and the Heavenly host and
the agents whom He sends here are doing their part in this great work and are
bringing to pass His glorious designs. Every one of us should be encouraged to
labor while the day lasts in this great work. And He will open our way and will
lift us up on high if we are obedient to Him. There is no promise that He could
give that He has not given to us. I pray God to bless us, and to fill us with
the Holy Spirit and the gifts of our religion, which I humbly ask in the name
of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG,
of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said it was always a pleasure to him to hear his brethren bear testimony to the importance of this great latter-day work, and he trusted that the words just uttered by President Cannon would be firmly sealed upon all our hearts. He referred to the responsibilities resting upon the Saints. If these were the last days, if the coming of the Son of Man was nigh at hand, if the calamities and judgments of the Almighty were to follow our testimony to the people, just as the judgments followed the testimony of Noah, then it was all-important that we be upon the watch-tower. All who sought God earnestly might find Him, if they only prayed to Him with a pure and undivided heart. The speaker deprecated the craving of he people for luxuries, and said he believed the Lord had amply provided for our sustenance in this mountain region, independent of other places. Elder young called upon the Saints to observe the Word of Wisdom more steadfastly than heretofore, that their children, the succeeding generation, might be healthy and strong, and said we could not enjoy the peace, inspiration and Spirit of God if we indulged in those things which God had commanded we should not use. When he heard read statistics setting forth that more tea, coffee, tobacco, and other articles deleterious to health were being used now than ever before, he wondered whether the floating population of Utah, of Salt Lake City, was responsible in part for a such increase. He believed not. The ark of safety was offered to us; would we not renounce the things of this world and accept a place in it? The judgments of God were increasing and we must be prepared for them if we desired to be saved hereafter.
[Brigham Young Jr.]
[DNW 50:129, 1/19/95, p 1; CD 4:157-159]
WORD OF WISDOM.
_____
Remarks made at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt [Lake] City, Friday, October 5th, 1894, by
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
It is
always a pleasure for me to hear the testimonies of my brethren in relation to
this great work. I rejoice in the words of President George Q. Cannon, and I
pray that his instructions may be sealed upon our hearts; for God requires at
our hands a faithful performance of our duty. He has placed upon us a
responsibility that few people have had since the world began. If these are the
last days, and all things are to be gathered in one, and we are in truth the
forerunners of the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what a
vast responsibility rests upon us! We cannot comprehend it unless we are
inspired by the Spirit of God. If our message is like unto that which Noah
declared to the antediluvians, then it is just as important to this generation
as his message was to the people in the day in which he lived. If we have the
truth, if the coming of the Son of Man is nigh at hand, if the judgments of
Almighty God are to follow our testimonies to the people as the flood followed
the testimony of Noah, then I say it is all-important that we be upon the
watchtower. These quorums of the Priesthood and these organizations which God
has established to carry light and intelligence to the children of men should
not stay their hands nor close their mouths, but proclaim the glad tidings of
this Gospel which God has revealed, unto the people who know Him not.
I feel in
my own heart that if I were not diligent, according to the light that God gives
me, in declaring His word to the people, I would be under condemnation when the
judgments of God should come. The testimony of the truth has been given to me,
and to this people, and I know that all who seek God may find Him; for He is
not hidden to the least that will seek Him with an undivided heart. Paul says,
"If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost." But the
Gospel is not hid to this people. God has bestowed upon them the light and
intelligence necessary to qualify them for the duties and labors that rest upon
them. Abundance is in the land. Some few are suffering for the want of money; but
there is plenty of everything that God has placed upon the earth for the
sustenance and comfort of man. We never saw a more bounteous time for the
necessaries of life, or harder work to get the luxuries. I look upon the time
in which we live as a day when we are forced, I may say, to do away with
luxuries. The imported articles that come unto us should not be necessities.
These luxuries that we crave so much because of our pampered appetites are not
necessary to the welfare of Latter-day Saints. While I believe that a great
deal of good can come to us from the north and south, and from the east and
west, yet I believe God has furnished us with ample means for our sustenance,
independent of every other people upon the face of the earth.
I cannot
see the necessity of importing vast quantities of beef and pork, tea and
coffee, tobacco and liquor, which are now brought here and find a ready market
among the Latter-day Saints. Yet our streets are full of purchasers of things
from abroad which are unnecessary to our comfort. People do not realize that
those things which are brought to us so plentifully from abroad are, in many
instances, impure. The demand for them is becoming so great that the pure
article cannot be furnished in sufficient quantities to meet it. The tobacco
that we use, the tea and coffee that we drink, are all adulterated in such a
manner as to destroy the purity of the blood of those who indulge in their use.
Do you believe it? I know it. They are adulterated to that extent that no man
can indulge in their use continuously and preserve his health. If I remember
aright, I heard from this stand the servant of God say that the time was when
the Word of Wisdom came to us as a word of persuasion and counsel, but now, he
said, it is a commandment from God that this people observe it. Does anyone
remember hearing those words from this stand more than twenty years ago? I
remember it-and yet I have broken it many times. Is the time coming in my life
when I will observe it? Is the time coming in the lives of this people when
they will observe it, and before God and man carry out the revelation that God
has given for the protection of His people, that they dwindle not, that their
children may be healthy and strong, and a generation be raised up in these mountains
that will honor God, having pure blood in their veins, and strong and healthy
tabernacles, wherein the Spirit of God may dwell to the protection of the work
of the Lord in these latter days? This is what is incumbent upon us, and I know
that we cannot enjoy the blessing and the inspiration of God if we do those
things that God has commanded us not to do.
I said to
myself this morning, has the time come when I will assert myself and honor the
Priesthood that God has given me, and observe the commandments which He has
given? When I hear statistics read that there is more tobacco used, more tea
and coffee drunk, than ever before, more imported pork used, and other things
that are deleterious to health-when I hear these statistics read I wonder if
the floating population of Utah is responsible for the increase. I do not think
so. I think we are. I heard a brother remark that one of the Apostles had
preached a sermon on the Word of Wisdom in a certain place, and had laid it
down just as straight as it could possibly be done, but that from the President
of the Stake down it had made no impression whatever; they indulged themselves
just as freely after as they did before the sermon. They had made up their
minds apparently to gratify their own desires, and let the word of the Lord go
unfulfilled.
Now is
the time, in my opinion, when these revelations on the Word of Wisdom and
tithing must be observed by this people, or they must take the consequences. I
do not believe God will stay His hand much longer if we fail to observe these
things. Preaching has been done long and loud. We have all been preached to in
relation to these matters, and I firmly believe that the time has come when
these things must be observed by the people or they must take the consequences
of disobedience.
Now, if
this exhortation does no one else any good, I pray God it may do me good; that
I may be strengthened and observe the things which God commands; that when the
Elders preach unto me and my family friends that judgment is coming upon the
earth, and they testify that this is the path of safety, we may heed their
words. This is the way to sanctify the land unto the people who dwell upon it.
It is the way which the Lord has signified. This ark of safety is offered to
us. Shall we receive it? Or shall we go blindly forward, determined in our
hearts to follow our own inclinations, and let the flood come, and say,
"There is still a place of safety for me and mine; I can float with the
current and be saved with the balance of the Saints of God?" I do not
think I can do this. On the contrary, I think that the judgments of God are
increasing, and that they are flooding the earth, and the Latter-day Saints
must make this place of refuge a sanctified place for their salvation and the
salvation of those who will listen to their testimonies.
God help
us my brethren and sisters, to make our calling and election sure. God help us
to do our duty, and to build up Zion in His own appointed way; perfect
ourselves and our families, and have a forgiving spirit in our hearts, not a
spirit to find fault with everything we see. That God may help us in all things
requisite to make us perfect in the day of the Lord, is my prayer, in the name
of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
spoke of the numerous calls from abroad for more Elders. Occasionally it was difficult to meet those demands, although when Elders were called they were generally willing to go. A few wished time to settle up their affairs and pay their debts. The speaker deemed a time of stringency suitable for the settlement of financial obligations and the forming of a resolution not to get involved again. He enumerated different parts of the world from which calls for Elders had come, and then dwelt upon the fact that the Word of Wisdom was associated with the missionary field, as young men who used tobacco were not in a condition to go into the world to preach the Gospel. The necessity of selecting men for this calling who are honest, pure and consistent were insisted upon. The financial benefits of refraining from articles that are detrimental to health formed a part of the discourse. The saving would amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The speaker made many profitable remarks upon the subject of the Word of Wisdom in its various features, the benefits of observing and the evil results of disregarding it.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 49:705, 11/23/94, p 1; CD 4:150-154]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt [Lake] City, Friday, October 5th, 1894, by
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I feel
that I can certainly bear my testimony to those things which I have heard this
morning, and I am very grateful to our Heavenly Father that we have so many
evidences of His kindness and mercy towards Zion. We are constantly called upon
from almost every quarter of the globe for more Elders to be sent out to preach
the Gospel, and we have found it somewhat difficult to supply the demand,
although the calls that are made upon the Elders are as a rule responded to
with pleasure and alacrity. The general answer made by the Elders is, "I
feel honored to be considered worthy to be called to go on a mission, and with
the help of the Lord, I will be on hand at the time appointed." But all of
the answers are not of this kind. Occasionally, and especially of late, we
receive replies that run somewhat in this way, "I am pleased to be honored
with a call to go on a mission. But I am sorry to say that at present I do not
see how it is possible for me to respond. I am in debt, and my affairs are in
such a shape that it would be impossible for me to arrange them so that I could
leave upon the mission at the time appointed, and I would be pleased if you
could grant me six months' or a year's time and I will endeavor to straighten
up my affairs and by that time be ready to respond to the call." Of late
we have had quite a number of responses of this kind from the Elders. Of
course, we regret this, not only because we need their services in the
missionary field, but because it grieves us to know that our brethren are in
debt. As we are passing through a time of stringency and scarcity of means, it
is the best time, probably, that we will experience to pay our debts, to get
square with the world, and then resolve in our minds that for the future we
will keep out of debt as far as possible. I have noticed that in times when
money is plentiful and everything is flourishing the people are more prone to
incur obligations that they are liable to fail in meeting them. In times of
scarcity it is easier to economize, to retrench and to settle up our
obligations as far as we can.
We have
demands for missionaries for Holland, and we search all over the country to
find Hollanders who can go back to their native land to preach the Gospel. We
find it difficult, however, to meet the calls that are made upon us for
missionaries to that land. We are constantly called upon for Norwegians and
Swedes to go to their native land to preach the Gospel, and we find it somewhat
difficult to obtain sufficient number for this purpose. It is not so difficult
to find Danes to go to Denmark. We are generally pretty well supplied with
Elders of this nationality. We need Elders to go to Germany. It seems hard to
find good, bright, intelligent men who can speak the German language and who
can go to Germany to preach the Gospel. The Gospel is being opened up
remarkably in that land, and religious toleration is enlarging there. We have
had calls made upon us for Elders to go to the Holy Land, and we find it
difficult to supply the demand. It is the same in other directions. Not that
Elders are scarce; but to find those who are really suited for these calls is
what makes it difficult. When a man is wanted to go to Sweden, we want to send
a man that can talk Swedish; to Norway, a man that can talk Norwegian; to
Germany, a man who can talk German. When we send Elders to the islands of the
sea we are under the necessity of calling young men who are capable of
acquiring with facility a knowledge of a foreign language. In consequence of
this it is not an easy task to obtain a sufficient number of Elders to meet the
calls that are made upon us. In addition to this, as I have said, when Elders
are called upon, one is in debt and cannot go; another has married a wife, must
make a home and cannot go; another has bought him a farm and he cannot go; and
another has entered land and he has to stay until his time to prove up shall
come; and there are a number of excuses of this kind, which adds to the
difficulty we experience in meeting the many calls that are made upon us. But
it must be said that these are the exceptions. The rule is that those who are
called upon respond cheerfully, and this is very gratifying.
You will
please excuse me for talking a little about missionaries. There is a committee
of Apostles appointed to look directly after the calls that are made for Elders
to go out to preach the Gospel, and I happen to be a member of that committee;
therefore, I have something to do in relation to these matters. The word of
wisdom, also, concerning which Brother Young has been speaking, has something
to do with these matters. For when we call upon a young man to go upon a
mission and we find that he is addicted to the pernicious habit of using
tobacco, it is an obstacle to his going. It will not do to send a man out to
preach the Gospel with a cigarette, or a cigar, or a pipe in his mouth. It is a
sorry thing to know that numbers of the young men of Zion who ought to be
fitting themselves for any position in the kingdom of God are addicted to this
pernicious habit of smoking tobacco. Brother Heber J. Grant, probably, when he
shall talk to you, will tell you about how many hundred thousand of dollars
worth of tobacco is smoked every year. The amount would astonish you. Brother
Heber is a mathematician, and he has been making calculations upon this
subject, the result of which will astonish you, I think. A young man who is
addicted to these habits of using tobacco and drinking is not a fit subject for
a mission. He is under the necessity of reforming before he can become
qualified to go out to preach the Gospel to the world. Then think of it for a
moment-the idea of calling a young man to go out to preach the Gospel who needs
to be preached to, and to reform! Is it not a sad reflection on the youth of
Zion that there should be a single young man in Israel who, when called upon to
take a mission, would have to undergo radical changes in himself in order to be
prepared for that glorious work? We do not send young men abroad to preach the
Gospel, if we know it, who are addicted to any pernicious practices. We must
send young men that are exemplary in every way; who are pure-minded and
faithful, and who will go out into the world and do good, not only by precept,
but by example also. I do not know whether there are any young men in this
conference who need preaching to upon this subject, but there may be a good
many fathers here who have sons that will be called to go out to the world to
preach the Gospel, and I would like to enjoin it upon the young men that are
here and upon the fathers and mothers of the young men that are not here that
from this time forth they will set their minds upon pruning out all these dry
branches and bringing themselves to the standard that is set for us in the
Kingdom of God, that when we are called upon for anything we shall be ready and
be willing to say, "Here I am; the Lord can command me, and I am ready to
obey His commands."
It is
important, therefore, that we should observe the Word of Wisdom that has been
given to us. If the members of the Church were to abstain one year from the use
of tobacco, intoxicating drinks, and tea and coffee, there would remain in this
country enough money to pay every debt owned by the people. Talk about hard
times and scarcity of money, when we are paying hundreds of thousands of
dollars every year for these articles that are injurious and hurtful, unfitting
us for the ministry and for good standing in the Church of God. The money
expended for these articles is not kept in this territory; for these things are
not produced here. They are articles that have to be imported from abroad, and
every dollar that is expended for them by the Latter-day Saints goes out of the
country. If there was no other cause than this, it would be ample cause for a
scarcity of means in the territory. We believe that it is unwise for us to
expend our means in this direction. It is doubly unwise. In the first place, it
is unwise for the reason that these articles do not give us health or vitality.
They are not necessary to life or to health. They are only necessary to our
supposed happiness in so far as we have become happy in a pernicious practice.
The drunkard becomes a slave to his drink; others become slaves to the use of
tea, coffee and tobacco, and therefore they consider them necessary to their
happiness; but they are not really necessary to their happiness nor to their
health. Indeed, they are injurious to health. You cannot find an intelligent
physician in the world that will tell you these things are not hurtful for
common use. Every man that knows anything about the laws of life will tell you
that the use of these articles is injurious to the human system. Yet we will
use them, and we will become slaves to them, in defiance of the laws of nature
and the word of the Lord unto us. Thus it is an evil and wrong. Furthermore, it
is wrong because it takes our means from us and gives it to the stranger.
Probably every drop of spirituous liquor consumed by those who profess to be
Latter-day Saints is imported from abroad. Consequently every dollar that is
expended for it goes abroad. We have a number of breweries, I am sorry to say,
in Salt Lake City, and there are a number of people engaged in the brewing of
beer. Of course, the money that is spent in this direction does not go abroad;
but it is a business that is calculated to build up no one but the brewer and
the vendor of his product. It does not build up the man that buys and drinks
the beer. It does not give him strength or health. The brewer and the seller
may become rich and build palaces out of this business; but they are the only
ones that are benefitted by this traffic, while those who patronize them only
become the poorer for it. But aside from all this, the thing is, it is wrong
for the Latter-day Saints to do it. The Lord has laid down a rule for us to go
by. He has told what is good for man and what is not good for man; and if we
will only humble ourselves and acknowledge that the Lord knows what is best for
us, and do as He tells us, we will begin to see the effects of it and be able
to appreciate the beauties of it better than we can now. It is by putting the
word of the Lord into practice that we will be able to appreciate it, not by
simply looking upon it without doing it. When we do the will of the Lord, then
shall we know of the doctrine, that it is of God; then shall we build upon the
rock; then when the floods descend and the storms beat upon the house, it will
not fall.
Let us be
doers of the word, and not hearers of it only. Let us keep the commandments of
God, and not merely pretend to believe in them; for it is an axiom among
mankind that when a man says he believes in something and yet does not do it,
he either is deceiving himself or he is trying to deceive others; but when a
man believes a thing and puts it into practice he is consistent. A man should
walk according to his belief or his knowledge of that which is good. He must be
consistent with his professions, or God will reject him. These are my
sentiments. I believe in obeying the commandments of God, or else get out of
the way. We ought not to be stumbling blocks to those who are trying to enter
in at the door. God will hold us responsible for this. If there is a man on
earth that has done wrong because I have set him the example, I am in some
measure responsible for that wrong, and I will have to pay the debt in some
way. Therefore, that I may not be a stumbling block; that I may not stand at the
door and hinder those who would enter, but that I may be an assistance to those
that are faltering, I want to be consistent with my professions and do the
things that I am commanded to do. No doubt I fail in a great many things, and
others may see my weaknesses and failings much better than I do. We have not
all yet attained the power to see ourselves as others see us, yet it stands to
reason that every man ought to know himself better than his neighbor, and I
believe that every intelligent man does know himself better than anybody else,
unless it may be his wife or his children. Of course, your wife knows you
better than you do yourself, and your children have a great deal of knowledge
concerning you. If there are any defects in a man or virtues either, the wife
and the children will be pretty apt to see them, because he is right with them,
and they see every side of his life-in his unguarded moments, in his
thoughtless hours, as well as when he is on his knees before the Lord. They
know him on every hand. And when a man's wife and children respect and honor
him because of his good examples, you may depend upon it he is a pretty good
man.
My
brethren and sisters, may God bless you, and help us all to live righteously.
May we keep the commandments of God, save our means at home, pay our debts, be
free men and free women, and not bondmen and bondwomen, as many of us are
today. Many of us are in the bondage of debt, and it may be difficult for us to
get out of it; but if we possibly can get out of it in honor, let us bend all
our efforts to that end and do it; that when we are called to go on missions we
can say, "Yes, I am ready and willing to go," and what is more,
"I do not owe anybody, and I have the means to go with, and to provide for
my family while I am gone, that they shall not become a charge upon the
Bishop." If this people will only quit using strong drinks, and tea and
coffee, and tobacco in any shape, and then cut off a great many foolish
extravagances that they have become addicted to, they will have abundance of
means to provide for themselves and their families; and with all, they will
have health, the destroyer shall pass them by, they shall run and not be weary,
walk and not faint, and they shall have access to the treasures of knowledge and
of wisdom. For these are the promises that have been made to those who will
keep the Word of Wisdom. God grant that we may be able to do it, is my prayer
in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang:
Jesus, I my cross have taken.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith
_____
[5 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 49:529-530, 10/13/94, p 17-18]
Afternoon
Session.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in its excellent word.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Singing by the choir:
Zion Stands with hills
surrounded -- Zion, kept by power divine;
All her foes will be confounded, Though the world in arms combine.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW,
of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the first speaker. He said that the remarks made by those who addressed the congregation at this morning's services were full of instruction to the Saints and most profitable for their future guidance. There were promises made to the Saints in former days as well as in the latter-days, by revelation, which were most precious, and they would all be fulfilled in the Lord's own time. The Latter-day Saints had many obstacles to overcome, and their faith would be tested in many ways. The Lord had placed before us incentives of the grandest character, and these we found in the revelations of the present day as well as those of ancient times. The speaker then proceeded to explain the heights of exaltation to which man could attain by constant and undeviating faithfulness to and progress under the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He showed that such could, in eternity, become like God, who is the Father of the intelligences who inhabit the earth. These matters were explained in ancient revelations and God had also revealed them in this age, he having had a divine communication upon this subject to himself. Elder Snow then dwelt upon the course necessarily pursued by those who have this hope in them -- to follow righteousness always, whether under the eyes of their fellow-beings or when beyond their observation. He adduced reasons in support of what had been revealed by God upon this great subject. He assured the Saints that by a course of faithfulness and self-sacrifice they would attain to their highest possible ideals of increase, glory and honor in the future life.
[Lorenzo Snow]
[DNW 49:609, 11/3/94, p 1; CD 4:159-163]
GLORY
AWAITING THE SAINTS.
_____
Discourse
delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday [Friday], October 6th [5th], 1894,
by
PRESIDENT
LORENZO SNOW.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
The
sentiment conveyed in three lines of the hymn which has just been sung, I think
the Latter-day Saints can cheerfully respond to:
Though the world in arms combine,
Happy Zion,
What a favored lot is thine!
I presume
to say that every Latter-day Saint within these walls naturally expects to
receive something before leaving that will be of great advantage, and whoever
comes here with this desire and with an honest heart will never be
disappointed. There were none who listened to the remarks of the brethren this
morning with an honest heart but received something that cheered them and that
will be of use to them. Some ideas were advanced that I never thought of
before, and they were very profitable. We have found in our experience, and
will still find, that the road we have to travel in some respects is a very
hard one, while in other respects it is not so hard. Much depends upon ourselves
in this matter. There are, however, promises which have been made to the
Latter-day Saints that are very precious. We have found undoubtedly in our
experience that it requires something of a desirable nature to incite us to
action. If a person had a strong idea that there was a very precious mine
undiscovered in one of these mountains east he would travel along the road to
secure its discovery, and would be willing to make many sacrifices and perform
much labor and toil in order to get at that mine, and he would endure the scorn
that he might hear daily while endeavoring to reach this. This is natural. The
Lord knew our natures and dispositions, and He knew exactly what to place
before us in order to stimulate us to that course of action which will enable
us to overcome the various difficulties that arise in our path of progress.
The first
hymn that we sung this afternoon speaks of the firm foundation which the
Latter-day Saints have to build upon. We know from our experience that the
foundation upon which we have placed our faith is grand and glorious. I know
this for myself. I had been in this Church but a short time when I succeeded in
securing the most perfect knowledge that there was a God, that there was a Son,
Jesus Christ, and that Joseph Smith was acknowledged of God as His prophet. It
was a knowledge that no man could communicate. It came through a revelation
from the Almighty. That is a very good starting point for a Latter-day Saint,
and it is something that every person, who has any ambition at all to advance
in this path, will need at some time or other. He will come into circumstances
of such a nature that he will need strength, and that strength will come from a
knowledge of the fact that the path in which he is traveling will lead him to
the possession of his highest and best desires.
The Lord
has placed before us incentives of the grandest character. In the revelations
which God has given, we find what a person can reach who will travel this path
of knowledge and be guided by the Spirit of God. I had not been in this Church
more than two years when it was clearly shown to me what a man could reach
through a continued obedience to the Gospel of the Son of God. That knowledge
has been as a star continually before me, and has caused me to be particular in
trying to do that which was right and acceptable to God. There are many things
that people may do without being seen by man. But if those things are wrong,
they feel in themselves that they are wrong and that God sees them. It is a
long time since the knowledge of which I speak was communicated to me in a
vision. But it has not been forgotten. When it was first shown to me it was
personal property; I dared not communicate it. It was something that I had
never heard before. Now, however, it is public property. It seems, after all
the education that we had in things pertaining to the celestial worlds, that
there are some Latter-day Saints who are so well satisfied with simply knowing
that the work is true that when you come to talk to them of our great future
they seem surprised, and think it has nothing to do particularly with them.
John the Revelator, in the third chapter of his first epistle, says:
Now are we the sons of God.
That is a
strange thing for a person to assert-that he is a son of God. And he goes on:
And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know
that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
And every man that hath this hope
in him purifieth himself, even as God is pure.
These are
strange sentiments. Such passages of scripture as this are not very often
repeated in pulpits in the sectarian world because they do not believe what is
there said. But the Spirit of God has conveyed to us that there are solid and
solemn truths in expressions of this kind. Paul, in speaking to the
Phillipians, suggested that they cultivate an ambition which is quite strange
to the people at the present time, though not so to the Latter-day Saints,
especially those who are not satisfied to be but babes in the things of God. He
says:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
What a
strange teaching that would be in the pulpits of the sectarian world! But this
is what Paul taught, and he understood what he was talking about. He was caught
up to the third heaven and heard things, he tells us, that were unlawful for
man to utter. Whether Paul got beside himself and taught things that were
unlawful, we leave others to judge. But this was what he suggested to the
Saints to whom he was writing. Would it be wrong for us to ask the people here
to cultivate an ambition of this character? There are a number of sayings in
the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, that seem strange to people not
in possession of the Spirit of the Lord.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things.
What an
expression is that? Who believes it? If a father were to say to his son,
"My son, be faithful, and follow my counsels, and when you become of age,
you shall inherit all that I possess," It would mean something, would it
not?If the father told the truth, that son would have something to encourage
him to be faithful. Did Jesus want to deceive us when He made use of this
expression? I will assure you that there is no deception in the language. He
meant precisely what He said. Again, Jesus said:
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.
That is a
wonderful saying. Is there any truth in it? It is all true. It is the Lord
Almighty that said it. We are told in the Scriptures by the Apostle Paul:
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal
in the heavens.
I believe
that. And when he says that Jesus "shall change our vile body, that it may
be fashioned like unto His glorious body," I believe that also. Do the
Latter-day Saints believe these things that I am talking about? You must, of
course, believe them. Again:
For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
And he that receiveth me receiveth
my Father;
And he that receiveth my Father,
receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given
unto him.
Could
anyone think of anything more that could be given? As President Cannon said
this morning, everything that can be given, the Lord has given to the Latter-day
Saints. Paul comprehended these things very well, for he said "he pressed
forward to the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus."
In these
remarks which I have made we may see something in regard to the nature of this
high calling in Christ Jesus. Now I will say what I received in vision, which
was just as clear as the sun ever shone. The knowledge that was communicated to
me I embraced in this couplet:
As man now is, God once was.
As God now is, man may be.
That is a
very wonderful thing. It was to me. I did not know but that I had come into
possession of knowledge that I had no business with; but I knew it was true.
Nothing of this kind had ever reached my ears before. It was preached a few
years after that; at least, the Prophet Joseph taught this idea to the Twelve
Apostles. Now, however, it is common property; but I do not know how many there
are here that have got a real knowledge of these things in their hearts. If you
have, I will tell you what its effects will be. As John said:
Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as God is pure.
Now, how
is it that God proposes to confer this mighty honor upon us and to raise us to
this condition of glory and exaltation? Who are we that God should do all this
for us? Why, we are just beginning to find out that we are the offspring of
God, born with the same faculties and powers as He possesses, capable of
enlargement through the experience that we are now passing through in our
second estate. Let me illustrate. Here is an emperor sitting upon his throne,
governing and controlling his empire wisely and properly. He has an infant son
that sits upon the knee of its mother. That son he proposes to one day set upon
his throne, to govern and control his empire. Here is that infant, perfectly
helpless, not knowing how to sustain its own life, not able to walk alone,
without any knowledge, and here is this mighty emperor sitting upon his throne
and governing his vast empire. Who would believe that he could raise that infant
up to such a condition as to make it suitable to be placed on his throne? No
one would, unless he had seen such things accomplished in his experience; seen
the infant develop into boyhood, and then to manhood, possessing all the
powers, faculties and possibilities of its father. Now, we are the sons and
daughters of God. He has begotten us in His own image. He has given us
faculties and powers that are capable of enlargement until His fulness is
reached which He has promised-until we shall sit upon thrones, governing and
controlling our posterity from eternity to eternity, and increasing eternally.
That is the fact in regard to these matters, and there are some people who
understand distinctly what I am saying. Does it seem a hard thing that God
should raise His posterity and place them upon thrones, to govern and control
their posterity from eternity to eternity?
There are
a thousand things that might be said in connection with this subject, but I
refrain from saying more because my time has expired. There are many things
that we have to attend to, and it would pay us well to attend to them. God has
pointed out the results of traveling upon this road of glory and exaltation and
the promises are sure. The Lord knew precisely what He could do. He knew what materials
He had to operate with, and He knew just what He said. If we do the part that
He has assigned unto us, and keep our second estate, we shall be sure to
realize these promises in every particular, and more than you and I can
possibly comprehend. God bless you, my brethren and sisters. Do not be
discouraged. The path may be rough, but much of its roughness arises from our
own indifference and carelessness. It would be much smoother if we would
diligently observe the commandments of God and keep the Spirit of the Lord
continually in our hearts. Yet, after all, there are sacrifices to make, but in
making these sacrifices there is a possibility of having enjoyment in the
anticipation of what will be the final result. Amen.
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN
of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, remarked that the speakers in this Church did not prepare their discourses beforehand, but depended upon the Spirit and inspiration of he Lord for what they might say. Every one bearing the holy Priesthood was expected to bear his share of the burden in the work of the Lord. We had undertaken to build up God's kingdom and accomplish His purposes, and every man bearing the Priesthood who failed to do his duty was under reproach. It was a reproach to teachers when they were unsuccessful in the performance of their duties; so were individual members of the church when they failed to properly regulate their own affairs and those of their families; and the same might be said of the Bishops when they fell short of their duty towards those who looked up to them for guidance. So also with the High Councils of the Stakes. When we, as a people, failed to obey the Word of Wisdom, which had been given us for our temporal good, and neglected to keep the Lord's commandments, it was a reproach to us. Our sins would be forgiven if we were genuinely repentant, which was eternal repentance, and none other could possibly be effectual. We covenanted to serve the Lord when we went into the waters of baptism, and if a man would be saved hereafter he must resolve upon final reformation. There was a spirit of carelessness today among the people not only in regard to the law of tithing, but in other matters.
Our fastday offerings were but nominal, whereas the Saints should always remember the wants of the poor. This was what the Lord required of us. In how many of the fast meetings in Zion today, he asked, were prayers offered as extensively as they should be? He believed there were many things which might be accomplished by fasting and prayer which could not be carried out and attained by individual effort. The Saints were unfortunately too apt to lose sight of this. The speaker condemned an excessive love of pleasure, and deprecated card playing, drinking and other evils practiced by the young in Zion. The subject of faith was briefly dwelt upon, and the importance of daily prayer urged upon the Saints. Some among the Later-day Saints were excusing themselves, for one reason and another, from paying their tithing, but he who provided for us should receive as our offerings the choicest gifts that we could bestow in that direction. When the Lord had so abundantly blessed us we should remember the poor. We had had a bountiful harvest, and hence out of our store should give liberally to those of our brethren who were placed in less fortunate positions. There was joy, happiness and salvation in doing the will of God and in the faithful carrying out of the duties required of us. In conclusion Elder Lyman invoked the blessing of God upon President Woodruff, whose life he prayed might be prolonged for years yet to come, that he might remain at the head of this people.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH,
of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the succeeding speaker. He said here were a great many subjects which might be advantageously dwelt upon at this conference. The theme of those who had spoken thus far on the present occasion had been a reformation of our individual lives, and on this head some excellent counsel had been given. Each and every one of us could look into our own souls and seek wisdom, prudence and judgment to guide us aright. Elder Smith spoke of the obligation resting upon the Latter-day Saints of constant and earnest prayer, in the family circle and in secret as well as in our public meetings. He was fearful, however, that in the midst of the excitement and cares of the day many of us become unmindful of the responsibilities which attached to us in this respect. He believed that among many of the duties which we neglected was the expression of our thanks to God for having in His providence preserved us and our families amid the surrounding temptations of life, and which beset us on every hand. He wondered sometimes whether, in the midst of present experiences, our sisters were as mindful in this regard of their responsibilities as they were wont to be in the days that are past -- now that they are more largely endowed with the comforts and blessings of life. There was no doubt as to the correctness of this latter-day work, for God himself was at its head. The road to repentance was ever open to the Saints, and let them see to it that their lives were so directed that hereafter they would attain celestial glory. May the Lord bless us with a proper comprehension of the doctrines we have espoused and in our daily life continue to watch over and protect His people.
[John Henry Smith]
[DNW 50:161, 1/26/95, p 1; CD 4:`54-156]
THE DUTY OF PRAYER
_____
Remarks made at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt [Lake] City, Friday, October 5th, 1894, by
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
There are
so many subjects upon which an Elder, if he can but enjoy the influence of the
Holy Spirit, may speak, that unless the promptings are direct to him it is
difficult sometimes to make a selection. Up to this point the Lord, by His
Spirit, has aided every one of our brethren that have either prayed or spoken
to us, as also our brethren and sisters who have given us sweet strains of
music to gladden our hearts.
The theme
thus far in this Conference, if I have been enabled to partake of the spirit of
the Conference, has been a reformation in our lives; curing ourselves, so far
as possible, and seeing to it that in the example we set among our fellow
creatures it shall be of that character that no reflection shall come upon us
because we preach something that we do not practice; that when we occupy a
station among the Latter-day Saints, whether it be President, Apostle,
Patriarch, Bishop, High Priest, Seventy, Elder, or of the lesser Priesthood, or
whether, perchance, it be as mothers of the sons and daughters of Zion, each of
us can look into our own souls, consider the circumstances in our own homes,
the necessary reformation therein, and seek in prudence, wisdom and judgment to
overcome these besetments that are in our pathway and that hedge up our
influence.
Among the
requirements laid upon the Latter-day Saints by our Father in Heaven is the
obligation to attend to our prayers; to pray not alone in the family circle,
not alone to teach our children to pray, but that they who have become
conversant with the will of our Father should retire to their secret places and
in the humility of their souls should ask Him, the Giver of all good, to bestow
upon them the faith, the fortitude, and the strength to overcome within
themselves those things that He has pronounced improper for us to say or to do.
I am fearful that in the midst of the excitements that attend us in our
experiences many of us become unmindful of the responsibilities that attach to
us in this respect. Too frequently we go to our labors in the morning having
failed to bow with our households and return to our Father in Heaven gratitude
that He has permitted us to rest in peace during the night. I am fearful also
that too many of us, before we retire to that rest which is so desirable after
the labors and cares of the day, forget to get down upon our knees and, casting
our eyes back over the experience of the day, ask our Father to forgive us for
the wrongs or for the mistakes that we may have committed and thank Him that He
has preserved us and our households from sickness and death. Probably there is
greater neglect of this among the Latter-day Saints than of any of our other
duties. Yet it is a simple requirement, for which there is no outlay of our
worldly means, and only calls for the simple expression of our gratitude to the
Being whom we reverence; thanking Him that we have life, that we have families,
that we have some knowledge of the truth; thanking Him that upon us, in the
midst of our weaknesses, have been bestowed the rights of His Priesthood, and
that in His providence, if we can be but faithful in the discharge of the
duties that rest upon us, we shall stand at the latter day in the presence of
the Living God, the saviors of the races from which we have sprung. But if
perchance, in the midst of the cares, temptations, and trials of life we become
forgetful of the Being who planted within us that faith that caused us to leave
the lands of our birth and to unite our destinies with the Latter-day Saints,
believing in the promises of the Father and in the hopes inspired by the
knowledge of the Gospel-if we forget Him and cease to importune Him for the aid
of His Holy Spirit, and permit the cares that press upon us in the morning to
shut us off from the discharge of this responsibility, or if, perchance, we
find ourselves at the close of the day worn and tired and so annoyed with
things that have arisen during the day that we dare not upon our knees present
ourselves before our Father, we shall find that step by step as the days roll
by this sacred requirement of our Father will grow to be disregarded by us
until we permit ourselves to drift away entirely. I am wondering whether, in
the midst of this experience of ours, our sisters are as mindful in regard to
this responsibility to-day as they were wont to be in the days of the past,
when they were seemingly more dependent upon the goodwill, love, and esteem of
our Father than in these times when around them are more of the comforts and
blessings of life. I regard this requirement as resting upon the Latter-day
Saints in the most sacred form; that it enters into our very lives; that it is
the source of spiritual life itself, and that in a little period of time the
neglect of this requirement will shut them off from accomplishing the sweetest
mission ever given to them-the hope of becoming indeed the uniter of their race
under the laws and ordinances of His house and in harmony with the rules that
He has given by which the hearts of the fathers are to be turned to the
children and the hearts of the children to be turned to their fathers.
My
brethren and sisters, the principles of everlasting life are indeed harmonious
in every respect. The man who ceases to pray and pour out to God the
necessities of his own life and the conditions of his own soul is taking a step
that leads him to cease in striving to fulfil the obligations that rest upon
him in honoring the primary laws given for our government and by which we may
stand free before our fellow men, such as the words of wisdom, upon which the
brethren have dwelt with such telling force, and the payment of our tithes and
offerings.
Let us
reflect upon the great plan that has been presented to us by our Master
himself, the Father introducing His Son, and the Son directing the introduction
and spread of this work, and giving us the rules and regulations, principles
and doctrines by which the people of the world may hear the truth, and by which
the hosts who have gone before, in the justice and mercy of our Father, shall
hear the Gospel and shall receive or reject, as they elect, having placed
before them the principles of everlasting life so clearly and so distinctly
that there can be no misunderstanding. These, my brethren and sisters, are
principles of eternal life. They lay the axe at the root of the tree.
Therefore, say your prayers, in honor before God and in honesty of heart. Enter
the sacred precincts of the places dedicated to His worship. Feel as you enter
there that you have done your part in fulfilling every obligation. There is no
question in regard to the sacredness of this work. Our Father Himself
introduced it. He sent His Son to see that they who should herald it should
know that He lived; to point out the way by which the evils of the world might
be cured, and that men should be lifted up and redeemed by obedience to law,
through the exercise of their agency. And many of us are deceiving ourselves,
because forsooth we believe we can tamper with these laws, neglect the
fulfilment of these requirements, and forget our prayers. When He comes to make
up His jewels such ones will discover that they are not among them. The road to
repentance is ever open to the Latter-day Saints, and it is a good time now to
see to it that so far as possible their lives shall be spotless. Therefore, my
brethren and sisters, I plead with you who stand at the head of a house to be
praying men. I plead with you, my sisters, who preside in the home in connection
with your husbands, to be praying women. I say to you that I am an absolute
believer in the doctrine that no son or daughter will ever be lost from the
house where the father and mother bow to their God in humility and ask Him for
His aid and seek to exhibit in their lives consistency and action in keeping
with the prayers that they offer; that step by step they will move onward, and
should their son or daughter wander away for a season from the home, they will
come back, and by the fireside where they were wont to bow will remember in
gratitude that that father and that mother taught them to lisp a prayer to
their Maker and sought to instill into them by example everything that tended
to ennoble and make man respected amongst his fellows as well as with His
Father in Heaven.
My
testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, is that the instructions which have
fallen from the lips of God's servants are the words of eternal truth to
everyone that has listened to them, and should go forth from this assembly and
create such a revolution in favor of everything that is good and pure and true,
that a condition would be brought about in which every man, woman, and child
would rejoice. We will rejoice when no longer the fumes of whiskey and tobacco
are upon the breath of our brethren. We will rejoice in the victory of that man
who can say, "I hold God and His laws in advance of a cigarette, in
advance of a drink of liquor, in advance of a chew of tobacco, or in advance of
any of those things which He has designated as improper for us to use." We
should seek by every means in our power to lay these things aside, and observe
to keep His commandments.
May the
Lord bless us with faith. May He bless us with a proper comprehension of the
doctrines we have espoused. Above all, may He bless us with the moral courage
to be what we decided we would be when we entered the waters of baptism and
received our confirmation in His Church, believing and sensing by the witness
He gave that it was true. Amen.
The anthem, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord," was sung by the choir.
Benediction by Elder Seymour B. Young.
_____
[6 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 49:530-531, 10/13/94, p 18-19]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Morning
Session, October 6th.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Redeemer of Israel, Our only
delight On whom for a blessing we call;
Our shadow by day, And our pillar by night, Our King, our Deliv'rer , our all!
Prayer was offered by Elder Jesse N. Smith.
The choir sang:
All hail the glorious day! By Prophets long foretold.
ELDER MOSES THATCHER,
of the quorum of the Apostles, was the first speaker. He said he had been very much edified with the instructions given at this Conference and he prayed that the same Spirit and power which had been manifested thus far would remain with them to the end. The only source of happiness lay in walking in the strait and narrow path which leadeth unto life eternal. We should ever remember the covenants we had made with the Lord and with each other. New obligations might devolve upon us from time to time, but we should never forget that cause which we had espoused -- that of the Lord Jesus Christ, and nothing should swerve us from it. the Lord expected us to be governed by principle, to be true to Him and each other.
A variety of subjects had already been touched upon, all for the edification of those who had listened to the remarks made by the brethren. If we kept the commandments of God all would be well with us; on the other hand, if we had been weak and changeable and partook of the spirit of the world we were on the wrong path. We had partaken of that spirit in many ways and had not always been prudent in our acts. Nothing, in his opinion, had done more to weaken the faith of some among us than the wider introduction and consideration of state matters in our midst. This had engendered in some quarters a spirit of which we had no reason to be proud. The theory of state government was wholly different from that of the Church, the latter being governed only by the law of God, through the constituted authorities of His Church. Could it be said that the Gospel of the Son of God had failed to make us charitable, generous and broad? While when administrations changed the dominant party might feel it its duty to change the workers in the municipalities, states and in the national government, for a man in this Church to carry his politics so far, if he were a republican, that he felt he could not employ a Democrat, or vice versa, showed a narrowness of mind of which he thought, we ought to get rid. If he himself had employment to give, he never asked a man what his politics or his religion was. That made no difference to him so long as the man was a good workman; and he could truthfully say that some of his dearest friends in the world were those who did not see eye to eye with him politically. He said this much because he had seen a spirit in the midst of the Latter-day Saints that was not commendable, broad and generous, and not equal to the example set to us by our outside friends. He trusted that hereafter we should look better to these things and manage them upon the broad and not the narrow gauge. The speaker also addressed himself to the youth of Zion, expressing the hope that those who were over them would watch vigilantly that their steps were directed aright, in order that they might be kept aloof from the sins of the world which in these days beset them on every hand.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE,
of the quorum of the Apostles, next addressed the Conference. He spoke of the Mexican mission. It was going along with fair success. More help was wanted, in the shape of men of endurance and courage, to build up the settlements and establish new ones. Sonora needed aid in getting out water to enable the people to redeem the land. The mission had all the organizations for the progress of advancement of the Saints in the truth of the Gospel that existed in other divisions of the Church. These associations were in good operating condition. Repentance was the next subject dwelt upon, the speaker insisting that it was needed among the Saints. It was more noble to overcome bad habits in youth than to do so later in life. The lives of the people should be uniformly good throughout. There was no excuse for those professing membership in the Church using tobacco and other articles, the action of which was deleterious to the body, as well as being detrimental to the moral nature. Those who indulged in such habits ought to call upon the Lord to assist them to put aside all practices that were opposed to the commandments of God, instead of allowing those things to overcome and control them. The word of God to his people was "repent of all your shortcomings and vicious habits and prepare for the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Lord." The Lord knows the hearts of the Authorities of the Church, that they call upon Him to have mercy upon His Saints and move upon them to turn more fully unto Him. The necessity of compliance with the law of tithing was next treated, the speaker holding that strict conformity to the requirement was the way out of our present financial embarrassment. This, he said, was the word of the Lord, for God would open the windows of heaven and pour out an abundance of blessings upon His Church if its people, as a whole, would fully comply with the revelations that had been given on this subject. Elder Teasdale continued for some time in the same strain, giving valuable suggestions to people who were addicted to habits at variance with the requirements of the Gospel, indicating how they could overcome and be delivered from their weaknesses. He himself had been forced from such conditions by individual persistence in resisting them and by assistance from God, on whom he relied for help.
[George Teasdale]
[DNW 49:769, 12/8/94, p 1; CD 4:163-168]
NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE
_____
Discourse Delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt [Lake] City, Saturday, October 6th, 1894, by
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I hope
that the same Spirit that has inspired the speakers in this conference may be
granted unto me while I shall address you.
With
regard to the Mexican Mission, my field of labor, I wish to say that we are as
successful as could be expected. Some of our settlements require more
colonists; especially is this the case in Sonora. Getting out the water and
putting it on the land requires some solid bone and muscle. We need good
pioneers, men that are practical workers, and who are able to subdue the
elements; for in the establishment of settlements, as well as in the preaching
of the Gospel, it requires men of nerve and determination. Every organization
in the Mexican Mission, I am happy to say, is complete. There is a presidency,
there are two patriarchs, a high council, bishops, and teachers, relief
societies, young men's and young ladies' mutual improvement associations,
primaries, Sabbath schools and day schools. We have all the difficulties to
meet that are incident to the formation of new settlements. Our aged brethren,
who helped to lay the foundation of this territory, know the obstacles that
they had to contend with, and those who have been favored with experience in
opening new settlements, and in making the barren places "blossom like the
rose," know what a glorious work it is to be engaged in, and fully understand
the necessity of hard labor as well as of patience, faith, hope, and sterling
integrity.
I have
been wonderfully impressed at this conference with the necessity for all of
repentance. I think the Saints who have listened to the burning words that have
been uttered by the inspired servants of God realize that our Heavenly Father
requires us to repent and to turn unto Him with full purpose of heart if we
desire to prosper in the land. The promise was made many years ago to the
ancient inhabitants who dwelt upon this continent that those who would serve
God and keep His commandments should prosper in the land. And this is the word
of the Lord to us to-day. We are told that if we desire to be a prosperous
people we must be a God-fearing people; that we must not be hearers of the word
alone, but doers of it also. I tell our little children in our Sabbath schools
that the reason we are here in this state of probation, is for the purpose of
making a good record, the record of a well spent life, and that the foundation
of such a life is laid in our youth. As we lay the foundation, so are we likely
to build upon it. Although we make every allowance for the exuberance of youth,
if our children desire to be successful in this life they must not lay the
foundation in bad habits. It is easier to resist these habits in youth than it
is in after life. It is so satisfactory to men and women to have the record of
a well-spent life. There cannot be true liberty without virtue. Chastity,
purity of thought and holiness of life alone can produce peace and lasting
happiness. Under the influence and power of the Spirit of God we realize our
own weakness, our own nothingness, and how dependent we are upon our Heavenly
Father for everything that we enjoy or ever expect to enjoy. I have thought
what must be the feelings of men in the Church who are under the baneful
influences arising from the use of tobacco, intoxicants or from other bad
habits? What excuse can be given? What can we say to our file leaders; what can
we say to the Lord Jesus Christ, in justification of anything of the kind? Let
me ask my brethren, if there are any here under those influences, have you any
faith? Do you not believe in God? Do you not believe that it is by His grace
that we are able to overcome? Overcome what? Our bad dispositions, our bad
habits, our evil propensities. Is not this promised to us in its most literal
sense? Our Father hath said, "Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow." Unto whom does he say so? To the sinner. When we go and
preach the Gospel we carry these glad tidings of great joy, and what are the
conditions required? That we shall cease to do evil. Is it not evil to set a
bad example in the midst of Israel? Is it not evil to be under the influence of
pernicious habits? Is it not time that we should repent and that we should call
unto the Lord that He would give us power over our bad habits, and enable us to
set a godly example in the midst of Israel? My fellow laborers, I can assure
you that you will have the faith and the prayers of the Presidency and the
Twelve Apostles that God will give you grace, to overcome and put away all your
evils. My feelings of compassion go forth to men under these baneful
influences. When I was engaged in business in this city, a friend of mine on
one occasion came to me for some tobacco, and he said to me, "Brother
George, I would give all that I possess if I could overcome this baneful
habit." A good sister, purchasing tobacco for her husband said,
"Brother Teasdale, we are obliged to have tobacco, for there is no living
in the house with the man unless he has his tobacco." In either case was
the man a bad man? No, each was a faithful laborer in his sphere. God had
gathered them from the islands of the sea. They knew that the gospel was true.
But they had not strength of character to overcome this habit. One was a friend
of mine, that I had known when I was traveling and preaching the Gospel. He and
his family would give the best that they had to the servants of God, and would
turn out of their beds that the Elders might have a comfortable place to lay
their heads, treating them as they would our divine Master. Do you not think
that I have tender compassion for such men? I have. They are my fellow
laborers. They are men whom the Lord has thought fit to gather to Zion, and to
ordain with priesthood, and whose grace is able to give them strength to
overcome all evil habits.
A
powerful influence rested upon the servants of God while speaking yesterday on
the Word of Wisdom and the necessity of paying tithing. What was the word of
the Lord to Israel? It was, Repent, O ye, my people, put away all your
pernicious habits, sanctify yourselves before the Lord, and prepare for His
kingdom and coming. The question is, will we do it? Will I do it? It comes to
me as to every individual member of the Church. Will the boys and the young men
say, "As for me, I am going to prepare myself for the Kingdom of God and
the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." O, my young brethren, that you would
be wise, and that while these habits are yet new to you you would rise in the
dignity of the children of Zion, born heirs of the everlasting covenant, and
say, "As for me, by the grace of God, I will put away every bad habit, and
will separate myself from evil companions and examples." If we want
prosperity, if we want to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth, let
us hearken to the word of the Lord, and with broken hearts and contrite spirits
let us call upon Him in mighty prayer, and ask him to deliver us from our
besetting sins. And, as I have said, for our encouragement we have the prayers
and the faith of the authorities of the Church, who speak as they are moved
upon by the Spirit of God. The Lord knows their hearts; He knows they are
touched with the infirmities of the people, and they plead before Him to have
mercy upon His heritage. Oh! that we would rise up in the dignity of our
calling and plead before the God of Israel, and no longer feel, "I cannot
do it," but say, "I will, by the grace of God." It is only by
His grace that we are enabled to do anything. What have we but what the Lord
has given us? We are so self-sufficient sometimes, in our own estimation, we
think we are wonderful financiers, if we are successful, and sometimes sit in
judgment upon those who are not so fortunate. I do not consider that this is a
right spirit. Should we not acknowledge the hand of our Heavenly Father in all
things? We talk about financial pressure. There never was a time when we ought
to be more strict in the payment of our tithing than now. You that are in
financial difficulties, I say unto you, that if you will pay your tithing
honestly and acceptably before the Lord, and your offerings for the poor, God
will deliver you from your financial difficulties. If you doubt it, try it.
"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." That is the word of the Lord to the people. The
question is, will we do it? The Lord will have our hearts or nothing. If He has
our hearts, then He will have everything that we possess. He has given us all
that we enjoy today. May I ask you what you expect to enjoy in the future that
you do not look to our Heavenly Father to bestow? I do not know anything that I
have but what the Lord has given me and it belongs to Him. I am merely a
steward, and there is nothing I look forward to in the future but I expect to
receive from His hands. I acknowledge His hand in all things to the best of my
endeavor. And I know it is the mind and will of the Lord that the people should
repent. These were my feelings under the inspiration of the Spirit that rested
upon those who have addressed us. They direct our labors; we strive to be their
faithful servants and sustain them in their positions. We do not merely hold up
our hands at Conference, and covenant with Almighty God to sustain them as
Prophets, Seers and Revelators, and as the Presidency of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and then go on the street corners and sit in harsh
judgment upon them and their doings. That is not the way to sustain the
Presidency. That is not keeping our covenants. We have covenanted to sustain
them, and if we want to understand what they are doing, let us have faith to
ask the Lord to open our eyes, that we may see and thus be in harmony with Him
and His servants. That is what I want. I want to be in harmony with the Spirit
of the Lord. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My
ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." How can
we sit in judgment? By what right and authority? Are we living our religion?
Are we keeping the commandments of God? Is there greater light and intelligence
given to us than to them? One would sometimes think so, to hear the unfortunate
reflections of men who love to sit in judgment upon others. It would be a
thousand times better for us if we would sit in judgment upon ourselves, and
criticize our own weaknesses and our own nothingness.
I pray
God that He will have compassion upon us, and upon His heritage, and give my
brethren power to overcome all their bad habits and to be exemplary men in the
midst of Israel. This is my prayer, and it is the prayer of my beloved fellow
laborers. They plead for the heritage of God. Who could listen to the discourse
of President Lorenzo Snow yesterday and not feel his littleness? How unworthy
we are to dream of attaining to the heights of glory and excellency he
portrayed as being promised unto us in the Gospel of the Redeemer. Shall we be
an ungrateful people, or shall we be determined, by the grace of God, to do His
will and keep His commandments? Oh! my brethren and sisters, as I desire to be
saved, as I desire your salvation, and that we should not only be associated
together here in the establishment of His righteousness upon the earth, but
that we shall be associated together throughout the countless ages of eternity
in the presence of our Father-as these are my feelings, I do entreat you, I
entreat myself, to be reconciled to God and accept of eternal conditions. I
know how we feel when we are in meeting. I know when we are under the droppings
of the sanctuary, when the burning influence of the Spirit of God is in our
very bones, we feel that we will never again be guilty of doing a wrong thing;
but when we get outside, and in the battle of life, and under the pernicious
influences that lead to destruction, we weaken, and we are guilty of
wrong-doing. That old pipe cannot be laid aside; that cigarette is bound to be
smoked. "I shall have a headache all day if I don't take a cup of
tea." "I shall never survive, if I don't take my coffee." That
is the feeling we have, and we justify ourselves in it. What is the philosophy
of tea and coffee drinking? Why do we take it? Well, it's a warm drink, and it
is comforting to us. What do you want to send to China for? What do you want to
send to Mexico and the islands of the sea for? Why do you not take some native
barley and roast it, and take your warm drink? Why do you not take some native
herbs and make your own tea, if you are obliged to have the warm drink? If you
cannot drink cold water and cold milk, take it warm. I say this especially to
these aged brethren and sisters. An aged sister said to me the other day:
"It will never do; I can't drink any more tea or coffee." What's the
matter? Why, it was under the influence and power of the Spirit of God that was
upon my brethren in their addresses that conviction came to her heart, and to a
great many others that were present.
Now, I
say, be kind to yourselves, be wise in your day and generation. Be careful and
do not put yourselves in bondage. What you do, do when you are converted, and
when you are converted, convert your brethren. I am reminded of an incident
that occurred while I was traveling in London. Going to a sister's house to
tea, in company with some of the brethren, we sat down and had warm milk and
water, and she did not drink any tea. You know it is common in England to drink
tea, just as common as it is to drink coffee in the States, and I said to her,
"Good sister, don't you drink tea?" She said, "No, Brother
Teasdale." I said, "How is that?" "Well," she said,
"I see that the Elders who visit me never drink tea, they always drink
water or warm water and milk, and I thought that if they could do without it, I
could." "Well," I said, "what has been the result? Do you
feel as well since you have given up your habit of drinking tea?"
"Oh, Bro. Teasdale," she said, "I feel a great deal better, for
while I was drinking tea, I was subject to nervousness and was low spirited,
but since I have quit, I have been another woman." We can overcome these
habits if we want to. I was raised on tea and coffee, like the rest of the
English; but the Lord has delivered me, insomuch that I cannot take any credit
to myself for not drinking tea or coffee, simply because I do not want it. I
have no desire for it now, consequently I cannot say that there is any
particular credit to me. I can bear my testimony, however, that God has
delivered me from bad habits through faith and prayer. Hence I can say to my
beloved brethren and sisters that there is a God in Israel who hears and
answers prayer, and if it is the desire of our hearts to keep His commandments,
He will help us to do it. I am a living testimony of this, and that is the
reason I say to you who are under these influences, ask the Lord for strength
to resist them and He will deliver you. I heard of an old gentleman who came
into this country at the time when they used to bring the emigration by teams.
He had lived in Scotland and had been addicted there to snuffing, and that
practice has just as much influence over a person as anything. When he came to
the point in Emigration canyon where he could see the city (not such a
delightful looking city as it is today by any means), he quietly took a pinch
of snuff, then laid down his box, walked away from it and never touched snuff
afterwards. There are men who have had the tobacco habit born and bred in them.
They commenced it as children. They came into this Church, they understood the
Word of Wisdom, the requirements of the servants of God, and in order that they
might be clean men they have been able, by the grace of God, to overcome this
habit and put it away, insomuch that today it is repulsive to them.
I say this in encouragement to any that are under these baneful influences. God
bless you, my beloved brethren, who are subject to these habits. God bless you
and deliver you from your trouble, for I know it is a curse to you. You feel
ashamed of yourself, especially when you come into the society of the servants
of God, and you hear the word of the Lord that you should not be guilty of
these things. You feel humiliated to the dust and wish you could overcome it,
and I have pointed out the way. I say unto you, go in faith to your Heavenly
Father, and ask Him for the promise and He will deliver you from all evil. I am
sorry when I see little boys smoking cigarettes. I wish they would be more kind
to themselves. It is through the pernicious example of their elders. They think
it manly to smoke. It is manly to overcome bad habits; it is manly to resist
evil and to do right; it is manly to be meek; to be gentle, and to overcome our
bad dispositions. Do you not believe these principles? I am thoroughly
converted to them, and I have been converted by the power of God's Spirit. He
has delivered me, and I know that He has delivered my brethren. Sometimes we
get over harsh towards those who are not yet delivered. As God has been
merciful to us in delivering us from pernicious habits, so I plead that the
same kindness may be extended to my fellow laborers.
Brethren
and sisters, I am happy beyond expression to be with you and to be your humble
servant and fellow laborer in the glorious cause of the Redeemer. I know that
God lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that by faith and prayer
miracles can be wrought, not only to the healing of the sick, but to the
overcoming of our bad propensities. I know that Joseph Smith was a true servant
of the Son of God, and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
presided over by Presidents Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F.
Smith, is the Church of the living God. I bear this solemn testimony to you,
and rejoice that I have the privilege. You may ask me how I know it. I have had
an experience of over forty years in it. I have seen the power of God
manifested. I have seen the signs follow the believer. Above all, I have had
the witness of the Holy Spirit. No matter what course I may take in the future,
though I may be overcome and fall away, it will never invalidate this
testimony, for I testify in all solemnity that God has spoken from the Heavens,
He has established His Church upon the earth, and blessed are they who have
ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to comprehend the glorious principles of
this everlasting Gospel.
I wish to
testify that I am in harmony with the First Presidency and the Apostles, and
that I strive, in my weak way, to magnify my calling and to fulfill the
individual mission that our Heavenly Father has given unto me. May He give us
all grace to accomplish the missions that He has given unto us. We have come
many miles to hear the word of the Lord, and I am well repaid, if I do not hear
another word, for my long journey and the difficulties and fatigues thereof. I
suppose there is not a man or woman that has come to Conference but that feels
to say, "Glory be to the God of Israel, who hath spoken in these days, who
feeds us with the bread of life, and who teaches us of His ways that we may
walk in His paths." That we may have the understanding heart and grace to
overcome and endure unto the end in His kingdom is my earnest prayer, in the
name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT,
of the quorum of the Apostles, next addressed the congregation. He said his heart was full of gratitude to his Heavenly Father for the privilege of being present at this Conference, and for the valuable counsel which had been given them by those brethren who had preceded him. The speaker endorsed the remarks of Elder Teasdale in regard to the pernicious and too common indulgence in the use of tea and coffee among the Latter-day Saints, and expressed his deep regret that the Word of Wisdom was so lightly observed. Excuses were too common among the people, on the slightest pretext, and this referred to the law of tithing and other matters as well as the Word of Wisdom. The commandments of God were not kept as they should be, even by some of those in authority. If a man thought more of a cup of tea or coffee, a cigarette or a chew of tobacco than he did of his priesthood, he thought he ought to resign his priesthood. That had been the feeling in his heart lately. We heard a good deal of hard times. On this head Elder Grant drew a striking picture. He said that the total amount paid in tithing by the Latter-day Saints in the year 1893 was a little over $151,000, and they expended in breaking the commandment of God, by disobeying the Word of Wisdom, in round numbers, a little over $1,000,000. In other words, they expend over $6 in cash in that same way for every dollar paid in tithing. He had faith in the integrity, honesty and testimony existing in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints. He knew that they desired the honor and advancement of God's kingdom, and that the mistakes they made were, as a rule, mistakes of the head and not of the heart. But when they reflected upon what he had already said, did they not think that some of those mistakes of the head ought to be remedied? Because he certainly did. The average price of wheat in this Territory today was 40 cents; yet he had been informed that there came in here over 100,000 pounds per annum of one particular brand of smoking tobacco. Hence it took 160,000 bushels of wheat to pay for that one brand of tobacco, and this notwithstanding the fact that the Latter-day Saints had been preached to for the last fifty or sixty years that tobacco was fit only for sick cattle. The statement had been made by the agent for this particular tobacco that Utah led every state and territory west of the Missouri river, in proportion to her population. in the consumption of that one brand of this weed. He prayed with all his heart, and without railing at anybody, that a change for the better would take place at once in this respect.
The speaker adverted to the monument about to be erected to the memory of the late President Brigham Young. Many thousands of dollars, he said, were still owing on the statue, and it had been therefore decided to call upon the Latter-day Saints to contribute something toward it. He hoped that every man, woman and child among this people would give what they could spare towards so laudable an object, from 5 cents up, so that all of them might have the privilege of saying that they helped towards the erection of that memorial. In conclusion Elder Grant invoked the Lord's blessing upon the Saints.
[Heber J. Grant]
[DNW 50:1, 12/22/94, p 1; CD 4:169-173]
WORD OF WISDOM.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt [Lake] City, Saturday, October 6th, 1894, by
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
My heart
is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the privilege that I have
enjoyed at being present at this conference, and I am grateful indeed for the
teachings which have been given to us. I do pray with all the earnestness of my
heart that every soul that has listened to the advice and counsel which have
been given during this conference may seek to God for the aid and assistance of
His Holy Spirit, that they may be enabled to carry out in their lives the words
of God that have been delivered to us here to-day. I confess to you, my friends
and fellow-laborers in the cause of God, that I have been humiliated beyond
expression to go to one of the Stakes of Zion, to stand up and preach to the
people and call upon them to obey the Word of Wisdom, and then to sit down to
the table of a President of a Stake, after having preached with all the zeal,
energy, and power that I possessed, calling upon the people to keep the
commandments of God, and to have his wife ask me if I would like a cup of tea
or a cup of coffee. I have felt in my heart that it was an insult, considering
the words that I had spoken, and I have felt humiliated to think that I had not
sufficient power, and enough of the Spirit of God to enable me to utter words
that would penetrate the heart of a President of a Stake, that he at least
would be willing to carry out the advice which I had given.
I
remember going to a Stake of Zion but a short time ago and preaching with all
the energy I possessed and with all the Spirit that God would give me upon the
necessity of refraining from the drinking of tea and coffee, and I heard also
at that conference a very eloquent appeal to the Latter-day Saints by a man
who, I understood, was a president of a quorum of Seventy. But when we came to
take our meal, he jokingly said that he could not do without his tea and
coffee, and he proposed to have it and suffer the consequences. I remember
going to another Stake of Zion and preaching to the people on the necessity of
refraining from tea and coffee and giving some figures upon the wasting of the
people's means; and the president of the Stake, remarked, after I got through,
that he thought the Lord would forgive them if they did drink their coffee,
because the water in that Stake of Zion was so bad. I did not say anything, but
I thought a good deal, and I had to pray to the Lord and to bite my tongue to
keep from getting up and doing something that I never have done in my life, and
that is, to pick out a man and thrash him from the public stand. I felt that God
owed me a blessing for not publicly reproving that man, because I wanted to do
it so badly.
Now, I
had made up my mind before I came to this conference that I would not open my
mouth upon the Word of Wisdom. I have become so discouraged, so disheartened,
so humiliated in my feelings, after preaching year after year both by precept
and example, to realize that there are Bishops, Bishops' Counselors, Presidents
of Stakes, and Patriarchs among the Church of God
whose
hearts I have not been able to touch, that I had about made up my mind that I
would never again say Word of Wisdom to the Latter-day Saints. I felt that it
was like pouring water on a duck's back. It had seemed to me as if I could not
get sufficient of the Spirit of God to penetrate the hearts of the Latter-day
Saints. But after listening to the remarks that have been made here, I feel to
rejoice and thank God for what has been said; and I feel that my labors among
the people are approved of God, whether they listen to what I say or not. We
seem to get into ruts as a people, and we justify ourselves in doing that which
is not pleasing in the sight of God. A man who does not pay his tithing makes
excuses for not doing it. A man who does not keep the Word of Wisdom makes
excuses for not doing that. I want to say that there is not a man or a woman
among all the Latter-day Saints but who could keep the Word of Wisdom if they
got down on their knees, as Brother Teasdale has advised, and pray to God for
help. The Lord has said that these words of
wisdom
are adapted to the weakest of the weak among the Latter-day Saints, and I have
not only felt but said within the last week or two, to the Presidency of the
Church, that I was on hand to make the motion to call upon certain individuals
holding high and responsible positions in this Church to resign their offices
or keep the commandments of God. I endorse with all my heart a remark made here
yesterday by President Joseph F. Smith that if a man is standing in the doorway
that leads to life eternal and by his pernicious habits he is blocking up that
doorway and crowding others out, let him stand aside or let him reform his
life.
Now, I
want to make all mistakes on the side of mercy; but once in a great while I
want to see justice get just a little bit of a chance among the people. If a
man thinks more of a cup of tea or coffee, or a cigarette, or a chew of
tobacco, than he does of his Priesthood, let him resign his Priesthood. That is
the way that I have been feeling lately. I want to say that if I hold the Apostleship
with the spirit of an Apostle, I feel as though I am almost justified, if after
preaching to the people a president of a Stake gets up and casts doubt upon
what I have said, in saying something from the stand against that man, whether
he likes it or not. I am naturally earnest in my makeup, and I realize that I
make greater mistakes than drinking a cup of tea or coffee; but I do try for
the Spirit of the Lord, to know these mistakes and to endeavor to overcome
them; and I want my brethren who preside over me in the Presidency and in the
Apostleship to tell me of my mistakes. I also pray God to help me to overcome
them. Those of us who know our mistakes and our errors, if we will seek for the
light and the inspiration of the Spirit of God to overcome them, we can do so.
We hear a
great deal about hard times. The Latter-day Saints last year expended in
breaking a commandment of God by disobeying the Word of Wisdom, over a million
dollars. In other words, the Latter-day Saints expended more cash in breaking a
commandment of God than they paid tithing. I have faith in the integrity and
honesty and in the testimony existing in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints. I
know that the Latter-day Saints desire the onward advancement of God's kingdom.
I know that the mistakes they make as a rule are mistakes of the head and not
of the heart. But when we stop to reflect; that a great deal more is expended
by the people in breaking a commandment of God than they pay in tithing, do you
not think that some of the mistakes of the head ought to be remedied? I do. The
average price paid today for wheat in this Territory is about forty cents, and
yet I am told that there comes into Utah Territory every year over one hundred
thousands pounds of one brand of smoking tobacco, called the Duke of Durham,
and as I understand it retails at eighty cents a pound, it takes one hundred
and sixty thousand bushels of wheat to pay for that one brand of smoking
tobacco!
And we
have had preached to us for the past fifty or sixty years that tobacco is only
fit for sick cattle! The agent of this tobacco gives us the proud distinction,
if you consider it so, that Utah Territory leads every other State and
Territory west of the Mississippi River, in proportion to its population, in
buying Duke of Durham smoking tobacco. Do you know that it is humiliating to me
to realize that a man can make such a statement? There must be more or less
truth in it, or I do not think he would say it. We raise in this Territory some
four or five millions of bushels of wheat a year, and at forty cents a bushel
it would take 2,500,000 bushels of that wheat to pay for all we consume in
breaking the Word of Wisdom. A pound of coffee amounts to thirty cents and a
bushel of wheat only amounts to forty cents, and there are sixty pounds in it.
I went out to Wasatch Stake not long ago, and took dinner with Brother Hatch,
the President of the Stake. He gave me a cup of coffee, and it was very good
indeed, and it only cost three-fourths of a cent a pound, because it was made of
wheat. I am acknowledged to be a crank on home productions and home
manufactures, and when I get first-class coffee for three-fourths of a cent a
pound, I ought not to be such a fool as to pay thirty cents for it. If a man
pays one cent a pound for wheat and makes coffee of it, he is making
twenty-nine cents profit by not drinking the other article. Brother Hatch told
me that by browning it well and steeping it a long while it was not necessary
to grind it up, and that it made first class chicken feed after you had had it
for coffee. Then, if it is worth one-third the original price for chicken feed,
that would make the coffee only half a cent a pound, and the actual profit made
by drinking home-made coffee would be 6000 per cent. Now, if we could only make
6000 per cent in investing in some business, how soon we would all get wealthy.
And every one of you coffee-drinkers can make 6000 per cent on you coffee if
you do not on your other investments-that is, Brother Cannon says, if you keep
chickens. (Laughter)
I will
not say anything about the greater blessings that you will receive by keeping
the commandments of God; that when you have any sick you are entitled to call
down the healing influences of the Spirit of God into your homes; that you are
to have health and strength and power given unto you, and hidden treasures of
knowledge. All these things you will find recorded in the Word of God revealed
to us and known as the Word of Wisdom. But I have been requested by President
Smith to give a few figures, and that is why I am talking on this side of the
question. We have it given as a fact that in the business that is transacted
only five per cent of it is actually in money; the balance is in exchange of
values. Money represents to the business world what the blood represents to the
body of man. The heart takes that blood every few hours and it goes through the
body over and over again. Tons and tons are pumped by the little heart within
us in a day or two. Yet it is the same blood going over and over again. It is
the same with money. It goes over and over again. Brother Brigham Young stated
to us here yesterday that twenty years ago the Prophet of God laid it down to
this people that the Word of Wisdom was no longer given merely by the way of
constraint, but that it was from that time a commandment of God that we keep
it. Now, if we have expended from half a million to a million dollars a year
for twenty years in breaking this commandment, the total amount would be at
least fifteen millions of dollars of money during that time, and with compound
interest semi-annually at 10 per cent for the term of twenty years it would
amount in round numbers from thirty-five to forty millions of dollars, or
enough to build Salt Lake City. As I have said, it takes two and a half million
bushels of wheat, at the present price, to pay for breaking the Word of Wisdom.
Where are there any Latter-day Saints who would contribute a bushel of wheat to
have a match set to it? Where are there any Latter-day Saints who would gather
together 2,500,000 bushels of wheat and burn it up? Yet I say that it would not
be half the crime in the sight of God to burn that quantity of wheat as it is
to spend its equivalent in breaking a commandment of the Almighty God. I am
informed that there is in the neighborhood of $250,000 worth of tobacco
consumed in this Territory by the Latter-day Saints alone. Figuring on the
basis of $5 of actual circulation of money to every $100 of business that is
done, if we could save in this Territory a million dollars a year of hard cash
that goes out for these articles, that amount of money, circulating around
during the year, would cancel twenty million dollars of the bondage of
indebtedness which to-day rests upon the people. I remember hearing Brother
George L. Farrell in the Assembly Hall six months ago make a statement with
reference to home made goods, and I have quoted it at every conference I have
been at since, and I expect to go on quoting it. He stated that he bought some
home made shoes, and he met at the depot the man he owed for making these
shoes. He went up to him and gave the $5. This man turned around, saw another
person that he owed, and handed him the $5. He saw another and gave it to him;
and he saw another and gave it to him; and he saw another and gave it to him;
and the fourth man walked up to Brother Farrell and said, "Brother
Farrell, I owe you $6; here is $5 of it, I will give you the other dollar the
next time we meet." The $5 canceled, in about the same length of time it
takes to tell, $25 of debts. And debt is bondage; therefore, it lifted $25 of
bondage from the shoulders of these people. Now, if this $5 canceled $25 in ten
minutes, to make a mathematical calculation, how much will it cancel in the
remaining 364 days and twenty-three hours and fifty minutes of the year?
Figuring on what a million dollars would do for the Latter-day Saints if they
were to obey the Word of Wisdom, I say to you that it would make the Latter-day
Saints, in twenty years from to-day, the wealthiest rural and laboring people
in these United States, in proportion to their population, if they would save
his money that is now worse than burned up. In speaking in this way I do not
wish to rail at anybody, because I want to say that some of the sweetest
spirited men whom I have ever known, and men as true to the Gospel as I ever
could be, have disobeyed the Word of Wisdom. But I endorse with all my heart
and in all humility President Smith's remark that if any are standing in the
door of salvation and their example is injuring other people, let them step
aside.
I want to
make a few remarks on another subject. A statue of President Young and Pioneers
has been executed and a great many thousands of dollars are due on it. It has
been decided by the Presidency of the Church to call upon the Latter-day Saints
to pay something towards that statue, and I hope that every man, woman and
child will pay from five cents up, so that every one of us can say, when the
monument is erected on the corner of this block, "I contributed something
toward erecting that." I take pleasure in being able to say when I enter
the Temple at Logan that I gave some means towards erecting that monument to
the name of God. When I went to the St. George Temple to be married I felt to
thank God that I did something towards erecting that house, where I was to
receive that great blessing from God -- a wife. I feel to thank God that I did
something towards erecting the Manti Temple and the Salt Lake Temple. And there
is not a child but who will rejoice in after years, in seeing the statue of the
Prophet of God upon this block, to know that he cast in his mite towards
erecting it. President Cannon told us last night that the senator from Wyoming
recently stated at a public gathering in Denver that President Young was one of
the greatest men America had ever produced. He was to us the Prophet of God,
the mouthpiece of God. In this Tabernacle, in the Temples, in Z.C.M.I. store,
and in the theater, we see the monuments of his greatness. In the settlements,
from the north to the south, we find the labors that he did for us. Many an
Elder in Israel to-day owns 160 acres of beautiful land that he owes to the
foresight, inspiration and determination of President Young. Why? Because they
themselves lacked faith to settle the very places they now occupy. I understand
that in all the beautiful valley of Cache the finest agricultural spot is the
town of Lewiston. I am told that when the Bishop was sent there, under the
direction and inspiration of the Spirit of God to Brigham Young, he felt as
though he was called upon to sacrifice almost everything and to live in poverty
all the days of his life, and he wanted to go back to Richmond, have his twenty
acres of land, and live and die there. Yet I do not think to-day that that man
would give twenty acres of land in Lewiston for about forty acres in Richmond.
It was the carrying out of the inspiration of God that located Lewiston, and
scores of other places in this Territory. I feel in my heart a debt of
gratitude for the material wealth that Brigham Young has given to this people,
and I want to be one of those who shall erect that statue in his memory. I have
had influential men from the east and the west say to me times without number,
"Why, Mr. Grant, I am supprised in traveling around this beautiful city
and seeing the evidences of the ability and statesmanship of Brigham Young, to
find no monument to his name." He has monuments that he left to his own
name, as in the case of this Tabernacle; but we have erected no monument to show
our appreciation of his life and labors for us. Let us all do something, and
have our children do something, and the burden will be very light. I have
contributed my mite, and I want to make another contribution, and I propose
that every one of my children shall save their nickles and dimes until they get
a dollar, and let them remember by the sacrifice they made in saving these
nickles that they did something to erect the statue to our beloved prophet. May
God bless you is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come, let us anew our
journey pursue, Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
Benediction by Elder B. H. Roberts.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 49:531-532, 10/13/94, p 19-20]
AFTERNOON
SESSION.
Singing by the choir:
Softly beams the sacred dawning Of the great millennial morn.
Prayer by Elder Jonathan G. Kimball.
Singing by the choir:
We're not ashamed to own our
Lord And worship him on earth;
We learn to love His holy word And know what souls are worth.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR,
of the quorum of the Apostles, addressed the congregation. He prayed that the Spirit of the lord would accompany his remarks, that they might be directed aright. He had been greatly edified, he said by the words which had fallen from the preceding speakers, for some excellent advice had been given for the guidance of the Saints, and which, if carried into practice, could not fail to accomplish great good. The speaker adverted to what was termed the doctrine of Christian science, by which it was claimed people could be healed of their infirmities. But the gift of healing was no new thing in this, the Church of Jesus Christ, and he would deplore to see any of the Latter-day Saints drawn away by the mere doctrines of men. Power was given unto the evil one to deceive the children of men -- even the elect of God, if it were possible. The speaker bore his testimony to the successful gift of healing among the Latter-day Saints, based upon his own individual experience, and remarked that by faith nothing was impossible. The Lord would give us faith and strength sufficient unto all things if we only sought Him with a true heart and a contrite spirit. God bless the sons and daughters of Zion; let them not doubt the servants of God, those in authority over them, but cease to criticize the authorities of this Church, who acted in all things as the Lord inspired them from time to time. It was always safe to follow their counsels; for had they not brought this people through trial and persecution up to this day? If we kept the commandments of God our salvation would be sure. Let us be faithful and seek to bring as many souls as possible into the fold of Christ. Following in the line of previous speakers, Elder Taylor deprecated the use of tea, coffee and intoxicating drinks among the latter-day Saints, and, in conclusion, besought his hearers to do their utmost in helping to build up the kingdom of God on earth.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL,
of the quorum of the Apostles, bore an earnest testimony to the truth of this work. He had the satisfaction of learning this before he joined the Church, when about only nine years of age, in answer to prayer, and had received evidences of that truth all along the line. The Lord sustained the Prophet Joseph Smith in the midst of all his trials, and He had sustained those who had since followed him at the head of the Church. Those who attempted to criticize the actions of the servants of God stood on dangerous ground. The Lord had chosen these brethren himself, and not one of them had sought the position which he occupied. Was it our place to regulate the Presidency of this Church? No, and the man or woman who continued to do this would, sooner or later, lose the spirit, and their minds would become darkened. He trusted the Saints would be humble, meek and lowly and avoid anything that was calculated to engender a feeling of dissension or ill-will. Elder Merrill spoke upon the gift of healing, the power of which, he said, was in the midst of the Saints today. The Presidency of the Church had a deep interest in the people and their welfare, and that was why they exhibited so much anxiety in their keeping the commandments of God. Temple work was dwelt upon by the speaker, who said the spirit of this labor had not yet rested upon the people to the extent that it should. It was important that we should minister not only for the living but for the dead -- those of our kindred who had died without a knowledge of the true Gospel. As to the financial depression with which we were now face to face, the Lord would deliver us in his own due time. The speaker besought the people to live within their means and not to mortgage their homes under any circumstances. To those who owed money he would say, pay to the utmost farthing as soon as you can, and so relieve yourselves of the burden which presses so heavily upon you. He feared we had been too extravagant in the past and trusted that a lesson had been taught us in this regard as to the future. The speaker prayed that the blessings of heaven would be poured down abundantly upon this people.
ELDER A. H. CANNON,
of the quorum of the Apostles, referred to the pointed instructions which had been given to the Saints during this Conference, and said he trusted to see a practical application made of the truths to which they had listened. If such were the case revelation would increase in our midst. He was convinced that the heavens were full of instructions for this people; and it was our duty to seek for revelation and seek to learn the mind and will of God upon every matter which came under the consideration of the Saints. It was improper on the part of the people to approach the Presidency of the Church upon trifling matters which they themselves should settle, thus leaving the authorities to devote all their time to the more weighty things of the Church. He did not know of a single instance where the heads of the Church had ever led the people astray. When they gave counsel the Lord was with them.
Elder Cannon said he desired to speak against a spirit which had been growing to some extent among some of the younger members of this Church who had given their time to the study of theology. There was a danger against which they should guard themselves, and this lay in a disposition toward a criticism of the doctrines of the Church as presented by the living authorities. When any counsel came from President Woodruff which seemed to be in conflict with the written word of God we should follow the living oracles, and the time would come when we would appreciate a reconciliation of these. It as absolutely necessary that the spirit of revelation should guide the authorities of this Church, to enable them to deal justly with all. The speaker urged the Saints to exhibit the spirit of charity, mercy and long-suffering towards each other, and said he was thankful for the spirit of reformation which was extending among this people. If necessary the Saints should be prepared to die in support of the principles of truth which God had revealed to them.
The choir sang:
The Song of the Redeemed.
Benediction by Elder C. D. Fjeldsted.
_____
[7 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 49:532, 10/13/94, p 20]
THIRD
DAY: SUNDAY, OCT. 7.
MORNING SESSION.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn beginning:
We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet, To guide us in these latter days.
Prayer was offered by Elder L. W. Shurtliff.
The choir sang:
High on the mountain tops A
banner is unfurled;
Ye nations now look up; It waves for all the world.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
addressed the congregation. His discourse was of a general character and therefore embraced a variety of subjects, among which were: The wide existence in this generation of unbelief in God and the danger to which some of our young men were exposed by contact with it; genuine and spurious revelation; influences which seek to weaken the authority of the holy Priesthood; opposition to the Gospel of self-denial and the conflict between God and Satan; the power of the Lord shown in the building up of this community, whom He designed to be a united people; the curse of God that would follow those who prevented the bringing of children into the world; the comprehensiveness of the Gospel, which is the panacea for all the ills that afflict humanity, and the greatness of the promises made to the faithful. The speaker concluded by predicting a great and influential future in the earth for the people of God.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 49:737, 12/01/94, p 1; CD 4:174-183]
In
standing up this morning to address you, my brethren and sisters, I humbly
crave an interest in your faith and prayers; for if I say anything that will be
instructive, it will have to be through the aid of the Spirit of God. It is
seldom that I have felt as weak as I now do in standing in the presence of this
vast assembly.
The
conference thus far has been one of great interest to me. I have enjoyed the
remarks of the brethren very much, and I feel that the Spirit of the Lord has
been with His servants in addressing us, and much valuable instruction has been
given that if remembered and acted upon will cause us to be a better people. I
think there is no people that ever lived-at least, I do not find an account of
any-that has had such a wealth of instruction and counsel as the Latter-day
Saints have had since the organization of the Church in these days. It is true
that there have been dispensations in which the people have been further
advanced than we are, because the Lord and His servants had worked among them
for a greater period of time than they have among us, as, for instance, in the
days of Enoch; but for the length of time that the Church has been established
there has been an outpouring of instruction and counsel that, I think, is
without a parallel in the history of mankind. If we are not a great people,
through goodness and fidelity to the principles of the Gospel, it is because we
have neglected the opportunities that the Lord has given unto us, and the
counsels and revelations that have been so freely imparted to us. I do trust
that the
words
that have been spoken at this conference have not been spoken in vain; that
they have not fallen on barren soil; that they have not reached unwilling hearts;
but that the spirit which has prompted them will rest upon us and inspire us to
carry them out in our lives.
I am
deeply impressed myself with the importance of the Latter-day Saints living so
close to the Lord that they will feel for themselves the importance of the
principles which are taught to them. We live in a peculiar time. There are a
great many agencies at work among the children of men; a great many false and
delusive spirits; and a great deal of unbelief concerning God and His power and
interposition in the affairs of the children of men. There may have been times
in the history of mankind when an equal amount of skepticism upon these points
prevailed; but I doubt very much whether there ever was a generation that was
so completely hardened in their hearts in regard to God and His providences as
this generation in which we live. You can scarcely find a people now who have
any faith that God interposes in the affairs of the children of men. Those who
call themselves the most enlightened proclaim that the universe is governed by
fixed and immutable laws; that effect follows cause, and that God does not
suspend these laws, nor interpose in any manner to prevent their operation.
Therefore, they say, it is useless to ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to
interpose in behalf of mankind; men must endure the consequences of their own
acts, and there is no way of avoiding the operation of these laws. There is, no
doubt, an element of truth in these theories; still, they mislead and have a
wrong effect upon the mind. For God does ask us to have faith in Him, to
believe in Him, and to appeal to Him; and He gives us the promise that if we do
so in faith He will interpose in our behalf, and He will bless us in ways that
are unknown to men and by means which are invisible to mortal sight. He gives
us this encouragement in the Gospel, and He calls upon us to exercise faith in
Him and in His word; and we have proved His words to be true upon these points.
But it is a difficult thing in the midst of this widespread unbelief, and these
false doctrines and theories which come to us and to our children in the guise
of science, to prevent the spirit of unbelief from influencing us. This also is
one of the great obstacles in the way of the education of our children. The books
which are in our schools, and from which our children are taught, contain
theories that are unsound; they are based upon false premises, and that lead to
wrong conclusions; and it requires the utmost care on the part of parents and
teachers to prevent bad effects following education based upon such text books.
Hence it is that when our young men go east to obtain education they are
exposed to dangers that are more terrible, according to my view, than a
contagious disease. I would rather my sons and daughters should run the risk of
some infectious disease than be exposed to the influences that prevail in some
of the schools of the land and in the text books that are used therein-that is,
without some influence to counteract their effect and to show wherein they are
fallacious and unsound.
We have
all these things to contend with. The rising generation have to be watched over
with a care that in former times was not necessary. There is danger in
education of this kind. Yet there is an ardent desire on our part that our
children should be educated, and upon their part to receive education, because
it is the spirit of the age. Our young people are full of desire to obtain
knowledge and to qualify themselves for the duties and labors that are likely
to devolve upon them. But while giving them education there is danger of their
losing their faith in the eternal truths of heaven. Although we have taken
pains to organize our young men who go east to school, and to have them hold
regular meetings, partake of the sacrament and bear testimony, yet the
information comes to us that there is an inclination in the minds of some of
our young men to adopt the false theories that are taught and to yield to the
spirit of unbelief that is prevalent in these institutions of learning.
We have
also another influence that is seeking to obtain power in the midst of the
people of God. There was a time when revelation from God was universally
denied. The religious world announced that the day of miracles had passed; that
God had given all His revelations, and they were embodied in the Bible, and
that it was in vain to look for further revelation from Him. This belief was
universally taught. Even the Catholic Church, that considers itself the
successor of the churches organized by the Apostles, while claiming great power
for its priesthood, did not believe in revelation from God. Of course, those
who did not believe in God denied it as a natural consequence of their
unbelief. But what a change has taken place! In the days when the Saints were
driven from Jackson County, Missouri, one of the chief charges brought against
the Latter-day Saints was that they believed in miracles, that they believed in
a prophet, and that that prophet received revelations from God. But who is
there now that does not believe that there are means of obtaining communication
with the spirit world. That belief has become almost as universal as the former
unbelief was. The spiritualists, as they are called, have risen up, as well as
other organizations, entertaining this belief, until now no one scarcely will
assert that communication with the spirit world is not attainable. The
probability of it, at least, will be admitted. Right in this Territory we have
pretenders arising, claiming that they have the authority of the Priesthood, or
that they have the power to work miracles, and even going so far, in some
instances, as to reproach the Latter-day Saints for a lack of power to work
miracles, asserting that they possess it to a greater extent than we do. All
these influences exist around us, tempting the unwary and having influence upon
those who are weak in their faith concerning the divinity of the work of God
and the authority of the Holy Priesthood.
Then,
again, there are influences at work which deny the authority of the Holy
Priesthood, asserting that it is contrary to man's liberty; that it is in
opposition to the principle of liberty to pay any special respect to the
utterances of the bearers of the Priesthood of the Son of God. This is becoming
somewhat common. There is a fear in the minds of many that some influence of an
improper kind, and which they do not want, will operate upon the minds of the
Latter-day Saints, because they believe that God has appointed a Priesthood in
His Church, and that He has given authority to that Priesthood. The effort
seems to be to destroy, if possible, the influence of the Priesthood, and to
show how dangerous a power it would be if it were allowed to be exercised as it
is supposed that the Latter-day Saints believe it should be exercised.
All these
things are operating at the present time in our midst, as well as in the earth,
the evident object being to destroy, if possible, the work of God and to
deceive the people, so that they will not receive the doctrines of the Son of
God. Of course, if men can be taught to believe that miracles can be wrought by
some power that they can obtain without submitting to the ordinances of the
Gospel, that weakens the influence of the Gospel. If you say to
mankind,"You must believe in Jesus Christ, you must repent of your sins,
you must put away evil far from you, you must deny yourselves, and bring your
appetites and passions into subjection to the Gospel of Christ, in order to
receive the Holy Ghost and the power which accompanies it"; and if at the
same time they are taught, through some other agency, that it is not necessary
to repent of sin, to forgo the gratification of lust and to put away evil, can
you not see how it weakens the influence of the Gospel, and how cunning a plan
it is to destroy the children of men? So in relation to these other things of
which I have spoken. When men and women found that they could receive
communication from the spirit world through some other agency than the Gospel,
of course they seized hold of that. They did not want revelation and
communication from God when it had to be obtained by self-denial and by a
strict compliance with the laws of God. But when the bars were thrown
down and
they were told that, no matter what they were-drunkards, whoremongers, or sinful
in every respect-they could obtain spiritual communication, then the whole
world, speaking generally, ran after this false doctrine, and these pernicious
practices, because they could obtain these without any regard to purity of
conduct or of life. Satan has taken these methods to destroy the children of
men. Men say, "Oh, there is no devil." They deny the existence of
that being. But you Latter-day Saints who have received the Gospel, do you not
know, by your personal
experience,
that there is a being of this kind, though your eyes may never have beheld him?
Certainly you do. You know it by these evidences that I have mentioned; but you
know it better perhaps by personal experience. When you joined the Church in
your native lands, you know the storm of opposition that raged against you. You
saw the effect of Satan's influence; and you have seen it ever since. We have
constant evidence of the existence of this power in the falsehoods and
misrepresentations that have been indulged in and the murderous spirit that has
been manifested against the people of God. If the world were to open their
eyes, they would behold before them the evidences of these two great powers-the
power of God and the power of Satan. Satan has inspired men with murderous hate
and with the spirit of falsehood. He has done this from the beginning. Jesus,
in speaking of Satan, said he was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. And
those who follow him receive the same spirit. We have seen it manifested. It
has cost the best blood of this nineteenth century. It is this spirit that has
stirred up hatred and animosity against us, through which all manner of
persecutions have been visited upon the Latter-day Saints. It has cost human
suffering to an indescribable extent in our generation. It has cost human life
beyond computation. Men, women and children have died through the sufferings
that have been entailed upon them through this inhuman spirit which Satan has
disseminated among the children of men. It would require the pen and the tongue
of an angel to describe the sufferings that have been entailed upon the people
of God through this power of Satan. God alone knows the anguished hearts, the
pain and the sorrow which it has caused. Virtue has been trampled underfoot.
Truth has been maligned and vilified, until it has been made to appear of the
blackest character. All this has been done through the influence of which I
speak. Satan has reigned in the earth; he has built up a great power in the
earth; and he is determined that he will maintain his dominion in this earth.
He and those associated with him are bent on destroying the work of God and
wresting from the hands of Jehovah the authority that belongs to Him. This is
his determined purpose, and he has sought to accomplish it from the time when
man was placed upon the earth until the present. Under his influence, blood has
flown in torrents. He is the father of contention and of strife, and he seeks
to destroy the children of men. He is determined to destroy the work of our
Father, and to bring us into subjection to him. The great contest that is going
on in these last days is a contest for the control and supremacy of this earth,
Satan being determined that he will maintain his control, and the Lord having
spoken and said that the day is at hand when the earth shall be redeemed from
the power and dominion of Satan, and wickedness shall be swept from its face.
We are engaged, my brethren and sisters, in this great contest. We have been
told repeatedly that God has reserved in the heavens choice spirits to come
forth in this last dispensation, because of the greatness and the magnitude of
the work to be accomplished. Of course, among the spirits of men, as we have
proved in our mortal existence, there are differences of degree. It has required
apparently the most valiant men and women to come forth in the last days for
reasons which ought to be plain to those who reflect. This is not a short-lived
dispensation; it is to go on increasing in power and volume until it shall fill
the whole earth, and the earth be redeemed and sanctified. And, of course, it
requires great valor, great obedience, and great gifts in order to accomplish
the end that is to be attained under the promises of God. The Lord has
permitted spirits to be born among the various races of mankind that are fitted
and qualified to accomplish this great work. He has called His servants as
fishers and as hunters to go forth to the various nations of the earth, and
hunt and gather out therefrom those spirits who shall be drawn to the Gospel.
The Gospel has been like a magnet among the nations. It has drawn to it the
pure, the meek, the lowly. Thousands can testify that when they heard the
servants of God proclaim the message which they bore, that God had again spoken
from the heavens, that the everlasting Gospel was restored and that the
authority to administer its ordinances had been given unto men, they embraced
the message with all their hearts. The only fear that they entertained was that
it was almost too good to be true. The Elders who have gone forth know how this
has been. They have found these men and women just as fishers and hunters find
the object of their toil and search. They have drawn these people together, and
the power of God has been poured out as never before. No human being has ever
witnessed, nor mortal pen has ever written, anything like this work. Never has
there been such a work as this in which we are engaged. Never has the power of
God been poured out so universally upon the people of every land and clime as it
has been in our day. Under its influence the people have been impelled to
gather into one place, there to worship God, to keep His commandments, to build
up His kingdom and to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
My
brethren and sisters, are you not impressed with the greatness of the
undertaking that God has assigned unto us? Are you not impressed with the
necessity of faithfulness to this work? Are you not impressed with the
importance of upholding the authority which God has restored to the earth?
True, He has chosen the weak things of the world; but it is no evidence of the
inferiority of their standing before God. The lowliness of their birth, the
lowliness of their surroundings and of their connections is no proof that they
are inferior in the sight of God. The Son of God was born in a stable, cradled
in a manger. Who among the sons of men had such lowly surroundings as this
glorious Being? One of the Godhead, the Son of the Eternal Father, the Redeemer
of the world! Think of it, born in a stable, cradled in a manger! And who were
His associates? They were fishermen-of the most despised occupation in the
land, and yet, who were they? Jesus said to them, Ye which have followed me, in
the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye
also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
That was
to be the dignity that they should attain unto. They should sit as judges of
the house of Israel. And Paul told the Saints in his day:
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and
if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest
matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
It is a
blessing to us that our fathers were in such lowly circumstances as the Gospel
found them; for very few of those who are in what are called the upper classes
of society have received the Gospel of the Son of God. It has seemed as though
these spirits were purposely sent into lowly homes, into obscure families, and
into places where, when the Gospel was sounded in their ears, there was not so
much to sacrifice in order to receive it.
This is
the work we are engaged in, my brethren and sisters, and we should be engaged
in it with all our hearts. We should contend against the evil influences that
are around us. We should keep our hearts open to the influences of the Spirit
of God. We call upon the people with unwearying effort and with unceasing voice
to live so near to God that they shall know for themselves. You remember the instance
of the two young men in the camp of Israel upon whom the spirit of prophecy
fell. Their brethren of the seventy had gone out of the camp unto the
tabernacle but they remained, and the spirit of prophecy fell upon them and
they prophesied in the camp. Joshua, the servant of Moses was jealous because
of their having received this spirit, and he told Moses about it. The reply of
Moses was that of a man of God, who understood the things of the Kingdom of
God. There was no narrowness, no jealousy in the heart of that noble man. He
said unto Joshua,
Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's
people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!
He was
glad to hear that the spirit of prophecy had rested upon these two men. He
would have been glad if it had rested upon every man in Israel. So it is today.
Would God that all the Elders of Israel, and all the Latter-day Saints, were
filled with every gift and grace that God ever bestows on human kind!
Would to
God that this entire people would live so as to commune constantly with Him!
Would the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles be jealous? Not in the
least. Oh! how easy it would be to govern this people, to direct these
apostles, these bishops, and these elders if they were filled with the Spirit
of God and the power of the everlasting priesthood. Who could be jealous under
such circumstances? It would be hailed as the most glorious day that had ever
dawned upon the human family if every man and woman in this church were to live
so near to God that they would have the visions of eternity before them and
comprehend the things of God as they really are. Do I speak now of something
that cannot be reached? No, it is within the reach of every human being that
will keep the commandments of God. You can walk in the light, brethren; you can
walk in the light, sisters. You can have the light and power of God constantly
with you, to lead and guide you in all the things of the kingdom. And that is
what we are laboring for; that is why we preach to you; that is why we visit
you when we can, and talk to you as we do. Our purpose is to stir you up, as
sons and daughters of God, to have the power of God, and to be in close
communion with your Heavenly Father. He is not our Father alone. He is your
Father, and He sends us as His messengers to you. He tells us what to say to
you. He fills us with His Holy Spirit, till it seems, at times, as though it
would burn us up. No human tongue can express the great desire that fills our
hearts toward you. We want you to be saved. We want you to be exalted. We want
you to fill your missions and to build up the Kingdom of God, never to be
thrown down. That is our desire. It is with us by night and by day. We yearn
over this people as a mother does over her children, and we testify to you
concerning these things because we ourselves have proved them. God himself has
told us concerning these matters, and we do not speak that which we do not
know. And the Lord is going to hold us as a people accountable for the light
and knowledge He has given and the opportunities He has offered us. I say to
you, therefore, we must be obedient to the voice of God; we must listen to His
counsels; we must seek to know His mind and will. Can I describe the glory that
awaits us if we are faithful? I cannot. No human tongue can describe it. The
only way to know it is by having the spirit and power of God, and revelations
and visions given to us.
But I
know that He intends to exalt you, to give you glory, to crown you, and to have
you sit upon thrones. This is no imaginary thing. You will not wield a barren
sceptre. You will not wear a crown that will not be emblematical of power. God
intends to bestow power upon you. But He will have you faithful, He will have
you humble and obedient, and He will have you united. We are now passing
through things to test us.
Allusion
was made yesterday by Elder Moses Thatcher to the spirit of acrimony that he
said existed among the people; such a spirit is wrong. We must cultivate a
spirit that will make us united, though we may differ in our views concerning
the methods of government. The Latter-day Saints have got to be tried in this.
The Lord has permitted it for a wise purpose, and He wants us to be a wise
people and not forget the principles of the Gospel. For I tell you, my brethren
and sisters, that we have not for years been saying to you in vain that the
time is coming when the people of God will exercise great influence in this
land. If we will be wise, temperate in the exercise of power, and conform to
the principles that He has taught us, we shall be a shining light in the midst
of this nation. The eyes of the nation will be directed toward us. They will
see that God is with us-or some power that they have not got. They will see
that there is a superiority about our organization that they do not have.
Already
the course that the Lord has pointed out for His servants to take has been
vindicated and is being vindicated more and more, and the day is not far
distant when these things will be recognized by the nations, our own nation
especially. Therefore we should prove ourselves worthy, and show that we are
indeed a people such as they have heard we are. We are noted for a few good
qualities, and we should maintain these qualities. One of them is our honesty.
We should be an honest people. We should be honest in our dealings one with
another, and no man, if he act honestly in all things will ever fail to receive
the Spirit of God to help him, while no dishonest man can ever hope to have the
Spirit of God with him to any extent. We must not take advantage of one
another. We must carry out the principles of the Gospel in our personal
dealings. Another characteristic that we are noted for is our frugality. We are
said to be a frugal and an economical people. This is true in part, but we
should cultivate this. We are said to be a united people. This is true to a
certain extent. It is thought-and I wish it were so, in some respects-that if
the First Presidency were to tell you to do a certain thing you would do it
without question. That is not correct. There are no more independent people on
this land than the Latter-day Saints. They have proved it by embracing the
Gospel in the midst of the adverse circumstances which surrounded them, but if
the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles and other officers of the Church have
influence it is because they teach the people correct principles, and the
people recognize them and carry them out. It is only in this that their
influence consists. But we should be more united than we are. These
characteristics, for which we are noted, should increase among us.
Now in
relation to virtue. While I think we compare very favorably with many
communities, I fear that there is too great a laxity in some quarters in this
direction. I know however, that God will cleanse that element from our midst.
One of the inevitable consequences of the practice of unchastity is the
departure of the Spirit of God from those who indulge in it. They become weak
in the faith, and are severed from the Church of Christ. This has been the case
from the beginning; it will continue to be the case, for this work has within
itself the power of purification. The principles of the Gospel have the effect
of self-purification. The Church is kept cleansed by the power that is within
it. Those who do wrong and continue therein lose the Spirit of God and go into
darkness. There is one thing that I am told is practiced to some extent among
us, and I say to you that where it is practiced and not thoroughly repented of
the curse of God will follow it. I refer to the practice of preventing the
birth of children. I want to lift my voice in solemn warning against this, and
I say to you that the woman who practices such devilish arts, or the man who
consents to them, will be cursed of God. Such persons will be cursed in their
bodies, cursed in their minds, cursed in their property, cursed in their
offspring. God will wipe them out from the midst of this people and nation.
Remember it. Mothers, teach this to your daughters, for I tell you it is true.
I need not pronounce any curse, whatever my authority may be, but I say to you
that women who take this course, and men who consent to it, will be cursed of
God Almighty, and it will rest upon them until their generation shall be
blotted out, and their name shall be lost from the midst of the Saints of God,
unless, as I have said, there is deep, thorough and heartfelt repentance. God
will also cleanse the adulterer from our midst. The man that is an adulterer
and the woman that is an adulteress God will curse. The Lord's vengeance will
be kindled against such, and it will follow them unless they repent with full
purpose of heart. I warn you, therefore, on this day of our Lord, in this
solemn assembly, against these practices. A man cannot look upon a woman to
lust after her without losing the Spirit of God, unless he repent with all his
heart. God will have a pure people. He will have a people in whom His Holy
Spirit can take up its abode; their tabernacles must be pure; their thoughts
must be pure; their words must be pure; all their actions must be holy or God
will reject them. Hear it, ye Latter-day Saints! for I tell you it is true.
Girls, shun vice and the society of the vicious. Do not hope that you can
convert a wicked man. Go with those who are disposed to be pure and virtuous
men. Choose them for your companions, and shun the society of the evil-doer.
Both sexes should do this. Do not go with those who drink, or with those who
gamble, or with those who swear. Go with those who want to serve God. These are
things that our young people should observe. There is another point that occurs
to me that I will speak about, and that is a disposition on the part of many of
the Latter-day Saints to scatter. They hear of some good valley afar off where
they think they can do better than where they are living, and they draw off,
some going in one direction and some in another. Now I want to bear testimony
to you, in this conference, that this is not the spirit of this dispensation.
The spirit of this dispensation is to gather together. Do not be afraid to get
too close. Do not encourage the desire to go to places remote from the body of
the Church; but fill up the land that God has given unto us. This valley of
Salt Lake can sustain thousands of people more. There is plenty of land if
proper steps were taken. Families need not scatter and break away from home
influences and from the social associations that we have. The policy that
characterized the building up of the first settlements in this country is the
true policy-not to scatter out on farms, but to keep in communities where every
member can have all the advantages of society, of education, and of amusements,
and where the children can be kept under these influences. As I travel through
the land and see houses scattered miles apart, I wonder how human beings can
live in that condition and develop. It is not the way that God designs His
children should live. It is not necessary for Latter-day Saints to live in that
manner, only when a settlement is being formed. But we should be able to
organize wards, and to have meetings, schools, and places of amusement for our
young people. Not that I am opposed to the Saints going, under certain
circumstances, to distant places; but let it be done under the direction of the
servants of God, and let new settlements be formed under the proper influence.
I feel to caution the Saints about this. Cling together. Live as close together
as you can, and maintain that intercourse that has been so delightful in the
past.
Another
thing in connection with this. We have frequent appeals to us about benevolent
societies. I need not mention any names. We are not opposed to any society that
is formed for a good purpose. We want them to do all the good they can. We desire
them to prosper in their labors for charitable and benevolent purposes. But I
want to say to all the Latter-day Saints that God has founded Zion, and the
poor of His people, the Prophet says, shall put their trust in it. Now, this
Zion of ours is a grand charitable and benevolent institution. No institution
or organization on the face of the earth possesses any good thing that we do
not have already. As Latter-day Saints we need not join temperance
associations, nor benevolent associations. I say to you that these are not
objects that we should seek after. We should cling to Zion and put our trust in
God. If you will read the revelations of God, you will find a plan marked out
plainly for the care of the poor that is broader than can be found anywhere on
the earth, and it has come from God. But you say, "That has not
come." Nor it never will come if the Latter-day Saints divide their
strength and go elsewhere. Let us concentrate our strength in Zion. Let us
unite our faith to bring this glorious plan into operation as soon as we can.
For Zion is the place, and this is the organization, to effect the redemption
of the poor among the children of men. It is a perfect plan, for it is revealed
by the God of perfection. I would like my words concerning this to reach all
the people of God, and I say to them, God has founded Zion, and it is for us to
put our trust in it. There is nothing better. We have done more for the poor
than any organization on the face of the earth, and we expect to do more. We
are organized for the purpose of saving the poor, to be kind to them, to feed
and clothe them, and to teach them how to earn their own living. We do not want
to become paupers, nor to be dependent upon other people. We do not want their
funds to bury our dead. We want to bury our own dead, and to take care of the
widow and the orphan, after the husband and father has gone. And here in Zion
exists the power to do this, and the willingness to do it, to some extent,
which willingness, I trust, will continue to grow until there shall be no
suffering in our land. This is what we desire. We receive letters from one and
another, saying they have joined such and such an organization, and asking
whether they cannot do this. We say, "Yes, do as you please, you are your
own agents." But we are already organized; it is no new thing for us to
help the poor and the afflicted; it has been the work of our lives, and we
expect to continue to do it until the perfect system is organized on the earth.
And the organization of this system only depends upon the faith of the people.
But if one draws off, and another draws off, when do you think the Zion of God
will be built up? God will have to remove the people who do this, and choose
someone else to do the work. Pray for the welfare of Zion. Pray for the
prosperity of Zion. Use your exertions to make Zion powerful in the earth. For
it is Zion that will save the world. Like Noah's ark to the antediluvians, Zion
is the place of safety today.
My
brethren and sisters, I pray God to bless you and to fill you with His Holy
Spirit. I pray that the spirit of this conference and the instructions of it
shall rest upon us all, and it shall be infused into the minds of our wives and
children and all belonging to us. I pray for this with all the faith and energy
that I have; for I do desire to see Zion prosper. I do desire to see this
people progress. As I have often said, I do not think I could be perfectly
happy unless this people were saved. For I love this people and I love this
work. You love it too. I only give expression to your thoughts when I speak in
this way. I do not suppose that there is a man in this Church today, in my
hearing, that would not gladly, if it were necessary, and with God to aid him,
lay down his life rather than do anything to injure the work of God. I know the
women feel that way also. They love God; they love the Lord Jesus; they love
the institutions that He has established; they are thankful that they are
Latter-day Saints; they are full of praise to God for having given to them
these precious things. But there are times when our minds become obscure and we
get away from the influence of the Spirit of God. Then we forget ourselves and
give way to influences that are not of God. Let us therefore be on our guard,
and not allow the adversary to get advantage over us. For we will conquer him.
We will establish Zion, with the help of God. We will establish righteousness
in the earth. The day will come when there will be none to molest or make
afraid, and Satan will not have power over the hearts of the children of men.
Until that day comes, let us labor with all the powers that God has given to us
to accomplish this glorious end. I pray that we may all do so until we shall
meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the realms of bliss. Amen.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
made brief concluding remarks, expressive of his joy at witnessing the spirit of the Apostleship manifested through the brethren who had spoken. He stated that the pointed instructions given upon the Word of Wisdom and other subjects applied to himself and all other authorities of the Church as well as to the body of the people. He exhorted all to conform to those teachings in their lives and concluded by directing attention to the fact that the judgments of God were being poured out upon the earth.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 49:545, 10/20/94, p 1; CD 4:184-186]
REMARKS
Made at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday morning, October 7th, 1894, by
PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I feel as
though I want to say a few words to the Latter-day Saints, although I am in
very poor condition physically to talk to the public. This has been one of the
most interesting conferences I have ever attended; and if I am allowed to be
proud of anything, I certainly have felt proud and have rejoiced at the spirit
that has been manifested by the Apostles in their teachings. One of the
subjects that they have dwelt upon I desire to speak of, and that is with
regard to the Word of Wisdom. The brethren have dwelt very strongly upon this
subject, and it is right that they should. The Word of Wisdom applies to
Wilford Woodruff, the President of the Church, and it applies to all the
leaders of Israel, as well as to the members of the Church; and if there are
any of these leading men who cannot refrain from using tobacco or liquor in
violation of the Word of Wisdom, let them resign, and let others take their
places. As leaders of Israel, we have no business to indulge in these things.
There may be things contrary to the Word of Wisdom that we indulge in, and that
we think we cannot live without; if we cannot, let us die.
President
George Q. Cannon has been laying before us the truth with regard to the
position which we occupy here. This is the work of God, and we stand as an
example to the world. Therefore, all of us, from head to foot, should make up
our minds to keep the commandments of God. If I do not value my standing, my
salvation, my crown of glory and eternal life more than I value those things
which are represented as being unwise for us to use, then I am not fit to
occupy my position. And this applies to every man in Israel. We all ought to
take a course whereby we might be justified before the Lord. We live in the last
dispensation and fulness of times, and we are placed here to guide and direct
the affairs of the Church of God on the earth. Hence we ought to be wise men;
we ought to be righteous men, holy men, temperate men; we ought to be men that
will stand in a position to receive the Spirit of God to guide and direct us.
If we do not stand in this position, we are not fit to perform this work.
Brethren
and sisters, give heed to the teachings that we have received during this
conference. As a people, we are advancing, and not standing still. We send
Elders abroad, and they report to us every little while what they are doing;
but there is a class of Elders at work every week that do not report to us. You
see their works, though you may not comprehend them. As the Savior said,
"Ye may discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of
the times?" The Latter-day Saints should observe the signs of the times.
The Lord is fulfiling everything that He has said. There is nothing given in
these records of divine truth but will have its fulfillment. Messengers have
gone forth in the world to make the commencement and to carry out these great
events that are spoken of in the revelations of God. I think it is time we
should improve and advance. The Lord is going to cut His work short in
righteousness, or no flesh will be saved. The Lord is at work for Zion, and He
has made no mistake in calling the Latter-day Saints to these Rocky
Mountains-the everlasting hills which old father Jacob gave to Joseph in
blessing him. We are here and laboring to promote the interest and welfare of
the Church of God. I feel to rejoice at the manifestation of the Spirit of God
during this conference. Many of us have been in this Church a good while and
are advanced in years. I hope that what time we remain here we may spend to
good advantage. Let us try to do our duty in all matters appertaining to the
work of God. I am thankful for the blessings we enjoy today. Zion is growing.
The earth is advancing. The judgments of God are approaching. The Lord says:
After your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes,
that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the
ground, and shall not be able to stand.
And also cometh the testimony of
the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of
tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea, heaving themselves beyond
their bounds.
And all things shall be in
commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon
all people.
The revelations
of God have got to be fulfilled. When? Some time before the coming of the Son
of Man-and that is not far off. Therefore, let us try to live our religion, and
set an example before one another and the world. I accept the reproof of any
Apostle or Elder if there is any requirement of the Lord that I am not
fulfilling. That is the way I feel, and I think we all should feel so. We are
greatly blessed in having received the Gospel of Christ, in having received the
Priesthood and the power to go forth and warn the nations, that they may be
left without excuse in the day of God's judgment. And the honest and meek of
the earth have been gathered to the mountains of Israel, that they may stand
here in holy places while the judgments of God overtake the world. Joseph Smith
was raised up by the power of God, and the Priesthood and Apostleship has been
with us from that day to this, and will continue until Christ comes to reign.
Christ has passed through His trials and afflictions; He has redeemed the
world; He has gone home, and He sits in glory with the righteous, and will come
with them. All the prophets and apostles, those of our day as well as of other
generations, will come with Him. Joseph Smith stood at the head of the greatest
dispensation God ever gave to man.
These
things are true. Let us try to do our duty, walk uprightly before the Lord, and
appreciate the blessings we enjoy. Let our prayers ascend before the Lord to
assist and guide us in everything, that when we get through with our work we
may be satisfied. If the eyes of this people were open to comprehend the truths
of eternity, they would see the importance of laboring while the day lasts. Our
sons and daughters, if their eyes were open to comprehend what lies before
them, would also labor with all their might to qualify themselves for it, and
our sons would be prepared to go to the nations to warn them, that their
garments shall be clean from the blood of all men. Elders are being sent to
almost every part of the earth, and the cloud is beginning to lift from off
Zion. The world is beginning to see us as we are. They open their eyes and
marvel at what they see here. We are beginning to be understood better than we
have been, and this will go on until a great many in the world will feel that Utah
is a good place to live in. Our lakes and rivers will not overflow and drown
us; but we will be protected from the earthquakes, from the cyclones, and from
the judgments that are now overtaking the world. Very strange things have taken
place during this year, and the judgments of God will continue.
I pray
God that His blessings may rest upon us; that our eyes may be opened to see,
our ears to hear and our hearts to understand our duty and what He requires at
our hands, that we may be justified when we get through. We are all passing
along. Many of our missions will close in a short time, and we will go as
others have done. Then, if not before, we will comprehend the blessings we
enjoy. When we get the other side of the veil we will appreciate this dispensation
in which we live. I do not know whether we do here or not. I think many times
we do not. I have a desire myself that as President of the Church, as
Counselors, as Apostles, we may be united as the heart of one man; that our
spirits may run together, and we may see alike, feel alike, and understand
alike, and that we may be a bulwark at the head of Israel, that we may be
justified before the Lord, so that when these judgments come upon the earth we
may be prepared to meet them; which may God grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.
The choir sang:
O, my Father.
Benediction by Elder Rulon S. Wells.
_____
AFTERNOON
SESSIONS.
_____
[7 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 49:532, 10/13/94, p 20]
In
the Assembly Hall.
An overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 7th. Apostle Brigham Young presided. Singing, page 212,
Redeemer of Israel.
Prayer by Elder Jonathan Golden Kimball.
Singing,
Is it well with my soul?
by Sister Minnie J. Snow, assisted by Sister Maria B. Winder and Brothers J. H. Dean and Jos. Christenson.
Elder Seymour B. Young said he rejoiced at the spirit characterizing the Conference, and the word of the Lord to the people in our day. The progress of the work adverted to, in which the speaker traced the hand of Providence. Closed by enjoining strict obedience to the admonitions received.
ELDER JONATHAN G. KIMBALL
said he felt the time had come for Saints to live up to their professions or step aside. Had been converted to the Word of Wisdom. Deprecated the justifying of indulgence in ourselves as also the too free use of money by our missionaries for their support abroad.
APOSTLE MARRINER W. MERRILL
of the Council of the Apostles, spoke of the impressiveness with which the instructions we had received were given. Quoted President Brigham Young as announcing the Words of Wisdom to be a commandment thenceforth. A strict payment of tithes and offerings was enjoined. He said the Prophets Joseph and Brigham had visited our Temples and were working diligently for Zion, on the other side of the veil.
Who are these arrayed in white?
was sung by the Temple choir.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT
was convinced of the good effects of the teachings of the Conference. He closed by invoking the blessings of the Lord upon Zion.
The names of the general authorities of the Church were placed before the assembly by Elder Francis M. Lyman, and all were unanimously sustained.
ELDER FRANCIS M LYMAN
further quoted President Woodruff as saying that he had never heard such apostolic preaching as at this Conference. Dwelt upon our duties to the poor. Placed the obligation to pay our tithing ahead of that to any other creditor and held the word of the Lord through his servants today as equal in authority to the Scriptures.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
read an extract from the Book of Mormon enjoining repentance and a "preparation for eternity." He bore testimony to all the instructions of the Conference as being true and from God, and invoked God's blessings upon the assembly.
Singing:
Do what is right.
Benediction by Elder Robert T. Burton.
_____
[7 Oct, 2 pm*]
[DNW 49:532, 10/13/94, p 20]
In
the Tabernacle.
The choir sang the anthem:
Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!
Prayer was offered by Elder W. W. Cluff.
The choir sang the hymn:
Jesus, once of humble birth, Now in glory comes to earth.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
presented the general authorities of the Church to the Conference, which sustained them unanimously as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Edward Stevenson.
President Cannon here alluded feelingly to the death of Elder John Morgan, whom he characterized as a valiant soldier of Christ. His demise had created a vacancy which was filled by the selection of Elder Edward Stevenson to be one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General conference.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff
All the voting to sustain the authorities as presented was unanimous.
A report of the Primary association was read, showing 447 associations, 31,300 members, and average attendance of 14,160; 9,449 meetings were held. There were five Stakes not included in the report.
A report from Elder Karl G. Maeser, regarding the Church schools, was read, showing 18 schools in Utah, 4 in Idaho, 8 in Arizona, and 2 in Mexico, 27 in all. There were 2,080 male and 1,750 female students.
President Cannon made an explanation relative to the Church University which had been established in pursuance to a resolution passed by the General Conference. It had been found necessary to concentrate efforts in education, and as the Territory could not sustain more than one university, proposals made to the First Presidency by the Chancellor and Regents of the University, to consolidate educational efforts, and these were accepted; the Church University was discontinued, and support given to the University of Utah. President Cannon spoke of the labors performed in establishing the Deseret University, now the University of Utah, and stated that it would be almost a calamity to have it stricken down. There had been those who wished to withhold support from it, but the Presidency could not think of seeing it go down, so when the proposals referred to were submitted, regarded it as proper to adopt them. The speaker stated that the Church had endowed a chair of geology in the University; religion could not be taught in the institution, and there was no occasion for infidelity being taught there. The Salt Lake Latter-day Saints' college was open to students of the University who could go there and be taught theology if they desired. In this way they could receive the full benefit of instruction in that department.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
of the Council of the Apostles, addressed the congregation. He suggested that this was a time when there could be expected more diligence and care in the people regarding obedience to Gospel principles than was anticipated in the past. The people had gained in experience and should have increased in intelligence and in the power of overcoming evil tendencies. The Saints could not, however, throw down their guard, lest the adversary should take advantage of it. There was need for the people to have that spirit which would enable them to act the part of Saints, and should not be moved to ill-feelings or narrow-minded contrivances for the benefit of the few to the injury of the whole. There should be nothing in the political arena that could weaken or interfere with the faith of the Saints and their fidelity to the truth. The speaker said the people would be made the subject of many vicissitudes, and should possess that united faith which would enable them to call upon the Lord and receive His blessings in their hour of need. This was a period of revolution, not with weapons of steel, but with mental and moral forces. The way to be safe was to daily keep the commandments of the Lord, and follow the counsel given through His servants. The Saints should search diligently the scriptures and learn to comprehend the character of the Lord that they could serve Him acceptably. The elders had been directed to get together and expound the scriptures to each other. Those who were most diligent in seeking and observing the things of heaven were the ones who received the favor of the Lord. On this subject, Elder Richards referred to the history of the Apostles in the early Christian Church, and of earlier times. He also cited scriptural references to the many titles given to the Lord, as descriptive of His character; and also spoke of the attributes of the Father. Elder Richards strongly exhorted the people to search for knowledge of their Father in heaven and of His requirements of them, that they might be in a position to receive the inspiration and guidance of his spirit.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 50:33, 12/29/94, p 1; CD 4:186-192]
THE VERY ETERNAL FATHER.
_____
Discourse Delivered at the General conference of tHe
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt [Lake] City, Sunday, October 7th, 1894, by
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
Beloved
hearers, having been absent during the early part of this Conference, attending
to the funeral of a near relative, I realize that I am suffering under a double
bereavement by the loss of the precious instruction that has been given during
the sessions of this Conference. I was much cheered to hear President Woodruff
this morning say that it was one of the best that he had ever attended. I
realize by personal acquaintance with my brethren of the Presidency and Twelve
Apostles that in their instructions to you they would be earnest, fervent, full
of intelligence, and that you would be fed with the bread of life.
I wish to
say, in attestation of the discourse I listened to this morning by President
George Q. Cannon, that I feel a most hearty concurrence in, and sympathy with,
the serious importance of the instructions that were given to the people. The
principles and doctrines of the everlasting Gospel, which have been given to us
in the years that are past, have brought many of the Saints to a period
approaching manhood in the Gospel, by which we have reason to look for and
expect more thorough-going and more faithful attention to, and consideration
of, the doctrines of the Gospel and Priesthood than we could expect years ago.
It is true that by bringing new members into our gathering they partake, to a
greater or less degree, of the increased intelligence which the older members
possess, and this fact renders it all the more important that the older members
should be living up to the full standard and pattern of their holy faith, so
that they who came later shall find themselves associating with those who are
of greater faith, more extended knowledge, and who are able to assist them
forward in the way of life and godliness.
It is
important for us that we do not permit any of the pernicious influences that
are working among us, whether from the pretensions of false prophets or false
christs, or whatever may be imposed upon the people publicly or privately, to
diminish our strength and faith, in the least degree. All these tendencies
should serve to arouse in us an increasing energy and fidelity, leading us to
seek God more and more, that we may contend individually and collectively
against all these evil influences that are brought in among us. We cannot cease
our watchfulness; we must not lay down our armor; we are under necessity of
watching unto prayer constantly. We cannot sit down and take it easy in these
matters, lest the adversary, in a moment we think not, get advantage of us; for
although present necessities may not seem to be bringing us to a test, there is
coming a time when we shall all be brought to the standard of measurement and
weight, to know whether we bear the seal of the everlasting Gospel's
requirements, and are accounted worthy for such advancement, for such gifts and
blessings, for such trust of power and influence, as shall enable us to give
proof of our faithfulness. There is no time for us to waste in these things;
and while we are thus delving in the way of life, and are made subject to
"booms," to oppressions and hard times, as they are called, and to
divisions of party feelings because of politics, we have great need, in order
to stand successfully and squarely in all these matters, of that measure of the
Spirit that shall enable us under every circumstance to act the part of a
Latter-day-Saint, and not, as is sometimes said of us, to act more gentilish
than the Gentiles themselves.
It is
expected of men who have attained to maturity in life that they will accomplish
careful, difficult and intricate labors which younger ones cannot be expected
to do. We are supposed to be so far advanced in the knowledge of God, in the
power of the Priesthood, and in the understanding of the truth, that none of
these things shall move us. Whether a man is of one party or another party, he
should understand that what he is doing ought to be for the interest of the
whole. There should be no sectional, narrow-minded contrivances for the benefit
of the few to the injury of the whole. These are some of the finer works that
the Elders used anciently to tell us of. We have heard the Presidency in former
times tell us how that we had to be made very fine and put through the finest
of screens to become fit for the Master's use. Now is the time for us to be
looking to it, to cease all strife and contention and put down everything of
the kind. There should be nothing allowed in the political arena that can hurt
the faith of any brother or sister or prevent them from sitting down together
at the table of the Lord's supper and partaking of that ordinance in the most
worthy and acceptable manner. Is this the case with us? If it is not, how far
are we off from it, and how much work have we to do with ourselves to obtain
that status and remain there? For be it known that unless we maintain the unity
of the faith and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, we are not the Lord's,
neither shall we be able to find Him when we shall most need Him. We have to
maintain our fellowship with the heavens complete, or in a trying hour we may
find ourselves without God in the world. We have then to be on the alert
continually, that no spirit, no machination of man or Satan can have power to
turn us from the right way of the Lord.
The Lord
has very great designs concerning this people, just so fast as He can bring us
up to realize them. Now, my brethren, when everything is quiet and still, and
there is no particular demand made of us, we all seem to be very much united.
But how often is it the case that something comes up and we find that we are a
revelation to ourselves directly? We find within us a spirit or frame of mind
different from what we previously entertained brought out by something that we
had not before experienced. We are being made subject to changes and
vicissitudes in all the trials of life, as much as mortal men and women can be
made subject to; and I will venture to quote the saying of the Savior in a
revelation to us in these last days, that all things that can be shaken shall
be shaken. Then who is he that has got his lamp trimmed and burning? Who is he
that has got that measure of faith for himself that under every trying
circumstance he can go to the Lord and find grace and help in every time of
need to enable him to conform his feelings, faith and fellowship to the
conditions that surround him? This is a period of revelation. It is a battle
that is being carried on, not with steel nor with any carnal weapons, but it is
the silent, peaceful and powerful work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and in
the hearts of those whom we can prevail upon to become subject to the same, to
change us from our naturally selfish inclinations, desires and designs into the
ways and purposes of the true and living God; and the way to do that is that we
daily keep His commandments, hearken to the words of wisdom, and continually
live by every precept that proceedeth from the mouth of God. We are yet a great
way from the perfection of the Lord.
I wish
the brethren and sisters, the Elders particularly, could be stirred up to
search the Scriptures and to find out something more of the character of the Lord;
for if we cannot find Him out personally, we can learn very much of His
character by reading the sacred word of God that is left for us. As we say of
one another, "We do not know you personally, but we have come to know you
by reputation," so we can learn, in the word of God, if we will study it,
much of the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wish we had more desire to
study these things. I am thankful that this disposition is increasing in the
Sunday schools, the theological classes, and among the Elders, and that they
are also studying the principles of our church history. Great is the mystery of
godliness, said one anciently, and it is just as mysterious now. Some men are
going nearly crazy over trying to reconcile some of the Scriptures. The Apostle
Peter said Paul had written epistles, "in which are some things hard to be
understood." There are scriptures that are difficult to be understood,
unless we can obtain the light of the Holy Spirit to shine upon our
understandings.
We are
apt to read over a great many scriptures just as we walk over portions of these
valleys and mountains, in which are lying, perhaps within a few inches of our
feet, treasures of gold, silver and other precious metals, and it only needs a
little stirring of the soil to find where the great deposits of this wealth
are, where the rich pockets of gold are treasured up, and the veins of silver
are waiting to be gathered out. It is so with the Scriptures. There are many
passages that we read over hastily and do not comprehend, which, if we would
stop and search other scriptures relating to them, we would often find
wonderful developments of truth in their explanations. In the early days of the
Church, the Lord instructed the Elders to meet together and expound His
Scriptures to one another, that they might comprehend them and be built up in
their holy faith which they did.
When the
Savior was upon the earth and had His Apostles with Him, there were some that
adhered very closely to Him. They learned things of Him which others did not
get, or if they did they have not left them on record for us. John, the beloved
disciple, continued much with the Savior. He was very fond of being in His
company. At the last supper he sat next to Him, and laid his head upon His
breast. The Lord was fond of him, insomuch that he was called the beloved
disciple, and he, being familiar with the Savior, obtained many precious items
of revelation, choice sayings and parables that the others did not get. The
evangelists Matthew and Mark wrote many things that the Savior and other
brethren did, but there were some things omitted by them which are contained in
Luke's and more particularly in John's writings. Indeed so strong and mutual
were their attachments that when the Savior was about to leave the earth He
gave John the insuperable blessing that he should not die, but that he should
tarry till He, Christ, should come. History tells us that John was placed in a
caldron of boiling oil and came out unhurt. We have no authentic account of his
death or burial. The Savior said: "If I will that he tarry till I come,
what is it to thee?" When he was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos, working
in the mines, he received the wonderful revelation, contained in the Bible, in
which he saw a character riding upon a white horse, and his name was "The
Word of God" (Rev. xix:13). In writing his Gospel and giving some account
of this being, John says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All
things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
This is
the description of the coming of the Savior in the flesh. This character in the
beginning was the One by whom the world was created. "Without Him was not
any thing made that was made." Before he was tabernacled in the flesh He
did His mighty works in creating the earth with all its inhabitants, fish,
fowl, beast and man; teaching Enoch to build a city, then translating it for him
and his people. He destroyed the wicked with a flood; established Noah and his
race, then educated a righteous people, delivered them from oppression by
miraculous providences through the Red Sea and made them a powerful nation.
Moses, whom Jehovah had employed to do so many of his wondrous works, asked the
Lord to show him concerning "this Heaven and this earth."
The Lord
has not thought proper to reveal unto us much of the vastness of His Heavenly
works; but He once received Moses into His presence on the mountain and showed
him "concerning this heaven and this earth," and there gave him the
revelation concerning the creation of the earth and the seven days' work, and
commanded him to write it. In this interview He was a personage of spirit. He
also showed Himself unto the Brother of Jared, Mahonri Moriancumr, and informed
him that His body of spirit was just the figure that His body of flesh should
be when born of woman.
He had
not only this name, "The Word of God," but He had other titles. By
searching the Scriptures we find some twenty or thirty of them. But in speaking
of this, He said to Moses, "Your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to
whom I revealed myself, knew Me by the name of Almighty God, but by My name
Jehovah they did not know Me" (Exodus vi:3). At different times He told
Israel that He was Jehovah until He came and dwelt in the flesh. Then He was
the Son of God-the Christ. It is said concerning Him by one of the ancient
prophets, that "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty
God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah ix:6). These
were a few of the names that were given to Him besides some that John saw-such
as the Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords. Now this name of Father is
a wonderful name. It is over this that some of the brethren stumble, and they
get very erroneous ideas concerning the Savior. One man has worried at it until
he has nearly worried himself out of the Church, and it was thought he would
have gone to the asylum because of his incongruous ideas over it. What is it to
be a father? We understand generally the term father to mean one who becomes
the parent of children. The fact that he is endowed with power to procreate his
species by the blessing of God enables him to become a father. There is a
beginning to his fatherhood. As John said, "In the beginning was the
Word." There was a beginning to the creation of the earth. There is a
beginning to the creation of a man's family. But that is not the only sense of
a father. A father when taken in a more general sense signifies something more,
according to the Scriptures. Joseph said to his brethren, "He [God] had
made me a father to Pharaoh" (Genesis xiv:18). Why? Because He had given
him the power, the wisdom, and the understanding to lay up food during the
seven years of plenty, so that he saved not only Egypt, but enabled Pharaoh and
Egypt to save the nations around by letting them have food to eat in their
terrible necessities. In the Scriptures Satan is called the father of lies, the
father of deceit, of misrepresentation, contention and strife. George
Washington is called the father of this nation, by his skill, his warlike
prowess, and the readiness to stand at the head of his people, first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, and he so became the
father of our country. Just so we may say concerning others. As for instance
the man who discovered the control of lightning. Although Franklin brought it
down from heaven in safety, yet it was left for Professor Morse to be the
father of telegraphy, and otherwise communicate intelligence by it around the
world. Mr. Watt was the father of steam power, by discovering its elasticity
and applying it to mechanics as motive power. So with the Prophet Brigham
Young. He was the father of Utah, because under God he led the people and
established them here, to become a Territory or State, and made it possible for
many others to come and live here. We see, by the foregoing, the meaning of a
father in this general and broad sense is a creator, a controller, a manager.
Hence it was that the Prophet Isaiah said concerning the Lord Jesus He shall be
called "the Everlasting Father." The Prophet Mosiah has told us that
because of the Spirit He was the Father, and because of His having been born in
the flesh He was the Son, and therefore He is called the very Eternal Father of
Heaven and earth, which really means that He was the very Eternal Creator of
Heaven and earth (Mosiah 15:2-4). In the beginning he created the heavens and the
earth. Thus when we get an understanding of the things of God and comprehend
them, some of the difficult sayings of Scripture become plain and easy to be
understood. If we turn to the first chapter of John's revelations, and sixth
verse, we find that great glory and dominion will be given unto Him "Who
hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father." So we see that He
does not assume to be the Father of all, but He was the Father of heaven and
earth, and was to make men kings and priests unto Himself and His Father,
knowing that He and His Father were two persons, as is distinctly maintained in
all the Scriptures. By this we can see that as we read the Scriptures we read
over great and wonderful descriptions of knowledge, just as when we uncover the
mines we find great treasures of wealth. The mines, when they are found, are
not pure gold or silver, but other materials have to be brought together to put
with them-what they call fluxing material-to separate the pure metal from the
dross, and to bring out the genuine article fit for market. So if we search the
Scriptures we find the principles described and the instructions given by which
we are enabled to understand these truths in a similar way, and to comprehend
the difference between the truth and the error.
I wish
the brethren would study the Scriptures more and encourage those that do it.
Study them as you would study the analysis of any material thing, and you would
find treasures of knowledge and understanding, and that they are simple and
plain, comforting the heart, satisfying to the mind, and food for the soul. It
is given unto us in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, what we may find if we
can only obtain the Holy Spirit (D&C cxxi:23-33). We shall find that we
have great latitude for study and for research, and for blessing and knowledge
in the word of God. The revelation says that:
God shall
give unto you (the Saints) knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the
unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world
was until now; which our forefathers have waited with anxious expectation to be
revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to, by the angel, as
held in reserve for the fulness of their glory: a time to come in which nothing
shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many Gods, they shall be
manifest; all thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be
revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the Gospel of
Jesus Christ; and also if there be bounds set to the heavens, or to the seas,
or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars; all the times of their
revolutions, all the appointed days, months and years, and all the days of
their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall
be revealed, in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times according
to that which was ordained in the midst of the council of the eternal God of
all other Gods, before this world was, that should be reserved unto the
finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal
presence and into his immortal rest.
Is there
not a field of exploration that is worth the talent of anybody who has the
disposition and purpose to keep the commandments of God and so live that they
can receive of His Spirit? I know there are many in these days that are very
technical, very sticklish, asking questions requiring a good deal of
hair-splitting argument, and I want to say to you that it is not best to dally
upon those things that are unprofitable, but search the principles of the
Gospel and study them by the light of the Holy Spirit. When you cannot see and
understand what you want, try, by the grace of God, to get that measure of
Spirit which will throw the light, the more than calcium light, upon the
subject, and so get to comprehend it. But remember, brethren and sisters, these
things have to be held in righteousness. We have to hold the truth in
righteousness, or else we cannot grow in Christ, or in the knowledge of the
truth as it is in Christ our living head.
May the
Lord bless us with His Spirit to enrich us with the knowledge of the truth; but
above all to establish in us a determined purpose that as for us and ours we
will serve Him, and we will treasure up line upon line, precept upon precept,
until we get to see as we are seen, and know as we are known. May God help us
to do so, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
was the next speaker. He dwelt for a time upon the excellence of the Conference and then devoted his discourse to the subject of taking up land in and near settlements already established, instead of scattering out into distant places, apart from Church organizations. He also made remarks upon the use of land for purposes adapted to its soil and upon the need of the utilization of irrigation water and its more economic use. President Smith also spoke deprecatingly of a manifest disposition on the part of some of the young men to avoid the responsibilities of the marriage relation, and explained the eternal nature of the marriage covenant under the Gospel of the Son of God. He concluded with a powerful exhortation to parents and to the Elders of Israel to teach the young to avoid those who are corrupt and sensual, and addicted to the abominations that are already in the world.
The Conference was adjourned for six months -- to 10 a.m., April 6, 1895.
The choir sang the anthem,
God of Israel, hear my prayer.
Benediction was pronounced by President George Q. Cannon.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
5-7 Apr 1895, 65th
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 50:513, 4/13/95, p 1; Millennial Star 57:257, 273, 288]
[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 50:513-514, 4/13/95, p 1-2]
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
_____
The Sixty-fifth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 1895. The following authorities were on the stand:
Of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John Smith; of the Presidency of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, George Reynolds, J. G. Kimball and R. S. Wells; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
Thee were also many Presidents of Stakes and other prominent Elders from various parts of this Territory and contiguous regions.
Conference was called to order by president George Q. Cannon.
The choir sang the hymn:
All hail the glorious day, By Prophets long foretold.
the opening prayer was offered by Elder George Teasdale.
Singing by the choir:
Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell, By faith and love, in every breast.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
said: I feel that all our hearts this morning should be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to God, our Heavenly Father, for the blessings which we as a people enjoy. A long generation, as men count time, has passed away with all its events connected with the last dispensation of the fullness of times, in our day and generation. The Church of Christ has been organized in fulfilment of the revelations of God, which were given by men who were moved upon by the gift of the Holy Ghost in their day and generation. Many nations and the islands of the sea have heard the proclamation of the gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been organized, not only here, but among many nations, and tens of thousands of the sons of God have been gathered together, here in the land of Zion. The Gospel has been preached according to the promises of God unto the nations, by men who have been called and sent forth to warn the inhabitants of the earth of those great events which are to come to pass before the coming of the Son of Man.
We ourselves have passed through many of those scenes which have been prophesied of by the ancient Patriarchs and Prophets called of God, and today we dwell here in the mountains of Israel. The Lord has enabled His people to rear temples to the name of the Most High God, here and in other parts of the earth; here the dead have been redeemed and the living blessed, and the promises of God have been carried out according to His words to holy men from Abraham to Joseph Smith. I feel myself that we should be filled with gratitude for the blessings we enjoy from time to time. I hope and pray that while we assemble together we may enjoy the Spirit of God and our hearts be united together as the heart of one man; that our prayers may be drawn out before the Lord, that His blessings may be with us and that those who speak to us may do so by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and the power of God.
I feel to thank God for myself that I have lived to see this day and have mingled with the brethren for so many years, and my life has still been preserved so that I may endeavor to do something with the Saints for the redemption of the children of men. I hope and pray that the blessings and power of God may rest upon the Apostles and Elders and the Saints of God while we are together upon this occasion. This is my desire and prayer unto the Lord my God in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON
was the next speaker. He expressed his pleasure at the fact that the Saints were again permitted to assemble in General Conference under favorable circumstances. Notwithstanding all the trials that had confronted them they were still in a comparatively happy and prosperous condition. Some of the greatest of these perplexing conditions were in the nature of financial burdens. He believed that at no distant day the Lord would open the way for deliverance from these distressing surroundings. Progress in spiritual matters was liable to be impeded by the necessity of attention being too much engrossed with temporal subjects. He was specially desirous that the burdens of the First Presidency might be speedily lifted. The Church, however, was not in a critical condition, as its credit was superior to that of anything in the country. It had a great and liberal people behind it.
The requests directed to the Church from the Stakes were too great, and ought to be curtailed. He believed that if the Bishops and other leading officers would look about them and devise means of employment and develop resources, such demands would be unnecessary, and distress and poverty would vanish. If this course were taken remunerative labor would be plentiful, and the present situation be relieved. The speaker was aware of the fact that some of the unemployed people of this city had pieces of land which are not cultivated. Why would not this source of productivity be utilized. He knew of a man who supported himself and family by the cultivation, for the production of vegetables, from one acre and a quarter of ground. It was not pleasing in the sight of God for men to spend their time idly upon the streets when such opportunities for labor existed. Why should those located here await the coming of people from the East to establish industries. When they came the residents donate money and land to assist them in inaugurating industrial establishments. Why could not the people here do this independently, of themselves, without awaiting the coming of strangers. The speaker named individual instances of men of thrift and industry removing from this city to other stakes and wrestling a livelihood from the fruitful soil. It was not necessary, however, neither was it wise, for the Saints to go to regions greatly distant from here. There were numerous facilities in the immediate vicinity and localities not very remote.
The experience of employers has proved that many men are unable to direct in wisdom their own work, to say nothing of directing the work of others. Every man should be, as far as possible, the master of his own labors; if this could not be done, he should place himself under the direction of one who had ability and the inspiration of God. Every man, woman and child should be a producer. All such, if industrious and capable, would always be able to secure employment. Any honorable work, with any wage, is better than idleness and poverty. The straitened circumstances of capitalists prevent them from engaging in the enterprises which characterized the past few years and hence the duty incumbent upon every man to look after his labor and to avoid idleness and consequent sin.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL
followed. He had learned long ago that the system of religion adopted by the Latter-day Saints originated not with man but with the Lord. This testimony came to him in his youth, and he had never doubted its truth since that time. Those who had gathered here from the nations and had become identified with the Church of Christ, should examine themselves, and sit in judgment upon their fellowship with the Lord, that wickedness might be eliminated from their natures, and they be led in the way of light.
Not talking, but doing, would count with the Lord. The outer show of accomplishments was as nothing compared with walking humbly and faithfully in righteousness, with tithes, prayers, fasting, attendance at meetings, peace in the family and with neighbors, and secret devotions. The peace and joy of secret devotion was referred to as productive of great satisfaction, not obtainable by any other means. The happiest people among the Latter-day Saints were those who lived nearest to the Lord and did their duty most fully. They had no cause to complain of their leaders, but their hearts were always full of prayer and blessings for the Priesthood of God.
Revelation was not confined to any particular class, but it was for the people at large in their own private affairs. In secret devotion this revelation was most manifest, and it was public only in the case of those who were in a position to direct the affairs of the people as a whole. Joseph Smith had been called to lead the entire people, and hence the publicity of his revelations. With the ordinary man the manifestation would be to the inward heart, producing joy and satisfaction. Each one in this conference should have examined his heart, and if it was in a proper condition he would have a time of refreshing and gladness, and carry the spirit of the conference to his home.
The speaker bore record to the truth of the remarks of Elder Abraham H. Cannon. He regretted the tendency now so prevalent, to call upon the trustee-in-trust for appropriations to apply on various enterprises. Proper consideration of circumstances should prompt the people to help themselves in their Stake and ward affairs, or in private enterprises. Labor enough was wasted every year in the various wards, to build meeting houses or to carry on any similar enter prise, and the utilizing of this labor would produce a beneficial result on the people themselves, in addition to relieving the general authorities of a great deal of their financial anxiety.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR
next addressed the Conference. He had been highly delighted with the instructions of the previous speakers. They had portrayed the necessity for the people being employed. Some of the people need employment for their minds as well as their hands. He delighted to belong to an organization in which a man could express his own views without restriction and in which all things were done by common consent. He had been thinking of the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He understood that Joseph Smith was raised up to establish the gospel in its fulness. He was not prepared beforehand by attendance at educational institutions. He was taken by divine call from the field where he labored with his father. From the time he received the call to the great work he was destined to accomplish, he was subjected to the attacks of Satan. The animosity and machinations of men were directed against him, and continued until he laid down his life for the testimony of Jesus. This opposition should not be a matter of surprise, as Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hand of God in invading the dominion of Satan. The speaker then alluded to the persecutions against the Church suffered by the Saints in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. these conditions caused some of those who had embraced the Gospel to fall by the way and make shipwreck of their faith. During one critical situation of the Church thee were only two even of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles who stood true and steadfast to Joseph the Prophet -- Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. Those who turned away from the Church in its days of tribulation were such as received the seed of the Gospel in stony ground. The speaker could see the same disposition cropping out in our own day. He referred to those who took satisfaction in and gave endorsement to falsehoods that were being published against the Church of Christ. He did not refer to people who were not connected with the Church by membership, but those who were. He dwelt for some time upon the necessity of the Saints shunning and avoiding every disposition in the direction of finding fault with the servants of God. He did not regret that fault was found with the presiding authorities of the Church. It was an evidence that the latter were walking in the line of their exalted duties. The concluding portion of Elder Taylor's discourse was in the nature of advice to the Saints to avoid the spirit of fault-finding.
[John W. Taylor]
[DNW 51:65, 7/6/95, p 1; CD 4:254-258]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 5th, 1895, by
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
It gives
me great pleasure to have the privilege of meeting with the Latter-day Saints,
in this conference. I need not say to you that I have been highly delighted
with the sound instruction that we have received this morning and the
testimonies that have been borne by Elders A. H. Cannon and M. W. Merrill.
These brethren have been portraying to this congregation the great necessity
for the people being employed. I imagine that some people also need their minds
employed. I delight, my brethren and sisters, to belong to an association that
worships God, and where all things are done by common consent. I delight to be
numbered among that people where every man can speak his own views without
feeling under any restrictions. I delight in being associated with an
organization where there is a perfect law of liberty extended unto the members
thereof. Paul the Apostle said he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for
it was the power of God unto salvation unto all those who believed, and a
perfect law of liberty-that is, perfect liberty to do what was right.
While
sitting on my seat I have been going over a little of the early history of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In speaking of these things I have
to depend entirely upon what I have read and what I have heard others say; but
as near as I can understand Joseph Smith came to establish the Church of Christ
upon the earth in this the dispensation of the fulness of times. He was not a
graduate of college. He was not a man who prepared himself to be the leader of
this great dispensation. He was an ordinary man, laboring with his father in
the fields. But the Lord had mercy upon the young man, and undoubtedly he had
been ordained before the foundations of the earth were laid to come forth in
this dispensation to be the medium through which the Lord should reveal His
mind and will unto the children of men.
But there
is one thing I have noticed; from the very time that the Prophet Joseph went
out to pray in secret in the woodlands in the State of New York, the power of
Satan has been manifest. That power attacked the young man to such an extent
that it seemed like it would destroy him; but our Father in Heaven and His Son
Jesus Christ, condescending to answer the prayers of the young Prophet, came
down and visited him, and the power of Satan was at once banished. Now, is it
not strange that the devil could not allow this young man to be alone while he
poured out his soul unto God? It may seem strange to some, but I must confess
that I have got to that condition of mind where it does not look strange to me.
We find that the Prophet of the Lord, in going to keep his appointments with
the angel Moroni, was interrupted and waylaid by ruffians who desired to destroy
his life. We find that the ministers of the various denominations in the region
in which he lived were aroused with bitter animosity against him, and from that
time forth it was one continual stream of oppression and opposition, until the
day he laid down his life for the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. I think the Prophet was arrested some forty-nine times and honorably
acquitted of the charges that were made against him.
While
traveling in the Southern States, I visited the home of Colonel Charles Zachary
a resident of Henry County, Georgia. He had attended a meeting that was held by
Elder Mathias F. Cowley and myself, and invited us to his home after the
meeting. He was a man of prominence and experience, his hair was as white as snow.
He said to me that there was something strange and remarkable about the Mormon
people. He remembered well of hearing many years ago of a young prophet called
Joseph Smith, that professed to receive revelations from the Lord, in the State
of New York. He also remembered hearing of him going to Ohio, and from there to
some of the western states. He said he had been reading the newspaper for about
forty years, and had read a great many articles about the Latter-day Saints,
but had never read anything good about them. But, he said, what has impressed
me very strongly is the fact that you people have grown and multiplied, and
finally you are taking a part in the politics of the nation. He remarked that
he thought he could see something in the destiny of the Mormons that had a
greater power with it than the power of man. Well, I felt complimented to
belong to the organization to which this gentleman referred.
After the
Prophet had left the State of New York he was busy all the time, and the
opposition against him became great and powerful. You all know the history of
the persecution of the Saints in Missouri and in Illinois. The persecution
began to have its effects upon some of the Latter-day Saints. As in the parable
of the Savior, some of the seed had fallen upon stony ground, and when
persecution came they turned away sorrowing; it was found that the seed had not
taken good root. This can be seen in the early history of the Church. There was
one man who held the position of counselor to the Prophet Joseph Smith; he was
a great orator, and he became so enthused with the power of his oratory that he
thought he could carry the kingdom of God before him, and he told the Prophet
that he thought he could get along without him. The Prophet said, "You try
it, Sidney." He did try it, and he withered up and became almost unknown,
and lost his Priesthood, his gift, his power, as do all those who have turned
their faces away from this people and opposed the presiding authority thereof
from that day to this; but the kingdom of God has not been shaken, but has gone
steadily forward and onward until it has arrived at a condition when there will
be present during this conference representatives of from fifteen to twenty
nations, who will hold up their hands to support Wilford Woodruff as the
Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to this Church. Many of the Saints found fault
with the Prophet Joseph. Some of the presiding authorities found fault with
him; and at one time things had reached such a climax that there were only two
of the Twelve Apostles, then present, who stood firm and faithful to the
Prophet Joseph. Satan is a man of great intelligence, having dwelt with God the
Eternal Father; and he knew that Joseph Smith was, in embryo, one of the
greatest prophets that ever came forth among the children of men. Therefore, he
sought by seizing hold of and over-powering him to blot out the possibility of
the Church of God being organized in this the dispensation of the fulness of
times. But this is another instance which shows that the wisdom of the Lord is
greater than the cunning of the devil. The Lord came to the Prophet's aid when
he knelt in the woodlands in secret prayer, who was assailed by Satan, and he
had strength given to him according to his day and he was released from the power
of the evil one.
What I
want to bring before your minds is this: Here were men who had testified that
God the Eternal Father had given them a testimony, who had testified that Jesus
Christ was the Son of the true and living God, and that Joseph Smith had been
raised up as a prophet, and they turned their faces away from the servant of
God in the hour of tribulation. These are they, my brethren and sisters, that
the Savior likened unto the seed that fell upon stony ground and it did not
grow. They stood firm for a little season, but when persecution came they found
fault with the Prophet and spoke evil of the work of God.
Now, I
can see that same spirit just as plainly to-day working among the Latter-day
Saints as it worked in the State of Missouri in early times. I can see in the
background one or two apostates, publishing a document to which they do not
sign their names, crouching down behind the grass like an assassin who is going
to leap upon the passer-by and stab him in the back. I can see that same spirit
of apostasy lurking underneath the surface, attacking the present presiding
authorities of the Church. I refer, as an instance, to the correspondence to
the New York Times that has appeared in its recent issues, attacking President
Cannon in a very shameful manner, and inferring that the presiding authorities
of this Church are deceiving this people, and plundering them. Bless your soul,
this is only another inspiration of Satan, who prompted the persecutions in the
State of Missouri until the people were worked up till they were willing to put
the Prophet Joseph Smith to death. I am not speaking now of the people of the
world; but there were Latter-day Saints, so-called, who willingly gave their
consent to these things. And we have got men and women in our midst to-day who
willingly gave their consent to these falsehoods that are published abroad
about those whom God has placed to preside over us. I want to tell you that no
man, after having held up his right hand consenting to support certain men as
the presiding authorities of this Church, can fight those men without breaking
his covenants, and transgressing the commandments of the Almighty. Whether in a
church or in a business capacity, where you make covenants to do certain
things, if you do not do them you are covenant-breakers. Those who are free and
clean from this may rejoice and be exceeding glad. I tell you the tongue of man
was given unto him to confess the truth. The testimony of Jesus Christ is given
unto this people that we may testify of Him. The presiding authorities of this
Church are given unto this people that they may guide and direct us by the
revelations of Almighty God. It is a day of prophets, or it is a day of
nothing. Therefore, set your houses in order, and do not be finding fault with
the presiding authorities of this Church. I hear of men saying that President
Woodruff is an aged man, and Presidents Cannon and Smith have their own way
about things. President Woodruff is eighty-eight years of age. How many men are
here in this congregation that are eighty-eight years old? Christ gave to Peter
the authority to bind on earth and it should be bound in heaven, to loose on
earth and it should be loosed in heaven. Peter called unto his assistance James
and John that they might counsel with him. What is the object of having a
counselor? Is it that he shall sit down and be like a piece of wood? No! The
place of the counselors in the presidency of this Church is to stand and hold
up the arms of the Prophet until the sun goes down, if necessary, and Israel
prevails. A counselor is supposed to counsel. He is supposed to have an opinion
of his own. He is supposed to be filled with the power and inspiration of
Almighty God; when old age overtakes the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, his
counselors are there to stand by and strengthen him, and to give counsel by
virtue of the authority vested in them. I want to say that I rejoice
exceedingly when there is so much fault found with the presiding authorities of
this Church, because I know that the spirit of their calling is with them. I
know that the enemies of Zion would like to see the watchmen step down from the
towers of Zion, and leave the gates unguarded and the people at the mercy of a
drove of ravenous wolves. But thanks be to the Lord our God that we have men of
long experience, and men who have been tried and proven in the Church of god,
to stand in that great and important position. We are one, brethren and
sisters; one in the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, one in a
desire to build up the Church and to see the Latter-day Saints exalted to that
great and honorable position which God testified they should occupy in the last
days. We are not restricted in our opinions. I want to say, for the benefit of
the Latter-day Saints and all the world, that I have belonged to the quorum of
the Twelve Apostles for a number of years, have had the great privilege of
meeting with the First Presidency often, and have always had the privilege of
speaking my mind plainly and candidly, without any restriction; and it has been
the same with the other brethren. But I want to say this: when a question is
decided, it is decided unanimously; and if I, being young, have made a fool of
myself by differing continually with men of wisdom, and they show me wherein I
am wrong, it is not to be supposed that I shall remain a fool forever, and not
unite with my brethren. No, it is my duty always to acknowledge the truth. We
delight that we are one. I delight to see the Presidency of this Church stand
firm and steadfast and as one man, even as God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ and the Holy Ghost are one-not one in person, but one in faith, one in
authority, one in principle, and one in testimony.
I feel
with all my heart to say to the Latter-day Saints, let us not become tainted
with the spirit of fault-finding. Let us remember that the Holy Ghost guides us
in the way of all truth; and if we all have that Spirit we all see alike. I
want to tell you this; when you see the Presidency of the Church divided, and
the Apostles divided, and the people divided in the things of God, then you
will hear the glad shouts of our enemies, for they will rejoice exceedingly.
Satan, the father of lies, and the instigator of all the persecutions against
this people from the sixth day of April 1830, until the present day, is just as
full as ever of life, energy, and determination to carry out his mission
against the principles of truth and righteousness.
Brethren
and sisters, if any of you have found fault with the Bishop of your ward, or
with the president of your stake, or with the presiding authorities of the
Church, go home and repent of your sins, and put your households in order. When
your children ask you for bread, do not give them a scorpion in the way of
slandering the presiding authorities of the Church; for I tell you the seed
that you sow in the hearts of your children will be hard to uproot. I bear
testimony unto you that no man speaking by the Spirit of the Lord will ever
criticize the authorities of the Priesthood which God has placed over him,
after he has had the privilege of lifting up his hand either to support or not
support that man. Let us be one, and not desire always to have our own way, and
be determined to have it. For that reason the devil to-day is in opposition to
the principles of truth and righteousness. He was determined to have his own
way, and all those who were determined to have their own way went with him, to
the number of about one-third of the hosts of heaven. Let us feel to say,
"Our Father who art in heaven, thy will be done." That is the spirit
the Latter-day Saints should enjoy. May the Lord bless you, my brethren and
sisters. And should there be any strangers present, I say unto them, God has
revealed unto this people the principles of truth and righteousness; and if you
will repent of your sins, and go down into the waters of baptism, you shall
receive the testimony of the Holy Ghost, and you shall know for yourselves that
what I say is true. God bless you all and the honest in heart in all the world,
and help us to be worthy of eternal life, is my prayer in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
Raise a song, a song of joy.
Benediction by Elder Angus M. Cannon.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 50:514-515, 4/13/95, p 2-3]
Afternoon
Session, 2 p. m.
Singing by the choir:
Guide us, O Thou great Jehovah, Saints unto the promised land.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Singing:
What was witnessed in the heavens? Why, an angel, earthward bound.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT
was the first speaker. He hoped that the remarks made during the Conference might have the effect of awakening the hearers to renewed diligence in the work which had been given the Saints of God. He felt to rejoice in the fact that he had been permitted to enter the service of God and work for the accomplishment of His purposes, and stated that humility and faithfulness would keep all similarly engaged in the line of their duty. Self-sufficiency would have the opposite effect. He desired all the Latter-day Saints to grow in a knowledge of God, and the only way to accomplish this was to keep the commandments of God and recognize His authority and assist to accomplish His purposes upon the earth. Those who neglected their duties showed too much of a tendency to find excuses for their dilatoriness. But he who did this was deficient in the Spirit of God. Every duty should be done in its fulness, in order that excuses might not be necessary, but such excuses had their origin in evil.
He regretted to say that many of the Latter-day Saints were careless in the performance of their duties. Laziness was worthy of contempt, and the idle man was always ailing, while the busy man was healthy and strong. So a building which was filled with machinery, constantly in operation, was capable of prolonged existence after an unoccupied building had crumbled into dust. Every man possessed ability in and of himself to accomplish something for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. He did not need to wait for others to tell him what to do.
Referring to fast offerings, the speaker said that too small a proportion of the amount necessary to support the poor was received from this source. Every ward, he said, could take care of its own poor, and this could be done by omitting one meal every month and giving its equivalent to the poor. This was a duty which should not be neglected. Yet only twenty-five per cent of the support of the poor was received by fast donations from the people, and last year $75,000 was appropriated from the general funds.
Tithing was not what it should be. If tithes and offerings were paid as they should be, there would be no need whatever for the Church to be in a crippled condition financially. He hoped all his hearers would be doers of the word of God in this and other respects.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
was the next speaker. Following is a brief synopsis of his remarks: Each individual had a character and a reputation. The latter was what we seemed to be, the former what we really were, and as God and the angels understood us to be. We would take our character -- our individuality -- with us when we left this sphere. No matter how upright a servant of God might be, he would not escape calumny. Even the Son of God did not escape this evil speaking. But it did not effect or injure his glorious character. In relation to the payment of tithing, we did not pay it to the Bishop, but to the Lord, who knew whether or not we performed this duty faithfully. We could not deceive him. What God wanted was our heart; in other words our affections. We went on missions, and our sons also engaged in this glorious labor. We did this because we loved God better than wealth and earthly distinction. At the family altar we tendered our gratitude to God, and plead with Him because we had confidence in Him and revered Him. There were men and women who were so self-sufficient that they did not solicit the Lord for anything. But only those who acknowledged the Lord in all things were in a position to receive the greatest blessings. Confidence might be reposed in a man who represented God and was in the line of his duty. Scholastic attainments without faith were characterized as worthless, for faith combined with works alone would bring about true progress.
The instructions of Moses to the people had not been repealed, and if men were kind to themselves they would live up to these and other precepts and thus gain the reward promised to the faithful. No one who loved Jesus Christ would not want the iniquities of the world. All who had the Spirit of God would wish to keep themselves unspotted from sin, and surely the authorities of the Church would desire to be in this condition. To stab a man in the back was a cowardly, unkind act, but chiefly disastrous to the perpetrator of the deed.
So far as men showed their faith and integrity in the work of God, would they receive the benefit of the work of God's representatives on the earth. Those who were blessed with authority to do this could afford to be magnanimous, and the work of the Latter-day Saints in government in the past had proved that they could be trusted.
The only thing for the Saints was to attend to their duties in the Priesthood, and if they were to put any other duty ahead of these, they would be in a dangerous condition. If rulers should run the people into debt and bondage, they should be thrown out of office, and give place to those who would administer public affairs in a spirit of economy and honesty
[George Teasdale]
[DNW 51:33, 6/29/95, p 1; CD 4:258-261; CD 5:56-59]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, April 5th, 1895, by
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I have
listened with a great deal of pleasure, and I hope profit, to the excellent
instructions that have been delivered from this stand, and I cannot help but
think what an excellent people we should be if we would carry out the counsels
of the Almighty. I frequently say that we should learn to be kind to ourselves,
and if anybody is going to be benefitted by keeping the commandments of God it
is the individual that keeps them. There is one principle patent before us all
the time, and that is that individually we have a character and a reputation.
The reputation is what we seem to be, as others sit in judgment upon us; but
the character is known to the angel of our presence and to the invisible
intelligences by which we are surrounded. When we pass away we take our character
with us. We do not take the gold and silver and the perishable things of this
world; but we take our own dear selves. So I do not know that we need be so
troubled about anybody else. I saw a scurrilous piece that was written in one
of the papers, and that was furnished us in Mexico by the Salt Lake Herald,
attacking one of the authorities of the Church. It made me think of the saying
in Hamlet: "Be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape
calumny." Did you ever know a servant of God that ever did? What did they
say of our grand Master, the Lord Jesus Christ? What kind of a reputation did
He have? How was it with the Prophet Joseph Smith? Everybody that knew the man
loved him. He was one of those men that improved upon acquaintance; the more
you knew him the better you loved him. So it was with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, was that their reputation? No; but it was their glorious character.
What is
the use of us thinking we can deceive the Almighty? We talk about tithes and
offerings. What does the Lord want with tithes and offerings? Do we pay to Him
or do we pay to the Bishop? If I understand tithes and offerings, they are an
offering unto the Lord. Jacob of old made a covenant with the Lord, and said:
"Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto
thee." How do we pay our tithing-to the Bishop? I do not pay my tithing to
the Bishop. I pay it to the Lord. He knows whether I pay it. He knows whether
my heart is right with Him or whether it is not. He knows whether I am deceiving
Him. He has only asked for one little gift from any of us. What can we give to
Him when we are dependent upon Him for everything that we have-for food, for
raiment, for habitation, for all the means that comes into our hands? We may be
so ignorant that we do not acknowledge this; nevertheless it is true. Yet there
is something that we have which He prizes. What is it? "My son, give me
thine heart." "My daughter, give me thine heart." What do I
understand by this? I understand my affection; that I acknowledge His hand in
all things, and that I have nothing that is dearer to me than my affection for
Him. We love our wives and children. But the call comes to go on a mission. We
take our lives in our hands, and we preach the Gospel to a people that do not
seem to care much about it, and we ask them to come and enjoy the happiness
that we have in the Church of God. Why do we do it? Because we have a greater
affection for God than we have for wives and children, houses and lands, or
anything else. I hope my affection will always be centered on the Almighty. I
want to be redeemed back into His presence; and if I fail, there is an end to
my happiness. When I go into my secret chamber and appeal to my Heavenly Father
for something that I need, I go there simply because I want it. When gathered
around the family altar, we tender our praises and thanksgivings to God for His
protecting care; it is because we feel it. We want the fellowship of the Holy
Ghost; there is no one else who can give it, and so we naturally ask Him. If we
are in any trouble we naturally go to our unseen Friend, the Father of our
spirits, and we plead with Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, for just such
things as we need. Do we not in this way manifest by our works that we have
confidence in Him? Do we not manifest that we believe that He is, and that He
is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him? You see men and women that
never do this. It is simply that they are too ignorant. They do not know the
source from whence they are fed and clothed. They think it is their own
smartness. They are so self-sufficient and so independent that they think it is
all nonsense to ask the Lord for anything. Well, I know different. How do I
know it? In my experience I know that the Lord God has been my friend; I know
that He has guided and directed me. I never think of going on a journey, I
never think of taking any step, without looking unto Him for counsel and
advice. Otherwise what would we do, scattered as we are in the nations of the
earth, and men and women coming unto us for advice? Do they come to us because
of our superior ability or because of our scholastic attainments? No, they do
not. Why do they come? Because we represent the Lord Jesus Christ, and they
have faith in Him and in His Church, and they come to seek counsel at the
fountain head. They have perhaps been impressed themselves and they want to
know if that impression is right, and when they receive something that comes
exactly as they understand it, it is a source of satisfaction to them. The
Sunday School girl who is sick in bed sends for her teacher, because she knows
he is a good man. She wants to be anointed with oil and have the prayer of
faith, and she knows her teacher has faith, because he has taught her. Can not
you see from this that that child has faith, that she has some confidence in
God and in the ordinances of His house? It is manifested by her works. When
people are sick and the first thing they do is to send for a doctor, they
manifest by their works that they have no faith in the anointing of oil and the
prayer of faith, but they have faith in something else. It is a simple
proposition to me that men and women are going to be rewarded according to
their works. We manifest our faith by our works. The Lord has given His Saints
the cue: "Whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed,
but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food,
and that not by the hand of an enemy. And the Elders of the Church, two or
more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my
name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live
unto me."
We talk
about the progression of the Church in scholastic attainments. I would not give
a fig for all your scholastic attainments if you have no faith. What better are
you than the Gentile nations? They have the highest education that is possible
to give, but they have little faith. They do not believe in God; they do not
believe in the ordinances of His house; they are infidel to those precious
principles that exalt men. Show me men and women who are advancing in faith and
in righteousness in meekness and in virtue, and I will show you a people that
love the Lord God of Israel. Show me a people that are advancing in the
iniquities of the world, and I will show you a people who despise the Almighty
and are more in favor of the establishment of the kingdom of the adversary. We
show it by our works. It does not matter much what our reputation is, we
manifest what we really are by our works. We prove that we love the Lord God
when silently we meditate upon the principles of righteousness and practice
them. Malachi, in his last chapter, calls upon the people to remember the
instructions that God gave to Moses on Mount Horeb. Have those laws ever been
repealed? I think not. Do you not think it would be worth our while to study up
these things and see what Malachi meant? to see whether we are living as we
should live and whether we are in harmony with the revealed will of God? If we
are kind to ourselves, we will do so.
I am
interested in my own salvation. I am interested in striving for part in the
first resurrection, and to have an invitation to the marriage supper of the
Lamb. Can I attain to this by following after the fashions and the follies of
modern Babylon and putting myself in harmony with their unfortunate condition?
I think not, and God forbid that anyone should ever do so that loves the Lord
Jesus Christ. I want to bear testimony here that there is no one that loves the
Lord Jesus Christ that wants the iniquities of Babylon.
We talk
sometimes about the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles. Did it ever occur to
us that the Presidency and the Twelve are just as anxious to obtain their
salvation as anyone else? Did it ever occur to us that they are as anxious to
be in harmony with the revealed will of God as any other men or women in the
kingdom of God, or any quorum of the Priesthood? Is it not to be supposed that
they are just as much interested to keep themselves clean and unspotted from
the blood and sins of this generation, and to manifest the power and love of
God in their works by striving to do His will and keep His commandments? It is
a cruel thing to stab a man in the dark. I pity anybody that would do it. God help
the poor creature who writes something that he is ashamed to put his name to.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." If we love
God, we will not do it. Such inspiration is from beneath. We want the
inspiration from above. That is the reason we pray. We can only obtain it
through prayer. You have your schools of theology. What can you do with them?
All that you can do is to teach your scholars how to obtain the fellowship of
the Holy Ghost and the revelations of Almighty God. And how can you obtain
that? By being humble and child-like, and forsaking the world and all its
abominations, and living a pure life. I do not care whether it is a child or an
aged man, we are dependent upon the revelation of Almighty God; and we can only
obtain this by line upon line, precept upon precept, grace for grace. So far as
we manifest our love for God and the principles of righteousness, so will we
grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
My
testimony is that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He has raised
up in these days the Prophet Joseph Smith; that He has organized His Church
upon the earth, and that we have living Apostles and Prophets. Anciently He set
in the church, first, Apostles, then Prophets, and Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers.
He has done the same to-day. The world need not fear us. We are not going to
exercise any unrighteous dominion. The inhabitants of this country need not be
afraid of us, even if we had political power. We can afford to be generous; we
can afford to honor them in their rights, if they cannot see just as we see.
They have certain rights as citizens, and we are bound to recognize them. Even
if we were the head and front and had all the power, their rights would have to
be respected. I say, therefore, they need not be afraid of us. I do not know
much about what you are doing here only from the newspapers, as I live a long
way off; but I know this: that the only way for us is to serve God and keep His
commandments. Hear it, O Israel! And if you think that your political affairs
are more to you than your Priesthood and your Priesthood meetings, I am sorry
for you. The Lord knows our hearts. He knows whether I love Him. So far as
politics is concerned, if I were here I think I would have sense enough to know
how to vote in order that we may have a proper government. All we ask for is
for honest men, who will properly represent us, and not plunge us head over
heels into debt like we are to-day. Whenever a man is in debt he is in bondage.
We are commanded in the Scriptures to owe no man anything, and if a man has the
Spirit of the Lord he will try to keep out of debt. He may be forced into it
sometimes, but as a general thing he will try to keep out of debt. My feeling
is: Father in Heaven, bless all Israel. Bless the men and women that love thee
and are striving to keep thy commandments. Bless the men that thou has placed
to be thy representatives over Stakes, over missions, over conferences. May thy
power and blessings attend them, and the convincing power of thy Spirit rest
upon thy ministering servants, that they may preach thy Gospel in the power and
demonstration of thy Spirit and win souls to thee that shall be eternally
saved, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
made a brief explanation as to how the Church had been loaded with financial burdens. He showed that it had been mainly brought about by the action of the general government in the seizing the property of the Saints. Much of that which was taken was money that the First Presidency did not have in possession and never had it. This action had entailed the undertaking of burdensome obligations. He spoke hopefully in relation to the prospect for the future, however, and exhorted the Saints to do all they could to make the burdens of the Church as light as possible by each local division being as far as practicable, self-supporting.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
spoke briefly. He compared the condition of the Latter-day Saints with that of other communities. The drawing of this contrast was favorable to the people of this region. the speaker dwelt upon the paternal care exercised by the Church over the Saints, and showed that it was through its agency that this region had been populated and settlements fostered which would, except for its beneficent influence, never have been established. This statement was sustained by proofs furnished by the history of this great western commonwealth. He showed that the object of the Church was to establish righteousness and truth in the earth, this being its exalted mission.
The choir sang the anthem:
O come, let us sing unto the Lord.
Benediction by Elder David M. Stuart.
_____
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 50:515-516, 4/13/95, p 3-4]
SECOND
DAY.
_____
Morning Session, April 6, 10 a. m.
Singing by the choir:
Hark! listen to the
trumpeters. They sound for volunteers,
On Zion's bright and flowery mount Behold the officers.
Prayer by Elder David h. Cannon.
The choir sang:
Earth with her ten thousand flowers, Air, with all its beams and showers.
ELDER F. M. LYMAN
was the first speaker. He trusted that the Spirit of the Lord would rest abundantly upon all present during the Conference. He esteemed it a very great privilege to attend these General Conferences. It was necessary that the organization of this Church should be kept perfect, and that the burdens devolving upon us as a people should not be borne by a few only. When our Stake organizations were made perfect there was no danger of any portion of the Kingdom being neglected. We met together on these occasions to receive the Word of God from the Presidency of the Church and other inspired servants of the Lord, and those who spoke to them were moved upon by the Holy Ghost; their words were the scriptures, just as were the words of the Savior and the Apostles of old, and were suited to the requirements of the people at the present time more particularly -- of gathered Israel today. We had cities and towns to build, the land to subdue and difficulties to meet, and it was necessary there should be a prophet, seer, and revelator such as President Woodruff was today, and those who had preceded him, to stand at the head of this great work. Then there were his two counselors -- the Twelve Apostles, men who held the keys of the kingdom, with authority to regulate and set in order the affairs of the Church. If disorder appeared on the surface they should be looked after, just as a skilful physician dealt with a patient, and those upon whom the responsibility rested throughout the various Stakes should see that the people were well looked after, in order that their salvation might be made sure. It was in the nature of man to sin, and the brethren who had charge of this great work should look to it that all evils which came under their notice in the respective wards were checked in their incipiency. It was by the voice of the Lord that those who held authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been called to fill their offices of responsibility. We, as a people, had no preference as to those who should stand at our head. We prayed to the Lord and said, "Thy will be done." The matter was laid before him and His inspiration came to us by the Holy Ghost.
This kingdom had been organized by the inspiration of the Almighty; it was sustained by him, and would be so to the end. It had been established on a firm foundation and would never grow less than it was today. On the contrary, it would increase in numbers as the faith of the Saints spread abroad. The fame of the Latter-day Saints was only just beginning to dawn, and the day was not far distant when thousands of people from the various parts of our land would come here to visit them and learn for themselves their true worth.
In conclusion Elder Lyman invoked the blessing of God upon the Saints, and prayed that the good work in which they were engaged would continue to prosper, in spite of the difficulties which sometimes seemed to beset it.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[DNW 50:801, 6/14/95, p 1; CD 4:262-265]
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
_____
Remarks made at the General conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 6th, 1895, by
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I pray
that the Spirit of the Lord may rest abundantly upon us, especially our brethren
who are called upon to speak; for it is an unusual task to address so large an
assembly. There is generally danger that we pitch our voices too high and they
break upon us. I shall be pleased if I can speak just loud enough to be heard,
and yet not waste any volume of my voice.
I esteem
it a very great privilege to attend these general conferences. It is a very
important matter that the people should gather together twice a year in general
conference to transact the general business of the Church, by common consent.
We also meet four times a year in every Stake to transact the business of the
Stake. We meet at least once a year in our wards to transact the business of
the wards. Changes continually become necessary through deaths and removals and
other causes, and it seems essential that the organization of the Church and
all of its departments be kept perfect, that there shall not be too much labor
resting upon a few, but the responsibility be properly shared, according to the
design of our Heavenly Father in the organization of His Church. I presume that
this Church organization is a perfect one when it is kept complete, with the
First Presidency and the general authorities. The labor is properly divided,
and no one needs to be overworked. Then when our Stakes are complete in their
organization, with the Presidency and a High Council, with Bishops and their
counselors, and the regular helps in government, there is no need for any part
being neglected. Hence I say that it is a very important part of our lives and
experience that we meet together on occasions of this kind, not only to
transact the business and keep the Church organization perfect, but that we may
also receive the word of the Lord and the counsels of the Holy Spirit through
the Presidency and the Apostles, who hold the keys of the kingdom, and who have
held those keys from the beginning, and will hold those keys to the end. When
these men stand up before us to give us instruction, they do so as the oracles
of heaven. They do not stand in their own strength, nor in their own wisdom.
They are not given to preparing, by the light of their own experience and
judgment, discourses to be presented before the people; but they store their
minds with information, with every particle of light and wisdom and
understanding that can be obtained from our Heavenly Father, and they stand
before you to be moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And when they speak, they speak
forth scripture; their words are scripture, just as the words of the Apostles
Peter, James, and John, and of the Nephite Apostles are scripture. Their words
are the words of truth, the words of the Lord, and they are particularly suited
to the requirements of the people at the present time. The words of the Lord
that came through His servants in olden times were important and were fitted to
the condition of the people who received them. The words of the Lord given to
the Nephites under the direction of the Savior when He visited this continent
were suited to the requirements of that people at that time. Yet the truths
enunciated to the peoples of the east and of the west, so far as they pertain
to doctrine and the plan of life and salvation, are suited also for us. But we
find ourselves at times in emergencies and conditions that require the counsels
of the Lord just suited to the occasion-counsels suited to a people located in
the valleys of these mountains, not to the people of Jerusalem 1800 years ago,
not to the people in South America 1400 years ago and more. Israel has been
gathered to-day from the four corners of the earth, in answer to the
establishment of the principles of salvation by the Savior. We have cities and
towns to build; we have country to subdue, and counsels peculiar to the
locations and to the circumstances that surround us are needed. We have an
endless variety of experience and of difficulties to meet and grapple with in
this life; and it is necessary that there should be three men standing as the
presiding authority of the Church upon the earth representing our Father who is
in Heaven, one man being the mouthpiece of God to the whole world, and a
Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, such as President Woodruff is to-day, and such as
President John Taylor, President Brigham Young, and President Joseph Smith
were. As these men were in their day, so is President Woodruff to-day; and when
President Woodruff's work shall be filled, some other man designated by the
voice of God will stand at the head of this great work upon the earth. The Lord
will provide the man, and He will provide him two counselors, who shall also be
men of God, competent to voice the mind and will of God to the people. Then
associated with these three are the chosen Twelve, the Twelve Apostles of the
Lamb, who have been selected to stand by the Presidency, and to be a presiding
traveling High Council to the Church, who hold the keys of the kingdom, with
authority to regulate and set in order the affairs thereof. And under the
discipline of the Church, that has so perfectly developed during its experience
of sixty-five years to-day, this work has come to completion in its
organization.
It is the
business also of the presiding authorities of the Church to use their helps in
government-Presidents of Stakes, High Councils, Bishops and their counselors,
and the quorums of the Priesthood; not only to set in order occasionally, but
to keep the Church in order, that it may be cared for in its organized
capacity, and that the proper attention shall be given by the courts of the
Church to see that whatever of unpleasantness or disagreement arises shall
receive proper attention in the proper time; that if difficulties threaten, if
disorders appear on the surface, they shall be looked after, just as the
skilful physician looks after the health of a patient. It is the duty of these
organizations to attend to these affairs. You who are acquainted with the
conduct of the affairs of the Church know that the Presidency of the Church,
when their attention is called to any special part of the kingdom or to any
mission, or if there is any difficulty that needs prompt attention, they never
neglect the matter, but messengers are forwarded at once. If there is
difficulty in any Stake of Zion; if difficulty should arise in any mission, as
did arise once upon the Sandwich Islands, and Apostles were sent post-haste to
set in order and regulate the affairs of that mission-when such occasions
arise, the First Presidency are competent and are authorized to take care of
them, and they have all the helps that they require. They have not only the
Twelve Apostles that can be sent with authority and power, but they have the
Presidency and High Council of every Stake, and the Bishopric of every ward, as
well as the quorums of the Priesthood and other helps in government in the
midst of the Church. So that the Church is carefully cared for and the people
are nourished, corrected, reproved, instructed, and looked after, that their
salvation may be secured. This is necessary; for we find that it is the nature
of men to wander and to fall into sin. It is the nature of men to love the
things that we ought not to indulge in. It needs therefore careful attention
from the various authorities of the Church, so that whatever of evil presents
itself may be checked in its incipiency. We have found in our experience that
where the brethren who have charge of the various departments of the work give
careful and early consideration to matters that require their attention,
difficulties are easily cured and the people are readily relieved of any
trouble that seems to threaten them. But if evil comes into their midst and it
is neglected, it seems to poison the circulation of the community, and it
becomes worse and worse, until it sometimes occurs that matters in a ward reach
such a serious stage that the Bishopric of the ward is not competent to correct
the evil. It is so also in a Stake. The result is, the matter goes from the
Bishop to the High Council, and from the High Council to the First Presidency
for their attention and consideration.
All these
men who are called to these positions are chosen men. President Woodruff is a
chosen vessel. His Counselors are chosen men. These Apostles are chosen men.
These Presidents of Stakes are chosen men. They are men who have been chosen by
the voice of the Lord. Our Father who dwells in Heaven hath made choice of
every one of these men, and we may go further: members of the High Councils are
chosen by the voice of the Lord. These men are not in the field applying for
places and position in the Church. And to my knowledge, there has been no such
thing occur in the history of this Church as a man applying for a position in
the Presidency, in the Apostleship, or in any other position, not even as a
Teacher in a ward. The Teachers have been called and chosen as well as these
other brethren. The Bishop and his counselors cast their eyes over the
brethren, weigh and measure them, and take note of their faith and their worth
to find teachers. They do not always find perfect men. In fact, I do not think
that up to this date a perfect man has been found among us. But the Lord has
taken the very best material that he could get. He may not have taken all the
best; there may be others that are just as good to make Presidents, Apostles,
and Presidents of Stakes, and Bishops, etc., as have been used; but, as a rule,
as good men as we have among us have been selected. They have been chosen for
their virtue, for their honesty, for their integrity, for their love of and
devotion to the Gospel, and they are generally men who have been in the service
of the Lord until the Holy Ghost has become their companion and their counselor
and guide in all things as near as possible. I know in my experience, which has
been considerable for a young man, that we put our heads together, we pray to
God, we humble ourselves before the Lord, and in every instance we say,
"Father, manifest to us, by the Holy Spirit, who is the man to fill this
position. We have no preferences, no brothers or kindred that we desire to
promote, but thy will be done in the matter." And the inspiration of the
Lord comes to us by the Holy Ghost. There is no way for it to come but by the
holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost signifies to us that a certain man shall be
placed in a certain position, we take hold of him, and the people feel and
understand that he is the man for the position. The Spirit of the Lord bears
witness to the hearts of the brethren who hold the Priesthood, and of the
people. Those who bear the authority of Heaven have the right to appeal to the
Lord and obtain from Him counsel and inspiration in regard to every matter of
choice. This kingdom is organized by the inspiration of the Almighty. It is so
sustained, and will be to the end. It will never grow less than it is to-day,
but it will increase in numbers and spread abroad. As the people increase in
numbers and faith the Church will increase in strength and power. Individuals
may fall by the way; political and financial trials and a variety of other
things may come in upon us; sins, secret and public, may come in upon us and
destroy some; but the Church of Christ will go on forever, increasing and
gaining strength and power. And it will be brought to the notice of the world
more plainly and potently than it is to-day. The world will be brought to look
upon this people as a marvel in the earth compared with all other people; and
the noble and the great ones of the earth will come here to visit the
Latter-day Saints, who are not a learned people, not an aristocratic people,
but a simple, plain people, gathered from the honest, humble, and conscientious
of the world. The strength is in Israel's God, not in the people; not in our
hereditary greatness, but in our simplicity and our honesty and purity.
I speak
of this that we may have a comprehensive view of the organization of this
Church and of the importance of the business that we come together to transact
in our conferences. It is necessary for the health, the prosperity, and
advancement of the Church that this labor should be performed. Every quorum,
every organization, and every association should be cared for, so that none
shall be neglected, and that the Church may be in healthy condition, and that
when the Bridegroom comes, we shall have oil in our lamps. That we may do His
will and keep His commandments, and be worthy of His favor and blessing, His
salvation and exaltation, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
followed. He said that God was willing to bestow His blessings upon His Saints if they, in the exercise of their agency, lived worthy lives. The power of choice rested with them as to whether they would follow the path of death or of life. Proper ambition, leading to life, should be encouraged, but covetousness of the things of the world by the Saints would be a sin, considering the favors God had bestowed upon them. All the privileges of laboring in sacred places for the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead were peculiar to the Latter-day Saints, and if they would be humble and united they needed not to tremble for the future of their work. The Saints would not be free from the power of the adversary until they become a unit in spiritual matters, and were filled with love for and confidence in each other. One who had no confidence in the order of the Priesthood had no confidence in Him who established that order. All personal preferences must be sacrificed, if they should come in contact with the plan of God. This could be done only through full faith in the Almighty. Enemies might arise among the people, but union in their midst would arm them against all attacks. He had no fear for the future of the work of the Lord, or for the opposition it might meet. This would tend only to advertise the work of God. It was, perhaps, the only way to bring the Gospel before governors and kings, to take it there through opposition and trial. The thing for each to do was to accept what might come, and subject all personal feelings to the good of the general cause. If the judgment of each man with reference to the Church should be followed out, great confusion would be the result. on the other hand, they who would follow meekly and humbly the inspiration of the spirit of God would be in a condition to inherit all His promises.
Adversity had never hindered the progress of God's work, but by that means the individual faith of each, and consequently of the whole, had been increased, and it had come to the point where it was necessary for each to do his duty and trust to God for the rest. Thus would true union and equality before God be brought about, no matter what differences with regard to business or politics might exist or arise. Ephraim should be heirs of Jacob, and should attract the other tribes of Israel; this was the destiny of the Latter-day Saints. By the gathering of one of a city and two of a family would the redemption of the whole human family be brought about, through the work of the living and the vicarious work in behalf of the dead. Would Ephraim continue in this great mission or rebel against it? The mercy of God to the Saints had made them prosperous; would this prosperity lessen their faithfulness in performing His work?
The purposes of God could be brought about only through His power, but He depended upon the union, faith and labor of the Saints to assist in the accomplishment of this object. The time had come for dissentions to be thrown away, and for men and women and their children to unite in aiding in the regeneration of a fallen world. From this people must spiritual sustenance and improvement go to the world.
[Brigham Young]
[DNW 50:769, 6/8/95, p 1; CD 4:266-269]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 6th, 1895, by
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
For this
blessing and privilege which we enjoy this morning I feel particularly grateful
to our Father in Heaven, and I trust that the Spirit of God will rest upon the
speakers this day as it rested upon those yesterday. We have come here for a
blessing, and God is willing we should have it. But the power is within us to
enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit or reject it; for the agency that God has
given us is complete, and we can serve the Lord or the adversary, as we please.
We may give way to a feeling of ambition, and promote desires in our hearts
that lead unto death, or we may promote the presence of the Spirit of God, that
leads unto eternal life. I think it is right to encourage ambition in the heart
if it leads in this direction. But for us who have been highly favored of the
Lord to covet the things of this world is a sin. Of all people that have ever
lived upon the earth we should be entirely and thoroughly in the service of our
Maker; for God has favored us as He has no other people. We have occasion to
rejoice to-day in the liberty that we enjoy, the right and privilege to serve
our God, to promote the interest and building up of the Church of Christ,
attending to the ordinances of the house of God, laboring for the living and
the dead in those sacred places which are unknown to the world, but know to God
and those to whom they have been revealed through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
If this people are humble and united, they have naught to fear in the future,
they need not tremble in the present, and it is our privilege to be filled with
hope for the future. I know it is felt by some of the brethren that great
things will be accomplished if we can step right in and be numbered with the
States of the Union. People rejoiced exceedingly when a Territorial government
was given to them. I presume we would rejoice if we could have a State
government. But there is one direction in which I see light for this people,
and that is in uniting together with that bond that cannot be broken-uniting
together in the bond of the everlasting covenant which God has given us. Do I
desire that we should become a State? Yes. But I desire more and see greater
light in the union of this people. If the Latter-day Saints are united and see
eye to eye, God will give them all that is necessary for them to have to
accomplish His work. More than this I, for one, have never aspired to. He is
abundantly able, but He will not bring this people to the point where they are
entirely free from the power of the adversary until they are a united people
before Him. That is the labor devolving upon this organization which has been
portrayed to you by Brother Lyman. Union in the midst of the Latter-day Saints,
love and affection, confidence in God, confidence in each other, are what we
should be striving for. And I say that the man or the woman that has no
confidence in the order established by our Father has no confidence in Him that
established it. Whatever our feelings may be, they must be subdued; whatever
our desires may be, they must be controlled, and our labors must be one, or
this work will not prosper in our hands as individuals. So far as the body of
the people are concerned and the work of God in the earth we need not trouble
ourselves about that. Trouble ourselves with our own condition, with our own
lives, with the desires that we are cultivating day by day in our hearts, and
see to it that they reach unto Him who sits above and controls all things.
Enemies will rise up against this people. Men will go out from us and become
our enemies. Strong men, orators, warriors, statesmen will be arrayed against
us; but if union is in the midst of this people, the light and power of God
will be with them, and all the shafts of the adversary will fall harmless to
the ground. I have no fear for the Church. I am not troubled about Statehood.
What does Statehood mean? It frees us from the petty tyranny of a few, who,
however, do us no harm-they advertise us. Through the machinations of our
enemies, the cause of God has been presented in the highest courts of this
nation. Could we have done it ourselves? God might have ordered it in another
way; but He ordered it in this way. The great and the mighty, the high and the
low shall have the Gospel preached unto them. In what manner shall it come to
these people? How shall it be introduced into the court of St. James and laid
before Queen Victoria? Or to the German court and the Emperor? or to the
emperor of any great nation? In God's way, His own appointed way, will these
great ones hear the Gospel, and God will order it if we are united, and we need
not fret ourselves about it. State government I want, if God wills it; if He
does not, let it rest. When the counsel comes to me from the authority that He
has placed upon the earth, I say let my heart be attuned to that counsel,
whatever my desires may be, and let me subject myself to the Spirit of God; and
if it does not suit me, let me be man enough and have the testimony of the
Spirit in me to receive that counsel and obey it. But I want one thing-I want
to unite with my brethren. I see disunion among us. My feelings rise up, and I
am found sometimes wishing that my brother would do as I would like him to do.
Sometimes I want to put my hand to steady the ark. God help me to refrain from
it. I want to cut a man off if he is too long, and pull him out if he is too
short. These are things that come to me that I need to control. I know it is written
that the meek shall inherit the earth. Let us become meek and lowly. It is not
with a strong hand, speaking from a temporal point of view, that we will gain
the victory. How will it be done? The individuals that inherit this earth are
the victors, and Christ has said the meek shall inherit the earth. Do our
enemies injure us? Well, it looks to me like they did sometimes injure us very
much. But what have they accomplished? Have we seen a wrinkle in any department
that has shown a shrinkage in the Church of Christ upon the earth? I have not,
neither has any man who breathes the breath of life. But I have seen the Church
growing stronger each day. When we were in poverty we grew, we expanded, we
spread abroad. Now we are comfortably situated, and we continue to grow. Our
enemies have taken us like a sponge and squeezed us until there seemed to be no
moisture left in the people; but when they let go of us we were larger than
ever.
God is
managing the interests of this Church, and if this people will do their part
for their own salvation, God will bear them off victors. Brethren and sisters,
we have all we can do to mind our own business, serving God in every act of our
lives. When the brethren tell us to do a thing, do it with our might. How
should I know that they are correct? By the revelations that God gives to me I
know that they are correct, and I see light, greatness, glory in the union of
the Latter-day Saints. I care not what their complexion may be in politics; I
care not whether it is the blacksmith or the dandy little fellow that measures
out the ribbon to the more delicate lady, union, equality before God, is what
we want, with a determination in the heart to serve the Lord and keep His
commandments. I am not looking upon a people who are unknown to the Father,
unknown to the angels. I am looking upon a people who have been cared for-upon
the descendants of that boy on whom Jacob laid his hand when he crossed them in
the presence of his son Joseph, and said Ephraim should be the greater. I behold
a people who are the children of Ephraim, a portion of one of the tribes,
driven into all countries. I behold a people who are the descendants of Jacob
through the loins of Joseph and Ephraim, a people of whom it is prophesied that
they should be great and glorious and should be gathered together, to whom the
other tribes should come as the brethren of Joseph came to Joseph in Egypt
seeking succor at his hand; so will the other tribes come to the tribe of
Ephraim and seek the blessings of God at their hands. I am speaking to that
people who, it was ordained, should come forth in the latter days, and the Lord
would take one of a city and two of a family and bring them to His own house,
where they should worship Him, and He would place pastors over them after His
own heart. These children of Ephraim are here to-day to do the work of the
Father and assist in bringing to pass His strange act.
What will
we do with the mission assigned us-the mission that Jacob saw, though he was
old and feeble and nigh unto the grave? When he laid his hands on the boy he
told him what should befall the generations that should come of him. Ephraim,
what shall we do with this mission? Will we handle it as He wants us to do?
Will we honor the Priesthood that He has given us? Or will Ephraim rebel? for
we have rebellious blood in us. God has been merciful unto this people. He has
led us in green pastures, though trials have assailed us. The blood of Ephraim
has surged through the hearts of this people, and they have determined and set
their faces as flint that they would serve God in adversity. Can we do it in
prosperity? If this people will unite together, if they will honor God and
honor the worthies from whom they claim descent, God will fight their battles,
He will argue for them with arguments that cannot be refuted, and H will bring
these things to pass. You and I are incompetent to do it without Him. I know we
will succeed, but not by the strong hand of the warrior, nor the peculiar gifts
of the statesman, nor by oratory, nor by cunning and craftiness, nor by any
honors that the world can heap upon us, though they were to make us the head of
the nation. It is God that will do it, and no one else. Union must be in the
hearts of these men and these women, or they will not accomplish what God
designs them to do in the latter days.
Now,
brethren and sisters, what will we do with the things that God has given us? I
appeal to my own heart; I appeal to the hearts of the brethren. In humility let
us seek Him; in union let us go unto Him and plead with Him; for we must not be
forsaken. As individuals we must have Him with us. As fathers of households we
must have His Spirit with us to guide the family God has given us; also as
mothers, who bear the bodies that clothe the spirits that come to us. Brethren
and sisters, the time has come-I feel it in my heart-for us to throw away the
dissensions that rise in our hearts, the worldly ambitions that prompt us to do
things that are not of God. We must render to God the things that are God's and
to Caesar the pride of the world and the things thereof, and prepare for the
honest of every nation that will come unto us and will claim of us sustenance
and protection, which He will enable us to give to them if we are faithful. I
pray that the blessings of God may be upon this people; that humility may be
given us instead of pride; that the peace of the Spirit may be given us instead
of the turmoil and confusion that wait upon the spirit that the world is in
possession of; that the peace and blessing of God may be in our habitations and
in our hearts, with our families, with our neighbors, with the whole people,
throughout the length and breadth of the land, and in all the departments of
this great and glorious cause which God has entrusted to us, is my humble
prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
was next called upon to address the congregation. He said he had greatly rejoiced with the Saints during the sessions of the Conference thus far, and had profited much by the words which had been spoken, by the dictation of the Holy Ghost unto us. There was a great work devolving upon God's people in their daily life, and the speaker here pointed out the vast importance of strictly keeping the sacred records of the Church. He then referred to statements in the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Book of Mormon, showing that God had, in various ages, commanded men to write the things which were profitable to be preserved for history. Since the temples had been constructed, he said, and the ordinances therein had been administered, there had begun to be a better understanding of the importance of keeping family records, history and genealogy than existed before among this people. There was one among us who had from the time of his earliest connection with the Church taken an especial interest and care in this regard, and in his labor therein he had shown much wisdom -- he referred to President Woodruff. He had from the outset of his public career kept journals of all passing events, and the Saints were especially indebted to his exertions, as well as those of other brethren, for the sermons which the Prophet Joseph delivered in the city of Nauvoo and other places on different occasions. To these brethren they were deeply indebted for those precious things which were now preserved on the pages of the Church's history, and which served to so refresh us at this day. Some of the most important matters instituted by the Prophet Joseph had been brought down in history to the present time, and we were thereby the happy recipients of those blessings and ordinances. While we had been limited in our efforts to write up much in the history of the Church in these times, because of our records being in a scattered condition, and our inability to obtain the requisite information, yet one of the brethren had been going around from ward to ward, from Stake to Stake, from mission to mission during the last three or four years, hunting up the early happenings in the various settlements of Utah and the surrounding territories. He had succeeded in gathering the information necessary to produce a good and faithful history of all the Stakes of Zion, and from the report which he had made to the speaker, as Church historian, he learned that there were wards which had been organized quite a length of time in which no semblance of a record had been yet kept.
The speaker earnestly directed the attention of the presidents of Stakes and Bishops of wards, as well as the heads of families, to the importance of this matter, and counseled them to remember that it was quite time they were turning their minds in this direction. Let parents, be urged, teach their sons and daughters to devote their attention to this subject and instruct them in their school days how to keep notations of the general doings around them. In future generations it would be interesting for children to know what part their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers played in the Church history of the past. Not only were records wanted of what happened at home, but of the happenings in foreign countries, and he hoped soon to see that matter also earnestly taken up. Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of wards should go around among their people at least once every year, inspect the records which were made, and see that these were being thoroughly kept, and thereby a complete history could be assured. In conclusion Elder Richards commended his suggestions to the thoughtful consideration of the Saints.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[MS 57:625, 641; CD 4:269-276]
THE RECORDS OF THE SAINTS
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 6th, 1895, by
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
Beloved
hearers: I have greatly rejoiced with you during the sittings of this
Conference, yesterday and this morning, in the very precious instructions that
have been given to us. I realize that they have been the dictation of the Holy
Ghost unto us, and my soul has been feasted therewith. We have had a blessed
variety of instructions given to us, of many things both temporal and
spiritual.
Inasmuch
as you are in the habit of raising up your hands twice a year to sustain me as
the historian of the Church, and are liable to be called upon to do the same
thing again before this Conference closes, I feel impressed with the importance
of presenting to you some thoughts for consideration which appertain to that
part of the labor in which I am engaged-that of historian. There is a great
work devolving upon God's people in their daily life in the organization which
has been set forth to us this morning. An important feature of that work is the
keeping of the sacred records of the Church. This involves something more than
is generally contemplated by those who are called to be clerks, secretaries and
recorders in the Church. I wish to call the attention of this congregation to a
consideration of this subject a few minutes this morning, but before proceeding
further I desire to read a few sentences of sacred writ, beginning with
Genesis, second chapter and 4th verse:
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth
when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the
heavens. (Pearl of Great Price, edition 1888, page 7. English edition 1882 page
5.)
The Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Behold, I reveal unto you concerning this heaven and this earth; write the
words which I speak. (Page 26. English edition page 16.)
And then began these men to call
upon the name of the Lord, and the Lord blessed them, and a Book of Remembrance
was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given
unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; and by
them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was
pure and undefiled.
Now this same Priesthood, which
was in the beginning, shall be in the end of the world also. Now this prophecy
Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and a genealogy was kept of
the children of God. And this was the book of the generations of Adam.
Enoch in
the seventh generation from Adam, who lived and built the City of Zion, has
left on record the following (page 31. English edition page 20):
The heavens he made: the earth is his footstool, and the
foundation thereof is his. Behold he laid it, an host of men hath he brought in
upon the face thereof. And death hath come upon our fathers; nevertheless we
know them, and cannot deny, and even the first of all we know, even Adam. For a
book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by
the finger of God; and it is given in our own language.
These
extracts which I am now reading are from a Revelation which the God of Heaven
has given to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith, which he received soon after
the organization of the Church in 1830, and which are found in the Pearl of
Great Price. I quote from the latest edition published in 1888, in this city.
Further
scripture concerning this superlatively important subject may be found on pages
121 and 538 of the Book of Mormon. The Lord said to Nephi about 550 years
before His incarnation, Book of Mormon, 2nd Nephi, chapter 29, verses 11-12:
For I command all men, both in the east and in the west,
and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they
shall write the words which I speak unto them: for out of the books which shall
be written, I shall judge the world, every man according to their works,
according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews,
and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites, and they
shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of
Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak
unto all nations of the earth, and they shall write it.
In fulfillment
of His promise that He would speak unto the Jews and that they should write it,
we have that precious book the Bible. His promise to speak to the Nephites and
that they should write it, is also fully made manifest in the coming forth of
the plates containing the Book of Mormon.
With a
fulfilment of these prophecies so perfectly before us, we may with entire
confidence expect the fulfilment of that part which relates to the tribes of
Israel which He has led away, and also that which relates to all nations of the
earth.
Again on
page 538:
Behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out
of the books which shall be written, shall the world be judged.
In the
most beautiful harmony with the foregoing does the Prophet Malachi say:
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another:
and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written
before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name (Mal.
3:16).
From the
word of God we see that in the early ages of the world, soon after its
creation, that wonderful Prophet Enoch was deeply impressed with the importance
of a "Book of Remembrance" being kept in which was contained the
record of the generation of Adam.
Not only
were Enoch and his contemporaries interested in this, but it appears that the
Lord was interested, and probably commanded it to be done, for the Prophet
states that to as many as called upon God it was given to write by the spirit
of inspiration, and by this spirit of inspiration in their parents they were
taught to read and write the pure and perfect language which God had given to
their great father Adam, so that they kept a genealogy of the children of God;
and this was the Book of the Generations of Adam.
That it
was the design, purpose, and commandment of God that a good faithful record of
Adam's descendants should be kept is unquestionably true, seeing that the
greatest of all the antediluvian Prophets has left on record that "a book
of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the
finger of God."
Having
now obtained some slight idea of the significance attached to record keeping in
antediluvian times, let us see if the people since the flood have entertained
similar ideas on this important subject.
Noah
gives us no account of having preserved a history of the creation or of the
Church organization, building of Enoch's city, Zion, and its translation, nor
of the persecutions of the righteous by the wicked during that time, but the
following from Abraham, the friend of God and father of the faithful, who lived
in the tenth generation, about 400 years after the flood, has found its way
down to us.
He says,
pages 45-50 (Pearl of great Price, English edition 1882 page 33):
I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right
whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a
follower of righteousness; * * * and desiring to receive instructions, and to
keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding
the right belonging to the fathers; it was conferred upon me from the fathers;
it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the
beginning, or before the foundations of the earth to the present time, even the
right of the first-born, on the first man, who is Adam, or first father,
through the fathers unto me.
I sought for mine appointment unto
the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning
the seed.
By this
latter paragraph we are informed that Patriarch Abraham was not only interested
in his genealogy, but was very anxious to learn, insomuch that he sought
diligently and found out the right of the first man, who is Adam, or first
father, through the fathers unto him. Any one desiring it can read a list of
the first fathers or patriarchs in Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 107,
paragraphs 40-57, giving the list from Adam to Methuselah, the grandfather of
Noah.
Abraham further says that the record of the Patriarchs
concerning the right of the Priesthood, the Lord preserved in His own hands.
Now, how
did he come by the record which gave him the knowledge of his right to the
Priesthood? Undoubtedly it was brought by Noah in the ark through the flood.
Other history informs us that Abraham spent a number of years of his early life
with Noah and Shem, and was taught by them in all the knowledge of God and His
works. Thus whatsoever knowledge Noah and Shem were possessed of or whatsoever
records they brought through the flood in the ark, all this was available, no
doubt, to Abraham, and he being a believer in the Almighty God, became a man of
such extraordinary faith that nothing could be required which was too great for
him, and so he became the father of the faithful, and the friend of God.
I have
read these portions of Scripture that we may get the subject of keeping records
and of writing history, especially sacred history, before our minds for
consideration. Since the temples have been constructed and the ordinances
therein began to be administered, our people have obtained a better
understanding of the importance of keeping family records, family history and
genealogy, than before. We have had one among us who has been from the early
days of the Church the necessity of this and has entertained the subject with
great interest, and perhaps with as great importance as anyone could when there
was so little necessary use for the same, and that is our worthy President
Woodruff. He has from the beginning of his public career kept a journal and a
history, and we are indebted in a great measure to his exertion, together with
that of some others, for many great and powerful sermons which the Prophet
Joseph delivered in the city of Nauvoo. We are indebted, I say, to his records
and his efforts for very many of these precious truths that we have now on the
page of history to enrich ourselves with. Some of the most important matters
pertaining to the most sacred councils that were instituted by the Prophet
Joseph are thus brought down to our present time, and by them we are made the
happy recipients of many blessings and ordinances. In later times we have been
limited in our efforts to write up the history of the Church, because of our
records being in a scattered condition, and because of our not having yet
obtained the historical items necessary from the more distant portions of the
Church. We have had Brother Jenson visiting from ward to ward, from stake to
stake, from mission to mission, gathering up the early history of the founding
of the settlements in Utah and the surrounding territories. He has been with
you, learned of your condition, and has gathered up what information he could
get necessary for a faithful history of all the stakes of Zion, so far as we
know. Through his report to me as historian, I am informed that there are wards
organized and going on for quite a length of time, that have no semblance of
any record kept among them. to this fact I wish to call the attention, not only
of the Presidents of stakes, the Bishops of wards, presidents of quorums and
councils and the heads of families, but of all the people I wish them to know
and understand that it is time they were turning their minds upon this subject.
They should keep more carefully the Church records while they also institute
family history. You that have been in the Church many years and are raising up
sons and daughters around you, should teach and instruct them in this matter,
and impress them while in their schoolboy days to keep some notation of all
their general doings in the earth, keep an account of themselves. I know they
will feel just as you and I felt: what is the use of writing that I went to the
Brigham Young academy to learn? What is the use of telling that I went off a
couple of years to the South on a mission, or to England, or anywhere else? It
may seem of small moment to them now; but when your sons are old, their hair
white, and they look back upon half or three-fourths of a century of
experience, perhaps a Bishop, President of Stake, founder of a colony or
president of a Temple, then they would give a treasure for a faithful record of
the experience they had passed through, whom they had blessed, baptized,
confirmed, ordained, and in what countries and languages they had done it. It is
time that these brethren who are bald, and grey with age were instituting this
order of things in their households, that they, as the heads of their families,
their tribes or their generation, may establish a history that shall go down to
the generations after them. Subsequent generations will want to know what part
their father, their grandfather or their great-grandfather took in establishing
this Church-if he was a High Priest, an Elder, a President of a Stake, a Bishop
or a Bishop's counselor, or held any other office in the Priesthood. He ought
not only to keep an account of this for his own present benefit as long as he
endures, but also see to it before he departs that he leaves a good record of
the events of his life to his kindred-of the work that he has performed in the
Temples and of the missions that he has fulfilled-that it may go down to his
children, that they may realize that they are under obligations to him for the
blessings of the Gospel that he has caused to descend upon their heads, to establish
them in the midst of God's people in the last days. I request you, my brethren
the Bishops, that you look carefully after the interests of your people in this
regard; see that your clerks keep good and perfect records of every birth in
your ward, certainly of the birth of every child that belongs to the Saints.
Some of the children that are now born of those who are unbelievers may rise up
and through your instruction and ministration become Elders and ministers of
God in the Church while they are in the flesh, and bless you for the benefits
you have bestowed upon them. I wish to urge the Presidents of Stakes, and the
Bishops of wards to look after this matter and see that records are kept
properly in the wards, in the Stakes and in all the Church organizations
included in your presidencies. These records should be inspected critically by
you, and frequently, not only that they are faithfully kept but on durable
paper and with indelible ink. No recorder or clerk should be allowed to buy the
books and keep them as his own, when Church matters are recorded in them. We
had an example of this in early days. When President Joseph Smith received a
revelation that John Whitmer was to be appointed Church historian, he got his
book and kept records in it, and by and by, when the Prophet Joseph Smith
wanted it to find data so that he could write his history, this man would not
let him have the book, he having apostatized from the Church. He kept that
book, and it was handed down in his generation. We have obtained a copy of the
entire record, so while they keep the book, we have its contents. This sample
is enough to give us a warning. In your Relief Societies, your Mutual
Improvement Associations, your quorums, even down to the Primary Associations,
there should be books provided by the organization, and paid for by it, and
they should be the property of that body for whom the record is kept; and when
it is full, it should be delivered carefully to the authorities of that body
and held as Church property, that it may when wanted be brought to the
Historian's office and be preserved in the archives of history for the benefit
of future generations. Some who have gone on foreign missions have kept records
of their labors in those missions, but we get no trace of them. Brethren, if
you know of any such record, please bring it to the Historian's office; and if
you cannot afford to lose the value of the book, we will pay for it.
Let me
cite your mind to another grand glorious topic. When it was determined that the
Son of God should come in the flesh and take the supreme position of Redeemer
of the world, how did He come? Israel had been trained to keep their
genealogies, and when they came to search for His antecedents they found He had
a most excellent and complete record. Matthew informs us that from Jesus back
to David was fourteen generations; from David to Abraham was fourteen
generations, and from Abraham to Noah was fourteen generations, and from Noah
to Adam was ten generations. If He had not been able to furnish that pedigree,
He would have had no credentials to the house of Israel of a worldly nature, as
a man among men. But Her proved His genealogy down through the most honorable
line that could be traced; a lineage that any Israelite might be proud of.
The great
Patriarch Abraham seems to have been not only deeply interested in, but quite
enthusiastic on, this subject. On page 54 of the Pearl of Great Price (English
edition page 36) he says:
But the records of the fathers, even the Patriarchs,
concerning the right of the Priesthood, the Lord my God preserved in mine own
hands, therefore a knowledge of the beginning of the creation, and also of the
planets, and of the stars, as they were made known unto the fathers, have I
kept even unto this day, and I shall endeavor to write some of these things
upon this record, for the benefit of my posterity that shall come after me.
Now as he
wrote for the benefit of his posterity, we may suppose that but for the
vandalism that destroyed the several hundred thousand volumes that had been
gathered under the Ptolemies from all parts of the known world into the museum
and library and temples of Alexandria in Egypt and elsewhere, the world might
have been better informed on many points of the earth's earlier history.
The
transmission of intelligence in those earlier times, however, was far more
difficult than in our day. Other histories inform us that Abraham spent several
years of his earlier life with Noah, Shem and Eber, and that it was of them
that he learned the Gospel, obtained the records and information concerning the
creation, the planets, the genealogy of his ancestors, etc., as known and
understood by the fathers. It was, as just stated, much more difficult to make
records in the days of Abraham and of Shem and those that lived in their day
than at present. How did they do it? They took dirt or clay and made nice
tablets, and then they took something pointed and wrote on them the information
they desired, after which the tablets were put into an oven or heated place and
baked, making what we now call terra cotta. This is the way they did in those
early times that take us back to the history of Shinear, Babylon, and Nineveh.
They piled up these terra cotta records, and now, centuries after the
destruction of those cities, quantities of this literary matter, made of the
dust of the earth, have been brought away and added to the collections in the
British museum. You see they could not make records as easy then as now.
The Lord
used stone on which to write the Ten Commandments to Israel. Job wished his
testimony might be written with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever. A
remarkable specimen of this kind of record is the so-called Moabite stone now
in the French Louvre. It was discovered in 1868 and contains the earliest
inscription in the Phoenician alphabet known, relating some important events in
the history of the Moabites during the reign of Mesha. The engravings date at
least 900 years before our era.
For
common use in Ezekiel's day the Law and the Prophecies were written on
papyrus-a material prepared from the finer bark of a reed or flag that grew in
Egypt and other warm countries-and rolled on and off of two round sticks as
mentioned in the 37th chapter of his prophecy.
Lehi
carried with him the Mosaic Law, the Prophets, and history of the creation, on
brass plates when he left Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ, and we
find that the history of the forefathers of the American races on this continent
was generally kept on metallic plates of various qualities, as witness the gold
plates on which the Prophet inscribed his abridgment of those records entitled
The Book of Mormon.
Before
the art of printing was discovered it was the work of a man's lifetime, almost,
to transcribe a copy of the Bible. But now almost everybody can get a tablet
and pencil, and there is no excuse for us to fail in making records, unless
dilatoriness or lack of comprehension of their importance be considered
excuses. I wish the brethren would take hold of this matter and consider it
more carefully. This to me is a very interesting work.
We are
getting together a library of books, in which we hope soon to be able to render
valuable assistance to the people in seeking out their genealogies from foreign
countries as well as from the New England states. Having this upon my mind, I
would like to impress it upon those that hold the Priesthood particularly.
Look back
to the time when Israel returned to Jerusalem from their captivity. How were
they enabled to set in order the congregation, the singers, the priests in
their courses, and the Levites? It was given to them by genealogy. The Lord had
promised to Levi that the service of the Temple and the Sanctuary should belong
to his tribe, his family, and especially that the Priesthood should go to the
descendants of Aaron. But when they returned from their captivity in Babylon
and wanted to be reinstated in their places to officiate at the altar and to
eat of the holy bread, the records were searched and those whose names were not
found were put away from the Priesthood as polluted, until a Priest should rise
up having the Urim and Thummim, who could declare their genealogy, their right
and title to this holy Priesthood. The days are coming when the Priesthood of
Aaron and Levi will have to be established again upon the earth, among the Jews
in Palestine, and who knows but some of you, or your children will have this
duty to perform? This is a matter that to many will be of vital concern as well
as of general interest. I therefore present this for your consideration. The
reason I feel to urge it is that keeping records is one of those things so
easily put by. A man takes a piece of paper and writes upon it about the
blessing of children, or that somebody was ordained, or a ward was organized,
and he lays it away. He cannot record it to-day, and he goes on laying things
away until he has an accumulation. We live in a time of increasing labor, and
we should, as far as possible, perform every duty in the time and season
thereof. These records ought to be kept at the time of the occurrence of the
events that are to be handed down to posterity. When President Woodruff used to
write the sermons of the Prophet, he brought the very spirit of his
instructions into his reports, and we have them to-day with the spirit and the
understanding thereof. When you are performing works that ought to be recorded,
this should be done that same day while the spirit of the time and the labor
rests on the one intrusted with the duty, for then it is likely to be done
correctly. When an accumulation is found, this cannot be. In one of the Stakes
of Zion it is ascertained that there is a trunk nearly full of scattered papers
containing most valuable information, and it needs a man to spend a month and
put them properly on record. Record the work when it is done, immediately, so
that if it happens that your records are wanted to-morrow, or next week, the
historian can send for them and get whatever information is wanted.
Having
referred you to the views and estimates of this subject as entertained by
several of the Prophets and by the Lord Himself, I must now refer you to and
recommend a closer perusal of D&C 127 and 1 28 of the Doctrine and
Covenants in which our great Prophet Joseph Smith has elucidated the eternal
principle of recording and sealing for the living and the dead. It is the most
elaborate exposition of this subject found anywhere in the publications of the
Church. Search these Scriptures for they will add to your stock of knowledge
that leads to eternal life. May the Holy Spirit enable us to make such records,
Church, Family, and Individual, as shall be worthy of all acceptation when the
books shall be opened and we judged according to the things written in the
books. Amen.
GEORGE Q. CANNON
briefly supplemented the remarks of Elder Richards upon the subject of record keeping, and urged the importance of the Saints employing the best quality of paper and ink in the compilation of their private records and journals. He offered some pertinent suggestions in that regard.
President Cannon also reminded the congregation of the concert to be held in the Tabernacle this evening, the proceeds of which are to be divided between the choir fund and the widows and orphans of the unfortunate men who were killed in the recent mine disaster in Wyoming.
The choir sang the anthem, "Wonderful Counselor."
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
Conference adjourned till 2 p.m.
_____
[6 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 50:516-517, 4/13/95, p 4-5]
Afternoon
Session, 2 p. m.
Singing by the choir:
Though in the outward Church below The wheat and tares together grow.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young.
The choir sang:
Truth reflects upon our
senses, Gospel light reveals to some,
If there still should be offenses, Woe to them by whom they come.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
presented the general authorities of the Church to the Conference, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis m. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells ;and Edward Stevenson.
William B. Preston, as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
All the voting to sustain the authorities as presented was unanimous.
An annual report of Sunday schools was read. With other information it showed the following: Number of schools, 690; officers and teachers, 10,055; pupils, 81,921; total officers, teachers and pupils, 91,976. Cash on hand at last report, $2,380.94; amount collected during the year, $9,688.48; total cash receipts, $11,069.42; disbursements during the year, $9,618.31; balance on hand, $2,451.11.
The annual report of the Young Ladies' M. I. Association showed as follows: Number of associations, 408; number reported, 380; number of members reported, 14,468; increase, 1,096; Stake organizations, 36; reported, 35; books in library, 5,884. Cash on hand, $3.044.68. Property on hand, 3,209.57.
The report was signed by Elmina S. Taylor, Maria Y. Dougall and Martha H Tingey, who constitute the presidency of the organization, and by Ann M. Cannon, secretary and treasurer.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW
was the first speaker. He began by reading from the first chapter of the Revelations of St. John and the 110th section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. The two testimonies herein referred to, he said, were given -- the first about 1800 years ago, the second about fifty-nine years since; the vision of the Savior, mentioned in the latter book, having been made manifest by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836. He was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and partially so with Oliver Cowdery. While engaged in establishing the principles of the Gospel no fault could be found with Oliver Cowdery. He was a good and faithful man and always had a faithful testimony. But he grew jealous of certain parties and after a time apostatized. He remained in that condition for many years, but just before his death he came forward and requested to have the privilege of being baptized and becoming again a member of the Church. During all the period of his apostasy he always maintained the truth of the testimony which he first bore in regard to the principles of Mormonism and the various manifestations which he had previously received from the Lord.
Elder Snow then proceeded to speak upon the subject of baptism and other vicarious work for the dead, and said that in our temples we were now accomplishing a great and mighty work for our ancestors who had passed behind the vail. Extraordinary manifestations had been witnessed from time to time which clearly showed that God approved of the labor of His people in that direction. The speaker remarked that the object sought was the salvation of those of our kindred who in the past had died without a knowledge or testimony of the true Gospel. We ourselves should strive to become worthy to perform these labors in God's holy temples and those in authority most earnestly desired that the brethren and sisters should not neglect this important work, which had to be carried out before the Son of Man came to claim His kingdom.
It was also pointed out that baptism for the remission of sins, the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and other holy ordinances were absolutely necessary for man's salvation. Everything had been prepared for us, and in this life we should seek constantly to deserve those blessings which God had promised unto the faithful, and no man or woman should be satisfied until he or she had secured the perfect assurance that they were on the path to exaltation and glory.
Elder Snow spoke of the encouragement which was before the Latter-day Saints, and counseled them to continue to walk in the paths of truth and righteousness which lead to eternal life.
[Lorenzo Snow]
[DNW 50:737, 6/1/95, p 1; CD 4:277-281]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 6th, 1895, by
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I wish to
read for our instruction a few verses which will be found in the first chapter
of John's Revelations, as follows:
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being
turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.
And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the
foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white
like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass,
as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven
stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance
was as the sun shineth in his strength.
And when I saw him, I fell at his
feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I
am the first and the last:
I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death.
In
connection with this I wish to read from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,
110th section:
The vail was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our
understanding were opened.
We saw the Lord standing upon the
breast work of the pulpit, before us, and under his feet was a paved work of
pure gold in color like amber.
His eyes were as a flame of fire,
the hair of his head was white like the pure snow, his countenance shone above
the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of
great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying-
I am the first and the last, I am
he who liveth, I am he who was slain, I am your advocate with the Father.
Behold, your sins are forgiven
you, you are clean before me, therefore lift up your heads and rejoice.
Let the hearts of your brethren
rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their
might, built this house to my name.
For behold, I have accepted this
house, and my name shall be here, and I will manifest myself to my people in
mercy in this house.
This
vision was seen by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836.
Here are
two testimonies concerning Jesus Christ. That which I first read was given
about 1800 years ago, the other about 59 years ago. I suppose there are many
millions that believe in the first testimony which I have read in relation to
the Son of God, as described by John the Revelator. This second testimony about
the same personage, the Son of God, is believed but by a very few compared to
the great number of people who believe in the first testimony. In reference to
John, who bore testimony to the Son of God, I never heard his voice; I never
had the pleasure of shaking hands with him. But Joseph Smith I was familiar
with: In the year 1832, if I mistake not, I first saw him and heard him preach.
And from that time on, with the exception perhaps of a couple of years, I was intimately
acquainted with him. I have conversed with him many times. I have heard him
preach many times. I have sat at his table at various times. I knew him to be a
man of God, full of the spirit of his calling-a man whose integrity could not
be disputed, and who was honest in all his endeavors. No one that was as
intimately acquainted with him as I was could find any fault with him, so far
as his moral character was concerned. As to the second individual here that
bears this last testimony, Oliver Cowdery, I was partially acquainted with him.
I heard him preach, and talked with him; and while he was engaged in
promulgating the principles of the religion which he espoused, the same that
you and I have espoused, no fault could be found with him. At that time he was
a good man, and always bore a faithful testimony to these things which God had
plainly manifested to him. But like some others who were prominent in the
Church in 1836, and before and after that, he got dissatisfied, he got jealous
of certain parties, and after a time he apostatized, and remained in that
condition for many years; but just previous to his death he came forward and
requested to have the privilege of being rebaptized and becoming again a member
of the Church. Yet during all the period of his apostasy, so far as I
understand, he always maintained the truth of this testimony which he bore in
regard to the truth of the principles of Mormonism and the various
manifestations which he received of the Lord. Now, I bear testimony of the good
character of Brother Joseph Smith, of his honesty, his fidelity, his
faithfulness, his generosity, and benevolence, as a man and as a servant of
God. This is why I have read these testimonies.
Now,
there are several thousand Latter-day Saints before me, and there is not one
but has a work to perform. We did not come into this world accidentally. We
came for a special purpose, and it was undoubtedly through certain arrangements
in the other life where we dwelt that we came into this life. Well, in the
Temples we are accomplishing a great work in reference to our kindred dead. We
have from time to time important manifestations that God approved of this labor
that we are performing in our Temples. Most extraordinary manifestations have
been experienced by individuals that are laboring for their ancestry. It is a
mighty work that we are accomplishing. Thousands of persons have been baptized
for their dead during the progress of our labors in the Temples. I wish to
speak of a few things in reference to the importance of this work and of
individuals being engaged in it. As I said, we have not come into this world
accidentally. It is my opinion that there has been an inspiration to bring
about certain relations that we are forming here in this life, and most likely
they arise because of certain relations that existed in our previous life. We
respect those relations. As President Woodruff told us at our last conference
but one, in speaking on this subject, we respect the relations that were formed
years and generations ago when the Gospel was not among the children of men.
One of the first commandments that God gave when He introduced the human family
upon this little globe upon which we dwell was that they should multiply and
replenish the earth. That was a matter of the highest importance, or God would
never have given that commandment. It was of the utmost importance that the
earth should be peopled with the sons and daughters of God. Circumstances were
of that nature that men and women never could be exalted and receive the
fulness of glory unless they passed through this ordeal. They had to come to
the earth, which was called the second estate. We had a first estate, in which
we dwelt, moved and had a being. We knew one another there. And in consequence
of having kept our first estate, we had the privilege of coming into this
estate, in order to pass through the ordeal and get that necessary experience
and education that should prepare us to sit upon thrones and govern and control
our posterity worlds without end. We came here because we were sent here and
because we were willing to come. In this life we send our missionaries into the
world. We select our young men and give them missions to travel among the
nations. It is not one of the most pleasant things that might be imagined for a
young man to start out, not having had any experience, to go to a land and
among a people that he knows nothing at all about, and in many instances does
not even understand their language. He realizes that he will have trials,
troubles and difficulties to cope with, and many things of an unpleasant
character. In one sense of the word, he parts with his friends unpleasantly;
but it is an important duty that he feels now called upon to perform, and there
will arise from the performance of these duties honor, and eventually glory and
exaltation. He is well satisfied in regard to this point: but the mission is
not a pleasant thing to contemplate altogether. He is selected for this divine
mission and holy labor because of his faithfulness and his purity of conduct.
In like manner we come into this world because we kept our first estate in the
midst of all the trials and difficulties in the other life. It was not all of
the family of God that preserved themselves in their first estate. One-third part
of the host of the children of God, His offspring, traveled in a different
direction, and were not worthy to come into the world. They do come sometimes,
but they have to borrow bodies, not having any of their own. We, however, are
here because of our worthiness in the past, as Elders are sent out among the
nations because of their worthiness at home.
Now, in
our Temples we allow persons to come in, after they have traced their ancestry,
no matter how far back, and to be baptized for their dead father, grandfather,
and great grandfather and so on, just as far as they can trace their line. Then
we allow them to have the wives sealed to their husbands, all along the
ancestry line, as far as they can trace it. Take the case of a virtuous young
man who lived before the Gospel was introduced to the children of men. He
desired to get him a wife and to raise a family. That desire is a proper
desire. It is obeying the first commandment. Well, he married a wife, and
raised a family; but he never had the privilege of receiving the Gospel, as you
and I have. However, he taught his family the principles of morality, and he
was affectionate and kind to his wife and children. What more could he do? He
should not be condemned because he did not receive the Gospel; for there was no
Gospel to receive. He should not lose his wife because when he married here he
could not go into a Temple and have her sealed to him for time and eternity. He
acted according to the best knowledge that he had, and she was married to him
for time, according to the custom of the country. We respect that marriage,
solemnized according to the laws of his country. We do not think it would be
right to take that wife, married to this man under these circumstances, and
seal her to any other man, or the children either. As President Woodruff
explained, we seal children to their parents and wives to their husbands, all
along the line. Now, it should be an object in every man's and woman's mind to
come into our Temples and to perform this labor. It is a great labor, and an
important one, too. When we go back into the other life and find our dead
friends living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for
their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a
very pleasant meeting. We ought not to wait for opportunities to be pleasant
and agreeable always; but we should strive, even if it takes a little sacrifice
on our part, to put ourselves in a condition to perform this labor. We have in
the Salt Lake Temple between sixty and seventy persons that are employed
continually for the purpose of waiting on brethren and sisters who come there
to do this labor, and they perform their service cheerfully. Very few indeed
receive any pay; they give their labor for nothing. And we welcome the brethren
and sisters when we see them in this Temple. It is the same in all the other
Temples. We desire anxiously that the brethren and sisters should not neglect
this important work. Do you know what will be the main labor during the thousand
years of rest? It will be that which we are trying to urge the Latter-day
Saints to perform at the present time. Temples will be built all over this
land, and the brethren and sisters will go into them and perhaps work day and
night in order to hasten the work and accomplish the labors necessary before
the Son of Man can present His kingdom to His Father. This work has got to be
accomplished before the Son of Man can come and receive His kingdom to present
it to His Father. Every son and daughter of God will have the opportunity
necessary for exaltation and glory, either by themselves or by their friends.
For these is but one way by which exaltation and glory can be secured. We have
to be baptized for the remission of sins and have hands laid upon us for the
reception of the Holy Ghost. These and other ordinances are absolutely
necessary for exaltation and glory; and where individuals have lived when the
Gospel has not been accessible, these things can be attended to by their
friends. We have come into the world now in order to do these things-at least,
it is one of the chief objects of our coming. We cannot lay too great stress
upon the importance of this work.
Well,
brethren and sisters, offspring of God, everything before us is encouraging.
Our prospects are just as great and glorious as any imagination could possibly
anticipate; and we should strive to fit ourselves to receive these blessings.
As to the foundation upon which we stand, it is pretty secure; but it may not
be to everyone within the sound of my voice. No man should be satisfied until
he has secured a perfect assurance that this is the path of exaltation and
glory; that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God; that these things which I have
been reading to you are actually of God; that Jesus, the Son of God, actually
appeared in 1836 to some of the sons and daughters of God that were acquainted
with Him in the other life. There is no question about this in my mind, and
there are tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints that can testify to the truth
of this work. They know it for themselves; but I fear there are too many that
have not secured that assurance that is absolutely necessary, because every man
and every woman will be tried to see how far he or she has an understanding in
regard to these principles. May we be blessed in all our labors. May we
understand the things that are required at our hands, and perform them
faithfully, and be successful, so that when we have finished our second estate
we may go yonder and there rejoice and receive the fulness of exaltation and
glory. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Mrs. Agnes Olser-Thomas here sang the solo "Calvary."
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
arose and said that a great effort was being made just now to urge upon the public the importance of using a certain kind of tobacco; therefore it had been suggested that those present would like to hear from Prof. Talmage what he had to say on the tobacco habit and its effects upon the physical and moral nature of men.
ELDER TALMAGE
said he did not believe we should shun the tobacco habit merely because of the penalty which followed its use, but for the higher purpose that we knew it to be unmanly and opposed to the will and law of God. The speaker, dwelt upon the very injurious effects of tobacco upon the human system. He said our bodies were the temples of God, and for that reason ought not to be defiled. The vital organs were affected so seriously by the use of tobacco as to become permanently impaired and that injury was transmitted from generation to generation until we realized at length the truth of the great declaration that the sins of the fathers should be visited upon the children even to the third and fourth generations. He himself, as a teacher, could testify to the fact that those who came to him for instruction having been born with the tendency towards the use of tobacco, "this stimulant appetite," came with a burden on their backs that it would cost them the greatest effort of their lives to escape from.
The speaker deprecated the present system of advertising the leading brands of tobaccos both by posters and through the medium of newspapers, and which told the people "where they could get drunk for the least money." He gave a word of warning to parents, upon whose heads, he declared, these sins would fall if they persisted by means, direct or indirect, in leading their children on in this manner, by themselves adopting those enervating, soul-destroying habits which so battled against men in the fierce competition of life. The boy who began with a cigarette would perhaps end in the opium joint, ruined in body, mind and soul by that for the first use of which there was no excuse. These physical weaknesses which we brought upon ourselves were steps towards insanity. The boy who became addicted to these destructive habits was, as a rule, a profane boy, and more likely to become a criminal than he would be if he did not yield to its use. The day was speedily coming when the children of the present generation would be beyond parental control. Those vessels would have become hardened and taken the form that they would hold through life, stamped either with honor or shame. Elder Talmage continued to speak in this strain, and gave various illustrations in support of his assertions.
[James E. Talmage]
[DNW 51:1, 6/22/95, p 1; CD 4:281-286]
THE TOBACCO HABIT.
_____
An Address delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, April 6th, 1895, by
PROFESSOR JAMES E. TALMAGE
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
My
Brethren and Sisters and Friends: This indeed is an inspiring sight, these
thousands of people gathered from all parts of Utah, and probably from
adjoining states and territories also, for a common purpose, and particularly
as that purpose is one of the most exalted that mankind can have in all its
works. I esteem it a particular favor to be permitted to stand before you for a
short time, though, as has been stated, I do it without premeditation, not
knowing that this privilege and courtesy would be extended to me.
I am
quite sure that all who are present will admit the importance of the subject
that President George Q. Cannon has just announced (the tobacco habit, and its
effects on the physical and moral nature of man); and, finding myself in the
stand, I shall take the opportunity of speaking for a few moments from the
standpoint of an educator and a teacher amongst the people. I doubt if there is
any necessity, indeed, of urging upon you the necessity of observing the laws
of health-those laws which have been found by man oft-times through study,
investigation, and experiment, and those rules that have so often been revealed
of God for the governing of His children. We all profess to be observers of
these laws to a greater or less extent, while many of us in our carelessness,
forgetfulness, and selfishness are apt to tread them under foot and to feel
that the penalties that have been threatened will never fall upon us. I do not
believe, however, that we should shun this habit merely because of the penalty,
but for the higher purpose that we know it is unmanly and that it is contrary
to the will and the purposes and the laws of God. The using of tobacco has been
denounced for reasons that are good, founded on physiological grounds, and
others of an intellectual nature; and there are objections from a moral
standpoint which have been, and are, repeatedly urged. Many of those present
will remember that at the last Conference of the Church, the general
authorities devoted a great deal of attention to this subject, and their
efforts were applauded, not only by members of the Church, but by those who do
not profess the faith that the majority of those before me hold and revere; for
it is recognized not alone as a religious principle, as a physiological, as an
ethical, but as a moral principle, that we should take care of our bodies.
Every year the discoveries of learned men, wise and earnest investigators,
convince us that the words of the great prophet were true when he declared that
the body of man s fearfully and most wonderfully made. No mechanism that man
has ever shaped or framed can be compared to it in delicacy and in efficacy.
This organism that has been given unto us, (for the majority of those here
believe that it has been given us to do with as we choose, except with the
provision that we shall be answerable for the consequences) for a divine
purpose, can be disorganized very readily, thrown into confusion, made unfit
for its exalted purpose. What that purpose is many people will answer
differently. I take out one answer for the present, from one of the wisest men
whose words have come down to us from a former age: It is indeed the temple of
God, and for that reason ought not to be defiled.
Physicians
have been telling us for many years of the ill effects manifesting themselves,
particularly in the young, from the use of tobacco. They tell us that many of
the vital organs are affected, and affected in a manner that is most serious
and permanent. It is true the body has within it that tendency, God-given in
His mercy, to right itself, to repair itself, and to recover from injury to a
very great extent. But there are some assaults from which the body cannot
recover, and the effects of tobacco are among those from which it is most
difficult to recover. The injury wrought by it is amongst the most serious and
far reaching of injuries, affecting not only the immediate users, but their
posterity; for the weakening of the vital organs, the impairment of the senses,
particularly sight and hearing-these weaknesses are transmitted from generation
to generation, and truly do we realize the fulfilment of the great declaration
that the sins of the fathers should be visited upon the children even unto the
third and fourth generation.
But
closely associated with these physical or physiological weaknesses are the
intellectual troubles, weaknesses, depravities that assert themselves. I have
declared many times, and do it again, that I know not where you can find
another community of men and women amongst whom are to be found so many
children of promise-promise because of their physical perfection, or a
condition approaching perfection, because of their intellectual power, because
of their high moral beliefs and sentiments, as amongst the Latter-day Saints. I
believe that we have here a chosen people, physically, intellectually, and
morally; and I believe, too, that this being chosen in this sense, being
distinguished as a community because of these elements and perfections,
concerning them the Lord our God will allow no trifling, no trampling under
foot of those laws that He has established and that you have accepted as true
and binding. As a teacher I can testify to the fact that those who come to us
having been born perhaps with this tendency toward the use of such things, this
stimulant of the appetite, they come with a burden on their backs that it will
perhaps cost them the greatest effort of their lives to escape from. What would
you think of starting a boy upon a race, tying his hands and legs so that he
could scarcely move, and then expect him to keep pace with his free
competitors? Yet in such a way are many of those who are in the habit of using
these things placing an incubus upon their children and bringing them into the
world with a curse from the time of their birth. But I address my remarks not
so much to their parents for their own sakes as for the sake of their children
born and unborn. These young boys and girls who have been appropriately termed
the pride of Utah are indeed choice sons and daughters of God, and as such they
should be guarded most jealously from temptation in the first place, and from
these weaknesses that are liable to assert themselves, the germs and seeds of
which may be implanted within them through the indiscretions of parents and
through the weaknesses of associates and professed friends.
There is
one point in the philosophy of the nineteenth century that I have never been
able to master-indeed one among many; but there is one that appeals to me as
being particularly illogical and absurd, although it is defended oft-times with
many so-called arguments. It is this, that if we know a thing to be wrong, if
we know a certain habit to be injurious, if we know that it works evil to the
state, to the community, to the family, to the individual, that then we will
countenance it any way directly or indirectly. I do not mean that I would
recommend any effort to destroy the liberty of the man who chooses to kill
himself in that way, but I do say that if the Latter-day Saints know that these
things are wrong, if, as they profess in their testimonies from time to time,
revelations of god have denounced them, and the Lord has told you that tobacco
is not good for the body, then why do we sanction its use, why do we permit it
to be brought before the children in a manner that will deceive them? We see
oft-times our dealers who claim good standing amongst us offering these things
in the most attractive and alluring manner possible. Their advertising devices
are in many instances calculated to lead on those who have never yet contracted
the habit and to confirm those who have adopted it; and even the newspapers of
our day, local and general, fill their advertising columns with
recommendations, telling you where you may find the best brands of tobacco,
what houses sell the best liquor for family and table us, and where you can get
drunk for the least money.
I can
only speak of this because of the effect produced among the children. I have
had a great deal to do with these children, and if I could take you into my
confidence and tell some of the fathers and mothers of the young Latter-day
Saints that have come to me, in the capacity of students, concerning the heart
burnings that I have witnessed and the tears that I have seen fall from those
who have told me that if only their fathers and mothers had warned them against
these weaknesses they would not have come to me bound in chains from which it
required more than human effort to escape. I do not believe I say too much-if I
do there are those here who can temper what I say and correct my words-when I
declare that these sins will be upon the heads of the parents if they will
persist, by means direct or indirect, in leading their children on to sin in
this manner and to adopt these enervating, soul-destroying habits with which
they stand scarcely a chance in the fierce competition that is growing every
year fiercer and stronger in this world of ours. We have heard oft-times much
misrepresentation of the so-called principles of evolution; but there is this
principle of evolution which I believe is declared as much by the words of God,
through revelation, as by the works of nature-the fittest will as a rule survive.
When disaster and pestilence stalk through your town, although there may be
some who are permitted by the Lord to fall because of wise purposes of His and
not because of any weakness of their own or any sins of their parents, depend
upon it if He does not stretch forth His arm of miracle, the weak and the
sickly and those whose bodies are predisposed to disease are the ones that will
fail. During the terrible cholera scourge in Tiflis a few years ago an English
observer, who was sent there to take notes of that fearful pestilence and to
report home, sent across the wires these terrible words: In the town of Tiflis
alone thousands had gone to their graves during the last week, and amongst them
every intemperate man had fallen, not one remained. I want to repeat a
statement referred to a minute ago that this stimulant of the appetite, this
desire for narcotizing effects, once established in the system, is like a
monster that has been let loose that will require all the skill and the
physical strength of manhood, assisted by the power of God, to subdue. When
once let loose you know not what it will do, and the boy that begins with a
cigarette will perhaps end in the opium joint, ruined in body, in mind, and in
soul by that for which there is no excuse in the first using. The testimony of
college presidents and other officers of our great institutions of learning
throughout the country is unanimous in declaring that as a rule they scarcely
can find a man using tobacco standing near the head of his class. Our great
philosopher Franklin, in answer to a question as to what was his opinion
concerning tobacco, said he had never used it much and he could not speak from
an extended experience, but he did not believe it could be good because he had
never found an honest man who had used it and would recommend a true friend of
his to adopt the habit.
My
brethren and sisters, let the children learn of this in their homes and in that
school of the family that never can be dispensed with, though you were to
establish your public schools on every block; put them right at your doors,
multiply them till they be numbered by the hundred where now you can count but
the tens, they can not take the place of that family school without which your
children can never be properly trained. In that family school see that you do
not annul the efforts that are being made in the public schools by the teachers
of your children to instruct them in these things that tend to their physical
and their intellectual as well as to their moral development. When I hear
people denouncing these things and at the same time directly or indirectly
countenancing them, I am reminded of the liquor dealer who was converted
through the efforts of some temperance advocates that came into his town. Next
day an advertisement appeared in the paper announcing that he had learned of
the error in his ways and had determined to desert the business and to reform,
and then he gave a list of all the choice wines and liquors that he had on hand
and announced that to clear out his stock he would sell them at half price for
a week, "come one, come all."
I believe
that these physical weaknesses and these intellectual weaknesses are very
closely associated. Although none can doubt that sometimes God for His wise
purposes has placed one of His master minds in a misshapen and weakened body;
though He has permitted some of His choicest spirits, for reasons that man with
all his philosophy cannot fathom, to be clothed in a body far from perfect; yet
I do not believe there is a single instance on earth of a body originally
strong that has become weakened by a violation of the laws of health in which
there resides a normal and a healthful mind. These physical weaknesses that we
bring upon ourselves are steps towards insanity, and a great many of the
inmates of our insane asylums are those who have been led on from one depraving
habit to another, because of this unmanageable stimulant taste and appetite
that has been planted within them perhaps while they were children.
I do not
know whether the Latter-day Saint fathers and mothers know how extensive is
this practice amongst their children. I made it a rule a few years ago to go
out at night upon the streets and wander about, and whenever I saw a little
knot of boys or young men gathering I watched them from a distance and then
mingled with them, and talked with them, and I came to the conclusion that at
that time in the town in which I lived, nearly three-fourths of the boys under
sixteen years of age were addicted to the use of tobacco. And do you know what
that carries with it? The love for unholy associations. The tobacco users among
the boys are in many instances the profane boys, the boys who have no love for
home nor for anything that is good. If I find a boy whose delight it is to use tobacco
or who has become addicted to any other of these destructive habits I do not
need to ask much about his home-life, much about his moral nature. I believe
with the great Ruskin that if you can find out what a person's tastes are you
know what his religion is and you will know just about what his spiritual
status is.
But these
physiological and these intellectual objections are to a very great extent but
stepping-stones to the great objection that can be urged from a moral
standpoint. I am not prepared to say that every man who smokes is a criminal,
but I am prepared to say that every boy who smokes is more likely to become a
criminal than he would be if he did not smoke. We only need to look at a smoker
when in a company of others to see in the first place how every feeling of
regard for his fellows is stamped out by that terrible habit. Selfishness is
cultivated, and with selfishness come a host of weaknesses and a horde of minor
and major sins. The unselfish man cannot sin as can the one who puts himself
before all others. These children's bodies are like a vessel upon the potter's
wheel, of plastic clay, taking every impression and mark of his finger, the
shape of his nail, the imprint of a pattern that is laid upon it. He can shape
it and change it as he will. But if it has been put in the fire and hardened
and stamped, every mark and imperfection will be there, and it will require a
miracle to alter it, to cause the flaws to disappear. The day is speedily
coming when these children will be beyond your power to control. These vessels
will have been hardened and will have taken the form that they will hold
through life, stamped with honor or stamped with shame.
I look
upon it as a very significant thing, though I care not to refer to special
advertisements or particular companies, that the people who are advertising the
sale of cigarettes have taken this very time and occasion, when people are
gathered here from other places by the thousands, to advertise their wares. Not
content with that, they have turned one of the greatest inventions of modern
times, the powerful electric search light, into a recommendation for the use of
that which the Lord has declared to be an abomination and a curse among a
people. I want simply to ask you to beware of these things. Work with those to
whom you are entrusting your children. I believe there should be a closer
association between the teachers and the parents. I have often felt to cry
shame to the parent who allows the teacher wholly to take the place of a
parent. Work with your teachers, assist them by your counsel, by your example
and precepts at home, by your admonishings to your children. See to it that
while they are young and plastic they are properly shaped, that they may become
vessels fit to be used in the service of God. This is to me an all important
subject, I trust it will appeal to every one, for remember that we are
answerable to the Lord for these spirits that have come to us, and when we
stand before the bar of God to answer for the deeds that we have done and to
receive the reward or the condemnation that will follow, I believe that among
other questions, these will be put to you, "Where are those choice spirits
that were given to you? Where are my sons and daughters that were held back in
my providence until the day of the great dispensation of the fulness of times,
and then were sent forth with all the powers and elements of leadership and
mastership within them? What have you done with them? Have you guarded and
attended them until they became fit to walk alone, or have you exposed them to
all the temptations of a false civilization? Have you permitted them to be led
astray by these glittering attractions that have been spread for them, every
one of which was a trap for their feet and a pit-fall in their path?"
Among all the great possessions God has given to His people the greatest of all
is the children with which he has blessed them; and of all things for which
they will be called to give an account in the strictest terms for their
stewardship, is the account of these same children that are with you, sons and
daughters of God. Guard them, protect them, shelter them, cast the influence of
your counsel and your precept about them. These forbidden things are offered in
this attractive and alluring manner and they are being cheapened every year so
that with but a few cents one may procure enough of them to ruin his soul. All
the more need is there of this care and this jealous guardianship on the part
of parents who call themselves Latter-day Saints, and all others. May the
blessings of God be with you in your labors, and may this practical lesson that
is set before us by the authorities whom we have this day raised our hands in
promise to sustain and to follow, be heeded in its full significance, that we
may be able to give an account in good terms of the stewardhsip of those whom
God has committed unto our care. This I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
God be merciful unto us and bless us.
Benediction by Elder John Nicholson.
Conference adjourned till 10 o'clock tomorrow (Sunday) morning.
_____
[7 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 50:517, 4/13/95, p 5]
THIRD
DAY.
_____
Morning
Session, April 7, 10 a.m.
The choir and congregation sang:
The time is far spent, there is little remaining To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.
Prayer was offered by Elder John Henry Smith.
The choir sang:
O my Father, Thou that
dwellest In the high and glorious place
When shall I regain Thy presence, And again behold Thy face?
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
delivered a discourse upon the existence and operation of the powers of good and from the beginning of the world to the present time. The closing portion of it was devoted to showing how Satan had exercised his power to destroy the work of God from the earth by drawing away many men who had labored to establish and maintain it. He asserted, however, that no such critical times as it had passed through would recur, as it was too near the time of the coming of Christ for such events to be repeated. He believed as a rule that the leading brethren would be true to the death. He predicted a triumphant and glorious future for the Church.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 50:577, 4/27/95, p 1; CD 4:287-292]
THE POWER OF EVIL.
____
Discourse delivered at the General conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 7th, 1895, by
PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I ask and
desire this morning the faith and prayers of the Latter-day Saints in my behalf
while I stand before you. This is not merely an idle ceremony, for if I
possessed all the oratory and learning of the ancient Greeks and Romans it
would not give me power to edify one immortal spirit in the children of men or
to point any immortal soul to the way of salvation. I am entirely dependent
upon the Lord. I always have been during my life, and in my travels and
pilgrimage, preaching the Gospel of Christ to my fellow men. It does not make
any difference what age a man is in the preaching of the Gospel, whether he be
twenty-five, ninety or five hundred years of age, if he is only inspired by the
Spirit and power of God. Many of the ancients lived to a very great age. Father
Adam up to the last speech he ever made to his children, according to the
revelations of God, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and he was nearly a
thousand years of age.
I have
some things upon my mind I would like to present to the Latter-day Saints if I
can get the spirit of them. I think it would be profitable to us to spend a
little time in reflecting and meditating upon the powers that be-the powers
that exist to-day on the earth and have existed from eternity unto
eternity-good and evil, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, or Lucifer, the
son of the morning. When we look over the history of the world we can see from
the creation of Father Adam down to our day the operation of these two powers.
And these powers will exist until the end of time, and from that time
henceforth, until there is a change in the destiny of the spirits of men. It
seems that from the time of the great rebellion in heaven, when one-third of
the hosts of heaven were cast down for their rebellion against the great Eloheim
and Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth, there has been a warfare against
God, against Christ, against His Church, against His Priesthood, and against
everything that would tend to salvation and eternal life. And in looking over
the history of the world, from the revelations of God to us, we can see in the
peopling of the earth and in the building up of cities by the inhabitants of
the earth, the powers of evil, of darkness, and of sin have had great control
over the children of men. Men were led to sin and to do evil until those
ancient cities, like modern ones, were filled with iniquity. The Lord raised up
prophets and inspired men in all those dispensations, when cities and nations
became ripened into iniquity, to give them commandments, to warn them of the
judgments of God, and to tell them what to do to escape those judgments. And
when these cities and nations were fully ripened in iniquity and would not
repent, all that those prophets proclaimed unto them came to pass. You may take
all the ancient cities-Thebes, Nineveh, Tyre, Sidon, Babylon, Jerusalem, and
others-and they had prophets raised up among them. They were warned of God, and
were told what awaited them unless they repented of their sins, and all came to
pass as the prophets spake unto them. My mind rests upon Jeremiah. The Lord
called him in his day to go and warn King Zedekiah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and the prophet told them what would come to pass. The king and the
inhabitants were wroth against him and they persecuted him, and he had so many
trials to go through that a man in reading of them would not be surprised if
Jeremiah felt like saying, "You may all go to destruction for what I care;
I'm not going to stay with you." But the Lord had said unto Jeremiah,
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest
forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the
nations." All that Jeremiah said to the inhabitants of Jerusalem came to
pass, and the history of Jerusalem is terrible. The whole house of Israel had
warning; prophets were raised up among them, and they prophesied unto them. All
the judgments that visited them were foretold.
I speak
of these things because they are on my mind, and we are in a somewhat similar
condition ourselves. Take the days of Christ. As soon as Christ was born how
quickly Herod sought His life! Joseph had to take Mary and the young child into
Egypt in order to save the child. The power of evil was after Him for His
destruction. And did the Savior, when He was grown to manhood, escape that
power? Was there anything about Him in this respect that differed from others
of the human family? There was not. He was tempted, He was tried, and the enemy
labored for His destruction through His whole life. His mission was a short
one. It was only three and a half years from the time he entered into the
Priesthood until He was crucified, and that, too, by this power. And the sorrow
that has come upon the Jewish nation in consequence of this act of theirs, and the
bill that they have had to pay, has been indeed great, and all that the
prophets said concerning that has come to pass to the very letter. Nearly
nineteen hundred years have rolled around since the death of Christ, and that
yoke has been upon the neck of the Jews from that day until this. They have
been trampled under the foot of the Gentiles, in fulfilment of the words of the
prophets of God, and because they shed the blood of the Savior, their Shiloh.
And it has not yet come to an end with them.
John, while
upon the Isle of Patmos, clothed with the glory of God and wrapt in the visions
of heaven, portrayed, prophesied, and wrote concerning the events that should
take place down to the coming of the Son of Man. He told us concerning the
restoration of the everlasting Gospel. He says:
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God
and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.
That has
come to pass. The time has come when the Lord has set His hand to fulfil the
flood of revelation contained in all the records of divine truth. The Lord
raised up a man, ordained and prepared from the foundation of the world, to
stand in the last dispensation and fulness of times, to receive the Gospel and
the Priesthood, to organize the Church of God, and to prepare the way for the
coming of the Son of Man. We know that these two powers were manifested with
the Prophet Joseph as they were in the days of the Savior. The very moment that
he received these revelations from God and proclaimed them, it seemed as though
all earth and hell were let loose for his destruction. It appeared as if the
devil was afraid that he would live to carry out these prophecies. You know his
history. Some of us have been associated with that Prophet. We have seen this
spirit of the evil one manifested. The Prophet Joseph was never let alone by
the powers that exist until he, like the Savior and others, sealed his testimony
with his blood. But during the short time that he dwelt in the flesh he
accomplished all that he was ordained to do. He not only organized the Church,
but he brought forth this book of revelations that I hold in my hand-the Book
of Doctrine and Covenants, which contains some of the most sublime revelations
God ever revealed to man on the earth. The Lord also chose Twelve Apostles,
High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons, and set in order the
whole organization of the Church of God as it exists to-day. And what has been
the consequence of this? I desire to bring the minds of the brethren to those
days. Just as quick as the Twelve Apostles were appointed and the Church was
set in order, the devil labored with all the power that he possessed to turn
aside these men and inspire them to leave the Church of God. Because of this it
seemed to be very hard work many times for men who had received the Priesthood
and even the Apostleship to magnify that Priesthood and to stand in their
calling until they could finish their work in the flesh. I have made a remark
once or twice in my teachings with regard to the great apostasy in Kirtland. I
passed through that scene, as did some others who are now with us, and I wish
now to refer to it because it is something we should lay to heart. Even
Apostles took occasion to rise up and endeavored to dictate and direct the
Prophet of God. Here, brethren and sisters, was a manifestation-and a very
strange one, too-of the power that the devil had over the leading men whom God
raised up to assist in laying the foundation of this Church and in bringing
forth the Book of Mormon. Those who testified to the Book of Mormon were led
away through not keeping the commandments of God and thinking that they
themselves were great men. Some of them were learned men; some of them
considered themselves very smart men, and they were so smart that they wanted
to dictate and direct the Prophet of God. The consequence of all this was that
they turned aside from the commandments of God. Some of them had been true and
faithful in their labors in the ministry. I have heard Oliver Cowdery testify
of the Book of Mormon by the power of God, when it seemed as if the very earth
trembled under his feet. He was filled with the Holy Ghost and the power of God
while he was faithful; and so were many of these men. But Oliver Cowdery
yielded to the temptation of the evil one, and we may say he apostatized. So
did Martin Harris, and several others connected with them. They left the
Church, they turned against Joseph, and they said he was a fallen prophet, and
they themselves wanted to direct the Church. I have remarked that there was a
time when there were but two of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles then in the
town of Kirtland who stood by Joseph Smith and upheld him as a Prophet, Seer,
and Revelator. I was not a member of that quorum at that time; I was a Seventy.
Several of these men called upon me in the time of this apostasy and asked me
to join them against the Prophet; the Prophet was fallen, they said. Now, I had
seen enough myself of the Prophet of God, and I had read enough of the
revelations of God through him, to know that he was a Prophet of God and not a
fallen prophet. I saw that these men were yielding to the devil, and I told
them so. Said I: "You will all go to hell unless you repent. Joseph has
been raised up by the power of God; he has organized this Church, he has been
true and faithful to God and to the Church and kingdom of God here on the
earth, and you will fall and go to perdition unless you repent of your sins and
turn from the position you are in to-day." A good many of them did fall. I
will here name one instance. I saw one of these Apostles in the Kirtland
Temple, while the Sacrament was being passed, stand in the aisle and curse the
Prophet of God to his face while he was in the stand, and when the bread was
passed he reached out his hand for a piece of bread and flung it into his mouth
like a mad dog. He turned as black in the face almost as an African with rage
and with the power of the devil. What did he do? He ate and drank damnation to
himself. He did not go and hang himself; but he did go and drown himself, and
the river went over his body while his spirit was cast into the pit, where he
ceased to have the power to curse either God or His Prophet in time or in
eternity. [note in CD: The only Apostle fitting President Woodruff's
description was Lyman Eugene Johnson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles from 1835 to 1838, who was disfellowshipped during a conference held in
Kirtland, 3 September 1837. After making appropriate confessions, he was
restored to his original position a few days later. Johnson was, however,
excommunicated at Far West, Mo., on 13 April 1838. He drowned in the
Mississippi river at Prairie du Chien, Wis., 20 December 1856.] I may say that
David Patten was not in Kirtland at this time; he was in Missouri. He never
apostatized, but died a martyr.
Brethren
and sisters, I have passed through these scenes, and it was a serious time. And
I will tell you the devil is not dead to-day, but will war against us and
against this Church, as far as he has power, while we dwell in the flesh. I
thank the Lord, however, that I know for myself that this Church will stand,
and the Lord will bear it off triumphant. We have passed those days of
affliction and sorrow; but I want to say to my brethren, one and all, we still
have got to watch unto prayer. If there is any place where the devil can lead
us astray he will do it. We are not safe until we get through with this probation.
I thank God for one thing: I am satisfied for myself that those days are passed
and gone. There is no man in heaven or on earth will ever live to see such a
day again. We are too near the end; we are too near the coming of the Son of
Man. The Lord Almighty has called a class of men upon whose shoulders he has
laid the responsibility for this great work. He has chosen the weak things of
the world, and we have these responsibilities resting upon us. I am satisfied
for myself that the servants of God whom He has chosen will, as a rule, be true
and faithful unto death. How dark a man must be in his mind to get into such a
condition as these Apostles were. I heard some of them bear testimony before
God, angels and men that they had received the ministration of angels, and
having that knowledge, what a condition they must have been in when they
apostatized! We want to guard ourselves with regard to these matters. We have
got to look to the Lord to assist us in the cause in which we are engaged. I
hope and pray that I may live to see the perfect union of the Twelve Apostles
with the Presidency of this Church and the union of the whole Church. We have
this work upon our shoulders and the Lord is watching over us. I will say to
all the nations of the earth, you cannot turn aside or overthrow the designs of
the Lord; they will come to pass in the earth exactly as they have been
promised to the children of men.
We are
here upon a mission, and it is a great mission. We are blessed in living in
this day and generation. We ought to try and make the most of it we can. We
ought to try and improve our time, magnify our calling, and do our duty. I will
say to the Latter-day Saints, the Lord has called and chosen us to stand as the
leaders of the people-the Presidency, the Twelve Apostles and the various
quorums and positions which we are in, and we are responsible to God for the
course we pursue in these matters. True, we need the faith and fellowship of
the Saints; we need their assistance; but inasmuch as we do our duty the
blessings of God will be with us. I know for myself that the Lord has set His
hand to carry out His great purposes and prepare the way for the coming of the
Son of Man. We have passed through a long period of time, as men count time, in
our history. I will here refer to one incident: When Christ and Peter, James
and John went into the mount, Moses and Elias were manifest to them, and Jesus
was transfigured before them. The last time the Apostles ever met with the
Prophet Joseph Smith, there were eleven of us present,-nine Apostles, himself
and his brother Hyrum. He likewise was transfigured before us, as far as mortal
man can be. The room which he was in was filled as with consuming fire by the
power of God. His face was clear as amber, he was clothed with the power of
God. We did not know he was going to leave us any more than the Apostles knew
the Savior was going to leave them in that day. But he told us what our duties
were. He laid before us what God required at his hands and the ordinances unto which
he had been ordained by the power of God. He said the Lord had sealed upon his
head every ordinance, every key and every power belonging to this dispensation
of the fulness of times; and, he added, "I have sealed these things upon
your heads; now you must go forth and bear off this kingdom or you will be
damned." That was a very strong remark to us. I have never forgotten it
from that day to this. I realize that God was with him. And He has been with
His people. He is with Zion to-day. He will continue to be. Though all the
powers of darkness may war against us, the Lord is our Friend and He will
sustain us and give us power to build up Zion and to carry out this work until
the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore, let your hearts be comforted. These Apostles,
I am satisfied, are of one heart and mind. I know they are united with us; I
know we are united with them. This is a great joy and consolation to me. We all
should be united in the cause in which we are engaged. Inasmuch as we do this
we shall come off triumphant. I have no fear about Zion; I never had. It is
written, as with a pen upon a rock, and is the voice of God, that Zion shall
stand. All the prophecies that the Lord has given as contained in the Bible,
the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants will be fulfilled to the
very letter. Not one jot or one tittle will fall unfulfilled. Zion will arise
and flourish, and the glory of God will rest upon her. When I cast my mind over
the signs of the times, when I look at the fulfilment of prophecy and observe
what is taking place in the earth I see the hand of God manifest and the
fulfilment of prophecy and revelation. These angels of God that have been
standing in the temples of heaven holding sharp sickles day after day pleading
with God to let them go forth to reap down the earth have been commanded of the
Lord to wait until the wheat was gathered into the garner, and then they might
go forth and reap down the earth. If the world wants to know what is coming to
pass, let them read the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and
Covenants; let them read these revelations of St. John. As God lives they will
come to pass. Not one of them will fall unfulfilled. And the hand of God is
beginning to be manifest in the earth. Judgment is at the door; calamity awaits
the nations of the earth; but we ourselves should be prepared to stand in holy
places while the judgments of God are manifest in the earth.
Now,
brethren and sisters, let us be humble before the Lord; let us remember our
prayers; let us try to do our duty; and when we do this the blessings of God
will be with us. I felt yesterday that I wished I could see all the young men
in Israel before Brother J. E. Talmage while he spoke to us for half an hour
(it ought to have been two hours) on the evil of this tobacco business. We
should let alone all these evils, and our children should also, that they might
be prepared to go forth as holy vessels and servants of God to bear record of
this Gospel. We are not yet through preaching the Gospel. We send our sons
abroad, and many of them go before they know whether this is the Church of God
or not. I need not stand up here and testify before this congregation that this
is the Church of God on the earth. Thousands of you know that for yourselves.
You have been abroad; I have been abroad; these Apostles have been abroad; and
we have administered the ordinances of the Gospel of Christ. We have laid hands
upon the sick, and the sick have been healed; devils have been cast out, the
lame have leaped, the deaf have heard, the dumb have spoken, in this Church in
our day and generation. Can men go through and experience these things and not
know for themselves whether the work is of God or not? No. Any man that has
gone forth and administered in the ordinance of the house of God knows that
these things are true, if he has kept the commandments of God.
Before I
sit down I want to say a word to the Elders of Israel on another subject. I am
called an old man; I guess I am. I was thinking just now, in speaking of the Apostles
and Prophets that were with Joseph Smith when he made his last speech, I am the
only man living that was with him at that time. The rest are to-day in the
spirit world. How much longer I shall talk to this people I do not know; but I
want to say this to all Israel: Cease troubling yourselves about who God is;
who Adam is, who Christ is, who Jehovah is. For heaven's sake, let these things
alone. Why trouble yourselves about these things? God has revealed Himself, and
when the 121st section of the Doctrine and Covenants is fulfilled, whether
there be one God or many gods they will be revealed to the children of men, as
well as all thrones and dominions, principalities, and powers. Then why trouble
yourselves about these things? God is God. Christ is Christ. The Holy Ghost is
the Holy Ghost. That should be enough for you and me to know. If we want to
know any more, wait till we get where God is in person. I say this because we
are troubled every little while with inquiries from Elders anxious to know who
God is, who Christ is, and who Adam is. I say to the Elders of Israel, stop
this. Humble yourselves before the Lord; seek for light, for truth, and for a
knowledge of the common things of the kingdom of God. The Lord is the same
yesterday, to-day, and forever. He changes not. The Son of God is the same. He
is the Savior of the world. He is our advocate with the Father. We have had
letter after letter from Elders abroad wanting to know concerning these things.
Adam is the first man. He was placed in the Garden of Eden, and is our great
progenitor. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, are the same
yesterday, to-day and forever. That should be sufficient for us to know.
I pray
God to bless these Apostles, and to bless us all, and to give us wisdom and
power to magnify our calling and to do our duty before the Lord, that we may be
prepared to give an account of our stewardship while dwelling in the flesh. I
pray that the Lord will be merciful to us as a people, and give those who bear
the Priesthood power to build up Zion and prepare the way for the coming of the
Son of Man, which may God grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.
At the conclusion of President Woodruff's remarks Mrs. Lizzie Thomas Edwards sang "Consider the lilies."
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
addressed the Conference upon the importance of sustaining by vote the authorities of the Church, and gave a lucid explanation of the purport and meaning of that action. He then turned his attention to the importance of the Saints living in accord with every law that God had revealed for their guidance, as no one who sought to be law unto himself could be justified or sanctified by law. He made direct reference to the Word of Wisdom, which was a direct divine commandment to the people of the Church.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 50:673, 5/18/95, p 1; CD 4:293-298]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 7th, 1895, by
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I feel
very dependent upon the Lord for what I shall say this morning, and I also feel
very much the need of His assistance and the strength of His Spirit to enable
me to make myself heard. About two or three months ago I became poisoned by the
foul air which I was compelled to inhale while speaking in a close, warm
meeting room, and I have been suffering from it nearly ever since. We cannot
live without fresh air. We could live much longer without food than without
air, and if there is any fresh air that could be let into this house, I think
it would be a good thing for the congregation.
It is a
grand sight to behold this vast congregation, gathered from all parts of the
Territory for the purpose of attending the sixty-fifth annual conference of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and taking part in the exercises
thereof. In my judgment, one of the most important acts performed at the
conferences of the Church is that in which we hold up our hands before the Lord
to sustain the authorities of the Church and the organization thereof as it
exists. But it is one of the important things that we do which rests with
little weight upon some people. In other words, some people go away after
holding up their hands to sustain the authorities of the Church and think no
more about it, and act in many respects as though they had merely gone through
a form to which they did not attach any importance whatever. I conceive this to
be a wrong principle. It is equally wrong to do this as it is to neglect any
other principle which pertains to the government of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, or to ignore any principle of the Gospel which is
necessary for our welfare and happiness and for the uniting of us together in
the holy faith. Those who covenant to keep the commandments of the Lord, and
then violate that covenant by failing to observe those commandments, do no more
than they do who raise their hands in token of a covenant to uphold and sustain
the authorities of the Church and then fail to do it. The principle is the same
in both cases: it is a violation of the covenant we make. If we do not intend
to keep our covenants and to obey the commands of the Lord, it will be better
for us to refrain from making them. For "to him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him it is sin." He that hath made no covenant, being
without knowledge, is under no obligation. Hence the world, not having entered
into the covenants of the Gospel, will fare better in the final judgment before
the bar of God than many of us who have entered into the covenants of the
Gospel and fail to keep them. The heathen world will enjoy greater immunity
from the wrath of the Lord in the day of judgment than will the Latter-day
Saints who fail to keep the covenants which they have made in the Gospel.
We have
been gathered out of Babylon by the hand of God. We have come into these
mountains by the voice of the Spirit, calling upon us to come out of Babylon,
that we might not partake of her sins nor receive of her plagues. Many of us
have come here in obedience to that call. For a time it looked as if we were
going to be able to accomplish the purpose for which we were gathered in much
better form than subsequent events proved. Notwithstanding we have been
gathered here it is apparent that we are still very human, very weak, and
susceptible to the influences of the world-that we are far from being what we
should be, in many respects. The doctrine of Christ is the doctrine of purity,
of holiness, of self-sacrifice, of humility, and of submission to the will of
the Father. It is difficult for us to comply fully with the doctrine of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I realize that it is for me. Jesus came into the
world born of woman, as we are; yet He is called the Son of God, the Lamb which
was slain before the foundation of the world, that taketh away the sin of the
world. His life upon the earth was a humble life. It was marked by no great or
powerful accomplishments like unto the great deeds that other men have
accomplished in the world. He built no temple, He founded no city; He
established no empire or nation; He led no armies to battle; He did not figure
as a statesman among the people; but He came as the meek and lowly Jesus, the
humble Nazarene, preaching faith in God, repentance of sin, and the
acknowledgment of the will of the Father as being above all other things. He
did not take the pains to teach mankind how to get a temporal living. He did
not bother Himself with the science of financiering. When He needed money to
pay taxes He told His disciples to go to the lake and cast in their net and
take out a fish, and there they would find money to pay their taxes. He devoted
himself to the preaching of the word of life, the word of God, the power of
salvation, to the children of men. He did not teach people how to farm or to
get a living. It was not necessary. And yet he proved beyond the possibility of
a doubt that He knew how to combine the elements to meet His necessities. He
was not entirely dependent upon the ordinary sources of life for existence; for
when He wanted bread to feed the multitude He was able to call it together, so
that when He had fed the multitude they took up more than they had at the
beginning. When He wanted wine at the feast of Cana, His own wedding perhaps,
He did not have to send out and buy it; but He took the water pots and
converted the water into wine, and made superior wine of it, too, to that which
man could make with all his skill in wine making. Hence He was not ignorant
with regard to the laws of life, development and organization. If He did not
teach men how to financier, He understood the principle. If He did not teach
them how to build temples, He understood their purposes and how to build them.
If He did not attempt to found cities and empires, He understood the principles
by which cities were built and empires were founded. If He did not teach men
how to get a living in the world, He understood the principle of life, both
temporal and spiritual. He came to teach the way of eternal life. His words were
simple words, easy to be understood. He spoke to the understanding of the
people among whom he labored. He sought, in the simplest forms of speech and in
the plainest manner, to convey to them the words of truth and soberness, the
principles of life and salvation. He exemplified these words in His life and
actions. Among other things, He taught that the greatest commandment given unto
men, was, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind." He further taught that the next
greatest commandment given unto men was, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself." These were the great foundation principles of the Gospel that
was taught by our Savior while He was upon the earth. Of course, these follow obedience
to the first principles of the Gospel; for except we believe, except we have
the witness of the Holy Spirit to bear record unto us of the Father and the
Son, it would be impossible for us to love God as we should. And if we could
not keep the first commandment, it would be impossible for a man to keep the
next; for it is impossible for a man to say truthfully that he loves his
neighbor if he does not love God. It is also impossible for a man to say
truthfully that he follows God without he loves his neighbor. The Apostle John
says, "If a man say I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar."
Therefore, if we love God, we are in a position to love our neighbor; and if we
love our neighbor anything like we love ourselves, it is an evidence that we
love God; for these go hand in hand and are inseparable.
If the
world would obey the counsels of the Son of God there would be no difficulty
respecting the government of men, because the same condition would exist as was
described by the Prophet Joseph when he was asked how he governed the people.
He said he taught them correct principles and they governed themselves. If we
understood the doctrines of Christ and would practice them, we would not stand
in need of much government. Being possessed of a knowledge of the truth, and
having a desire in our hearts to obey it, we would not need judges and lawyers,
governors and rulers, for God would be our governor, and Christ would be our
lawgiver, and we would delight to obey Him. How long will it take us to learn
to become obedient to the requirements of the Gospel? We have been baptized for
the remission of our sins and received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying
on of hands, and we have been confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. We covenanted before the Lord in baptism that we would
abstain from sin; that we would learn to do that which is right and proper in
the sight of God. The law of the Lord is now before us, and we may read it from
day to day; but we do not appear to understand it, or if we do, many of us
certainly go far from our understanding. Now, I do not mean to apply this to
any man or woman who is keeping the laws of God according to the light he or
she possesses. I do not mean those who have the love of God in their hearts.
When I say that men do not love God with all their hearts I do not refer to
those who do. If this whole congregation possess the love of God in their
hearts, then what I say with regard to this does not apply to this
congregation, but only to those who have not obtained this spirit and are still
unconverted. I want to read a word or two in this glorious book that President
Woodruff has recommended to you so highly-the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,
which, as he has said and as I firmly believe, contains some of the most
sublime revelations that have ever been given to the world:
For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon
him, and he receiveth not the gift? Behold he rejoices not in that which is
given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.
And again, verily I say unto you,
that which is governed by law is also preserved by law, and perfected and
sanctified by the same.
That which breaketh a law and
abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to
abide in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice nor
judgment. Therefore they must remain filthy still.
And all kingdoms have a law given:
And there are many kingdoms; for
there is no space in which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in
which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.
What I
desire to call your attention to more particularly is: "for what doth it
profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receiveth not the gift?
Behold he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him
who is the giver of the gift." I consider that every principle of the
Gospel which we have received is in itself a glorious gift of God unto the
children of men. The gift of wisdom, the gift of understanding, the gift of
prophecy, the gift of tongues, the gift of healing, the gift of testimony, the
gift of knowledge, all these are designed by the Almighty to come to us through
our obedience to the principles of life and salvation. The word which the Lord
has given to us respecting wisdom in our habits, in our eating and drinking,
and in our conduct through life, is a gift of God unto us. How many of us
appreciate that gift and have joy in the Giver of it? He has said that if we
will keep that simple word which He has revealed, we shall run and not be
weary, we shall walk and not faint. I once heard a preacher of the Gospel
explain how men could run and not be weary and walk and not faint. He said if a
man possessed the knowledge which he is entitled to, if he were running he
would stop before he got weary, and if he were walking he would have judgment
to stop and sit down before he fainted. When I heard this explanation it
sounded to me a little worldly. It did not seem to strike me as being just the
interpretation to give to this passage. Yet when I came to reflect upon it, it
is knowledge and wisdom, he would then be able to govern himself agreeable to
the laws of God, and he would do nothing that would bring sorrow or trouble,
fatigue or faintness upon himself; he would go as far as wisdom dictated, and
there he would remain until he was resuscitated. But in the mad rush of life
for worldly honors and for the possession of the perishable things of this
earth men do not stop before they get weary, and they do not rest before they
become faint. They appear to think that what is necessary for them when they
become weary and faint is to take stimulants to refresh themselves, that they
may be able to run a little farther for a few moments. In this way the man of
business braces himself up by taking strong drinks. The housewife and the
mother who has become faint, feels that she must, in order to keep up her
strength, take a cup of tea, and thus brace up her nerves and strengthen
herself for a little while that she may be able to finish her day's work. Now
if the pure intelligence of the Spirit of God were substituted for the
stimulating influence of the tea and the liquor; if we could by some means get
a sufficient portion of the Spirit of the Lord within us that would cause us to
know just what to do when we felt weariness and faintness coming upon us,
without resorting to the aid of stimulants and drugs that go far to injure our
systems and make us slaves, to an acquired appetite, it would be a great deal
better for us. A good housewife who takes her tea or coffee to stimulate, and
to enable her to finish her day's work, may feel the effects of it for a little
while, and she may think herself better prepared thereby for the labors she has
to perform; but if she knew the whole truth she would understand that the
injury she is doing herself by this practice is far worse than the fatigue for
which she takes the drug as a remedy. I would rather feel tired and exhausted
by labor, and let nature have a chance to restore itself, than I would attempt
to doctor myself by the use of narcotics and drugs that would sap the
foundation of my physical and spiritual health. But inasmuch as we do not
observe the Word of Wisdom, how shall we have wisdom, knowledge and understanding
by which we may be governed in our own conduct? The promise is that if we will
observe this we shall have knowledge, and the destroyer shall pass us by and we
shall escape those evils that are coming upon the wicked. But many of the
Latter-day Saints do not believe in this Word of Wisdom. They have no joy in
this gift which God has bestowed upon them, In the beginning it was given not
by commandment, lest we should be under condemnation if we did not observe it;
for when a commandment is given it is necessary that we should obey it or we
must abide all the consequences. But when we are simply invited to do right,
and we do it not, the responsibility is not altogether so great. In later
times, however, it was revealed through President Brigham Young that we had
reached a point in our experience when the Word of Wisdom became a law unto the
people, and they were required to obey it. I want simply to lay this before
you, and you may think of it yourselves.
That which breaketh a law and abideth not by law, but
seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and
altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy,
justice nor judgment. Therefore they must remain filthy still.
When I
see an Elder of Israel walking the streets, using tobacco, which the Lord has
said is not good for man, but is for medicine for sick cattle, I say to myself,
This man breaketh a law, and he seeketh to become a law unto himself in regard
to this matter, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, so
far as this practice is concerned, and therefore he cannot be sanctified by the
law, neither by mercy, justice nor judgment but he will remain filthy still.
When I see people drinking hot stimulants this passage of the law of God comes
to my mind, and I think, Here are people that are breaking the law and that are
seeking to become a law unto themselves, and they are abiding in sin, and they
altogether abide in sin in that particular wrong-doing, and therefore they
cannot be justified nor sanctified by the law of God, but must remain filthy
still. What better is the Latter-day Saint who curses and profanes the name of
Deity than the unbeliever who does the same thing? I will give it as my opinion
that the unbeliever who know not the law of God is under less condemnation for
cursing and swearing and blaspheming His name than the man who professes to be
a believer. Upon the latter rests the greater responsibility. What better is a
drunkard who professes to be a Latter-day Saint than the unbeliever who is
accustomed to drunkenness? He is not better, but worse. How much better is the
Latter-day Saint who uses these things that the Lord has said are not good than
one who does not believe in God and uses them? I say, of the two it will be
more tolerable for the unbeliever. "But," one says, "you put a
great deal of stress upon the importance of these matters. The drinking of a
cup of tea is a very simple thing." If it were just the cup of tea, the
sin would not be so very great; it would simply be an injury to the individual,
except others thereby followed the example, and then they also would be
affected by it. But it is not the drinking of the cup of tea that I have in
mind. I do not care a great about your tea or your coffee, your tobacco or your
whiskey. What I have in mind is this: God has said that these things are not
good. He has given you a commandment that you shall not practice these habits
and customs of the world; that you shall come out of Babylon, that you may not
partake of her sins nor receive of her plagues; and when we indulge in these
habits it is violating the commands of God, and we are under condemnation, the
same as when we raise our hands to uphold and sustain the authorities of the
Church, and then go away and back-bite them and say all manner of evil falsely
against them, holding them up to scorn and ridicule from our ignorant
standpoint, wherein we judge them partially, not knowing their motives. It is a
serious wrong in the presence of the Almighty for one to vote to sustain the
authorities of the Church then to go away and oppose them and trample under
foot the counsels that they give; and we will be judged of the Lord for it. If
we do not believe in this, let us not enter into the covenant.
Another
thing: When you see men who hold the Priesthood, and are in high positions in
the Church, manifesting a coldness and indifference, and they seek to shun
their brethren lest peradventure they may receive counsel they do not want,
depend upon it there is something wrong beneath the surface. One who does this
"breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto
itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin and cannot
be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice nor judgment. Therefore they
must remain filthy still," until they repent of their sins.
May God
have mercy upon us, and lead us in the paths of duty. It grieves me when I look
around and see the boldness, the impudence, the shamelessness and the utter
disregard on the part of some men to the feelings and sentiments of a whole
people as to come and flaunt in the faces of the people, on the days of their
Conference, advertisements which would, if they should succeed, be the means of
sowing the seeds of dissolution and death amongst us. We desired yesterday to
have Brother Talmage speak upon this matter from a scientific standpoint; but
he was called suddenly and was unprepared. I wish that he had had more time, so
that he could have given us figures in relation to this matter. But if you
allow your sons to begin the practice of smoking, drinking, etc., the appetite
for opium and other narcotic and pernicious things will fasten itself upon them
so that they will not be able to resist it throughout the future of their lives.
They are the seeds of immorality and death, and we should avoid them, and see
that our children do not fall into the traps that have been set for them. The
Lord help us to preserve our children from the sins of the world, and help us
also to avoid breaking the law of God and spurning the gifts that He has
bestowed upon us; but may He enable us to appreciate these gifts and also the
source from whence they come, that we may be benefitted by these things, and
eventually be brought back into His presence and partake of glory and
exaltation with Him. This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem,
The angels swept their harps of gold.
Benediction by Elder Charles O. Card.
_____
[7 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 50:517, 4/13/95, p 5]
OVERFLOW
MEETING,
An overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall, opening at 2 p.m. Elder Brigham Young, of the council of the Twelve Apostles, presided. The choir and congregation sang:
Redeemer of Israel.
Prayer was offered by Elder E. D. Woolley, of Kanab.
The choir sang the hymn:
Great God, attend while Zion sings The joy that from Thy presence springs.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
was the first speaker. He said that darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people. The question might be asked, what was the great distinguishing difference between the Church of Christ, or Mormonism, and the so-called Christian denominations of the world. It was continuous revelation, the rock upon which the Church of Christ was built. A testimony to that effect could be obtained by the children of men, no matter how humble or lowly they might be, if they would but do His will. In carrying out His purposes He chose the weak things of the earth. The man or woman who wanted to come forth in the first resurrection, who desired eternal life, would show it by their works. Those who were anxious to obtain these great blessings were not mere theorists or idlers. They were workers in every sense of the word. We could show our inclinations to righteousness by turning away from and avoiding evil. The speaker cautioned his hearers against being too sure that they had made their calling and election certain. Boasting and useless declarations to this end were dangerous. He remembered many years ago, in Great Britain, hearing an aged Elder take a solemn oath that he would never leave the Church. A young Elder who followed him, as a speaker, said that he could not -- dared not say so much. The sequel showed that the young man was the wiser as he remained faithful while the other apostatized. As a people we should be natural and honest and not spend too much time and means in attempting to keep up appearances. There should be union in our midst, union in all the quorums of the Priesthood. He had been engaged in work among the settlements of the Saints in Mexico. The government of that country had been very good to the Saints there and God had blessed and would continue to bless that nation for its kindness to them. Many of its people were descendants of Lehi and Joseph -- the Joseph who was sold into Egypt. they were a peculiar people and minded their own business. After a time they would accept the Gospel, and when they did so it would be a case of a nation being born in a day, for they would embrace the truth in response to a great universal impulse, born of the Spirit of God.
ELDER EDWARD STEVENSON
was the next speaker. His remarks were devoted principally to early Church reminiscences, his acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph Smith, a personal visit to the Hill Cumorah and the translation of the Book of Mormon. He first heard the Prophet speak in Michigan in 1834. But that was not the first time he knew him to be a servant of the Lord, because prior to that time he had received a testimony to that effect. He had frequently heard him speak and it was his privilege to hear him deliver his last discourse in mortality and was present at his funeral. He had heard the martyred Prophet predict the great apostasy from the Church which took place shortly after his own death. The speaker was familiar with the various off-shoots which had sprung from the Church during that dark period and had lived to see many of them realize their own fallacies.
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON
followed. He said it was always a pleasure to him to listen to and mingle with the veterans who had met the Prophet Joseph and who worked with him. The young people of today would do well to heed the teachings of such men and depart from haughty and high-minded methods that were altogether too prevalent today. The Gospel was a great reform system which was calculated to gather in one all principles of a saving character. The speaker referred disapprovingly to the questions of divorce throughout the country and said that the ease with which husband and wife could secure divorces was startling, even in Utah. This Territory, by reason of what appeared to be a dangerous laxness of the administration of its laws, was fast becoming known as a place of experimental marriage. The speaker vividly portrayed the sanctity of the marriage covenant and said God had revealed his mind on that question. The bonds of wedlock should not be broken and could not be without great condemnation. The statement had been made in his hearing that a leading educator of the Territory and a member of the Church had said that our young ladies had better marry men of other faiths or no faith at all -- than no one. He regarded such doctrine as wrong. He never knew of a single instance where happiness was permanent between husband and wife when religious differences existed. Catholics should marry Catholics, Protestants should marry Protestants and Latter-day Saints should find life companions from among the Latter-day Saints. The speaker strongly declaimed against the use of those things by young men that ruin their bodies, destroy their intellects and entail weaknesses upon their posterity.
The choir sang:
Peace, be still.
and Elder William Eddington pronounced the benediction.
_____
[7 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 50:518, 4/13/95, p 6]
Afternoon
Session, 2 p. m.
The choir sang:
Hark! ye mortals, Hist! be
still, Voices from Cumorah's hill
Break the silence of the tomb, Penetrate the dreadful gloom.
Prayer was offered by Elder Joseph E. Taylor.
The choir sang the anthem:
Lift up your heads.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
read the prayer of the Lord Jesus on the oneness of his disciples, as related in the 17th chapter of John. He then delivered an elaborate discourse upon the subject of union, showing that it was indispensable for the establishment and progress of the Church. He also dwelt upon the disastrous effects -- individual and general -- of rebellion against proper authority.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 50:641, 5/11/95, p 1; CD 4:299-309]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, April 7th, 1895, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I will
read a portion of the 17th chapter of John. The Savior was praying unto the
Father, and speaking of His disciples, He said:
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me;
and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee,
and they have believed that thou didst send me.
I pray for them: I pray not for
the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And all mine are thine, and thine
are mine; and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no more in the world,
but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine
own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
While I was with them in the
world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none
of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be
fulfilled.
And now come I to thee; and these
things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in
themselves.
I have given them thy word; and
the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world; even as I am not
of the world.
I pray not that thou shouldst take
them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through thy truth:
thy word is truth.
As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
And for their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me
I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that
they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast
sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also,
whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory,
which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the
world.
O righteous Father, the world hath
not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent
me.
And I have declared unto them thy
name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in
them, and I in them.
I have
always thought this one of the grandest and most remarkable prayers ever
uttered, that we have any record of. No doubt the Son of God offered many
prayers not in the power of mortal pen to record. But this prayer was recorded,
and it has come down to us. It is a prayer that is full of meaning, and one
that should be especially dear to the Latter-day Saints, because the blessings
that the Savior prayed for on this occasion are the blessings that we need. We
would not be worthy of the name of Saints if we did not receive the answer to
this prayer in ourselves. The servants of that have received the Priesthood,
unless they received the fulfilment of this prayer and exemplified it in their
lives, would not be in truth His disciples-at least to the extent that our Lord
desired them to be.
The great
characteristic of this Church, my brethren and sisters, which distinguishes it
from all other organizations upon the face of the earth, is UNION. It is this
that has marked us as a peculiar people from the commencement. It is this that
has given us a higher standing and made us a more notable people than any other
characteristic that we possess. It is the characteristic that the Savior desired
His disciples to exhibit; not only His immediate disciples, but those who
should believe their testimony and receive the word that they had to bear to
them. And the Lord's prayer in this respect has been heard. It was heard in
behalf of those who were the immediate subjects of the prayer-His followers;
but the prayer holds good for all generations, and may be claimed by every
follower of Christ throughout all time, because this union that He prayed for
is indispensable to every man, woman, and child belonging to the Church of
Christ. It is also indispensable to the Church itself. And we can thank God
this day that we, unworthy as we have been in many respects, have received this
same spirit of union to a goodly extent; not perhaps as fully as we should have
it; still it has been bestowed upon us and has brought us together, knit our
hearts in one, blended our feelings, and made us-a people of varied races,
speaking different language, and coming out of different religious
organizations-one body, and cemented us together with a union that is most
marvelous. So we to-day exhibit this evidence that we are indeed followers of
Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, because He
desired that this should be the great sign by which the world might know that
God had sent Him and that He was His Son.
The
Savior asked that His disciples might be one, as He and the Father are one.
Now, can you conceive of a oneness more close, more complete, than the oneness
that exists between the Father and the Son? It is impossible for the human mind
to get the faintest idea of any difference of opinion, or expression, or action
between the Father and the Son. We worship them as one God-not three Gods, not
two Gods, but as one God. The Father and the Son are the two personages of the
Deity, with the Holy Ghost as their ministering Spirit or agent. We worship
them as one. We do not separate them in our thoughts and in our feelings. We do
not appeal to one because we think that He would be more propitious to us than
the other. We do not seek to separate them in our feelings or in our thoughts,
or in our worship. We do not think that if we can approach one of these Beings
that we are more likely to obtain favor from Him than from the other. No
feeling of this kind ever enters into the heart of a child of god. They are
one. Jesus in all His revelations makes it plain that He and the Father are
one, so much so that in the minds of many they cannot distinguish how it can be
that they can be one God and yet composed of two personages and of the Holy
Ghost, because according to our human conceptions we cannot imagine such an
identity of feeling and attributes in two different personages. We are not
accustomed to this here on the earth. When we think of a father and a son, of a
brother and a brother, we think of them as separate individuals. Their
individuality is distinct in our minds. This also is the case with our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ as personages, but not as the Godhead. While they are
two personages, they are but one-one in feeling, one in thought, one in mind,
one in everything in fact, in every direction in which their power is or can be
exercised. And in all the records that have come down to us from the Son of God
there is one thing that stands out clearly and prominently throughout all the
teachings and acts of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that is, His entire
devotion to the Father, His complete submission to the will of the Father, and
His oft-expressed desire to know and to do that will. It is wonderful the
submission that the Savior manifested in His life, when we think of His great
dignity and the position that He occupied.
We are
told that there was once a rebellion in heaven. The Prophet Joseph Smith and
Sidney Rigdon beheld in vision, and they recorded that which they saw in this
language:
And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God
who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only
Begotten Son, whom the Father loved, and who was in the bosom of the Father-was
thrust down from the presence of God and the Son.
And was called Perdition, for the
heavens wept over Him-He was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
Some have
called him the son of the morning, but here it is a son of the morning -- one
among many, doubtless. This angel was a mighty personage, without doubt. The
record that is given to us concerning him clearly shows that he occupied a very
high position; that he was thought a great deal of, and that he was mighty in
his sphere, so much so that when the matter was debated concerning the earth
and the plan of salvation, he was of sufficient importance to have a plan,
which he proposed as the plan by which this earth should be peopled and the
inhabitants thereof redeemed. His plan, however, was not accepted; but it was
so plausible and so attractive that out of the whole hosts of heaven one-third
accepted his plan and were willing to cast their lot with him. Now, the
difference between Jesus and Lucifer was this: Jesus was willing to submit to
the Father. He had His plan, which was accepted. Everything that has come down
to us, coupled with our own experience in relation to the effect of the Spirit
of God upon the heart, leads us to the conclusion that if Jesus had proposed a
plan that would not have been accepted by the Father, He would not have
rebelled against the Father nor against the Son of God, who might have proposed
the plan which was accepted. But how different was it with Lucifer! Because he
could not have his way, he was determined to wreck everything. He would pull
down the throne of the Eternal Father and destroy everything. He was not one
with the Father. If he had been, that rebellion would not have occurred.
Now, it
is a remarkable fact, which completely verifies and establishes the truth of
the record concerning this rebellion in heaven, that from the time Adam
appeared on the earth, and children began to multiply and increase, the spirit
that Lucifer exhibited in heaven has been manifested on the earth. When he has
had power to influence men and women he has filled them with precisely the same
spirit that he manifested in heaven before man came upon the earth. That spirit
made its appearance in Cain, and the Bible shows us that it was continued from
generation to generation. The Book of Mormon is filled with the same testimony.
But we need not depend upon the records that have come to us for illustrations
of this, and testimony concerning it. We ourselves, in our own persons, in our
own organization as a Church, have seen the same spirit, and the same results
that attended its manifestation in ancient times, and even as far back as the
time of which I speak-before the earth was peopled. We have seen the spirit of
rebellion exemplified in our Church as it was when we were in our spiritual
existence. President Woodruff dwelt upon this in his remarks this morning. He
showed us the effects of that spirit in those who entertained it. It is but a
repetition of history. History has repeated itself all the time in the Church
of God. The Book of Mormon is full of it. That record shows how the sons of
Lehi divided, some listening to Lucifer and entertaining the spirit of
rebellion, and others entertaining the Spirit of God and seeking for its love
and union. Those who yielded to the spirit of Lucifer sought the destruction of
the others, and not being willing to submit to that which was right, they
rebelled against their father. They determined to have their own way,
regardless of the rights of others. And that history, from the beginning of it
to the end, shows clearly the operation of these two influences; the Spirit of
God bringing the people into union and love, and the spirit of Lucifer-which
God in His own wisdom and for His own purposes has permitted to come upon the
earth to test us-working out destruction wherever it could get possession of
the people to manifest itself through, until it wrought the entire destruction
of two races of people on this continent-the Jaredite race and the Nephite
race.
It is
wise for us to look a little into our own position, and see if we can profit by
the lessons of the past. No trouble ever came upon the Nephite people-and I
like to refer to them because the record is a most complete and interesting
one-except through their departing from that spirit of union of which I have
read in this prayer of the Savior's. When they lived so as to receive the
fulfilment of this prayer and were united, they prospered on the right hand and
on the left. The earth was blessed for them. It yielded of its richness, and
every element of wealth contained in the earth, (and there is no part of our
earth that is so rich in all the elements of wealth as this blest continent)
was at their command. But in those days of prosperity, when everything
flourished, some man or some faction would arise in their midst, filled with
pride, and vanity, and love of the world, yielding to the spirit of Lucifer and
proposing plans of various kinds in order to disturb the peace of the people of
God and to create dissension among them. It was the fruitful source of all
their woes. No trouble ever came upon that people only through their yielding
to this spirit of dissension and of rebellion which had come down from the
council that was held before the world was peopled. All the prophets who spoke
concerning the destruction of the Nephite nation were led to attribute the
downfall of that people, which they by the spirit of prophecy saw would surely
come, to the fact that they would fall into disunion. The Savior and the
prophets predicted that four generations after the coming of the Son of God
would live in peace, and Jesus rejoiced over them. He said how great His joy
was about the generation which lived when He visited them, for He said that not
one soul would be lost; and so it would be for four generations. But after that
a falling away would come. They would listen to the spirit of Satan; they would
lose their love and divide, and the result would be their entire annihilation
as a nation.
Our own
experience, my brethren and sisters, is very similar to this. Can any of you
put your finger on any serious trouble that we have had that has not had its
origin in professed Latter-day Saints dissenting from us and turning against
us? I tell you, as it has been said already in this Conference, there is no
power on earth, there is no power in the domains of the damned, that can shake
or disturb this people if they are only united. No matter what course we may
take, so long as it is in righteousness, if we are united we can stand against
the world, and all its assaults. We can stand not only against visible enemies,
but we can stand against the invisible hosts of darkness which Lucifer has at
his command; and we can stand unshaken and unmoved amid the tempests that may
break upon us, or whatever may be the character of the assault that may be made
upon us. United we are strong; we are strong, as the Almighty our Father in
Heaven, and as His Son Jesus, when Lucifer led away one-third of the hosts of
heaven with the hope of destroying the plan of salvation and bringing to naught
the purposes of the Father. But when dissension comes in our midst; when
disunion manifests itself; when you see men who call themselves Latter-day
Saints yielding to the spirit of Satan and rebelling in their feelings against
the Spirit of God and the work of God, then there is cause for apprehension and
for us to tremble, if we ever do tremble, because that is and always has been
the fruitful source of our troubles, and it always will be. Union, therefore,
ought to be the keynote of the entire people, as it is the chief corner stone
of the superstructure of the Church. It ought to be more desirable than
anything else among us. How shall we obtain it? Shall we have it by each man
having his own way and carrying out his own designs? Was that the way Jesus,
our great Exemplar, did? "Ah! but," I have heard it said, "that
takes away man's independence." There are some people who seem to have the
idea that rebellion and disobedience are evidences of independence and of
manhood. Well, I am glad to know that, so far as I am concerned, I never took
that view. I always felt that I was just as independent in being obedient, and
I know I felt much better than I could possibly feel if I were disobedient. It
is not necessary to be disobedient to show independence.
There are
at the head of this Church, chosen by the Lord, three men, who constitute what
is called the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. One is the President. The other two are his Counselors. But all three
are Presidents, according to the revelations. One, however, holds the keys.
President Woodruff is distinguished from every other one of us by the fact that
he possesses the keys of the kingdom on the earth. He represents the Supreme
authority. His voice to us, in its place, brings to us the voice of God. Not
that he is God; not that he is infallible. He is a fallible man. His Counselors
are fallible men. The First Presidency cannot claim, individually or
collectively, infallibility. Infallibility is not given to men. They are
fallible. But God in infallible. And when God speaks to the Church through him
who holds the keys, it is the word of the Lord to this people. Can President
Woodruff do this without his Counselors? I do not know what he can do, or what
he might do; but I know that he does not do it. I know that President Young did
not, nor President Taylor. I know that President Joseph Smith did not. He
sought the counsel of his Counselors. They acted in concert. And when the First
Presidency act in concert, they are a power. But, as it was said by Brother
John W. Taylor on Friday, if the First Presidency were divided, and the Twelve
were divided, then we would not have the blessings that God has promised, and I
do not know what would be our fate. I know, though, what has been in the past.
Joseph, through false brethren, had his life taken from him. Those nearest to
him betrayed him in the days of which President Woodruff has spoken; and at the
very last those who were nearest to him were among the men who were the means
of bringing him to his death. Now, how is it with the First Presidency? Do we
have a mind of our own? Those who know us can judge of this. It is our duty to
make our thoughts known upon every subject. But we should not be hard in our
hearts; we should be soft and tender, so that the Spirit of God will influence
us. It does not do for us to be opinionated and set in our feelings, and think
that our view is the correct view; but to hold our hearts open to receive the
manifestations of the Spirit of God. I suppose each one of us is fond of having
his own way. I know I am. I am willing to confess that I like to have my own
way. But I do not like my own way well enough to want it in opposition to my
brethren's way. That is our duty as the First Presidency of the Church. It is
the duty of every presidency throughout the Church. The Presidents of Stakes
and their counselors, the Bishops and their counselors, and all who act in
presiding positions, should be united. It is our duty as the First Presidency
of the Church to seek for this spirit of union for which the Savior prayed, and
to be one; to bring our feelings in subjection, and when two agree on a thing,
and the third cannot see it, let him say, "I am going with you. No feeling
that enters into my heart shall stand between you and me." Suppose that
one man has more wisdom than another; it is better to carry out a plan that is
not so wise, if you are united on it. Speaking generally, a plan or a policy
that may be inferior in some respects is more effective, if men are united upon
it, than a better plan would be upon which they were divided. But some may ask,
where comes in the inspiration of God in such cases as this? We should
understand that God uses men as instruments in carrying out His purposes. He
uses them according to their capacity. He gives them opportunity to exercise
their agency and to work out self-development. the Lord gave to the children of
Israel, after leaving Egypt, what is called the law of carnal commandments. It
was admittedly an inferior law to that which He desired them to have; yet it
came from the Lord. He inspired His servant Moses to do that for the people
because they were not prepared to receive and put in practice higher truths and
live up to higher laws. The First Presidency ought to have in the first place
their hearts single to the glory of God; to have no personal feeling that will
influence them in any policy, but have their motives pure, and then when they
unite on anything and give any counsel, I tell you that God will sustain that
and carry it through; He will supplement it by His wisdom and power, and make
it effective. For the First Presidency are but mortal men. We can only see a
certain distance. God sees to the utmost limit. There are no bounds to His
sight. But there are bounds to ours. Does He require superhuman wisdom of us?
No, only as He gives it to us. He points out the path, and if our motives are
pure and we are united on any plan or policy, He will bless and sanctify that,
and He will make it successful. That constitutes the strength of the First
Presidency, their unity and the purity of their motives. They may err-and who
does not? As I said, we are fallible men. Whatever my views may be concerning
the Church and its infallibility, I suppose there are none of the officers of
the Church who claim infallibility. Certainly, I do not claim it for myself.
But when we are united, our motives pure, and we divest ourselves of every
personal desire and bias, and ask God to take away all hardness from our hearts
and all blindness from our minds, and then supplicate Him for His blessing, it
will surely come. Then the Twelve Apostles and the other officers of the
Church, when they carry that counsel out unitedly and in the same spirit, will
be blessed, and the Church will be blessed, and, as I have said, God will
supplement our weakness by His strength, and our want of knowledge by His
infinite knowledge and His great power.
In this
way the Church of Christ has always been led. Occasionally men arise who tower
above the multitude in the extent of their knowledge, such as the Prophet
Joseph, and others whose names I need not mention; for as the Lord revealed to
Abraham, there are differences in spirits. He spoke of the Kokaubeam, or the
stars, and of the difference manifest in them; that one star was greater and
brighter than another, until Kolob was reached, which is near the throne of the
Eternal; and He said it was so with the spirits of men. There are differences
in spirits. There are different grades of intelligence among the spirits of
men. We are not all on a dead level. But God sends forth occasionally a man
that towers like a giant in the midst of his fellow men. The Prophet Joseph was
of that kind. There have been innumerable examples of men not of our Church of
that kind, whose knowledge, foresight, and intelligence were so far ahead of
their compeers and those who lived contemporaneously with them that they could
not come up to them. This Church could not come up to Joseph. He towered above
us. He would have revealed things to us, if we had been prepared, that would
have been far greater than those that we received. But the Lord deals with His
children mercifully. He gives them intelligence according to their capacity to
receive it. Therefore wise men, such as Joseph and others, give the counsel
that is adapted to the conditions and circumstances of the people, though they
may see that it is not exactly what ought to be. Better to give the people
something they will obey, if it is not the fulness of the law of God; better to
lead them on until their capacity is enlarged and they are prepared to receive
higher principles and truths. That is the way God has done with His people.
There are many things that the leading men of this Church can see and
understand that they cannot impart to the people, nor ask the people to do
them. Why? Because they know that the people would not come up to the
requirement, and that therefore they would be disobedient. Better to give them
line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, than to
give them something that they could not receive and that they would rebel
against. That is the manner in which the Lord deals with His children, and it
is the manner in which wise men inspired of the Lord deal with their fellow
men. Speaking as a First Presidency, if we could have our way, there are many
changes that we would make; but you know how difficult it is to have people see
alike upon many points.
Now, if
the First Presidency are in the condition that I have heretofore referred to,
God is with them, and He will sustain them. I do not think you can find three
men-at least, I do not know of any three men-who feel a greater sense of their
unworthiness for the position they are called to fill than the three Presidents
of the Church. The First President you know, and you know the feeling that he
has. Respecting President Smith and myself, I know that we have both been
overpowered by the sense of our own weakness. God knows I never would have
stood in this position if I could have had my way. I have acted only because it
was God's will that I should act. I may not seem that way in the sight of my
brethren. I do not think I do. Possibly my brethren do not think I feel as I
do, because it is natural for me, if there is anything to do, to go at it
energetically; but I feel as though it required all the power that God can give
to help me to be what I am. I would have no connection with this office, I
would not touch it, if I did not know that it was the will of God that I should
act in this position. And I know this is the feeling of President Woodruff. I
know it is the feeling of President Smith. I know it is the feeling of the
Twelve and of the Elders generally. When the Spirit of God comes upon us we
feel our unworthiness, and that nothing but God's power and blessing can
sustain us in bearing up under this great responsibility which He has placed
upon us.
My
brethren and sisters, I speak of union. The First Presidency must be united.
The Twelve must be united; not among themselves alone, but with the First
Presidency. they must see eye to eye with the First Presidency. They should
come and ask counsel of the First Presidency. And as was said by President
Joseph F. Smith this morning, when men do things in secret and are not willing
to bring that which they have into the light of day, there is always cause for
fear. We should have our hearts open, and be willing for all our brethren to
read our hearts and our thoughts. We should enter into no arrangement, nor have
any connection with anything that we have to conceal. It is not the Spirit of
God that prompts concealment. Nor should we enter into things without being
willing to ask counsel respecting them, no matter what they be. It is our duty
to ask counsel-to seek the mind and will of God; for God does speak through His
servants, and He does give counsel through them unto the people. The Twelve
ought to be in this condition. They ought not to shun the society and the
counsel of the First Presidency. Do we want this for our self-glorification?
The Lord knows we do not. But it is the order of the Church that the Twelve
should seek counsel from those whom God has placed to preside. And they should
be free in asking counsel, and not do anything without it. In the same manner
the Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors should ask counsel; the Bishops
and their Counselors should ask counsel; and the seven Presidents of the Seventies,
in their place, should ask counsel also. They are under the direction of the
Twelve Apostles, who are their file leaders, under the First Presidency of the
Church. And one man should not give counsel without consulting his fellow
servants. I have no right, as one of the First Presidency of the Church, to
counsel in matters concerning the Church without knowing the mind and will of
my fellow servants, especially of President Woodruff. I do not want to give
counsel to anyone, on any important matter, without Presidents Woodruff and
Smith hearing it and getting their views concerning it. Otherwise I might be
giving one kind of counsel; Brother Joseph F. Smith might be giving another
kind of counsel; and when President Woodruff heard our counsel, he might not
agree with either of us. Therefore, there should be union in this respect on
the part of every officer in the Church. A Counselor to a President of a Stake
has no business to give counsel without he knows it is in accord with the mind
of his fellow servants. The Twelve have no business to do it. They have no
right to go here and there while they have access to their fellow servants and
are operating in conjunction with them, and counsel on their own responsibility
in the management of the affairs of the Church. You can see if care were not
taken in this direction we should be divided and confusion would ensue. It is
just as necessary that we should be united in giving counsel in regulating the
affairs of the Church and of the Stakes of Zion as it is that we should be
sound in teaching doctrine. I have no right to go into a Stake of Zion and give
counsel and arrange affairs unless I know that that which I am doing is in
strict accord with the feelings and the counsel of my fellow servants, nor has
nay man; and even then I must respect the authority that presides in that
Stake. The business requiring counsel may be important, but it is not so
important but that it can generally be deferred until the united counsel can be
obtained. So it is in all the branches of the Church and in all the work of the
ministry. There must be union. You remember the story of the Scythian king.
Before he died he called his boys together. He handed them a bunch of arrows,
and asked the oldest to break the bunch. He put it across his knees, and he
tried and tried, but could not do it. He requested each of his boys to try, and
they each failed to break the bunch. Then he commanded them to break the band
that united the arrows. They did so. "Now try and break them," he said.
Why, they broke them with the greatest ease separately. So it is with us. When
we are not united we are easily broken; but when we are united we cannot be
broken. when I am giving counsel that I know I am sustained in giving, I feel
strong. I would feel very weak if I were not in that condition, because I would
be ashamed perhaps by having that counsel changed. Therefore, when men come for
counsel, and have the idea that they can get better suited by coming to me, or
to Brother Joseph F. Smith, I do not want them to think, if they come to me,
that I am going to give them some counsel that may not be in accord with the
counsel of the other brethren. None of us should do this, and no man should
seek for counsel in that spirit. We should be united in giving counsel. Then
the affairs of the Church will roll on, and everything will move harmoniously;
there will be peace and union in the councils of the authorities, and the
Church will feel the influence of it. That spirit of union will run through the
Church, and all will be benefitted by the spirit that will be thus received and
enjoyed.
My
brethren and sisters, above all things, therefore, we should seek for this
spirit of union and love. It should be sought for in our councils, and we
should not contend. Now, suppose that I should take it into my head to say that
a certain doctrine is true, and I contend for it, determined to have it so;
does my contention make it true? Suppose that I should contend from now until
the Savior came that it is true, would my contention make it true? Certainly
not. I cannot change a principle of truth. Then why contend or dispute, or
argue about it? A man contends about something that happened in the past, and
he is determined to have it so. Another contends that it is not so; well, what
does this contention amount to? Does it change the truth? The thing has
happened; can it be altered by contention? Not in the least. And so concerning
events to come. Contention concerning them does not change them. There can be
no change wrought in doctrine and in truth by our contention. But I will tell
you where there is room for differences of opinion-in regard to the policy to
be pursued. There ought to be no contention, however. God speaks against it. We
have no right to be a disputing, contentious people. And whenever I dispute
with my brother I am likely to grieve the Spirit of the Lord and darken my own
mind. Therefore, let us avoid contention, in our councils and in all our
intercourse one with another. Of course, as I say, there is a chance for differences
of views respecting policy. It often amuses me to hear some of our brethren
say, "Well, he is a policy man"-as though there was something very
bad about a man being a policy man. I think, however, I know what is meant by
that term. Now, there is good policy and there is bad policy. I believe in good
policy. I believe we ought to be a politic people-and when I say a politic
people I mean a wise people, taking advantage of every circumstance that we can
to obtain our rights and our liberties, and to get recognition in the earth,
that our true worth may be known. The difficulty with us is, we are not known.
If we were better known, we would be better thought of. It is a good thing to
pursue a wise policy; not crouching, bending, and yielding, but firm as a rock
where the principles of truth are involved; ready to take hold of every proper
advantage to be gained for the Zion of God, and make use of it for the
promotion of righteousness and liberty and true freedom in the earth.
My
brethren and sisters, let us stop our contentions, and not be stiff and set in
urging our views. Of course, where there is wrong being done, we should be firm
as a rock. Where men are teaching false doctrine we should not keep still and
allow it to be taught in our hearing without protesting against it. But we need
not fall into the spirit of contention and quarreling over that. We can use our
influence, and tell what we think, and then if it is not received, let it go;
we have done our duty; and not all the time be looking around to see where we
can find fault. Some men are continually prying into doctrine and trying to
reveal mysteries, as President Woodruff referred to this morning about the
Godhead and other things. They want to know a great many mysteries. Now, if we
will do that which lies before us we will grow in knowledge, and God will give
us revelation upon revelation, and nothing will be concealed from us.
I have
felt to make these remarks this afternoon on this important topic. It is of the
utmost importance that we should be united. Whenever you see men attacking the
word of God and the servants of God, you may know that the adversary is at
work. He has reasons for being at work. And his weapons have always been lies
and misrepresentations. It is in this way that he has brought about his wicked
designs from time to time. If he could make this people believe that the First
Presidency were deceivers and were ready to take advantage of them, it would
please him very much. If he could make the people believe that the Twelve were
dishonest and could not be relied upon, and were looking for self-interest, it
would greatly please him. It is on this account that he fills the whole world,
so to speak, with lies concerning us. He will go on doing it until he is bound.
He will be bound, and then he will not have power to deceive the nations as he
has had up to the present time.
Speaking
about men like the Prophet having views superior to other men, the same thing
may be said about this people. Our ways are ahead of those of the world. They
cannot comprehend our views. We take views of things which seem utterly strange
to them. On the question of virtue alone, the majority of people cannot agree
with us in insisting that men should be strictly virtuous, and they do not
understand why we should think that such severe penalties should be attached to
the punishment of adultery, fornication, and kindred sins. They cannot
understand this. And so it is in many things. We are trying to live up to a
higher law, and to lift the world to our plane, and we are being lifted higher
all the time ourselves, through the Spirit of God and the revelations of God.
It is a great work, however, to uplift a people like we are from our old
traditions and habits and our old ways of thinking, especially when we are
surrounded by such elements as we are. The influence of their example combined
with our inherited traditions are powerful to contend against. Many of our
young fail because of this. It is a great trial for this people to be exposed
to such things. I am thankful they are doing as well as they are. Yet I mourn
when I hear of transgression and sin; especially among the rising generation. I
would like to see our sons and daughters grow up very pure, very perfect, and
be an example to the world. I am happy to think that there are a great many in
this condition-pure in heart, and striving to the extent of their ability to
uplift themselves and to help lift their brethren and sisters on to a higher
plane. We shall lift the world up by degrees. The influence of our teachings
has already done this to a great extent. I have been away a good deal lately,
mingling with other people and I am surprised, although I have been expecting
it, at the effect our influence is having upon the people. I am surprised at
the manner in which they look to us, and quote us. We are gradually emerging
from-shall I say obscurity? Yes, to some extent, obscurity, but more
particularly from the midst of misrepresentations and falsehoods that have
enveloped us and hidden us from the world. But people are beginning to look at
us in a different light. The Lord is blessing Zion in this respect, and He is
bringing to pass His word concerning her. It remains for us to prepare
ourselves to go on and increase in the direction that God has pointed out. Let
us profit by the floods of wisdom that have been poured out upon us from the
beginning and the counsels which we have received concerning our mode of
living. Oh! that we could remember these things and put into practice the
teachings of Joseph, of Brigham, of Heber, of John, and of all the mighty men
that have lived among us and worn out their lives in trying to teach us. Their
teachings are more precious than gold. But they have passed unheeded. Now let
us begin to recall them to our memory. Let us read the records that are made of
their teachings, and see what wisdom has been given to us through the Spirit
and power and blessing of God. god bless you all and save us all in the
celestial kingdom of our God. I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
added a few remarks on the subject on which had spoken in the morning -- the experience of the Church in Kirtland, when a number of the Apostles and other leading men apostatized. He then exhorted the Saints to serve God. They could not serve two masters, and should elect to serve the Almighty and be united in that service. The Lord required His Saints to bear off His kingdom. In doing this they would have power with the heavens, for the Lord would not turn His back upon Zion.
Speaking of the First Presidency and Twelve, President Woodruff stated that if ever a body of men were united they were; the Saints would be foolish to permit anything to divide them.
The choir sang the anthem:
Grant us peace, O Lord.
Conference was adjourned for six months.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
JOHN
NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
_____
4-6 Oct 1895, 65th
Semi-Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 51:529, 10/12/95, p 17; Millennial Star 57:689, 705, 721]
[4 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 51:529-530, 10/12/95, p 17-18]
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
_____
The Sixty-sixth [65th] Semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, on Friday, October 4th, 1895. There were present on the stand: Of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith; of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John smith; of the presidency of the seventies -- C. D. Fjeldsted, George Reynolds, J. G. Kimball and R. S. Wells; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
There were also many leading Elders from various districts of the Territory and adjacent regions.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation, No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
The opening prayer was offered by President Lorenzo Snow.
Singing by the choir:
Zion stands with hills surrounded -- Zion, kept by power divine.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
said: I feel thankful, my brethren and sisters, that I have the privilege this morning of attending this Sixty-sixth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the Elders of Israel and the Saints of the living God. My first attending any conferences of this Church was in 1834, and from that day till the present, from time to time, as circumstances have permitted, I have enjoyed this blessing. And while the Prophets, and Apostles, and Elders and Saints of God, a great many of them, and a number of them who have assembled in these days, are to-day upon the other side of the vail, still other men as Apostles and Prophets and Elders and members of the Church stand in the flesh, following in their footsteps. I feel thankful to have the privilege of meeting with the Apostles and the various quorums of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to-day. And while we are together during this conference, I hope and trust that we may all of us have our hearts lifted up in prayer and thanksgiving to God and ask His blessing that we may be guided by His Holy Spirit in whatever we are called to teach to the Saints, and the labors we have to perform as the people of God. We have great reason to rejoice, great reason to be thankful to our Creator, to God, our heavenly Father, for His mercies and blessings over us to-day.
The hand of the Lord may very clearly be seen, I think, by all men who enjoy the Spirit of God, in the past history of the Latter-day Saints. His hand has been over us since our organization in 1830, until the present time. We have passed, of course, through many trials and tribulations, but the Lord's mercy is over us, and we are placed here in the mountains of Israel, the Zion of God, and placed here with responsibilities resting upon us to be carried out in our day and time. I am pleased to meet with the Apostles, and trust, as far as we have time and opportunity, we shall have the privilege of hearing from them. But I will say that President Snow is expected to be absent from us for a day or so, in attending the funeral of Judge Smith, of Brigham City, and I will call upon him this morning to occupy a little time in talking to us.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW,
of the quorum of the Twelve, addressed the Conference. He read a portion of the 101st section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, beginning at the 25th verse. It tells of the establishment of the Millennial reign on the earth, and the glorious conditions that shall be associated with that time of universal peace and the knowledge of God. He said this condition will be exceedingly acceptable to us after we have passed through the troubles and perplexities incidental to our probationary existence. In that time there will be nothing to offend nor disturb. The present position of the world, from a moral point of view, is most forbidding. The public journals are filled with accounts of the most detestable crimes and pictures of human misery. All these will vanish before the dawn of the Millennial morn. We should not forget the great promises that god has made concerning a good time to come. And we should prepare ourselves to be in unison with that delightful time when it shall come. We should so live that we shall know that our course of life is acceptable to God. We should understand the voice and whisperings of the Holy Spirit. In the day when the sky is not obscured by clouds, we discover surrounding objects, their beauty and purpose. So are we dependent on the Spirit of God for light upon the principles of truth and salvation. No professing Latter-day Saint can enjoy any great degree of happiness unless he thus lives, and thus places himself under divine guidance.
There are times in the life of every man when he needs supernatural aid, to prevent his being overwhelmed by the difficulties surrounding him. Hence the necessity of his being righteous so that he may not be left to himself in times of trial and extremity. It appears that it is necessary that the Saints should be tried to the extent of their endurance, that their characters may be developed. There are Elders here now who could tell how, when out in the world, even their lives have been saved by following the direction of the Spirit of God, whose hand has been seen in their deliverance from evil.
We should not only be in harmony with the voice and genius of the Holy Spirit, but we should also be right with each other. If we are not, we may find ourselves greatly deceived.
We are not only laboring for Latter-day Saints, but also for thousands who are not; for this work is comprehensive, and opens up to all willing workers a broad field of usefulness.
The speaker concluded by asking the blessing of God upon President Woodruff, whom we were delighted to see present with us on this occasion.
ELDER H. J. GRANT
of the Council of the Apostles, was the next speaker. He felt to rejoice in the fellowship and integrity of the Saints, and the diligence of those who preside in the Stakes of Zion. Their integrity was unquestioned, and they were ready and willing to do everything for the progress of the work of God. The unity of the Latter-day Saints was commended, as also the fact of the great faith of the people, manifested in their good works. The disposition to depend upon the tithing of each Stake for the support of its poor, etc., was happily dying out, and there was a pleasing tendency to sustain the Presidency of the Church with means as well as by faith. It should be the pride of every Saint to pay his tithing, for this purpose. United effort would enable the Saints to place their tithes in the hands of those who could use it to best advantage for the advancement of the work of God.
The blessings of God were not to be measured by individual financial prosperity, but the exercise and growth of spiritual powers would be found to be the measure of advancement toward exaltation. the destiny of the Latter-day Saints was to fit and qualify themselves to dwell with him, by overcoming natural tendencies toward evil, and cultivating, through the principles of the Gospel, all God-like qualities.
Wise training of children would lead to their advancement, and would lead them to be grateful to their parents for all necessary requirements; so would the various requirements of the Gospel cause those who company with them to develop all the lovable and noble qualities of the soul, which would make them worthy of the love of God. Teachable, mild and kind through obedience to God, the Saints would be prepared for their high destiny, and this would be best accomplished by the keeping of the common requirements of the Gospel. Great manifestations would not necessarily keep one in touch with God, but the following of the course of duty in all His affairs could not fail to do so. Salvation would come through such a course, not through spiritual manifestations and testimonies alone. Not only this, but such as follow this course would be blessed as well in temporal things. Neglect of these common duties would be a fruitful source of loss of the testimony and blessings of God.
Each one having the carving of his own life, he should see to it that he discharge his responsibility to God for no command would be given beyond the power of man to obey. Especially should the holders of the Priesthood magnify their calling, sustaining those over them in the Church and in the government of the nation in which the Saints live.
He closed with an earnest prayer for the continuance of the blessings of God to His people.
[Heber J. Grant]
[DNW 51:769, 12/7/95, p 1; CD 4:354-358]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Friday, October 4th, 1895 by
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN. [actually HEBER J. GRANT]
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
It has
fallen to my lot to address the conference this morning, and while standing
before you I earnestly desire the benefit of the faith and prayers of the
Latter-day Saints who are here assembled. I rejoice exceedingly in the many
blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we enjoy. I rejoice from time to
time in mingling among the people in the different stakes of Zion, and in
having the fellowship and the faith and prayers and good feeling of those with
whom I associate. I rejoice in the integrity, the faith, and the diligence of
those who preside in the various stakes of Zion. I realize that we are all
beset with faults and failings and imperfections; but I am convinced that
almost without exception those who have the charge of the Saints in the
different wards and stakes of Zion are men of God, and their integrity is
beyond questions, and that if need be they would be ready and willing to lay
down their lives for the onward advancement of the kingdom of God. I believe
that the Elders of Israel in all the different wards and stakes Zion earnestly
desire to know the mind and will of our Heavenly Father, and are ready and
willing to do anything that is within their power to carry it out in their
lives. It is this integrity and this desire that I find among the people in
mingling with them that gives me joy and satisfaction, and that encourages me
in the labors that devolves upon me as a servant of the Lord. I believe that
the Latter-day Saints as a people are as united to-day as they ever were, that
they have as much faith and confidence in the work of God and as much respect
for the Priesthood of God in all its various organizations as they have ever
had. I do not think that there was ever a time in the history of the Church
that the Latter-day Saints were making a more earnest effort to discharge the
duties devolving upon them than they are doing at the present time. I believe
that there is an increase of faith among the people, and it is being manifested
by the increase of good works. I find that there is a disposition on the part
of many of the presidents of stakes of Zion to perform all of the duties that
devolve upon them and to encourage their people to do the same. I am pleased to
find that the disposition that existed in some of the stakes a short time ago
to try and see if it were not possible to use up all the tithings locally, or
to get enough of the tithing so that they did not need to call on the Saints
for fast-day donations-I am pleased, I say, that that disposition is dying out,
and that we are becoming really patriotic citizens of the work of God.
The
disposition of every Later-day Saint should be to see the work of God advance,
and to do all in his or her power for its advancement, and never to think of
doing anything that would retard that work. We should love the work of God
above all things else, and we should endeavor to the full extent of the ability
that God has given us to accomplish His purposes here on the earth. It is
necessary in order to accomplish the purposes of our Heavenly Father that the
Presidency of the Church should have means placed in their hands, and every
member of the Church of God that loves the work and desires its advancement,
should endeavor to be faithful to the extent of his ability in discharging
every financial obligation that rests upon him or her. It should be the pride
of every bishop and of every bishop's counselor, and of the president of every
stake and his counselors that they earnestly and conscientiously pay their
tithing; and then it should be their pride that that tithing finds its way into
the hands of the President of the Church, and is not consumed in the stake. We
are capable of accomplishing this if we will only think so and labor to that
end. I realize and appreciate the fact that the Lord could pour out upon us an
abundance of the wealth of this world, that He could make us all rich, because
the mountains are full of wealth, and He could open up avenues to us that we
could all become wealthy; but in doing this we would have no opportunity of
showing our faith by our works; we would have no opportunity of developing our
manhood and of fitting and preparing ourselves by actual labor to go back and
dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father. In the conference of the sisters
yesterday afternoon, one remarked that she had sometimes been tried in her
feelings because she had not been blessed as much with this world's goods as
some others had. Well, I have often remarked to the people that it is
ridiculous for us, possessed of the Spirit of the Lord, to estimate by this
world's goods the blessings of our Heavenly Father. If we could estimate those
blessings by dollars and cents, then has one Chinaman, by the name of Li Hung
Chang, been more abundantly blessed, at least, I think, four times over, than
all the Latter-day Saints in these mountains, because I believe one hundred
million dollars would about buy us out, and that one Chinaman is reported to be
possessed of over four hundred millions of dollars-a dollar for every Chinaman.
As I understand the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they were
that it would profit no man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own
soul. It is by the faithful discharge of the duties and the obligations that
rest upon us in the Church of God that we are developed. It is by the exercise
of our physical organizations that we strengthen those organizations; it is by
the cultivation and the exercise of our spirits that we grow in spirituality,
that we grow in the testimony of the Gospel, that we grow in ability and
strength to accomplish the purposes of our Heavenly Father here upon the earth.
If we examine the plan of life and salvation, if we examine the commandments
that are given to us as members of the Church of God, we will find that each
and every one of those commandments has been given for the express purpose that
we may be benefitted, that we may be educated, that we may be qualified and
prepared to go back and dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father. These
duties and obligations are calculated to make us godlike in our dispositions.
They are calculated to make Gods of us, and to fit and qualify us that we may
become, as it is promised that we can become joint heirs with our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ and dwell with Him in the presence of God the Eternal
Father throughout all the countless ages of eternity. The object of our being
placed upon this earth is that we may work out an exaltation, that we may
prepare ourselves to go back and dwell with our Heavenly Father; and our Father,
knowing the faults and failings of men, has given us certain commandments to
obey, and if we will examine those requirements and the things that devolve
upon us we will find that they are all for our individual benefit and
advancement. The school of life in which we are placed and the lessons that are
given to us by our Father will make of us exactly what He desires, so that we
may be prepared to dwell with Him. Our children oft times feel to complain
because of the duties that we require of them. They would sooner play marbles,
or run after a hoop, or jump the rope, or do something else, than perform the
labors that we as parents place before them. But in after years they discover
that the tasks we gave to them, wherein we taught them to be industrious, were
beneficial to them.
The
natural disposition of man, as I have often remarked, is to be selfish, sordid,
and grasping; to think of self, and self alone, and figure for personal
advancement;. But all the teachings of the Gospel are the exact opposite of
this. We find that the requirements that are made of us to pay tithes and
fast-day donations, and temple donations, and meeting house donations, and to
contribute of our means to send the Gospel to the nations of the earth-these
requirements chase out of the heart of man every selfish and sordid
disposition. Instead of being selfish, the faithful Latter-day Saint is filled,
with the love of the Gospel, filled with a desire to contribute of time and
means for the onward advancement of the kingdom of God. The Gospel, if we are
faithful to the requirements that are made of us of a financial nature, takes
the selfish, sordid man, and makes of him a generous noble, free-hearted
individual-one that we can love, one that God can love. The Gospel fills us
with a desire to leave the things of the world, if need be, to go to the
uttermost ends of the earth, without one dollar of reward, for the benefit and
salvation of our fellow men. The natural disposition of men is to practice all
those things that are gratifying to the appetites and to the passions with
which we are beset; but the requirements of the Gospel are such that we are not
permitted to gratify our appetites; that it is necessary for us to be
self-sacrificing, to over-come and subdue those appetites. When we come to
examine the requirements, such as the Word of Wisdom, we find that by obeying
these we grow in strength of mind and strength of body, and our tabernacles are
fit dwelling places for the Holy Spirit of God. We expand and become more and
more godlike when we subdue and put under our feet these passions and appetites
which are contrary to the mind and will of our Heavenly Father. So I might go
on and enumerate all the requirements that are made of us. The natural
disposition of man is to become lifted up in the pride of his own heart, to be
self-sufficient, to forget God; but the Gospel requires that we shall pray
every day of our lives, not only with our families, but in secret. This
requirement prevents us from becoming self-sufficient; for it makes us like
little children, bowing down and praying to God for the light and inspiration
of His Holy Spirit. As Latter-day Saints, having received the testimony of the
Gospel, it devolves upon us to improve upon this testimony by keeping the
commandments of God; and, I say to you that the man that grows each day of his
life is the man that fills the plain, simple, every-day duties which devolve
upon Him. It is not the testimonies that we have had, it is not the many
visions that have come to us. Why, the men above all men who were abundantly
blessed by seeing angels, by even seeing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as
did Sidney Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery-these men were not kept firm and steadfast
in the Church by these great blessings and manifestations. But the men who kept
the commandments of God, the men who were faithful in their prayers, the men
who sustained and upheld the Priesthood of God at all times and under all
circumstances, the men who obeyed the Word of Wisdom, the men who paid their
tithing, have always been true and faithful, and have never lost the Spirit of
God. Those, however, who have got in a corner, fault-finding, drinking, and
having a "good" time, and associating together and having secret
meetings, thinking they are not treated right and are not respected enough-this
class of men lose the Spirit of God. Do you know, I always feel happy when I am
with my brethren. I never want to get away from them. If I have the
"blues", the best way in the world to get over them is to get out and
do my duty and go off with my brethren in the Stakes of Zion. If any man lacks
the Spirit of God, let him go to work and labor for the advancement of the
kingdom of God, and he will have the Spirit of God. Whenever any one of us gets
the idea into our heads that because we have had some manifestations, some
wonderful dream or vision, because we have been able to stand up and testify
that Jesus was the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and think
this knowledge alone is going to save us, the quicker we get that idea out of
our heads the better. It is keeping the commandments of God, it is respecting
and honoring the Priesthood of God that we hold, and the servants of God who
preside over us, that will bring to us the blessings of God, and that will save
and exalt us, not only in this life, but in the life to come. I say that the
more faithful and the more diligent a man is in paying his tithes and his
offerings among the Latter-day Saints, the more he will prosper in material
things of the kingdom. The most prosperous men all over this country, wherever
the Latter-day Saints are scattered, are those who have paid an honest tithing
and who have been the most liberal in donating for temples. So it will always
be. And in addition to this, they are blessed by having the windows of heaven
opened and the Spirit of God poured down upon their heads, and they have the
testimony of the Gospel burning in their hearts; while those who are neglecting
these things are losing the testimony of the Gospel, and the bright and shining
light that was once with them is departing from them.
If you
want to know how to be saved, I can tell you; it is by keeping the commandments
of God. No power on earth, no power beneath the earth, will ever prevent you or
me or any Latter-day Saint from being saved, except ourselves. We are the
architects of our own lives, not only of the lives here, but the lives to come
in the eternity. We ourselves are able to perform every duty and obligation
that God has required of men. No commandment was ever given to us but that God
has given us the power to keep that commandment. If we fail, we, and we alone,
are responsible for the failure, because God endows His servants, from the
President of the Church down to the humblest member, with all the ability, all
the knowledge, all the power that is necessary, faithfully, diligently, and
properly to discharge every duty and every obligation that rests upon them, and
we, and we alone, will have to answer if we fail in this regard. We as
Latter-day Saints, holding the Priesthood of God, should magnify it, and we
should respect those who preside over us in the different stakes and wards, and
we should respect the general authorities of the Church; and as we respect
them, God will respect us. As we respect the authorities in the nation of which
we form a part, and uphold and sustain the government, just in that proportion
are we loyal citizens, and our government will respect and uphold us. I say to
you that it is not an insignificant thing to hold the Priesthood of God-to have
the right to influence the powers of the heavens for good; and it is not a
slight thing for us to neglect to honor that Priesthood that God has bestowed
upon us and the Priesthood of God in those who preside over us. May the light and
inspiration of God be our constant guide and companion. May we grow and
increase in the Spirit of God and in the testimony of the Gospel, and in power
and ability to accomplish the purposes of our Heavenly Father here on the
earth; and may we grow in the desire to do so, is my prayer and desire, and I
ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR
was the next speaker. He was thankful for the opportunity of meeting with the Saints in Conference. He bore testimony to the excellence of the remarks of Elder Grant. Thirteen days since he was in the city of London. His brief absence caused him all the more to appreciate the beauties of his mountain home. It delighted him to once more behold the grand mountains which surrounded us. He spoke of some of the religious observances he had seen in cathedrals of the Old World, and commented upon them, and remarked upon the general conditions which prevailed in Great Britain, with special reference to the deplorable situation of many of the poor. He made a comparison between the condition of the people of Utah and the masses in other parts of the world, showing what great blessings God had bestowed upon the Saints.
The speaker alluded to the great musical gathering in this city. He said the Saints were worthy of the best music in the world, and there was no building on earth to which the sweet singers from abroad would be more welcome than to this great tabernacle.
He continued for some time and made remarks on a variety of subjects.
The choir sang the anthem:
Let the mountains shout for joy.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[4 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 51:530, 10/12/95, p 18]
Afternoon
Session
Singing by the choir.
Come, dearest lord, descend
and dwell By faith and love, in every breast;
Then shall we know and taste and feel The joys that cannot be expressed.
Prayer by Elder Edward Partridge, of Utah Stake.
The choir and congregation sang:
The spirit of God like a
fire is burning, The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning; And angels are coming to visit
the earth.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
addressed the Conference. This assemblage was a representation of the Church of Jesus Christ, the organization the establishment of which in the latter-days had been foreseen and foretold by the ancient Prophets. This was the marvelous and wonderful work they had predicted. The people had been gathered, according to the words of prophecy, from the four quarters of the earth, and the "mountain of the Lord's house" had been "established in the tops of the mountains." We have been brought into the light of the everlasting Gospel, and we could shout "peace on earth, good will to men." We had reason to rejoice before the Lord. This work had been inaugurated by simple means -- through the instrumentality of an unfettered youth who possessed faith in the Almighty. The speaker then dwelt upon the power and efficacy of faith, through the exercise of which we could approach and hold communion with God. It was through the power of faith that Joseph Smith gained access to the Almighty. He asked and, according to the divine promise, he received a knowledge that God and Christ lived; they manifested themselves to him, and selected him to be their medium in restoring the ancient Gospel, with all its powers, gifts and blessings.
No one could officiate in the ordinances of the Gospel unless he had been commissioned by Jesus Christ. He who was not thus divinely called could not administer the sacred ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins. Through obedience to the laws of the Gospel, salvation could be attained. The speaker bore testimony to the effect that the power of the Priesthood was in the church; that Jesus was the Christ and that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet. This understanding had come to him through his being identified with the people of God. He exhorted the Saints to be just,upright and pure and as a light to the world. He directed attention to the Temples which had been erected to the name of the Lord, stating that they were built for sacred and holy purposes, that those who entered therein might be instructed in the ways of the lord, that they might ultimately return to his presence, from whence they came. He prayed for the grace of God to be with the Saints forever.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
was the next speaker. He referred to the necessity of greater care and zeal in bringing about unity and love among the people. He thought, with President Lorenzo Snow, that this sympathy should extend also to all the creations of God, that cruelty might be banished from the world through the kindness and manifested through the Priesthood of God. The mission of the Latter-day Saints implied great responsibility, in warning all the people of the world of evils to come, that as many as would might escape these calamities. Handicapped by the unbelief of the world, the servants of God had not been able to make such progress as might be desired in spreading the message of peace, reconciliation, and salvation. Without examination or research the message had been rejected by a vast majority of the inhabitants of the earth, as of no more worth than those systems into which they had been indoctrinated. Some, however, breaking away from the traditions of the past, had shown a willingness to investigate independently, and, if convinced, to accept the truth. Considering the proneness of man to follow in beaten paths, the frequency of such conversions was a matter of wonder and for congratulation. And it was to be hoped that prejudices would be removed and the investigation of the truth become more general and honest. This might be accomplished by a greater liberality, wisdom and tact, in the presentation of the work of God to the world resulting in winning souls unto Christ.
He bore testimony that God had given him a witness that Christ is the Redeemer of the world, and that he was identified with the work of God.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL
of the same quorum, followed. He spoke of the importance of the labor for the dead, this importance consisting in the fact that two of a family, and one of a city, had been gathered to Zion, where they might perform the work of salvation for all their kindred dead, who in the spirit world are awaiting this work. The Prophet Joseph Smith felt the importance of this work, and advised the Saints to do all in their power for the benefit of their kindred dead, his sayings were quoted as follows: "But how are the Saints to become Saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, their baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers, in behalf of their progenitors, and redeem them, that they may come forth in the first resurrection, and be exalted to thrones of glory with them. And herein is the chain which binds the hearts of the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. The Saints have not too much time to redeem their dead, and gather together their living relatives, that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten and the consumption decreed come upon the world. The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us, is to seek after our dead, for the Apostle says that without us they cannot be made perfect, nor we without them, for it is necessary that sealing power should be in our hands for the dispensation of the fulness of times, to meet the promises made to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world."
The speaker went on to urge the necessity of the Saints performing ordinance work for their dead kindred. It was one of the most important departments of the labor undertaken by the Saints. The Lord had placed this responsibility upon us. There was only a portion of the people of the Church who took a real interest in the redemption of the dead, that they might receive the full benefit of the plan of salvation; although they were now in the spirit world. If those who had limited information about their dead kindred would act upon what they had the Lord would open up the way so they would obtain more, and thus be enabled to extend their labors for their departed relatives.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
spoke briefly on the subject treated by Elder Merrill.
The choir sang the anthem:
Jesus, I my cross have taken.
Benediction by Elder Jonathan G. Kimball.
_____
[5 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 51:530-531, 10/12/95, p 18-19]
SECOND
DAY.
Oct. 5th, 10 a.m.
The choir and congregation sang:
The time is far spent, there
is little remaining, To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.
Then hasten ye heralds, go forward proclaiming repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.
Prayer by Elder John W. Hess, of Davis Stake.
The choir sang:
Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed.
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN
was the first speaker of this session. Following is a brief outline of his remarks: General conferences were instituted for the transaction of business and the imparting of instructions of a general character, applicable to the Church at large. It was here that the Saints obtained the keynote, so to speak. As to business affairs the people were entitled to a voice in relation to them. It was in this way that the authorities were sustained -- by common consent. The Saints possessed the Holy Spirit and they could not easily be deceived. They readily detected evil and false teaching, and those men who lived according to the laws of the Gospel had influence among them. In order to have the Spirit of Truth we must serve God and not have our hearts set too much upon the things of the world. We must labor to improve the condition of mankind, morally and every other way, and thus promote righteousness. Men were to be judged according as they treat their fellow men. The source of all happiness, according to the scriptures, was the favor of God. This was not upon us when we did wrong, but it was with us when we did right. Experience had taught all of us that this was true. We had been taught to do right by the exponents of truth, and by the light of conscience, which was the Spirit of God acting within us. All had the power to serve God to the extent of their understanding. The Saints believed in God as their Father, that they were indebted to Him for life, that he desired that they should return to His presence and enjoy eternal felicity. They understood that God gave His Son to save the world; also the reason for the fall, through which came the resurrection by Christ's atonement. all who had received a mortal body will, after death, receive it again, this being the redemption wrought out by the Savior of the world. and these things had been made plain to us through the revelations of the Lord. Hence we should seek to lay up treasures in heaven, and not act as if our mortal lives were perpetual. If we did this all other things would be added to us, according to promise. We must not only believe, repent, be baptized for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost, but continue to live a godly life. The holy power might rest upon a man and yet not remain with him. This would depend upon the course he pursued.
We had the written word of God, but we had likewise the living authorities, without whom the Church could not exist. It is through the living oracles that the work of the Father is carried forward. We had the testimony of Jesus, because we had done the will of the Father. This witness was promised by Jesus in His ministry. When the true church had an existence on the earth, those who composed it could declare that they knew that Jesus was the Christ, and that they were engaged in the divine work of human redemption. We stood before the world today and proclaimed the same principles that were taught by the ancient apostles and promised that all who obeyed should receive a living individual testimony of the truth.
We were becoming a famous people and were growing in influence among the nations. While many did not believe that we were in possession of the Gospel of Christ, large numbers could see that there was something peculiarly attractive about this community. This recognition of the status of this people would increase. Notable people in different countries were becoming possessed of an intention of coming to Utah to make their homes here, under the belief that their families would be more secure from the evils existing in the world than they would elsewhere. all such will be heartily welcomed. The speaker concluded by 4xpressing great hopes as to the future of the Saints.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[MS 58:241-247; CD 4:362-367]
DISCOURSE BY ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
_____
The
following discouorse was delivered by Elder Francis M. Lyman, at the General
Conference of the Church, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, October 5, 1895:--
I pray
that the Spirit of the Lord may rest upon us throughout the remainder of our
conference as it has been upon the brethren who have already spoken. The
gathering of the Latter-day Saints in conference makes very important
occasions. They are for the transaction of business and the giving of
instructions, that the people may receive frequently the true sound, that the
keynote may be given to them, and that the Latter-day Saints may enjoy the Holy
Spirit so that they can always discern the truth, and then they are not easily
deceived in regard to doctrine and principle pertaining to the plan of life and
salvation. The revelation requires particularly that the Elders upon whose
shoulders rest the responsibilities of the kingdom should meet together
frequently. In general conference we gather twice a year, in stake conferences
four times a year; and at these gatherings all business is transacted, and it
is done by common consent. Every member of the Church is entitled to a voice in
the transaction of Church business, whether in the quorums of the Priesthood,
in the gatherings of the people in wards and in stakes, or as a whole Church.
No man is held in position in this Church who has not the fellowship of the
people; and men in this Church never lose the fellowship of the people so long
as they do right. For the Latter-day Saints have the Holy Ghost as their
companion, and the Holy Ghost comprehends, not only doctrine and principle, but
men; so that men who are called to preside over us are read of the Holy Ghost.
If they have weaknesses, the Saints discover them; and they have confidence in
men in proportion to their integrity to the cause. If men live their religion,
the people love them and listen to them. If men do not live according to their
professions, they lose caste among the people. It is singular that the
Latter-day Saints can discern so carefully and particularly the conditions of
one another, and how readily they will detect error, false doctrine, or evil
that may arise, or be presented among the people by false teachers. Every
Latter-day Saint is entitled to the presence of the Holy Spirit, to give him
understanding and wisdom, and no Latter-day Saint need to be led astray by
false teachers; for the Spirit of the Lord being their companion, they are
entitled to comprehend the truth and to detect error, and to know their status
before the Lord day by day.
But in
order to enjoy the Spirit of the Lord as our Heavenly Father has designed we
should do, it is really necessary that we should serve the Lord, that we should
honor Him and keep His commandments, that we should be very careful in our
lives, and that our hearts should not be set upon the things of this world, but
that we should seek to lay up treasures in heaven. The way treasures are laid
up in heaven, as I understand it, is by men doing day by day the good that
opens up before them-laboring to improve and to elevate society. If society is
corrupted by the spirit of lying, then it is the duty of every man who bears
the Priesthood and every person who has embraced the truth to operate against
the spirit of lying, and to teach truth. If there is a spirit of infidelity
afflicting the people, then every man should be nerved against infidelity, and
labor to promote faith in the hearts of the people. For it is not possible to
please God without faith. It is not possible to please our Heavenly Father
without the spirit of truth and honesty, of virtue and uprightness. The source
of happiness to mankind, we are told in the Scriptures, is the favor of God. If
we please Him, He will favor us. I presume that every Latter-day Saint under
the sound of my voice to-day has had experience enough to know that the favor
of the Lord is not upon us when we do wrong. I take it that we have all done
wrong enough to know this. I take it also that we have all done well and
wrought righteousness enough to know that the favor of heaven is upon us when
we do right. Why shall we do wrong? Why shall we not listen to the counsels of
our Heavenly Father and do right all the time? Why is it that we are not doing
right constantly? Is there any power given to Satan to compel us to do wrong? Is
there any power given to Satan to compel us to break the Sabbath day and not to
keep it holy? Is power given to Satan that he can compel us to be unvirtuous,
unjust, or untruthful? I have never found it so in my experience. I have never
been compelled to do wrong. What wrong I have done I have done with my eyes
open. I have known what was right, I have known what was wrong. I have been
thoroughly taught by my parents and by my brethren; I have been taught by the
conscience that the Lord has placed within me, and when that conscience has
been lighted by the spirit and power of God, I have been able to comprehend
very easily what was wrong and what was right. I do declare in all soberness
before this vast congregation this morning, that every man has been graciously
endowed by our Heavenly Father with the power to do His mind and will. Every
man in a normal condition has the power to do right. When the Gospel has been
taught us, we have exercised our reason and judgment. When the Scriptures have
been expounded to us we have believed them. Men sent of the Lord and
commissioned to teach and expound the Scripture have taught us that it was
necessary that we should believe in God our Father, who dwells in the heavens;
and we have been willing to listen and to treasure up the truth that they
taught us, and to believe it. The Latter-day Saints to-day believe in God our
Heavenly Father, and that we are in reality His children; that He is our head,
and that we are indebted to Him for life and being upon this earth. He has laid
down the plan of life by which we may be saved and brought back into His
presence, by which we may become as He is, and inherit His power, His
greatness, His authority, and the riches of eternity. He has made all these
things plain to us, and He has sent into the world His Son, our Elder Brother,
to be our Savior. We had come in a fallen condition. Adam came and fell that we
might be. By that fall came death, and by death our tabernacles are placed in
the grave, returned to mother earth, there to remain until the resurrection,
and the resurrection was brought to pass by the death and suffering of the Son
of God. Our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, shed His blood for our sins-not for
His own, for He was immaculate and without blemish-and He laid down His life
that you and I should be redeemed from that death which had come upon us
because of the fall of Adam. By His death are we redeemed. By His blood are we
cleansed from the conditions of the fall. For Jesus broke the bonds of death;
and as all men are consigned to the grave because of the fall of Adam, in like
manner are all men raised from the grave through the suffering and death of our
Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Every human being that has been given a
tabernacle upon this earth will have that tabernacle resurrected, and will
enter into it again and appear before God to be judged for the deeds done in
the body. In likeness of the death and burial and resurrection of the Son of
God, the Lord has arranged in the plan of life that we should lay our bodies in
the watery grave, and that as He came forth out of the grave to newness of
life, so should we come from the watery grave into newness of life, and to walk
no more after the ways of men. It is required that we should not be of the
world. We should not be like the world. As in times past we were sinners and
transgressors, and were thoughtless and indifferent in regard to the principles
of life and salvation, now these principles should be our theme, now we should
love them. Where before we sought to lay up treasures on earth, now we should
seek to lay up treasures in heaven. Our chief object should be the
accomplishment of God's purposes upon the earth. We should not live for the
building of railroads and the development of mines and farms, and the building
of houses, etc. Whatever we do of this kind should be done with the view of
accomplishing the purposes of the Lord in the earth, and for making man happy,
and bringing about that joy that was intended in our being upon the earth. As
Adam fell that we might come to the earth and obtain tabernacles, so we have
come to the earth that we might have joy in the presence of our Father who
dwells in Heaven. That is the design of our Father and the object of our being.
Therefore,
our hearts must not be set upon the things of this world. But if we seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all other things that are necessary
for us our Father will add unto us. Though He may not accomplish it this year
He will do some of it this year, and some next year, till finally we will
inherit all things.
But in
order that we may have relief from our sins and come back into the presence of
God, it is necessary not only that we should believe and be baptized, but that
we should repent also. Following the doctrine of faith in God is the doctrine
of repentance, as Peter declared on the day of Pentecost unto those who had
slain the Savior or had consented to His death. They were gathered in great
numbers, and many were convinced under the instructions of the inspired Apostle
of God. They were pricked in their hearts, and said, "Men and brethren,
what shall we do?" Peter answered them, "Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." What a glorious promise that
was to the people on that day. If it was the truth in the days of Peter, I say
it is the truth to-day. If it was necessary then that a man should repent of
his sins, and should humble himself before the Lord, and enter into the waters
of baptism for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost, in order that
he might please God and know His mind and will, I say it is the same to-day.
The Gospel given then is the Gospel given to-day; for the Gospel revealed to us
is that given by Jesus Christ Himself. And He has given to us the Holy Ghost,
that precious gift that was so valuable in those days and that would remind and
bring to the attention of the followers of the Savior all that He had taught
them, and show them things to come.
Now, we
have these books that were spoken of yesterday-the Bible, the Book of Mormon,
and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants-and they are very valuable. But I say
this Church could not run an hour with all the books that were ever published.
It is not possible to run the Church of God with books. It must be by the
living oracles of God. It must be by the men who are authorized by the Son of
God Himself to stand at the head of the people and to teach them. You cannot
organize a ward, you cannot organize a quorum, you cannot do one thing in
building up a kingdom of God, only by the living oracles. You must have them
all the time. Where a church has not the living oracles; where a church has not
men who speak as one having authority, as Jesus spoke, I say that there is not
the Church of God. There must be the men of God; there must be the Apostleship;
there must be the Priesthood; there must be the organization of the Church in
all its perfection and power. That is what God has revealed to us, and it is
the reason that this work has prospered. Has it ever grown less? No. If there
has been a falling away of one, has there not been an addition of a hundred?
The Church has increased and grown right straight along, and there are people
by tens of thousand in these valleys who know the Gospel is true. If any man
has received the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has lived it, he knows the Gospel
is true. That knowledge is a part of the work. It is a part of the principles
that men should know of the doctrine. You take every assertion of the doctrine
laid down by the Son of God and you will find that He makes it positive. On the
day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost." He did not say, "you may," or
"perhaps you will obtain that precious boon;" but He said, "ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." When the Son of Man Himself was
questioned by the Jews, who wanted to know why He came to teach them when He
was not an educated man and had not been finished in the schools of the day, he
said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do
his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of god, or whether I
speak of myself." Now, I say that the Latter-day Saints have received the
doctrine and have done the will of God, and they know of the doctrine. They
have gathered together and they have built temples and are laboring for the
salvation of this world to-day as no other people on this earth are doing, and
as no other people can do; for there is no other people that has the gospel.
All of them have some truth. It would be a miserable system of salvation if no
truth were in it. But I say if you were to take nine-tenths of the truths and
try to make up man's salvation, you would fail. You must have the whole truth
or the system is not complete and perfect. I speak with all due respect of the
religious denominations of the world. I have the same profound respect for
every denomination that I ask them to grant me: for I am pleased to have people
christian in their feeling and to have them believe in Jesus Christ. It is much
better than to have them infidel. But when you find the Church that has the
authority of God, with whom God is laboring all the time, you will see men who
stand up like men with authority and with power, and not as the scribes and
pharisees. We do know of what we teach, and we have hundreds of thousands of
people to-day that can bear us witness. Would I dare stand before this
congregation if it were not full of people who know that what I say is true?
Thousands here would hold up their right hands, and take a solemn oath if it
were necessary, that they know this is the Gospel that Jesus has established;
that it is His Church and that His purposes are being fulfilled in the earth.
What have we left our homes for? Had we no need to come up here? Only to do the
will of the Lord. The spirit of this work gathers the people. We never took up
an argument with the people to convince them that they need to come here. Why,
in many instances we have to try and quiet their nerves and keep them from
gathering, in order that the Church abroad may be strong enough to sustain the
Elders in the missionary field. I have thought we have depleted our missions
more than we ought to have done. I am not questioning my brethren who preside
over me and have directed these affairs; but these have been the sentiments of
my heart, that we have allowed the people to gather more rapidly than was wise
in view of the desire to spread aborad the principles of eternal truth in the
world.
Now, we
stand before the world and are willing to be questioned, in private and in
public; and we say to the world, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; repent of
your sins, and be baptized for the remission of those sins, and you shall
obtain a remission of sins and an entrance into the kingdom of God, and you
shall receive the Holy Ghost, and shall know of the doctrine. Then everything
will be new to you; for you will see as the world do not see. Although we
mingle with the world and the world are amongst us, do they see, and feel, and
understand and believe as we do? No; but there is a magic something about the
Latter-day Saints that the world admire. There is a feeling, a spirit and an
influence over the country where the Later-day Saints dwell, that wins people
and draws their affections and their attention, and they love to be among us.
We are possibly the most remarkable people to-day in the world; only a little
handful, but looked upon as an important people in these United States,
attracting more attention perhaps than any other section of the country. This
is because the Lord is with us. He is over-ruling and moving among the nations
of the earth. It is not what He is accomplishing here alone, by His people; but
He is moving upon the spirits of men, softening their hearts and preparing the
way for the Gospel to be introduced throughout the world and the people to be
gathered from among all nations. Then we say, welcome! What a welcome was given
here yesterday, and will be again to-night! What a welcome is always given in
this beautiful building! a building erected so many years ago, and yet is up to
the times to-day, and will be for the next hundred years. And so are our
temples, and yet the foundations of these buildings were laid when we were in
our infancy and in our poverty, and they have been completed by the power of
God upon His people. All His works will be fulfilled and accomplished just the
same. We are gaining strength and power, and although there has been a great
deal of bitterness towards the Latter-day Saints, the Lord is softening the
hearts of the people, and will continue to do so in the future and make it
possible for His Church to be thoroughly established. We are having a breathing
spell now. We have spread over all this inter-mountain region, not only in the
United states, but into Canada and into Mexico; and we are going east and west,
and spreading in every direction, and gaining strength and power. And these
United States will be the better for the Latter-day Saints that are in it; for
where the Latter-day Saints go, though they may not be perfect, yet there is a
spirit and an influence with them that will attract the world. We are told
indeed of prominent men in the world who are looking to Utah with a view of
coming here to make their homes, having the idea that their children can grow
up in purity here as they cannot in the rest of the world. Oh! that this is
true-that the Latter-day Saints may be pure, and that the pure of the world may
come in upon us who desire to preserve their families in purity, and be welcome
among us; and we will teach them the truth, and if they do not want it, if they
cannot live it, then let them square their lives by the very best doctrines and
principles that they can receive and live up to.
This is
my testimony before this vast assembly this morning. May God bless us, and
bless this conference and labors of the Elders, past and future; that we may be
fully fed, thoroughly instructed and advised by our Heavenly Father in regard
to the principles that are necessary for us to give more careful attention to
in the future than we have done in the past, so that we may be indeed
Latter-day Saints, full of faith, and worthy of the favor and blessing and
protection of the Lord. I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
was the second speaker. He recognized in the events of the present the fulfilment of prophecies, both ancient and modern. Though few in number and in many respects not so wise in their day as the children of the world, the Latter-day Saints possessed a depth of purpose and a spirit of union not equalled by any other people. They had accepted the revelations of God, and the re-establishment of the ancient Church, producing a people unique from all others on earth. Though a bold thing to say, he felt to declare that the Latter-day Saints were more perfect in their religious organization than the rest of the world, and this in preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ. If with all the light they had received, the people of God could permit for a moment the spirit of infidelity to enter their hearts, how much more powerful must that spirit be in the world. Yet the people had, in some instances, permitted it to enter.
To be one with the world would deter the people of God from their great destiny, for it would imply the acceptance of the vices of the world, with all their debasing effects. To the man who had received the Spirit of God, the thought of the necessity of these evils could not come without lessening his communion with God. They should be looked upon as excrescences upon the body moral, fit to be rooted out for the propagation and preservation of the children of God in the earth.
The speaker read from section 45 of the doctrine and Covenants, page 183, with reference to the gathering time and the preparation for the second coming of Christ, with the scourges which should characterize that time. The Latter-day Saints, being the only people looking forward to these evils, should be the only ones prepared to avoid and resist them. This was the object of the gathering, by which they Saints, standing in holy places, might escape the wrath of God. Those who would dabble in the things of the world with the spirit of the world were declared to be in great danger of being separated from the people of God. It behooved the Latter-day Saints to gain grace sufficient to their day, that they might be able to stand in holy places and provide a refuge for those of the world who should show an unwillingness to take up arms against their brethren.
The speaker closed with an earnest prayer for the wellbeing of all the honest inhabitants of the earth.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
addressed the Conference. The following is a very brief outline of his discourse: He incidentally referred to the musical festival in this city, and expressed pleasure at seeing so many good people who had been attracted here by the occasion. If honest testimony had always been accepted honestly, the Gospel would now have reached the ends of the earth. Such was the testimony of both Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff. The deplorable condition of the Christian world, depending, as it did, upon their interpretation of the written word, was clearly portrayed, the necessity of the Priesthood and its authority , being emphasized. The "Golden Bible" had been a stumbling block in the door of the world's faith, though the stories of its imposition upon the people had been fully refuted. The speaker thought it unreasonable that so full an account of the people of the Asiatic continent being given, the inhabitants of the western part of the world should have been neglected. A brief review of the Bible and the Book of Mormon was given, showing their unity of purpose, and especially the fulfilment by the latter of many of the prophecies contained in the former. Particular reference was made to the visit of Jesus to this continent and His promises of a visit to the lost tribes of Israel. The miraculous preservation and giving forth of the golden plates containing this record, were related. All these considerations would entitle the Book of Mormon to be called the Bible of the western hemisphere. The account of the early visions of Joseph smith was given, with a statement of the work of the Prophet in translating the records of the Book of Mormon establishing God's work on the earth, and receiving from John the Baptist and Peter, James and John, the keys of the Priesthood. The power of performing all the ordinances of the Church of Christ having thus been received, it was no longer necessary to depend upon the records of the past for authority to minister in the things of God; this had come direct from Him. The visits of Elijah and other servants of God, bestowing upon the latter-day Prophet the keys of the work of God, were fully detailed, as also the blessings which await the faithful.
The speaker closed with a strong testimony of the Gospel and an exhortation to continued faithfulness.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 52:65, 1/4/96, p 1; CD 4:367-375]
REVELATION AND PRIESTHOOD.
_____
Discourse delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Saturday, Oct. 5th, 1895, by
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I share,
in common with my hearers, the blessed instructions incident to another general
Conference. My spirit is refreshed, cheered, strengthened, and encouraged in
the way of life. I am glad that our neighbors from the states and territories
round about have taken it into their hearts to come and enjoy a pleasant time
with songs and music, and of hearing the performances incident to our first
great Eisteddiod. I would be pleased, and I know my coadjutors, my brethren and
sisters, would be pleased, if our visitors, in coming to entertain us with
their musical festival, might be entertained by us in turn, and we be able to
do them some good by imparting to them knowledge of the principles in which we
believe, and in the practice of which we have been led to gather together here
to make this place so acceptable as a point of attraction in the midst of this,
that was fifty years ago, the great American desert.
The
principles of our faith which lie at the foundation of our existence as a
people have been presented this morning very plainly, forcibly, and
ardently-the principles that have taken hold of us in our various nativities.
When they were expounded to us, we had no way of disputing them, as honest men
and women, but to embrace them and make them through life the code of our
salvation. I think we have one among us to day who has labored, and traveled so
many years to preach the Gospel, that if all those who had heard him testify
and preach the truth to them had received it with the same honest, earnest
purpose as he received it, the knowledge of this Gospel would now have spread
to all the enlightened nations of the earth, and all men would have had an
opportunity by this time to believe the same glorious principles that we
believe in. That man is President Wilford Woodruff, who has spent his life in
preaching this Gospel. I once heard President Young say that he believed that
if all who had heard him preach the Gospel had received it as he received it
when he heard it, and had taken hold with the same interest and energy to keep
the commandments of God themselves and teach others to do so, the Gospel might
then have reached to all the nations of the earth, and they have been made
partakers of its blessings and its privileges. But the fact is, the people of
the earth are so bound up in the traditions of the fathers that they do not
appreciate this matter. They have been taught by their religious teachers-for
whom they entertained the highest regard-that the heavens were so effectually
sealed up, that we were to have no more revelation. It has been awfully true
that the heavens have been closed as concerning the revelations of God's will,
for some fourteen hundred years past, while the famine for the word of the Lord
has prevailed, and a woe it has been to all the inhabitants of the earth to be
thus shut out from the revelations of God and the power of His ministering
Priesthood, and made only to depend upon a written book, called a Bible, for
salvation. The Church of the Living God has never been conducted on the earth
by writings alone, or by books, parchments, or records of any kind. Take the
bible and all the holy books that have been written-can they baptize you for
the remission of sins? Have they got the power to administer the Holy Ghost to
us? Can they institute a single ordinance? They can tell us what others have
done; but they cannot confer the authority, nor administer the ordinances of
the Gospel to us. It has taken no less than the real, living authority, direct
from heaven, to confer this power by which we have carried the Gospel to the
nations, and gathered the people so that at present we have people of about
twenty-five different languages located here in Utah, from as many, or more
different nations.
Inasmuch
as this is the case, it may be interesting to know how we have come by further
revelations and this Priesthood. Right at the door of this dispensation and the
principle of revelation, lies a stumbling block to the people, because of the
Book of Mormon. "A Bible! a bible! a golden bible!" they cry.
I want to
tell you in regard to the popular story that has gone abroad in the world viz.
that this Book of Mormon was made up by one Solomon Spaulding, who wrote a
novel, that our leaders have persevered and discovered the novel Mr. Spaulding
wrote, and which they claim Sydney Rigdon got hold of and published as the Book
of Mormon. That romance of Mr. Spaulding's we have obtained and had published
in full, and if any of you want to examine it, you can have it and read it for
yourself. You can also read the Book of Mormon, and see whether the one
resembles the other. And if you want to see the original manuscript of Mr.
Spaulding's, apply to the president of the Oberlin Institute in Ohio and you
can get as close an examination of it as anybody likes to make. I say this to
clear away the underbrush from the investigations of the Book of Mormon.
The Lord hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to
dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord,
if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from
every one of us (Acts xvii:26,27).
What
shall we think of the inhabitants of this half of the world? The Bible gives an
account of people that lived on the other half of the globe. It gives an
account of the creation of the world, and then a very short account of the
existence of the people who lived before the flood. It also gives us some
account concerning the times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the growth of Israel
until they became a people, and the Lord's dealings with them in their
prosperity and blessing, and whenever they turned away from Him, of His
afflicting and chastising hand. It also gives an account of the coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ; how angels were sent beforehand to let the people know that
the Savior was coming; that John the Baptist was going to prepare the way for
Him; and so down through the Gospel, and epistles, until its last great work by
John the Revelator, recording the grandest vision that we have any account of
in divine writ. This Bible is a book written by and of people of the other half
of the globe. This half was shut out, and it has become a subject of
speculation by a great many people who the original inhabitants of this part of
the world were. Some say they are the ten tribes of Israel, and some say one
class and some another.
The Book
of Mormon is the Bible of the American Continent. It gives an account of the
dealings of the Lord with the people that lived on this half of the globe. It
informs us that, when the language was confounded at Babel, there were a couple
of men who knew God and who had His favor, that did not go into idolatry as the
mass of people did, but united and asked God that He would not confound their
language, so that they and their few friends and relatives might be able to
understand each other. The Lord heard them and granted them that prayer, and He
told them if they would hearken to His words He would lead them to a land where
they could live and grow up and cultivate His everlasting love and blessing. He
led them on to this land, and the names of these two men were, Mahonri and
Jared. They came over to this country in those early days from the land of
Shinar. They were wise men, great men, had excellent families, and were first
class stock to begin to populate one-half of the earth. They feared the Lord,
they walked in His ways, and they brought with them the manners and customs of
those early times and displayed their architectural works all over this land. They
built great cities, they became numerous and powerful. They kept records of
their lives in those days and of their experience of God's providence over
them; how they were led, and how they built and lived after they arrived here.
By and by they became very proud and haughty, and became involved in wars,
contentions, and strifes, similar to those we have had between the Northern and
Southern States, until they weakened and finally destroyed each other. The
enmity among them was so deadly that it continued until men finished up by
fighting two and two, sword in hand. This record gives us an account of that.
Then
there was in the days of Israel, a family of a man by the name of Lehi, who had
several sons. Six hundred years before the Christian era, when Jeremiah came
proclaiming judgments against Jerusalem, because of their wickedness, the Lord
revealed unto this man Lehi and his family, they being righteous people, that
He had compassion upon them, and that He did not require them to be led away
captive into Babylon. So He told them that if they would gather out into the
wilderness He would lead them to a place of safety, where they could live upon
a choice land above all other lands. This man Lehi and his family harkened to
His counsel, as did another man by the name of Ishmael, who had several
daughters, and these united together in marriage, and they spread abroad here
on this American continent and became a numerous and powerful people. They were
people of Israel, the descendants of Joseph. They were descendants of both of
Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh; and they have in this land fulfilled the
prophecy which said that they should grow together and become a multitude of
nations in the midst of the earth.
It was of
this land that Moses spake when he blessed Joseph, saying:
Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of
heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the
precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth
by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the
precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth
and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let
the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him
that was separated from his brethren.
His glory is like the firstling of
his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall
push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten
thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh (Deut.
xxxiii:13-17).
These
people that came over from Jerusalem, brought with them plates, on which were
contained the law of Moses, and the prophecies of the early prophets, and they
lived here keeping the law of Moses until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When our
Savior had performed His mission in the land of Judea, He came over to this
land of America. He told the people in Jerusalem that He had other sheep that
were not of that fold, and that He must visit them also, that they might hear
His voice, and He would bring them and they should become one people. So He
came over here and held several notable conferences with the people. He taught
them the same Gospel that He had taught in the land of Jerusalem, He appointed
twelve disciples here, and gave them instructions; endowed them with the
Priesthood, etc.
In the
course of time, when the people became wicked again, after having had a long
period of the greatest happiness of any people on earth, a celebrated prophet,
by the name of Mormon, a righteous man, distinguished among his people for his
virtues, his intelligence, and his power of Priesthood, received instructions
from the Lord to write the history of his people in an abridged form, before
destruction should come upon them. He did so, and wrote it upon plates of pure
gold, and in the language called the reformed Egyptian-a language which no
people knew very well; and he being a prophet and having the Urim and Thummim,
hid it up with these plates, so that in due time the plates should come forth
and the means to interpret the record on them.
In a few
words I have given you items of this history, covering a period of two or three
thousand years. This Book of Mormon is an abridgment of two or three thousand
years. This Book of Mormon is an abridgement of the records of the Jaredites
and also of the records of a people that came over, who were of the descendants
of Joseph. I should mention also that eleven years after Lehi left, when the
sons of Zedekiah were captured and their eyes put out in a most barbarous
manner, one of their number, named Mulek, made his escape and was led by the
Lord, and he came and landed on this North American continent, so that he and
his children joined with the descendants of Joseph. We have on this land in the
natives, the descendants of Ephraim, of Manasseh, and of Judah combined. This
is what scientists, with much searching, speculation, and study, are
endeavoring to find out. The Book of Mormon is the Bible of the American world,
made by these people. It gives an account of their rise and progress, their
wealth and their poverty, their prosperity and their adversity, and finally
their downfall and destruction; how they came to be cursed, and how the Savior
came and preached to them the same Gospel that He taught in Judea. This book
contains a testimony of the same principles as the Bible, and is a practical
fulfilment of that which is spoken of by Ezekiel the prophet in the 37th
chapter of his prophecy concerning the writing on sticks:
The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover,
thou son of man take thee one stick and write upon it, for Judah, and for the
children of Israel his companions, then take another stick, and write upon it,
for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his
companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become
one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee,
saying, wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus
saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the
hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with
him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be
one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand
before their eyes.
The word
of the Lord to Ezekiel, as here given, makes not only the existence of the two
sticks or records appear very clearly, by "being in thine hand and before
their eyes," but the expression in the 19th verse is particularly
significant here. Here the Lord says: "I will take the stick of Joseph,
which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will
put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and
they shall be one in mine Hand."
The word
them, being plural, must signify two or more; and, putting them with him, even
with the stick of Judah, signifies that not less than three are spoken of,
which third, as appears from the text, must refer to "all the house of
Israel his companions."
This is
in beautiful harmony with the prophecy of Nephi, in chapter xxix, verses 12-14,
Second Nephi, delivered 450 years before the coming of Christ:
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews, and they shall
write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites, and they shall write it;
and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I
have led away, and they shall write it; * * * And it shall come to pass that
the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the
words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the
lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of
the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are
of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their
possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto
them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of
Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham, that I would
remember his seed for ever.
Here we
are told by Ezekiel and Nephi, two notable prophets who lived many hundreds of
years before the coming of our Savior, that there will be three records, sticks
or Bibles published, containing His wonderful works, among three divisions of
the house of Israel.
The stick
of Judah-the Bible-has been in circulation for centuries among all civilized nations.
The stick of Joseph, in the hands of Ephraim-which is the Book of Mormon-was
translated into English from the Reformed Egyptian, by means of the Urim and
Thummim, in the hands of Joseph Smith, and has been translated from the English
language into the French, German, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Welsh, Spanish,
Dutch, Kanaka, Maori, Hindostanee, and one of the modern Jewish languages, and
has been published and circulated in all except the two last mentioned
nationalities, so that its existence is already widely known in Christendom.
Having
received so complete a fulfilment of the promise concerning these two Bibles,
we may exercise implicit faith that the third, giving an account of the Ten
Lost Tribes of Israel, will be forthcoming in the due time of the Lord.
The Book
of Mormon has special and peculiar claim upon the faith of all true Christian
people, because is was translated by the power of God through the Urim and
Thummim, word by word and sentence by sentence.
On the
22nd of September, 1827, the gold plates upon which the Book of Mormon was
engraved, were taken out of the ground and delivered to Joseph Smith with the
most solemn injunction concerning their safety by the Prophet Moroni who had
charge of the sacred record.
While Joseph Smith was translating with Oliver Cowdery writing for him, they
came to where it referred to baptism for the remission of sins, and the
authority necessary to administer it, and feeling anxious to be baptized
themselves, they went into the woods near by and united in fervent prayer.
While thus engaged, no less a personage than John the Baptist appeared to them,
in a cloud of light, and laying his hands upon them, ordained them, saying:
Upon you my fellow servants in the name of Messiah, I
confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of
angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until
the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.
He
instructed them that this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of the laying on
of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on
them later, and also directed that Joseph should baptize Oliver, and that
Oliver should baptize Joseph; and further that Joseph should ordain Oliver, and
that Oliver should ordain him to this same Aaronic Priesthood.
He also
informed them that he was acting under the direction of Peter, James, and John,
who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchisedek, which Priesthood, he said,
should in due time be conferred upon them.
It is
impossible to read the wonderful history of the coming forth of the Book of
Mormon out of the hill Cumorah and the restoration of the Priesthood at the
command of God, by holy resurrected men-for others who restored the Priesthood
as well as Moroni were resurrected beings-without feeling that in these
glorious events the words of David are fulfilled:
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace
have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness
shall look down from heaven (Psalm lxxxv: 10-11).
The first
ordinations and baptisms in this dispensation took place on May 15, 1829. This
is how authority of Priesthood to administer Gospel ordinances began to be
restored to earth again. The word of the Lord, the Book of Mormon, truth,
sprung out of the ground, but this righteous authority of Priesthood looked
down from heaven. It did not come from any record of the fathers, or from any
of the churches of the present day. The first ordination was given by John, the
promised son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Ghost
from his birth, was baptized in his childhood, and was ordained by an angel of God,
when he was eight days old; he was the same who baptized our Savior in the
river Jordan, and testified that He was the Lamb of God that taketh away the
sins of the world, and of whom Jesus said, there has been no greater Prophet
born of a woman, although he did no miracle. This same John whom Herod caused
to be beheaded in prison, and gave his head to Herodias' daughter in a charger,
was the last to hold the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in the Jewish
dispensation, and he having been raised from the dead, came by direction of
Peter, James, and John, and conferred this authority on Joseph Smith and Oliver
Cowdery.
Soon
after this ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood, and while they were engaged in
fervent prayer, the word of the Lord came unto Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
that they should be ordained to the Melchisedek Priesthood, as had been
promised by John the Baptist, when he ordained them Priests. Accordingly,
without detailing time and place, the Lord in a revelation, says:
With Peter, James, and John whom I have sent, by whom I
have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of
my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things which I
reveal unto them; unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a
dispensation of the Gospel for the last time; and for the fulness of times, in
the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth.
Thus we
are informed that these distinguished apostles were sent by the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself to restore to earth the highest authority of Priesthood which He
has ever conferred upon man, the Apostleship, with the privilege to receive
revelations, organize the Church of Christ, and set in order all things that
are wanting. Oh how great is the mercy of God in causing the famine for the
word of the Lord from sea to sea to cease and to commence giving line upon
line, and precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little, until his
promise shall be fulfilled, that knowledge of Himself shall fill the earth as
the waters do the mighty deep; when none shall need to say, know ye the Lord;
for all shall know Him, from the least to the greatest!
By virtue
of these ordinations and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit they had given to
them the knowledge how to organize the Church, what officers to place in it,
what powers to confer on each officer, and to give them the right to officiate
in every ordinance necessary to build up the Church here upon the earth. It is
by the rites and powers of this Priesthood and Apostleship that the First
Presidency and Twelve receive their ordinations, only in the third or fourth
degree of descent from these holy men who were ordained by our Lord Jesus
Himself. This is how we have received the Priesthood, and by virtue of this
authority do we baptize people for the remission of their sins and lay our
hands upon them when thus obedient, and God verifies His promise; they do receive
the Holy Ghost. We walk in the light of this Spirit, we keep His commandments,
and He blesses us according to our diligence and faithfulness. It is by this
power and this ministry that we have traveled through this nation and among
many foreign nations. The Gospel is now at work like leaven; it is destined to
leaven and gather out the righteous from all the four quarters of the earth.
Thus you see we have the Bible and we have the Book of Mormon, and they both
teach the same doctrines; for there is only one doctrine by which they can be
saved. There is only one Spirit into which we have to be baptized, having the
fellowship of each other and the love of God and angels; and we walk in the
light of it, growing brighter and brighter, as we expect it will, until the
perfect day.
In the
Revelation of John we read that the Church-the woman with a crown of twelve
stars on her head, clothed with the sun, and having the moon under her
feet-became a mother of a man-child who was caught up to God and His throne.
This woman, the Church, is now coming forth out of the wilderness where she has
been nourished, and is putting on her royal robes of the Priesthood, and is
destined to be again clothed with the sun the moon being under her feet, and on
her head a crown of twelve stars.
Then
seeing that we have received such a Gospel, the new and the everlasting
Gospel-new, because it is new to the generation in which we live; but it is
everlasting, and the only Gospel that was ever revealed and taught among
mankind-we are doing the work which God has laid upon us to do. He has given
authority in different ways.
The angel
told Joseph in some of his early ministrations that the Lord was going to send
Elijah, the Prophet, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. In the month
of April, 1836, in the temple at Kirtland, Elijah came and conferred the keys
of his ministry upon Joseph: and so on until there was given all the powers and
authorities necessary to gather Israel, to build up Zion, to establish
righteousness in the earth, and to take all the persecution that the Lord is
willing we should have and that the devil is permitted to impose upon us. Those
that abide and run faithfully and true to the end have the promise that they
shall be saved.
My
brethren and sisters, how glorious are the promises and blessings which have
been promised unto the fathers, and which God has determined to bestow upon
their children as fast as He can! Not only that we should sit and sing praises
to the Lord for having redeemed us, but he has called us to become ministers,
kings, and priests, unto the Most High God, and reign with Him a thousand
years. Oh, glorious hopes! Oh, glorious prospects! Can we claim these hopes and
call them ours? Yes, if through faith in Jesus' name we conquer Satan's power.
That is where it lies. We must be true and faithful, and put one after another
of our evil propensities under our feet, until we conquer this lump of clay
that is given us, and sanctify it, so that the truth will grow in it. You will
find that there is certain seed that will not grow unless you prepare your soil
just right for it. So man cannot have the truth grow in him unless he observes
the principles of the Gospel, keeps the commandments of God, and purifies
himself before the Lord.
I will
bring my remarks to a close; but I wish to testify to you, my brethren and
sisters, and to visiting strangers, that this is the work of the Most High God,
that He has set His hand the second time to gather Israel, and to build up a
Zion; that He is going to bring the zion that is in the heavens-the City of
Enoch-when we are prepared on the earth for it, to come and dwell with us. I
feel that, having put on an armor of Christ, let us fight the good fight, and
contend for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints. May the Lord help
us to do His will, to entertain faith in all that is right and true, and just,
and holy, and qualify ourselves by the help of God for every good word and
work; and that we may obtain grace and strength to endure to the end, is my prayer
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir sang:
Light and Truth.
Benediction by Elder George Reynolds.
_____
[5 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 51:531-532, 10/12/95, p 19-20]
Afternoon
Session.
Singing by the choir:
All hail the glorious day, By prophets long foretold.
Prayer by Elder Abram Hatch, of Wasatch Stake.
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for y our faith in His excellent word.
was sung by the choir and congregation.
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON.
addressed the assemblage. That which we had heard during this conference was as valuable to us as was the written word. Some young people in the community entertained wrong ideas about independence. They thought it proper to disregard the advice of their parents and that of those whose duty it was to counsel and direct them. Disobedience to proper authority always resulted disastrously to those who indulged in it. Attention to the requirements of parents was a legal requirement in some countries -- notably China. It was deemed to be true that children who were undutiful to parents were dangerous to the welfare of the state when they grew to maturity. Disobedient children seldom became faithful members of the Church. The spirit of obedience was not an indication of independence of character. Submission to rightful authority was, on the other hand, indicative of genuine courage. (The speaker here related a number of instances illustrative of the correctness of this view.)
The noblest example of adherence to the law of obedience was exhibited by our Lord and Savior, who gave to us the highest lesson for the guidance of mortals in their conduct. In any course that affected the welfare of the Kingdom of God, it was the duty of each member to consult the authorities of the Church. The pathway of this work was strewn with the wrecks of otherwise great men, who had disregarded the wishes of those who were at the head of the work which God had established. No man, possessed of the Spirit of Christ, would ever give counsel that would injure those who sought it. If the people rejected the counsel of those who were placed to preside they would be under condemnation, as the authorities were the representatives of that divine power by whom they were appointed. The discourse throughout of the speaker pointed to the great necessity for the leading officers of the Church being imbued with the spirit of their callings, and the people at large being in harmony with the measures they inaugurated for the advancement of the cause of truth and righteousness on earth.
ELDER MOSES THATCHER
Followed. He advised the Saints to become familiar with their own spirit and motives, and to avoid narrow and prejudiced remarks about one another. The character of one's associates, especially among the Latter-day Saints, should be sacred to him. Narrow judgment would always receive its own kind in return. Personal matters should not be brought into public notice, for such action would cause a feeling of bitterness for those whom one has personally injured. Envy was declared to be a serious offense, resulting in such injustice as proves those who are guilty of it to be incapable of exercising just authority over others. Rule founded upon affection was preferable to that based on fear; love would beget its kind. The exercise of authority should always be characterized by kindness and self-sacrifice. Treachery in worldly affairs would preclude the possibility of perfect justice in religion.
Too much seeking after the honors and riches of the world would alienate the Spirit of God, leaving the man in blindness, to do and to say things which under other circumstances he would carefully avoid. Saints could not afford to have the friendships of years broken up by the vain wranglings and discussions of politics. Rather should every effort be directed through the Holy Spirit to the establishment of the kingdom of God. Above all things should the Saints attempt to win to themselves the friendship and good will of all good men.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON.
addressed the Conference on "The voice of the true Shepherd." He cited instances prominent in the history of the Church, of God having clearly indicated on whom the authority rested to lead the people. The great body of the Saints had recognized the voice of the Spirit of the Lord, which had found an echo in their hearts. He also showed clearly that the experience of the past fully justified the people in listening to the counsel of God's servants. The concluding portion of the discourse was devoted to delineating the wonderful nature of the Latter-day work of God, and the marked characteristics of those who had identified themselves with it.
The choir sang:
O come, let us sing unto the Lord.
Benediction by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
_____
[6 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 51:532, 10/12/95, p 20]
THIRD
DAY.
Oct. 6th, 10 a. m.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Come, come, ye Saints, no
toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear.
Prayer by Elder Hugh S. Gowans, of Tooele Stake.
The choir and congregation sang:
Redeemer of Israel, Our only
delight, On whom for a blessing we call;
Our shadow by day, And our pillar by night; Our King, our Deliverer, our all.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
delivered a discourse on the subject of revelation, showing that it was impossible to conduct the work of the Lord and lead His children without continuous communication with the heavens. He showed why the weak were chosen as the instruments of the Almighty in preference to those who were esteemed as great from the standpoint of the world. The humble did not take glory to themselves and could be used for the attainment of divine purposes. The speaker also dwelt for some time on the manner in which the Almighty prepared the way for the introduction of His dispensations to the children of men, and related notable instances associated with the setting up and establishment of the Church in this age. He also spoke for some time on the marvelous character of the dispensation of the latter days, inaugurated through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and bore testimony to the divine character of his calling.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 51:577, 10/26/95, p 1; CD 4:375-383]
President
Woodruff read from D&C 68 of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, as
follows:
My servant, Orson Hyde, was called by his ordinance to
proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people
to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their
synagogues, reasoning with, and expounding all Scriptures unto them.
And, behold, and lo! this is an
ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission
is appointed unto them to go forth;
And this is the ensample unto
them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost,
And whatsoever they shall speak
when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the
Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be
the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation;
Behold this is the promise of the
Lord unto you, O ye my servants;
Wherefore be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and
will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am
the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.
He then
said:
I have
read these verses this morning before you that you may understand the position
that I occupy before God, angels, and men. I have a desire to speak a short
time to the Latter-day Saints; but I want you to understand, as I have read
here, that I am not capable, nor is any man capable of teaching the children of
men and edifying them in the Gospel of Jesus Christ without the Holy Spirit,
without revelation, without the inspiration of Almighty God. Therefore, I want
the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and also their prayers. I need the Spirit
of God to assist me, as does every man who attempts to teach the people the things
of the kingdom of heaven. I have been sick for about a week, confined mostly to
my bed and room; but I have felt that I did not wish this conference to pass
without meeting you. For the last day or two I have had the privilege of
mingling with my friends, and I have a desire to express myself upon some
things appertaining to our day and generation and to the work of God.
The
question arises in the minds of the people in our day and generation, Does
President Woodruff have revelation? Do his counselors have revelation? Do the
Twelve Apostles have revelation? Do this people have revelation? We live in too
important a day and generation, and in the midst of too important events, for
any man to be qualified to lead the people of God one hour without revelation
and inspiration from Almighty God. And at this point I want to say a few words
with regard to this principle of revelation. Read the history of the world. Old
father Adam, three years and a half previous to his death, called together
seven of his sons, all High Priests -- Seth, Enos, Jared, Mahalaleel, Canaan,
Enoch and Methuselah -- with the residue of his posterity, and there he stood
on his feet for a long time, clothed with the Holy Ghost and the power of God,
and he prophesied unto his sons what should take place concerning them and
their posterity to the end of time. Follow this out; take all those early
patriarchs and prophets, and later ones, too, and they all have had revelation.
They had to have it. Whenever a city became ripened in iniquity, and men
blasphemed God and broke His commandments, the Lord Almighty raised up prophets
and inspired men to warn that city and the inhabitants thereof of the judgments
of God which should come upon them unless they repented. Jeremiah was called to
warn Jerusalem and Judea in the reign of King Zedekiah, and in doing so he
stirred up the anger of the people against him, and he was cast into a dungeon
and abused in almost every way, because he told them what was coming to pass
unless they repented. He did not praise them; but he told them that they were
committing sin and breaking the laws of God, and if they did not repent, the judgments
of God would overtake them. In reading of how they persecuted him and what he
passed through, a man would almost expect to read in the book of Jeremiah that
he said to them, "You may all go to hell for what I care, I am not going
to endure these things." But you cannot read it there; for the Lord in
calling him had said unto Jeremiah:
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and
before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee
a prophet unto the nations."
Jeremiah gave forth the word of the Lord, and
not one word fell unfulfilled. And so with every other prophet.
Take the
whole history of the world down to the present generation, and has there ever
been a time when the people of God did not need revelation? I say, nay. Now, I
would ask this congregation; I would ask the Jews, the Catholics, the
Protestants, I would ask the clergy of all nations: Can this mighty
dispensation, of which every prophet has spoken, be fulfilled, and can these
great events transpire in the earth without revelation from God? No, most
assuredly not. God never gave to a man a greater dispensation than the one in
which Joseph Smith was called and ordained of God to organize the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It required revelation. It will require it
to the winding-up scene. Zion cannot be built up without it, prophets and
apostles cannot do their work without it, nor can the nations of the earth be
warned of the great judgments that are at the door without it. Therefore, we say
to all men, Joseph Smith was called of God by revelation. And further, we say
that no man ever did or ever will have power to warn the world, to preach the
Gospel, or administer in one of the ordinances of the house of God without the
Holy Priesthood. It is just as necessary in the last days as it was in the days
of Christ and His Apostles, or in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah. You cannot
separate these things; they belong to the same God, to the same salvation, and
to the same principles of eternal life.
I have
sat and listened to every Apostle that is before me now bear record during this
conference. Did not these Apostles speak by the Holy Ghost and the power of
God? They did, and their testimony is recorded in the great library of the
celestial kingdom of God. They could not edify us without it. I would to God
that the inhabitants of the earth would get rid of the idea that revelation
ceased when Christ was put to death. It is a false doctrine. Revelation belongs
to the salvation of the children of men.
Again,
why did the Lord choose such a weak man as Wilford Woodruff to preside over His
Church? Why did He choose Joseph Smith -- an illiterate boy, as he was called?
Why has He chosen that class of men? Because He could handle them. He had
chosen men that will acknowledge the hand of God. The question has been asked
me many times, Why did not the Lord choose some of the great divines of the
day? Because it is not His manner of doing business; it never has been. You may
take the apostles and prophets in any age of the world, and they have been very
humble men. They are in this day and generation, or the Lord could not handle
them. That is the reason the Lord has chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the wise, "and things which are not, to bring to nought things
that are." Could Joseph Smith rise up and boast before the God of Israel
that that was his work? Could Brigham Young? Could John Taylor? Can Wilford
Woodruff? Can any of the Apostles? Taken as we have been from the plow, the
plane, the hammer, and the various occupations of life, can we boast we have
power to do this? We cannot; we are not made of that material. The only marvel
I have had all my life has been that the Lord ever chose me for anything
especially as an Apostle and as President. But that is His own business; it was
not mine.
My name
has been referred to two or three times by the Apostles with regard to my
labors. I want to say something in relation to that. To begin with, I will say
that the Lord has never set His hand in any age of the world, especially in
ours, to establish a Zion like this, without preparing an element for it. In
fact, the Lord never undertook to do anything with regard to this world,
appertaining to His kingdom and work, until He had prepared a people for it.
Now, the set time had come for the fulfillment of the revelations of St. John,
when another angel should fly through the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwelt upon the earth, "saying
with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory, to Him; for the hour of His
judgment is come." The time, I say, had come for the manifestation of the
Gospel of Christ to the world. The Apostles of Christ and every man that bore
the Priesthood in their day and generation were put to death for the word of
God and testimony of Jesus, and the Holy Priesthood was caught up to God, and
remained there until the day and generation in which Joseph Smith was raised
up. He was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist, who held the
keys of that Priesthood while dwelling in the flesh. He was ordained to the
Apostleship by Peter, James, and John, who held the keys of that Priesthood
while dwelling in the flesh. He was ordained to the Apostleship by Peter, James
and John, who held the keys of that Priesthood when they were taken from the
earth. That was the beginning of this work. The Lord could not undertake a work
of this kind without there was a way and a people prepared for it. In the first
place, the Lord prepared the minds of men of the generation in which Joseph
Smith was born, that they might be ready to receive His work when it was
established. There were men that were kept in the spirit world thousands of years
to stand in the flesh in this generation to bear this Holy Priesthood and to
bear record of that to the inhabitants of the earth. Those men have been born
in this day, and they have been moved upon to prepare for this work.
Now, I
desire to say something about myself. It is generally considered egotism for a
man to speak of himself; but I speak of my history and experience because it is
applicable to thousands of others. Eighty years ago, when I was about eight
years old, I attended Sabbath School under Dr. Porter, a great reverend divine
in Farmington, Connecticut. There I read some strange things in the New
Testament. What were they? Why, I read of Apostles; I read of men who laid
hands on the sick, and they recovered; who cast out devils, raised the dead, caused
the dumb to speak, the blind to see, the lame to leap, who held converse with
God and with holy angels, and had visions and revelations. Brethren and
Sisters, I read of these things when I was eight years of age. They made an
impression upon my mind as soon as I read them. "Why is it, Dr. Porter, --
why is it, Dr. Haws, -- why is it, gentlemen, that you do not advocate in your
day and generation that faith once delivered to the Saints? Why don't you
receive these things, if they were the servants of God and had the
Gospel?" "Oh!" said they, "these things are all done away
with. They were given in the dark ages of the world to convince the world that
Jesus was the Christ. We live in the blaze of the glorious gospel light of
Christ; we do not need them to-day." "Then," said I, "give
me the dark ages of the world, if they will give a man power to unlock the door
of eternity and hold converse with God, and receive these blessings and gifts
manifest in that day." From that time my inspiration began. As soon as I
grew a little older I began to read the revelations. My soul was drawn out upon
these things. In my early manhood I prayed day and night that I might live to
see a prophet. I would have gone a thousand miles to have seen a prophet, or a
man that could teach me the things that I read of in the Bible. I could not
join any church, because I could not find any church at that time that
advocated these principles. I spent many a midnight hour, by the river side, in
the mountains, and in my mill (being a miller) calling upon God that I might
live to see a prophet or some man that would teach me of the things of the
kingdom of God as I read them. I remained in that condition until the year
1833. I was living with my brother on the shores of Lake Ontario. A man by the
name of Zera Pulsipher, sixty miles from where I lived, was moved upon in the
month of December, with the snow three or four feet deep, to arise and go to
the north, the Lord had some work for him there. He called upon another man to
go with him. They traveled two days on the road to the north, not knowing where
they were going. Our house was the first place that they stopped at. I was
lumbering at the time on the shore of the lake. Zera Pulsipher told my
brother's wife who they were and what they were, and what their principles
were. He said the Lord had sent him into the north country to do some work
there. My sister-in-law told him that her husband and myself both believed in
the principles that he taught. Well, they held a meeting. I went to it, and for
the first time in my life I heard a Gospel sermon. I invited the men home. I
borrowed a Book of Mormon, and sat up all night and read it, and I had a
testimony it was true. In the morning I asked to be baptized. Myself and
brother were baptized -- the first in that region of country. From that hour
till this I never have had one moment's doubt with regard to the truth of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know the work is true. I have been called into the
vineyard and ministry with the rest of my brethren, and I have traveled a great
many miles and quite a number of years. I have held the Apostleship fifty-eight
years. Brother Joseph only held it some fourteen before he was slain. Brother
Brigham held it about forty, and Brother Taylor the same length of time as
myself. I have labored all these years and I know it is the work of God. I know
the Lord is with this people. I have a desire that we may magnify our callings
and fulfil our position upon the earth. God has organized this Church; He has
organized it with prophets, apostles, pastors, teacher, helps, etc., in
fulfilment of the promises of God in the last days. I traveled with Joseph
Smith quite a length of time. I traveled with Brigham Young forty years, at
home and abroad. I traveled with him to this country. We came with the
pioneers. Brigham Young though he never wrote many revelations, had the
revelations of God with him from the day that he embraced this work till the
day of his death. I have often thought of the time when he was asked if he
would not go on to California instead of stopping in this barren land. What was
his answer? I was with him when he gave that answer. He said, "No, I am
going to stay right here. I am going to build a temple here; I am going to
build a city here; I am going to build a country here." Has it not been
so? Yes, it has. Was it not by revelation? Certainly it was. We have all been
called from this low position in life to the Priesthood. Thousands of this
people have been called to go abroad to preach the Gospel. In speaking of
myself and the manner I was led, so we find it everywhere throughout the world.
Where did you come from? You came from every state in the Union; from England,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, and other parts of Europe,
as well as from the different nations of the earth and islands of the sea. One
of these simple Elders came to you and you heard him preach the Gospel, and he
promised you if you would repent of your sins and be baptized for the remission
of them you should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Did you not receive it?
You did, or you would not be here to-day. Nobody could then keep you at home.
We have been gathered together by the commandments of God, and so far we are
trying to do the will of God. But we have only just begun. I was at the concert
here last night, and I could not help but think that if President Young had
been there and looked upon that vast assembly of ten thousand people, gathered
not only from this territory but from neighboring states and territories, he
would have felt satisfied. When he built this Tabernacle we did not have people
to fill it; but he told us that in the building up of Zion we would never have
a house big enough to accommodate us, however large we might build it; and so
it proved last night. I enjoyed the concert. Governor Thomas invited me to
address the assembly; but I felt that people had gathered there, not to hear
preaching, but music.
Let me
speak a little further with regard to the Lord's preparing a people for this
work. The history of this whole people is in that line. I will refer you to the
year 1840. The Lord gave a commandment for the Twelve Apostles to go to
England. There had a few gone to England before; Brother Kimball and several
others went in 1837 and established the Church there. But in 1840 the Apostles
were called as a body to go there; and the devil did not like it. He tried to
kill us all. There was hardly one of the Twelve Apostles who went that was
well. When I left home President Young paddled me across the Mississippi in a
canoe, and I was suffering with the chills and fever. I had spent two years in
Tennessee and Kentucky, in the midst of sickness; but I never had an attack of
chills and fever in my life till I was called to go England. It was so with
most all of us. The devil did not like it; but we went. It was the harvest time
then in that land. We accomplished a great work. We baptized about seven
thousand that year, opened doors throughout England and Scotland, and laid a
foundation for the work which has been fulfilled up to the present time. I will
refer to one circumstance connected with that mission. I was in the potteries
in Staffordshire, having gone there when I got to England. I was doing a good
work there, baptizing almost every night. One night I went to Hanley to hold a
meeting, and there was a very full house. Before I got up to speak, the Spirit
of God came upon me and told me that that was the last meeting I should hold
with that people for many days. I had appointments out for two weeks in that
region of the country. After I got through preaching that night, I told them it
was the last meeting I should hold with them. I went down into the water and
baptized quite a number, and in the morning I went before the Lord and asked
what He wanted of me. He told me to go to the south. I got into the stage and
rode eighty miles south. I went into Herefordshire, and the first man's house I
stopped at was John Benbow's. In one hour after I arrived at his house I
learned why the Lord had sent me there. I name this because it is in the line
of what I was speaking of. Here I found a company of men and women, some six
hundred, who had banded together under the name of United Brethren, and were
laboring for the ancient order of things. They wanted the Gospel as taught by
the prophets and apostles, as I did in my youth. Well, without dwelling upon
this, I will say that the first thirty days after I arrived in Herefordshire I
baptized forty-five preachers and several hundred members, and I had in my
hands all the chapels or houses licensed for worship according to law. We
brought in two thousand in about eight months' labor. Many of these people had
been looking and praying for this very work, and they were praying for it when
I went there. I took no honor to myself with regard to this matter, I never
felt that I could. All we have to do is to follow the dictation of the Spirit
of the Lord, and give God the honor and the glory of it. We did a good work
there and God blessed us. From there we went to London. Brothers Heber C.
Kimball and George A. Smith and myself preached and established the first
branch of the Church in the city of London. I rejoiced very much in my labors
in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire, and thousands of those
that were baptized then are in Utah. We had quite a number of Bishops in this
Territory that I baptized at that time. The youngest I baptized there was
Brother Rowberry, who was a Bishop of Tooele. He was only a boy at that time.
I want to
refer to one circumstance that took place while in that mission and I do it as
an example of the Lord's dealings with us in matter pertaining to temporal
affairs. John Benbow was a noble man. He was like an English lord; as rich a
man, I suppose, as ever came into the Church. He had not been baptized a month,
I do not think, when he came into a little sitting room with his wife, and he
probably spent three quarters of an hour in telling me that he had been reading
in the New Testament how in the days of the Apostles they sold all their possessions
and laid them at the Apostles' feet, and he said he felt it was his duty to
fulfil that law and he wanted to do it. I listened to him patiently and when he
got through it took perhaps half an hour to tell him the difference between our
position to-day and the position of the Apostles in that day. I gave him to
understand that God had not sent me to England to take care of his gold, his
horses, his cows and his property; He had sent me there to preach the Gospel. I
told him, however, that the Lord would accept of his sacrifice, and that
whenever he could do good, he should do it; he should assist the poor, help
publish the Book of Mormon, etc. Now, what would have been the result if I had
taken the other course, and said, "Yes give me your property and I will
take care of it?" Why, he would probably have apostatized. Not only that,
but there would have been one foolish Apostle, who would have been a suitable
candidate for apostasy also. But was that any temptation to me? No, it was not.
It would not have been to any Elder who had enough of the Spirit of God to know
the difference between a hundred thousand pounds of money and a part in the
first resurrection, with power to pass by the angels and the gods to exaltation
and glory, and stand in the presence of God and the Lamb forever and forever.
I name
these things to show that there was a people prepared for this work. Go where
you would and you would find spirits of this kind. That is why this people have
come up here from the various nations of the earth. We have the Gospel of
Christ abroad in all nations to-day as far as we have opportunity, and we have
got to continue this work. The Lord is going to cut His work short in
righteousness; and as I have said before, however insignificant this people may
be in the eyes of the world, the God of heaven holds us responsible for
preaching this Gospel to every nation under heaven, and we have it to do or we
will be damned. We cannot avoid this. Why? Because, as Paul says: "Woe is
unto me, if I preach not the Gospel." There is but one Gospel; never has
been but one, and never will be; and Paul says: "But though, we, or an
angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed." That Gospel, ye Saints of the
living God, and the world, is in our hands, sent to us by the ministrations of
Angels -- the same Gospel that was taught from Adam to Christ, and from Christ
down to our day and generation, when God has had a people on the earth. I have
a great desire myself for the welfare of the Latter-day Saints. We have a great
work to perform.
Before I
close, I want to say a few words to the Apostles and to the Saints of God. I
want to say something about the devil. The devil, in the days of the Savior,
got one Apostle to deny his Lord and sell Him for thirty pieces of silver. But
when Judas' eyes were opened to see what he had done, he did not prize those
thirty pieces of silver, but went out and hung himself. Is that devil dead? Has
Lucifer, the son of the morning, gone out of existence? No; he is here to-day.
He is in the midst of this people; and if there are any people under heaven
that Lucifer with all the fallen angels that dwell on the earth are laboring to
destroy, they are these Latter-day Saints. It was so anciently; it will be so
until He who holds the keys of death and hell shall bind Satan and shut him up.
Until that hour he will labor for our destruction. I want to say to these
Apostles that I have seen days of trouble with the quorum of the Twelve, I have
referred many times to the days in Kirtland, and my heart has had a great deal
of pain over those affairs. There the devil labored with the Apostles and
caused a good share of them to apostatize. One half of them apostatized, and
some of the others came pretty near it. The signers or witnesses to the Book of
Mormon -- Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris -- all apostatized
from the Church of Jesus Christ, though they never denied the Book of Mormon.
In the darkest day, neither one of them ever denied that, but always maintained
it to the day of his death. But I want to say to my brethren that if the devil
could get one of these Apostles -- yes, one of them -- to believe that the
Presidency of this Church were working against him, and that we did not have
his welfare at heart, or if he could get a Seventy or any man in this Church to
believe it, he would labor to do so. If the devil could have got the savior to
have followed him, he would have over-thrown the whole plan of salvation. But
he did not do it. Jesus said: "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve." So I say to these Apostles before me, if the devil could make one
of you believe that we would not give you right counsel, he would do it. But he
will not do it. I thank God for that. I feel I can prophesy that before God and
angels. The Apostles, as a body, are united, and God has laid His Spirit upon
them, and they will be true and faithful to this work until they get through
with it. Those are my feelings. I rejoice in this. I trust I shall never pass
through any more of those scenes that I witnessed in the days that are past and
gone.
Brethren
and sisters, God bless you. Now, do not be afraid that the Presidency and
Apostles of this Church will give you any wrong counsel. We have learned better
than to do that. We shall never do that. We shall never do it while we dwell in
the flesh. The salvation of the sons of men is of far more worth than all the
honor that the human family can give upon our heads. Give me salvation; give me
a part in the first resurrection; give me the privilege of standing in the
morning of the first resurrection with the resurrected dead-with my father's
house and with the prophets and apostles who have lived in my day and
generation; give me power to be exalted with them in the eternal worlds in the
kingdom of our God. That is all I ask. And it is my privilege and yours. It is
the privilege of this people to receive these blessings at the hands of God. I
have confidence in my brethren. I rejoice with them in the union that dwells
to-day in the house of Israel, and with the Presidency and Twelve Apostles. We
love one another. We understand something of the work of God in our day and
time. We have labored together. Here are my counselors; they have spent years
and years upon the islands of the sea, where they have had to live upon
coconuts and poi and food of that character, and they did it to save the souls
of men. God has blessed them in all their labors. He will bless them. He will
bless this people.
I believe
this is all I want to say to you this morning. I felt sick when I arose; I feel
better, now, and as though I had been refreshed in spirit. I thank God I am
able to talk to you, as the saying is, in my old age. The Lord has been very
merciful to me. The devil has sought to kill me from the day I was born; but
God has had an agent with me to keep me from his power, and so far I have been
preserved. I hope the Lord will not let me live an hour longer than I can live
in His service. But I am a feeble man -- weak like the rest of you. If anybody
supposes that the Presidency and Apostles here are never tempted of the devil,
they are mistaken. We are tempted all the time, more or less, and we have to
war against these things in order to stand and maintain our position. I pray
God that His blessings may rest upon us. I rejoice in this conference. It has
been a glorious time. There is a good spirit here; and the testimonies that
have been given unto us by the power of God have been choice. The angels are
watching over us. The eyes of all the heavenly hosts are over us. Those who
have lived in other dispensations understand this dispensation far better than
we do, and they are watching over the labors of the Elders of Israel. I pray
that we may pursue that course wherein we may be justified before God, and have
power to conquer and overcome; and when we have finished here, that we can go
home to receive our reward. The great library in the celestial kingdom of our
God contains the history of the dealings of God with all the world, for it
belongs to this world. Your history is there; mine is there; our testimonies
are there; and we will have to meet them. I hope and pray that my sins may be
blotted out of the book of remembrance and not to be remembered against me. I
hope and pray this will be the case with you; for blessed is the man that will
meet this blessing when he comes to the end! God bless you. Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
followed. His address was mainly devoted to a delineation of the practical duties of the people. He remarked upon the great change that had lately taken place in the public sentiment of the nation with regard to the Saints, whose good qualities and works were beginning o be understood. This change had not occurred because of a conversion to the faith to which the Saints were devoted, but on account of what they had accomplished in developing the resources of the country and improving the condition of the people. He then showed with clearness and force the necessity of instituting and sustaining home industries, naming a number which had been begun and had not received the degree of support to which they were entitled. He earnestly contended that a self-supporting policy constituted the true basis of material greatness and prosperity.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 52:33, 12/28/95, p 1; CD 4:383-387]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 6th, 1895, by
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
President
Woodruff has requested me to address you for a few moments, and in attempting
to do so I desire earnestly your faith and prayers. Many excellent things have
been said to the people during this conference. The Elders who have spoken have
borne their testimony to us of the truths of the Gospel which we have espoused,
and I desire to add my testimony also to theirs. I believe that I love the
Gospel as much to-day as I ever did in my life; if possible, I think that I
love it more: it is spiritual meat and drink to me. I have often thought of the
remark which was made by Peter to Christ on one occasion. Many of those who had
followed Jesus had become weary and were departing from Him, and Jesus looked
upon them and grieved in His feelings to see those who had been following Him
turning away; (for it appears there were apostates from the truth in those
early days, while Jesus Himself was yet living and teaching) and He turned to
His disciples and said unto them, "Will ye also go away?" And Peter
turned to Him and said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life." This has been the sentiment of my heart from my first
understanding of the principles of the Gospel until now. If I leave this truth,
whither shall I go? I pray God that I may never be left to myself nor to the
powers of darkness so far as to be led from the path of my duty or to be
persuaded to depart from the ways of the Lord.
Very much
has been said during this conference in relation to the spiritual duties of the
Latter-day Saints; and while I do not desire to detract from that which has
been said, or to divert the thoughts of the people from the excellent
instructions and counsels they have received, my mind seems led to speak upon
something of a different nature; in other words, a little upon the temporal
gospel which we have embraced, or at least, which we should embrace. We see a
great revolution of feeling on the part of the people of the United States and
of the world at large, so far as they have heard anything about Utah, and there
is a friendly feeling manifested at this time toward us. Now, I do not
apprehend that this pleasant feeling which is manifested by the people of the
world towards us has arisen through their conviction of the truth of the
Gospel, that is, the spiritual truths of the gospel. I do not apprehend that
they have fallen in love with our ideas of faith, repentance, and baptism for
the remission of sins. I do not understand that they have accepted our idea of
present revelation and the existence among men of the authority of the
Priesthood. I do not so understand it. Why, then, are they looking toward us
with a more friendly feeling than heretofore? One reason I see for this change
of feeling is that our neighbors are looking upon our material prosperity, the
effects of our union. They see the fruits of that union, to a certain extent,
and they discover that whereas our country was once a barren desert, now it
blossoms like the rose. And they understand too, that the people have made this
change upon the face of nature by their untied efforts, and not by the use of
large amounts of money, their labor having been organized and directed, and
utilized to the best advantage to produce the glorious results which are
visible; and people are looking upon this and are admiring it. Therefore, they
are feeling more friendly toward us than they have been in years past. Some of
our neighboring states and territories have pursued a different policy to that
which has been pursued by the people of Utah, and now they see that their
material interests have not been developed as those of the people of this
Territory have been and are behind Utah in substantial growth and many
improvements. While the people of other territories have turned their attention
to gold and silver mining and industries of this character, the people of the
Territory of Utah have turned their attention to agriculture and to the
development of the various other resources of the country, and the result is we
are able in part to shoe and clothe and house ourselves. We buy the products of
our own labor. We are able to take from the sheep our wool, and out of it to
produce cloth with which to clothe the people. We are able, through the
herculean effort, I will say, of a few men, who have been left to carry the
burden themselves, to produce a few million pounds of sugar to supply the
people of the Territory with that valuable article. And we have been able to do
a few other little things of this character in Utah. It is this industry and
this effort on the part of the people of Utah that is attracting to-day the
attention of our neighbors and friends. Our irrigation of the lands and the
subjection of these deserts to cultivation and to the production of grain,
fruits, and vegetables in vast quantities, sufficient for the necessities of
the people and some for exportation-these things are what are attracting the
attention of our neighbors towards us, and causing them to feel that there has
been wisdom manifested in the direction of the labors of the people. Therefore,
they are moved, as I have said before, with feelings of friendship and regard
for us just at present, because their eyes are turned upon these things.
Now, I
want to ask this congregation, how many of you feel disposed to patronize these
home industries that are the source of wealth, of progress, of strength, and of
improvement in this Territory? How many of you will patronize the sugar factory
of Lehi, and determine within your own minds to purchase Utah sugar and use it
to the exclusion of all imported sugar, as long as you can get a pound of Lehi
sugar? How many of us will patronize the home product in preference to that
which is imported? This is an important question. I heard a lady say not long
ago, "Oh, I would not use Utah sugar." Why? "Well, because it
tastes of the beet!" I suppose the cause of that is that the beets of
which Utah sugar is made are raised nearer home than the beets from which the
imported sugar is made. The beet taste, of course, evaporates from the beet
sugar that is imported into Utah from the other countries; hence they do not
taste the beet in the foreign article, while they can taste it in Utah sugar!
But this is only a pretext, and a very poor pretext, too, not to patronize home
productions. Another lady (and this lady that I now refer to is not a
Latter-day Saint) said once to her husband, "What is the matter with my
coffee, it is too sweet, and I have only put the usual amount of sugar in
it?""Why," said he, "don't you know that we are using Utah
sugar and it don't require so much to sweeten your coffee." Now, these
non-Mormons are good patrons of home productions, while many of the Latter-day
Saints will not patronize the Lehi sugar because they can taste the beets in
the sugar; strange, isn't it, the gentiles don't discover the beet taste also!
We notice
that when the Lehi sugar is in the market, importers of sugar into Utah cut
down the price, in order to undersell the home product to break down, if
possible, I suppose, the institution and to ruin those who have invested their
means in this industry. And there are thousands of so-called Latter-day Saints
who will buy the imported article because they can get it for a few cents less
or even half a cent less than the home article. Presidents Wilford Woodruff,
George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith have had to stand under the load of this
Lehi factory to the extent of hundreds of thousands of dollars, until our
credit at times has been strained to the uttermost, in order to carry it
through, and we feel that we have been neglected to a great extent, by the
people of Utah, in that they have not favored that institution and sustained it
with their patronage. Numbers of our brethren who proposed to help us to carry
the burden in the beginning, when the times tightened up upon them, shrank up
in their feelings and withdrew their support from it, leaving the load for
others to carry, and we have had to carry it, and we carry it still, to a
certain extent. With permission I will say this: we met a gentleman from the
East, who came out here to Utah on a visit and went down and took a look at the
sugar factory, and at the fields of growing beets; he observed the industrious
character of the people, and he said to himself, and to these men here, "I
have sufficient confidence in your integrity and in your intelligence and
wisdom, to invest at least one hundred thousand dollars in the purchase of your
bonds"-and so we were able by this means to dispose of a few of the Utah
sugar bonds for money, which has lightened the burden upon us to that extent.
And this was confidence shown by a stranger in the integrity, industry, and
thrift of the people-and President Cannon suggests, in the First Presidency as
well. Now, I make this statement because the First Presidency and some of the
Twelve have been under this load, and are still under the load to the extent of
all that they possess in the world, and yet some of our brethren are fighting
against the industry, and against the interests of the people and the interests
of the Presidency of the Church in relation to these things, and we do not like
it. We want the people to know that we do not like it, and I take this occasion
to tell them that we do not like it. We are giving to the people of Utah County
and other portions of the Territory thousands of dollars for their labor where
years ago they received not a penny. We have increased the value of much of
their farming lands more than one-half by the establishment of an industry
among them that has given not only labor for themselves and for their children,
but has increased double the value of their lands in their productions. And we
have received but little thanks for it. Now, we ask the people to patronize
home industries-patronize the Lehi sugar factory, and as long as you can get an
ounce of Utah sugar at any price, buy it in preference to anything that is
imported. Then you will be showing a spirit of patriotism, a spirit of home
interest, and of wisdom, which will build up and bless the people of the
country and the land in which we dwell. And do not let any Latter-day Saint say
that he or she does not like Lehi sugar because it tastes of the beet. I have
been a lover of sugar all my life. I loved it so much when I was a boy, and
also when I got to be a man, and I ate so much of it that I had to buy a new
set of teeth. Well, I do not advise you to use it to such an extent as that. I
do not ask you to go to extremes in eating sugar. But if you want sweet, sugar
is the best form in which to use it. Although I have some experience in using
sugar, I have not yet been able to detect any unpleasant beet taste in the Lehi
sugar!
President
Cannon tells me that a gentleman who is in charge of the eating houses along
the Denver and Rio grande Railway had told him that the Utah sugar was
remarkable for its sweetness and he bought all he could of it in preference to
other sugar. Here is a case of another "outsider" who can appreciate
the value and the worth of a home product when a Mormon sister did not like it
and would not have it in her house for any consideration because she could
taste the beets in it. President Woodruff says he has eaten a good deal of
home-made sugar and he has never yet tasted the beet in it. We ought to have
two or three more sugar factories in Utah equal in capacity to that which we
have now, in order to produce enough sugar for the consumption of the people of
Utah alone. Notwithstanding we have a factory which produces five or six millions
of pounds of sugar a year, we are importing three-fourths of that which we use,
in order to supply our necessity. Five million pounds, Brother Morris, the
president of the company, informs me, were produced last year. And this is one
of several great facts that are drawing the attention of our neighbors toward
us. They see this people use intelligence and wisdom in the direction of their
labors and in the development of the resources of the country for their own
sustenance, and they admire us for it. And so will all the right thinking
people of the world admire us, the more we are able to take care of ourselves
and provide for our necessities.
We have a
little woolen factory down in Provo; we have another in Salt Lake city; there
is another little factory in Beaver, I understand, and still another on the
northern borders of the Territory, called the North Star Mills; also another in
Washington, Kane County, and another in Brigham City, Box Elder County, and one
in Ogden, and another in Springville. Some of them are small, you can depend
upon that-so small that we have passed through the country a great many times
and never seen them; and, in fact, there are some of them I have never heard of
myself till just now. I am glad to hear there are so many; but we have never
heard a great deal about them, for the reason, I suppose, that we are importing
so much of the materials that can be produced by them that they are not thought
of. I want to tell you that I and Brother Heber Grant and Brother Lyman and
Brother Richards and many more of my brethren are clothed in home made goods,
made from Utah wool, by Utah workmen, in a Utah factory, and I am not ashamed
of my apparel. My shoes that I wear are made at Z. C. M. I., or at Solomon
Brothers, or by somebody that is struggling for an existence and laboring for
the support of his family. I do not go abroad to get my shoes. I would to God
that all this people would do the same. Here is a poor Brother Smyth starving
to death almost, trying to make hats for the people, and he makes decent, good,
serviceable hats; but the people will not patronize him as long as they can get
something marked with "Stetson" in the lining of it. They want the
foreign made article. We ought to sustain this industry. I tell you it is the
word and wisdom of the Lord that we should sustain these industries at home. It
is wisdom-it is the true policy of the Church-the doctrine of the people, and
has been the doctrine of the people from the beginning of our settlement here.
Babylon is to fall some day, and the merchants are to weep and wail because no
man can buy her merchandise any more. They will not be able to buy it; for
Babylon is to fall and rise no more, so say the Scriptures. I can tell you,
whether Babylon falls or not, so far as the principle is concerned, it makes no
difference; the people that can supply their own necessities, meet their own
wants, and provide for themselves, are always better people, more intelligent
people, happier people, more independent people, than any other people upon the
face of the earth that do not these things. It stands to reason; it is common
sense; it is a good judgment; it is Gospel truth, that all this people ought to
understand and live up to. Now, if you want blankets, all wool and two yards
and a half long, and two yards and a quarter wide, large enough to cover your
bed, go to the North Star Mills and get them, or go down to Provo and get them.
Order them if they do not make them that large, and don't you buy any that are
less than that-unless you sleep alone.
Then
again, I want to name another little factory that is very important one in this
country. It is a little factory at Logan, run by Brother J. W. Hendrickson,
wherein all kinds of under-wear and stockings are knitted. I have been wearing
his union suits for a long time, and I can tell you that I shall never
patronize shirts and drawers any more. I want them all woven in Utah, by some
of my own brethren that are laboring to supply a living for themselves and
their families. I want to help them to live; and inasmuch as I cannot
manufacture these things myself, and I may produce something else that he
needs, I can exchange with him or turn what I raise or produce into money, and
thereby be able to give to him the money that I obtain from the product of my
labor for the product of his, and thus give him a chance to live as well as
myself.
This is
the temporal gospel. My time is up; may the Lord bless you, is my prayer in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang:
Our God we raise to Thee Thanks for Thy blessings free, We here enjoy.
Benediction by Elder Seymour B. Young.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 51:532-533, 10/12/95, p 20-21]
OVERFLOW
MEETING.
An overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall at 2 p. m. Elder Brigham Young presiding.
Choir and congregation sang.
Guide us, O thou great Jehovah, Saints unto the promised land.
Prayer by Bishop R. T. Burton.
Singing:
Glorious things are sung of Zion, Enoch's city, seen of old.
ELDER C. C. FJELDSTED
was the first speaker. In looking over the vast assemblage of people that are unable to gain admittance, it makes me think that we, as a people, are eager to serve God. We do not hire ministers as other denominations do, to look after our salvation. We keep God's commandments and in so doing work out our own salvation. I feel that we, as Latter-day Saints, are blessed in having men of God preside over us; men who have communication with God, and can teach those things which God desires us to attend to. The ship of Zion, although it sails in troubled waters at times, will bring us safely through if we will but stick to the rod of iron.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
I have been truly grateful to our Heavenly Father for the good counsel which has been given us during our conference. I am not what you would call a very religious individual, but I am what you could call a practical man in every sense of the term. When I hear a man or woman say that they believe that this is the Church of God and they do not show in their every day walk and conversation, that they act according to this profession, I don't have much faith in those individuals. We as a people claim to believe in home industry, yet at the same time we have woolen mills and factories in our midst that have had to shut their doors for lack of support. How is this? It is because we believe in one thing and practice another. If we loved Zion and the building up of the Church and kingdom of God, we would have enough home manufactories to turn out all the commodities which we are daily in need of. The fact of the matter is, we think too much of tea, coffee and a chew of tobacco, spending our money for these things which tend to lower and degrade us. The speaker here dwelt strongly upon the subject of home industry and admonishes those present to sustain them to the extent of their ability.
[Heber J. Grant]
[CD 5:59-61]
PRACTICAL RELIGION
_____
DISCOURSE
Delivered by Elder Heber J. Grant, at the General
Conference of the Church,
held in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 6th, 1895.
It is
ever a source of pleasure to me to mingle with the Latter-day Saints. I have
enjoyed myself exceedingly during our conference and I have been truly grateful
to our Heavenly Father for the outpourings of His Holy Spirit upon all who have
spoken to us, and for the testimonies which have been given to us by those who
have been called upon to address the people.
I take as
deep if not a deeper interest in the practical every-day affairs of life and
the everyday duties that devolve upon us as the ordinary man. I am naturally
not very spiritually inclined, but I do take an interest in the ordinary
affairs of life. I once had the bumps on my head felt by Prof. Fowler, and he
told me that my predominant characteristic was practicability and I am so
practical in my make-up that when a Latter-day Saint tells me that he knows
that he is engaged in the work of God, that he knows that this is the work of
the Lord, that he knows that Joseph Smith was an inspired Prophet, that he
knows that the men that stand at the head of the church today are the inspired
servants of God, and such a man pays no attention whatever to the plain, simple
duties that are taught to him day by day, month in and month out, year in and
year out-I don't have a great deal of faith in that kind of a man. And when I
have heard the Elders of Israel, from my earliest recollection, away back in
the days of Brigham Young, beg and entreat the people to sustain and build up
our local industries, and have found the Latter-day Saints proclaiming that they
know that this is the work of God, and failing to do it-many of them-I confess
I haven't the same love and respect for these individuals that I would have if
they showed practically to my mind that they believed what they professed. When
a man tells me that he desires the onward advancement of the kingdom of God,
and he devotes his time, his energy and his means for his own personal
advancement, and if he can save a nickel he holds it up in front of his eyes
and hides out the dollars, my faith is diminished in that man's integrity for
the work. We can hide the blessings of the Lord by clinging too firmly to the
things of this world; we can sacrifice eternal riches-dollars for copper cents,
so to speak. And we, as Latter-day Saints, want to learn to labor to carry out
in our lives the instructions that are given from time to time. I have often
stated to the people that the best policy for us to pursue is to keep the
commandments of God in all directions, in every way, manner and form that it is
possible for us to keep them, and not figure for what is "my own"
advancement and "my own" salvation financially; but to figure for
that which is for the advancement of the Latter-day Saints, for the building up
of the kingdom of God here on the earth.
It has
been told us by the Prophet Brigham Young, who brought us here and planted our
fathers in these valleys-it has been told to us, and burned into my very bones,
that it was the duty of the Latter-day Saints to become self-sustaining, to
build up the industries of this country. Our industries are languishing, drying
up, for the want of the support of this people. We have a large woolen factory
here in Salt Lake City shut up. Why is it closed up? Why are the people walking
these streets that might be employed there? Because you who are listening to me
this day fail to support these institutions. Why is it that these institutions,
in which men have invested their money, and on which they have received
practically no interest, are allowed to drag along so that you can buy the
stock for 50 cents on the dollar? Because the Latter-day Saints do not carry
out in their lives what they profess to believe of the teachings of the
servants of God. Why is it that we have not abundant means to build more
factories? Because the Latter-day Saints think more of a cup of tea, a cup of
coffee or a chew of tobacco than they do of the welfare of the whole people. If
the Latter-day Saints would spend the money which they now spend for these
things in buying goods which they need of our home institutions, every factory
in Utah would be running double time in order to supply the people with what
they need. Talk about the power to build up the kingdom of God. Why, we have
got it right in our own hands, and every man and every woman who uses one
solitary cup of tea or coffee or one chew of tobacco destroys their own power
that much for building up the church of God, and I tell you that they will be
responsible. The Lord has endowed me with no gift, with no power, with no
ability, with no talent, but what he will ask me to give an account for it; and
he has endowed every man, woman and child among the Latter-day Saints with the
power and the ability to keep the Word of Wisdom.
We know
that we can and ought to purchase those things that are manufactured here at
home, and but for the selfishness and the narrow-mindedness of the people, we
would not have to be called upon to patronize these institutions. If we loved
Zion, if we loved the building up of the kingdom of God upon the earth, we
would do these things of our own free will and accord, and if we would do it,
we would benefit ourselves. It is simply short-sighted policy that causes us to
fail to do these things. If we would sustain home industries, prosperity would
perch all over these valleys. Where there are today hard times there would be
peace and prosperity and an abundance of the good things of life, and every
individual who fails to do his part is robbing the community of peace and
prosperity-he or she is robbing the kingdom of God of the material ability to
be built up here on the earth.
Talk
about money coming back to us again. It is illustrated in a story told by
Bishop Farrell. I have told it over and over again, but it is like the good
hymn "We thank thee O God for a Prophet," which I hear nearly every
week of my life, but never get tired of it. Brother Farrell said that he bought
home-made goods because when he paid his money for home-made goods he sometimes
got it back again. He stated that when he comes down from Smithfield he
generally gives the railroad a $5 gold piece; the fare was $4.90, and he always
put a mark on that $5, but never a $5 piece which he gave to the railroad, did
he ever get back again; but, said he, "many a dollar I have paid for
home-made goods has come back to me. When I was coming to Salt Lake, at
Smithfield depot there was a crowd of people and among them I saw a man to whom
I owed $5 for making shoes for my children. I gave him the $5. He saw a man to
whom he owed $5, and he gave it to him. That man saw another to whom he was
owing $5, and paid the money over to him, and that one found a fourth, and
handed him the $5. The fourth man walked up to me, and said, `Bishop Farrell, I
owe you $6, here is $5 of it,' and I put my $5 back in my pocket." Well,
it took just about as long to pay $25 of debts with that $5 as it takes me to
tell it now. Now if you have paper enough, figure it up how much $5 will pay in
the balance of the year if it pay $25 in debts in five minutes? Why, a dollar
is just the same as a drop of blood so far as the finances of the country are
concerned. It is estimated that the heart discharge four ounces of blood each
time it beats, and the heart beats about seventy times a minute, so that nearly
every drop of blood in your body passes through it every minute. Thus you can
figure it up. It goes through the heart sixty times seventy every hour,
amounting to several tons in twenty-four hours. Now, money is just like the
blood that goes through the body over and over again; and we as Latter-day
Saints are sending out the financial lifeblood of this people when we have the
power and the ability to keep it at home, and we will be held responsible for
failing to do as we have been counseled for so many years.
May God
help us to keep his commandments, and build up His kingdom, is my prayer, in
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER A. W. IVINS
began by reading a passage from the book of Jeremiah. It was a prediction uttered 600 years B. C. concerning the gathering of Israel. This prediction is now in course of fulfilment. The Latter-day Saints are a people of destiny, they are fulfillers of prophesy. Look at the history of the Church of God. There was a time when the ordinance of baptism could scarcely be preached to the people. It was not until John the Baptist came as a forerunner to prepare the way, that one could come after him who would bestow upon them the Holy Ghost. This is the work of the Lord, and God has set His hand to bring about the gathering of His people, that His word may be fulfilled and the scriptures verified. The increased attendance at our conferences ought to be a living witness to the world that this is God's work, and woe to him who stretches forth his hand to stay or interfere with its progress. Spoke of the ancient prophecies which were uttered by God's servants and of their literal fulfilment, and said that so sure as they had been verified, that those that had been uttered concerning this work would also be verified. Bore testimony to the divinity of the latter-day work, and said that we would enjoy all the blessings promised, if we would but live for them.
[Anthony W. Ivins]
[CD 5:62-65]
THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY REVELATION
_____
DISCOURSE
Delivered by Elder Anthony W. Ivins, at the General
Conference of the Church,
in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 6, 1895
Wherefore
behold, the days come saith the Lord, that it shall be no more said that `the
Lord liveth that brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.'
It
affords me a great degree of pleasure when I contemplate the conditions of the
Latter-day Saints to be able to see in these conditions the fulfillment of the
words of the Lord. This prediction which I have read was uttered some six
hundred years before the birth of our Savior by the Prophet Jeremiah,
indicating to us that the time would come in the history of the world when the
great miracle which was wrought by the God of heaven in leading up Israel out
of affliction and bondage, under the direction of His servants, Moses and Joshua,
and establishing them in the land of their fathers, the land which had been
given to them, promised to them, would be measurably forgotten in the greater
work which would be accomplished when God should gather Israel from all of the
different nations of the earth-not from Babylon, not from among the people
where they had been held for a limited space of time, but from the north and
south, and from all the nations of the earth whithersoever they might have been
scattered. Those who are acquainted with the scriptures, who have studied the
history of the descendants of Abraham, know how, after they had been led up by
Moses and established in the Land of Promise, the House of Israel were taken
captive by the Asiatic nations who came up against them, and, because of
dissensions, and transgressions and their hard-heartedness, were scattered
among all the different peoples of the world.
Now, my
brethren and sisters, two things of particular import and interest in
connection with this scripture attract my attention. The days will come when it
shall be no more said, "The Lord liveth that brought the children of
Israel out of the land of Egypt, but the Lord liveth that brought up the
children of Israel from the land of the north, and from the south"-the Lord
is He who must accomplish this work; the Lord is He who hath power through the
instrumentality of His servants that He might call, to accomplish in the latter
days a work which should be a "marvelous work and a wonder among the
inhabitants of the earth." The testimony of the Elders of Israel to the
world is-our testimony to you is-that we live in the day when these words of
the Prophet Jeremiah, uttered hundreds of years before the birth of our Savior,
are in course of fulfilment. Our testimony to the world is that this people,
the Latter-day Saints, are a people of destiny; they are fulfillers of
prophecy; and from the very inception of the work, from the very day that
Joseph Smith received revelation from God, every movement that has been made,
every act of this people under the direction of the servants of the Lord, has
been by the guidance and direction of the Lord. Go back and review the history
of the Latter-day Saints. Not when the Prophet Joseph Smith had received the
revelations of the Holy Ghost, not immediately after heavenly messengers had
appeared to him and ministered to him, did he presume to organize the Church of
God in the earth. He did not even assume to preach repentance and baptism for
the remission of sins. But the time came when through the grace of God, John
the Baptist came, authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ, and conferred upon his
head the keys of the Aaronic priesthood, which gave him the right to preach the
gospel and to baptize with water for the remission of sins. But he could not
then organize the church; he could not then have conferred upon the people the
most priceless of all gifts, the Holy Ghost, by which they might be led into
all truth; but the Lord sent others, and the keys of this power were conferred
upon him and the organization of the church was perfected, and made so perfect
that not in all the opposition that the church has been required to meet, not
in all the criticisms of this faith, has anyone been able to indicate in one
single instance, not in the most minute detail, any deviation from the plan
that was established by the Savior of the world Himself when He ministered
among the Jews. I ask you, my brethren and sisters, we ask the world-would it
have been possible for man, no matter though he might have been educated, no
matter how great might have been his learning-has any man who may have been a
reformer, has any man who has established a religious creed based upon the
gospel of Christ as it is found here in the scriptures, been able to evolve a
plan that was so perfect in every detail? We know that they have not, and yet
this prophet of the Lord, this untutored boy, under the direction and by the
blessing of God, organized and established the church in perfection in every
detail.
The one
point in particular to which I wish to call your attention is this, that this
is the work of the Lord, that God has set His hand the second time to gather
Israel. It would afford me pleasure, were there time, to go into the details of
the scattering of Israel, to trace their history, and then go on and read
scripture after scripture to you showing that God's people must be gathered in
the very manner in which they are being gathered today; and, furthermore, that
they must be gathered to this place, in order that the word of the Lord might
be fulfilled and His scripture verified. The work, my brethren and sisters, has
only commenced. Think of its magnitude. When you reflect for a moment that upon
the 6th of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was
organized with only six members, and today there are assembled vast multitudes,
probably more than twelve thousand Latter-day Saints in the two buildings which
are occupied for this conference, it ought to be a living witness to the world
that God is in this work, that He has made bare His arm in the eyes of all
nations for the redemption of His people. Can the work be retarded? Can its
progress by stayed? No, not more than the work of the Lord could be retarded in
times that are past. Just so sure as the prophecies which have already been
verified in the past history of the world, will all the predictions which have
been made as they refer to the future of the world be fulfilled; and woe to him
who raises his arm or his voice against Zion and attempts or endeavors to stay the
progress of this work.
I know no
more beautiful illustration of the weakness and inability of man to stay the
progress of the work of the Lord than that which is given us in the history of
Jerusalem. Jesus said to His disciples, when they asked him for a sign of his
coming and of the end of the world, among other things, that Jerusalem should
"be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles should be
fulfilled." He called their attention to the Temple which had been built
by Solomon and said that not one stone should be left upon another that should
not be thrown down. We know that later the army of Rome devastated the city of
Jerusalem. We know that that temple was destroyed, and its very foundation
stones were ploughed up, and not a vestige of it remains. We know that today
the Mosque of Omar marks the spot on which it stood; and yet the Lord has said
that the time will come when that temple shall be rebuilt, when Jerusalem shall
be inhabited again by His people, when songs of praise and gladness shall be
heard again upon her streets. But it was not to happen until the times of the
Gentiles should be fulfilled. Judea was under the dominion of Rome. Rome was at
one time governed by the Emperor Julian the Apostate, a man who hated the Christian
as he hated his bitterest enemy. His greatest desire was to show to the world
that Christ was not a prophet, that he was not the Savior of mankind, that his
words were no greater, and no more importance need be attached to them than to
the words of any other man. In looking over the declarations of the Savior, he
saw this prediction: "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled;" and this man, who had
at his command the combined wealth of the then civilized world, who had at his
command armies which had conquered almost the whole civilized world, issued an
edict, promulgated a decree, in which he granted to the Jews the privilege of
returning to Jerusalem, building up their city and reconstructing their temple.
There has never been a time in the history of the world when the Jews were not
wealthy enough to have rebuilt that temple. There has never been a time when
they had not sufficient patriotism to have accomplished it, had the way been
opened up by the Lord to have it done. When the decree was issued by Julian,
the Jews went in great multitudes. They carried their treasure with them. They
labored cheerfully, believing that the time had come when the words of the
prophets would be fulfilled, that the blessings which had been promised to
their fathers would be verified. Julian was not content with this. He said:
"In order that I may make this thing sure, in order that I may demonstrate
that my word is greater than the words of Jesus of Nazareth, I will go up
myself." And he went, with his treasures, with his army, and his whole
efforts were directed to the accomplishment of this work which he had set out
to do. But the times of the Gentiles had not yet come in. Jerusalem was yet to
be trodden under foot until that time should arrive, and that temple was
destined not then to be built. It was utterly impossible for him to accomplish
that work. Impediments were thrown in his way of such great magnitude, that he
could not possibly overcome them, and that, after exhausting his treasure and
exhausting his energy, he returned to Rome, broken in spirit and in health, and
he was obliged to admit, when his end drew nigh and death claimed him, that the
Galilieean had triumphed, had been greater than he; and so, my brethren and
sisters, will the Galilieean prove to be greater than all the nations of the
earth combined. So will Israel be gathered, despite the efforts of men to
prevent it. So will Zion be built up, so will the centre stake of Zion be
redeemed, and a temple be built there to the name of the Most High. That rock
which was rejected by the workmen is to become the chiefest of the corners, and
whosoever shall fall upon it will be bruised and smitten, and upon whomsoever
it shall fall, he will be ground to powder. This fact ought always to be kept
before the Latter-day Saints, that they are engaged in the work of the Lord,
and not in the work of man; that as the borders of Zion are extended, as her
stakes are strengthened, they see the development of the work of the Lord and
not the development of the work of man.
My
testimony to you is that the Gospel has been restored, that the Latter-day
Saints are fulfillers of prophecy, that they are a people of destiny; that
God's kingdom is established in the earth, just as John the Baptist said it was
when he laid his hands upon the head of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, that
the keys which he conferred upon them should not be taken from the earth again
until the sons of Aaron should offer an offering in righteousness. There never
was such a promise made in any other dispensation. Never was the Gospel upon
the earth before when it was said by the Almighty in bringing it there, that it
had come to stay, that it had come for the last time. This is the land of
promise, this is the land that the Lord promised our fathers that he would
gather Israel to in the latter days. He has brought us here to be taught in his
ways, to learn to walk in his paths, to set an example before the world which
shall ultimately convert it to the truth and conquer the whole earth. It is a
great saying that a little handful of people-and we are only a handful
yet-shall revolutionize the whole world, but it is a fact that such results
will follow. No power on earth can prevent it. No one can realize the strength
there is in a few men united together for a common purpose, and that is the
condition of the Latter-day Saints. One purpose, inspired by one spirit, filled
with one hope and desire, and that hope and desire the regeneration of mankind,
that they may make them better, that they may overcome evil, a Christianity
that makes real Christians of men and women. Not Christians who profess to save
men in their sins, but to bring them out of sin, redeem them from it, make them
better, make them happier, make them love one another, make them love the whole
world, fill their hearts with charity and longsuffering and kindness toward the
whole world-this is the religion of the Latter-day Saints. These are the
blessings that will follow if we faithfully observe the commandments of the
Lord.
May we
live, my brethren and sisters, to see his work triumph and Zion established in
the earth, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
[Elder Grant here announced that Elder Ivins had been chosen to succeed Elder George Teasdale as President of the Mexican mission, Elder Teasdale having been honorably released to return home to this city.]
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON
prefaced his remarks by relating an incident which showed the strength which union would bring about. In speaking of those who had disobeyed the commandments of God, the speaker showed how fully His predictions of disaster coming upon them had been fulfilled. Look at the power that the Rothschild family holds over Jerusalem. their immense wealth controls the affairs of that country and even if war were to break out, it could be easily prevented by the Rothschilds closing up the coffers of their wealth, so that warfare would be impossible. spoke of he Sunday schools our our Church and of the training which our children receive in those institutions. Admonished the parents to set good examples before their children and endeavor to train them up in the way they should go. too much time is spent in foolishness instead of devoting it to the training of our children. Likened the children to a bar of iron which becomes more valuable as it is tempered.
[Abraham H. Cannon]
[CD 5:65-67]
THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL
_____
DISCOURSE
Delivered by Elder Abraham H. Cannon, at the General
Conference of the Church,
in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, sunday, October 6, 1895.
The
remarks of Brother Ivins about the power which a few people united together
possess reminded him of a statement made by a man well known in this territory.
While riding upon a stage coach in Nevada this gentleman overheard another
passenger remark that if five men would unite together in a determination to
help each other and to build each other up, there was no power that would prevent
their success. When the gentleman arrived at the mining town to which he was
going, he fell in company with a man with whom he formed the most intimate
relationship, and they formed an alliance, offensive and defensive, and decided
that wherever they were they would speak favorably of each other and would
advertise each other in a business way. The one of them was a merchant, the
other was a professional man. It was astonishing to all who knew them how
remarkable was their success, for the merchant was continually being praised by
the professional man, and he, on his side, received the advertisement and the
encouragement of his merchant friend; and there was nothing which they
undertook in the mining camp and upon which they unitedly agreed but what they
met with absolute success. They made a great deal of money. They controlled the
miners and the business men of their place of residence, and in every way they
were abundantly able to carry out their desires.
The
speaker could testify that where a few men or women banded together with a
common and united purpose, they can accomplish wonders in the earth. This has
been noticeable in the history of the Latter-day Saints. There is no people,
however great their numbers, whose influence is greater or the knowledge of
whose history is more widespread than that of the Latter-day Saints. Of course
this is because God has blessed this people, and because this is His work; but
the results of our obedience to the principles of unity is what has
accomplished these marvelous wonders in the earth, and the Lord will continue
to bless us so long as we are faithful; but if we are not faithful, we should
remember the experience of the Jews and their dispersion referred to by the
previous speaker. If you would know how the wrath of God can bring misfortune
upon a people-a blessed and happy people-read the words pronounced by the Lord
through His Prophet Moses against the Jews should they violate the commandments
of God, which you will find in Deuteronomy. There you will find the prediction
of their dispersion and the curse which should follow them. There you find also
the blessings which would result from their obedience and faithfulness in
keeping the commandments of God, and the result is, they have through
disobedience been scattered among all nations, and they have for centuries past
been a hiss and a by-word of the civilized people of the world. That the time
of their gathering is approaching is manifest in the change which we find in
their condition. Why, until a few years ago, comparatively, the Jews were
persecuted in all the countries of Europe without any resting place for their
feet. Driven out of Russia they could scarcely find peace in Germany; and in
some of the cities of Germany until a short time ago, they were persecuted and
killed on the pretense that they had committed heinous crimes-unjustly charged
to their account. But they have been coming into prominence for some years
past, in order that the promises of the Lord concerning them might be
fulfilled. It was a source of great astonishment to the world that D'Israeli
should reach the premiership of England. A hundred years ago a man who would
have predicted such a change in sentiment in the English people as to allow
this man, however great his talents, to reach this position, would have been
considered a fool. But the Lord brought that about, and a great man he was. He
accomplished wonders for his people, too, in breaking the bonds from off their
limbs, and in removing prejudice which existed against the Jews. The Rothschild
family, who now hold the purse strings of the world, might be the instrument in
the hands of God for the accomplishment of wonderful things in regard to
Jerusalem. They already control the nations of the earth because of the wealth
they possess. It is claimed that they can prevent war at any time if they will
but shut up their coffers and prevent the outflow of gold, which is necessary
to the carrying on of war. They have a lien upon the Holy Land, and their
hearts will be turned, in company with all Jews, to that country, the land of
their forefathers, and by some process which God will ordain, the time will
come when the field will be open for the occupation by the Jews of the land of
Palestine. Already many of them are going there, and colonies have been
established, institutions are being organized in Jerusalem, and the city is
being rebuilt. The voices of children are heard in its streets, and the curse
has been lifted from the land since it was blessed by those whom God sent there
under the authority of the Holy Priesthood to bless it that it might be
prepared for the gathering of the Jews and for the fulfillment of the
prophecies which have been made concerning that great land. Many who are now
living, the speaker believed, will live to see that land fully redeemed and
will live to see the influx of Jews from every nation under heaven to that
country, and will live to see Jerusalem rebuilt in splendor, with the power of
God resting upon the people who inhabit it. But let the history of the Jews be
a constant warning to the Latter-day Saints concerning their condition. The
people of God should live in such a manner that the spirit of the Lord may not
be withdrawn from them. Sometimes, the speaker said, he felt that we do not
sense the responsibility which rests upon us. We cannot comprehend the power of
influencing our children in the way of righteousness, that they may grow up a
blest and a mighty people to carry on this great work that God has placed in
our charge. The power is in our hands if we will but use it. Parents should
realize the responsibility which rests upon them in connection with their
children, that every home of the Latter-day Saints may be made a shrine at
which all will bow in the worship of God and in admiration of the wonders which
He is performing, and where all may be taught to exercise faith that they may
live and assist in the accomplishment of this mighty work. But parents neglect
their children to a greater extent than they should. They become discouraged
sometimes at the spirit which their children possess, the spirit sometimes of
discontent, the spirit to break out in directions which we think should be
restrained; but if we will use the power which God has given us, we can control
them, we can impress them with lessons which they will never forget. We can
teach them things which will establish them in the truth.
The
speaker knew of a man in this city who has quite a large family of children who
spent six months of his time, two hours a day, teaching his dog to play tricks,
and his family were neglected because of the time he spent in this direction.
His children were permitted to run wild upon the streets and all of them became
vagabonds, and one of them is said to be in the Reform school at the present
time. Why couldn't he have spent these hours in teaching his children, showing
them by his precept and example how to acquire favor with God and to obtain the
blessings of the Almighty, as well as accumulating knowledge as to the things
of this world? Too many of us are spending our time in teaching our dogs or
animals, or in foolishness, instead of teaching our children the principles of
the gospel which will save them in eternity as well as bless them upon earth.
An opportunity is given us of making our children worthy to become vessels of
honor, or of making them vessels of dishonor and disgrace. The power to mould
their characters for good or for evil is in our hands, and it is for us to
decide what we will have them become.
The
opportunities are given you, my brethren and sisters, today, to establish
yourselves in Zion, you and your posterity; and the promise is to you, if you
are faithful, that you shall not be left in time or in eternity without an heir
to stand before the Lord in the Priesthood of God-one of the greatest
blessings, one of the greatest promises that has ever been made to the children
of the Latter-day Saints. Amen.
Who are those arrayed in white Brighter than the noonday sun?
was nicely rendered by a quartet.
The general authorities of the Church were voted upon and sustained unanimously.
Elder Seymour B. Young addressed the assemblage. He spoke of the unanimous support given by the Saints to the presiding authorities. This is as it should be. We ought to be united in all things. He alluded to the vast concourse of people that had assembled to attend general conference.
The missionary work done by our Church today is one of great magnitude. Young men are called upon to leave their homes and go into foreign lands to preach the Gospel. some go into countries the climate of which impairs their health, but the general feeling among them is that they would rather lay down their lives than refuse to perform that labor. Hoped that the Saints would strive to live diligently before the Lord and merit the blessings promised to the faithful.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
added his testimony to the remarks which had already been made. The Gospel is not hidden or set under a bushel. It is allowed to shine that it might illuminate the whole earth. He read a few passages from the Book of Mormon, II Nephi, predicting woe upon those who were dissatisfied with the principles that god had revealed to His people.
The choir and congregation sang the Doxology and benediction was pronounced by Elder William Seegmiller.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm*]
[DNW 51:533, 10/12/95, p 21]
Afternoon
Session.
AT THE TABERNACLE.
The choir sang an anthem entitled:
Lord God and Holy Ghost.
Prayer by Elder Angus M. Cannon, of Salt lake Stake.
The anthem,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,
was sung by the choir.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
presented the general authorities of the Church to the Conference, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Edward Stevenson.
William B. Preston, as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church Historian and General Church Recorder, and John Jaques as his assistant.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
All the voting to sustain the authorities as presented was unanimous.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
delivered the closing address. He dwelt for some time upon the wonderful growth of the influence of the community in relation to material matters, and showed that what had been accomplished had not been attained by the unaided exercise of the wisdom of man; but was the result of the people being directed by revelation from God. The benefits of our system of proselyting; the necessity and growth of sexual purity and of honesty were treated upon, and corruption in public affairs was denounced in unqualified terms. It was the high prerogative of the Saints to set a commendable example to the peoples of the earth in all these respects. He predicted a bright future for the people both from a material and spiritual standpoint, and closed a most instructive discourse with a powerful testimony to the truth of the Gospel as revealed through Joseph Smith, the Prophet.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 51:641, 11/9/95, p 1; CD 4:388-397]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church,
in the tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, October 6th, 1895, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
In
looking over this vast congregation and seeing this collection of intelligent
human beings, one is filled with a sense of unworthiness and a want of
capability to say anything that will be of interest to so many souls, unless,
indeed, God is with him. It seems to me that when a man stands before a
congregation like this he must feel an almost overpowering sense of his
nothingness; and it is with this feeling that I arise this afternoon. I pray
you and I pray God that I may be able to say the things that ought to be said
and that are adapted to the circumstances and conditions of the people. Many of
you have come hundreds of miles to attend this conference. It is not a light
thing for men to stand up to attempt to satisfy the expectations and the
desires of people who have shown such earnestness and such zeal as to travel so
far as many have done to be present here to-day.
God has
been with His servants in speaking to you to-day. I was particularly impressed
in listening to President Woodruff, able to speak as he did for some fifty-two
minutes, at his advanced time of life; and I felt that God certainly had shown
to us His ability to sustain His servants, His willingness to do so, and His
power to give His people the bread of life through those whom He chooses. The
practical character of the remarks also of President Smith, I thought
exceedingly well timed, because we need instruction in our practical, everyday
duties, as much in their place as we do to have spiritual instruction. He
touched upon points that I think of great importance to us-points that should
be dwelt upon in our conferences, and that should be remembered and carried
away with us to our homes, because after all it is the practical living of our
religion that witnesses to the Lord and to the heavens and the earth and its
inhabitants that we are indeed that which we profess to be, and it is these
practical lessons that we receive, and that we in turn give to others, that
make an impression upon the human family.
I have
through my life endeavored to look forward to the fulfilment of the promises of
God concerning us in the influence that we as a people would have upon mankind;
but notwithstanding this has been a subject very familiar to me in my thoughts,
I have been, I might say, almost surprised of late at the manner in which the
promises of God are being fulfilled concerning us. It is coming about in ways
so real and so clearly in fulfilment of that which has been told to us that
though familiar with the prophecies concerning it, I have felt greatly
surprised at times. It is plain to me-plainer to me than ever before in my
life-that God is using this people to accomplish a great work in the earth, and
He is giving effect, and that will bring forth great fruits in the not distant
future. I can see as never before how important it is that we as a people shall
carry out, faithfully, humbly, and obediently, the counsels and instructions
that we receive from the servants of God. We are like a city set upon a hill,
and the eyes of the nation and the peoples of the earth are directed toward us,
and that which we say and do is having great weight-more weight than we have
supposed.
Therefore,
in coming together as we do at these general conferences, it is of the utmost
importance that the teachings we receive should be from the Lord and be adapted
to the circumstances and conditions which surround us and that which we have to
do. We have received very much valuable instruction since we have been
together, and if we can only retain the spirit of it in our hearts and carry it
away with us, and not forget it, it will be of invaluable benefit to us. God
has chosen us out from the nations to accomplish a great work, and He is adding
to the influence of the Latter-day Saints. It is remarkable how we are
commended; how the policy that has governed in the founding of Utah and the
building up of the settlements of Utah, the caring for the poor, etc., is being
received now with great favor, and how universal is the commendation of the
policy that has been pursued in this Territory. There was a time when one of
the chief charges against us was that the Priesthood, as it was termed, had too
much influence with the people, and that this influence was wielded in a manner
that was distasteful to public sentiment. Now an extraordinary change has taken
place in this respect. The manner in which this city was founded, the manner in
which our settlements have been arranged, the manner in which our land has been
divided, the manner in which we have apportioned the streams of water for the
irrigation of the land, the manner in which the poor have been cared for, the
manner in which they are now instructed and have been instructed-all this
receives unstinted commendation and praise from many persons, and they say that
Utah sets an example. Population is increasing; homes for the millions that are
congested in the great cities are needed; men see that the cities are
overcrowded and that vice and crime and everything of a horrible nature is
increasing in the midst of these congested populations, and they turn around
and ask, what is the remedy? What shall we do with the people? The public lands
are all being absorbed in those regions. You have read no doubt of the opening
of Oklahoma and the manner in which thousands and thousands of people crowded
in there; how they camped on the road while waiting for the signal to go in and
take possession of the lands that were ready for occupancy. This gives an idea
of the disposition there is to obtain land; and reflecting men look around and
ask, what shall we do with this increasing population? Where shall we find room
for them? Now, there is a vast area of land that has heretofore been considered
worthless. It has been looked upon as unfit for human habitation. It is what is
called the arid regions, of which Utah may be said to be the centre. It was
thought that this was good enough for Mormons, and some who have found fault
with us religiously, and who have said that we were misled, have described our
land as a cursed land, a land of salt, a land of dryness, a land of barrenness,
a land that should be shunned by men instead of sought for as a home. They would
use this as an argument to show that the authority of the Priesthood was not
here or we would not have been led to such a place. This until quite recently
has been the very general opinion; but we have had visitors come here by the
thousands, and they have discovered that Utah is an exceedingly fertile region,
and they have seen the results of the labor and the application of the
Latter-day Saints, and their admiration has been excited by the sight. Hence a
change has gradually taken place in public opinion upon these points. And now
the time has come when there must be something done to relieve the crowded
population of the large cities; attention is turned to what is called the arid
regions, and steps are being taken to provide ways and means for the settling
of these regions, and thinking men look around to see the best plan that can be
adopted for the settling of the people upon these lands. This brings before
them the condition of Utah Territory. they see what has been done here by the
Mormon people, to begin with, and by others who have come in, and they say,
"This is the example. Here is a practical illustration of the manner in
which people who have very little means can make their living from the soil in
the arid regions." Everything that President Young did in the beginning,
and everything that has been done since, is now looked upon with the greatest
favor. I have listened to most eloquent addresses, giving to President Young
the greatest praise for that which he accomplished in Utah Territory.
My
brethren and sisters, this is the condition to-day. The world are turning their
attention to us. They are looking to see what we are doing, and they give us
credit for being a far richer people than we are. A most extraordinary thing
happened-that is, I thought it extraordinary-at this late Irrigation Congress.
A committee on resolutions was appointed, and all the resolutions introduced in
the Congress were referred to this committee. They embodied such of these
resolutions as they approved of in an address, and when the address was brought
in and reported, I thought it was the most important part of the proceedings,
because upon the character of this address would be likely to depend the
legislation of the United States Congress, and I prepared myself by going on to
the floor (having before that a seat on the platform) to discuss this address.
In the address there was a comparison between the landless people of
Massachusetts and the ninety per cent of the people of Utah who owned their own
homes, which was unfavorable to Massachusetts and exceedingly favorable to
Utah. I had a conversation with a delegate from New Mexico and suggested to him
that that did not please us, and he called attention to it. I afterwards got
the floor myself, and I addressed the Congress on the subject; and do you know
that it was with difficulty that we could get that changed, they were so
determined to give Utah the praise which they said Utah deserved and to give
Massachusetts the discredit which they said Massachusetts deserved. They said
it was only telling the truth, and who not let it stand? And it was only by
using influence of this kind saying to them that we from Utah preferred to have
that stricken out, because we did not want to excite any feeling in
Massachusetts against Utah, that we succeeded in getting the line stricken out
about Massachusetts. To me this was a wonderful thing. I said to myself, who
would have thought a few years ago that it would be necessary for delegates
from Utah to plead against getting too good a character as contrasted with
other portions of the Union, especially with the State of Massachusetts?
I mention
this to show you how public opinion has changed. At that Congress whenever
allusion was made to Utah it was in the most respectful manner. I call
attention to this because we are being forced into public notice. The eyes of
the world are being drawn to us, and in the providence of our God this will
continue to be the case more and more. There is not an irrigation association
that would not like to have men from Utah come and visit it and tell the people
how to settle the land, how to irrigate the land, how to live on a small piece
of land and keep out of debt, and how to live in union and harmony, and how to
build farm settlements close together, where the people can meet together for
religious, social, and educational purposes, and not be scattered over a large
surface of ground, distant from each other. These measures that God has
inspired His servants to take in this country, and which we know the Lord
inspired President Young to take as the leader of the people, and which some
probably have thought were just the contrivance of men, are to-day approved of
men. The world, of course, think it is man's wisdom and shrewdness that has
accomplished this; but we know that President Young was inspired of God. After
the lapse of time the vindication of these measures and the counsel given by
the servants of the Lord is coming. We have had to wait some time for it, but
it is coming at last-a vindication that is most gratifying to all of us who
have lived to behold it and to hear it expressed.
So it
will be, I tell you, in everything connected with this people. Men are looking
at our method of preaching the Gospel, and thinking about it. By looking at the
reports I see that we have to-day between 800 and 900 missionaries in the
world. Think of it! A small community like the Latter-day Saints having between
800 and 900 young men traveling among the various nations of the earth and
through the United States, learning things and becoming familiar with the ways
of the world, gaining an experience that no other people upon the face of the
earth are gaining. Think of the effect of this number coming home every two
years and going among the people; and then again, 800 more going, or perhaps
1000 going to fill their places, and they coming back in their turn after
traveling two years and gaining experience. You reflect and consider in your
own minds the effect that this must have on our people. Why, there is no people
on the earth that are having such a schooling in this respect. These young men
go out, and they go out without purse and scrip, and they trust in the Lord,
and they have faith developed such as cannot be developed in any other way.
they become familiar with human nature. They are brought in contact with nearly
all kinds of people, and they gain an experience that is better than any
experience that can be gained in any other manner. Why, in olden times, it was
common in Great Britain for men of wealth to send their sons to take what was
called the grand tour. They would travel through Europe in company with tutors,
and it was considered essential to the education of what they called a
gentleman that he should make the grand tour. Now, every one of our young men
take the grand tour; but they take it in a way to learn far more than they
would if they had money or if they were under the guardianship of somebody, as
they are brought in contact themselves with the people, and they come back
developed and with an experience that is beyond price. Think of the effect that
this will have on the community! there is scarcely a ward in our whole
Territory, and it may be said outside of our Territory, that does not send some
missionaries yearly. They go and they come back, and the effect that they have
upon the people, upon public opinion, in influencing and in helping matters, is
wonderfully great. Insensibly perhaps to the people with whom they associate,
they have an influence. They are broadened in their minds, they are enlarged in
their capacities, they have increased in their experience, and they become men
of understanding, because their faculties have been aroused and developed.
When men
are told of this they are surprised at it. Why, they say, the effect will be wonderful
on your community. And it is so. Let me say to you that God having established
this work and having conducted it by revelation thus far, it will, in spite of
everything, obtain influence in the earth, and people will be drawn to it in
admiration of it. They may fight it for awhile, and try to crush it and to
crush the people; but the principles of truth which we have espoused, and that
which God has taught us and is teaching us, they are bound to rise and to have
influence, and they are bound to have their effect upon consistent people. You
can see it now if you choose, but you will see it still more, that the
influence of this people will spread, and we will be preaching the Gospel of
salvation without baptizing the people. They will look upon us and they will
imitate us and follow our example; and the world will be better because we are
in it, and this nation will be benefitted by our example. Where I go I tell
them that we have a great mission to perform as a people, and we expect to fill
it. I cite this instance: when they talk about the corrupt use of money, and
the bad effects of money, I say Utah Territory has been organized now
forty-five years; and we have had a legislature for forty-five years, and I
have never yet heard a breath of suspicion concerning bribery in Utah. I have
never yet known a legislator in Utah vote for anything that was not right
because he was influenced by money. Senator Stanford, the president of the
Central Pacific Railway, in his testimony as I have heard him before Congress,
said that they never had the least occasion to send men to Utah to watch the
legislation of Utah; their road was perfectly safe in our hands. He did not
tell what they had to do in an adjoining state. I appealed to the manager of
the Union Pacific on one occasion and asked him what his experience was. He
said it was similar; that they had never had occasion to watch the legislature.
The only thing they could find fault with, he said, was that sometimes they had
suits for damages, some people thinking they were damaged more than he thought
they were. I have endeavored, when I have been talking with leading men, to say
that we have got a mission. We are going to change things. The introduction of
moneyed influences in our politics is a thing that, if god gives me strength
and power, I shall oppose with every faculty of mind and body. I have almost
sworn -- I never do swear-but I have almost sworn that while God gives me
strength I will fight that to the very last, that there shall be no corrupt
influence brought into our country if it can be prevented. I want to make, as
one, a stand against it, no matter where it comes from, or by whom it is
practiced. We have maintained a character thus far for honesty and for being
above bribery; and this people, I know, when they are appealed to they will
with all their might oppose the introduction of any such influence.
Now, in
relation to this reform and our mission of which I have been speaking, we will
build railroads cheaper than anybody else, and we will build them honestly. We
will go into all concerns, all enterprises, and we will do them honestly, and
the men that handle the funds will be honest men and be able to account for
every dollar. We have built a little railroad from here to the Lake. Not a dollar
has been spent that cannot be accounted for. The sugar factory has been built,
and it has been built honestly. There has been no corruption, no peculation in
the funds; everything has been done in a way that every honest man can look at
it and be satisfied. We desire that this shall be the character of all our
operations. Above all things we must be an honest people. You may talk about
religion and speak about the Gospel, and say we have got the truth and the plan
of salvation, and we have got the authority of the Priesthood; but if we are
not honest, it does not amount to anything; for neither God nor honorable men
love dishonesty. We must, therefore, be an honest people. Men must be honest in
the handling of public funds. It is a shame and a disgrace to any man who is in
office of any kind to not handle the funds with the greatest strictness and
honesty. He is unfit for office, and he is unfit, until he repents, of being a
member in the Church of Christ. The members of the Church of Christ ought to be
honest. We should teach our children also to be honest in the handling of funds
and everything entrusted to them.
We are
also setting an example in regard to virtue. Yet I fear there is secret sin
practiced among us. There is this, however, for our protection; God is
cleansing this people and purging those who practice sin from their midst.
Those who commit sin gradually leave the Church. They get into the dark and
they become cold and indifferent, and finally leave the Church. If it were not
for God's power in this respect, we would soon become corrupt, doubtless, as
other people. But God in His wonderful providence has so arranged matters that
impurity cannot live in this Church for any length of time. There is a
cleansing process going on. God is cleansing His Church, and He is purging out
the wicked and the ungodly, and He is leaving the residue. No man can be
confident of standing in this Church unless he is pure in heart; for the Holy
Ghost will not dwell in unholy tabernacles. Men may deceive their fellowmen;
women may deceive their sisters; but they cannot deceive God. They cannot
commit sin and retain the Spirit of God. It will leave them sooner or later. It
will decrease within them, and finally leave them, unless they repent of their
sins. And this, my brethren and sisters, is our safety and the safety of this
Church, that God is cleansing it and removing from the midst of the people the
corrupt. Those who practice secret sin may hide it from their fellows, as some
do, and think it is not known; but God will make it known. His Spirit will
leave them, unless they repent with all their hearts and turn from their sins.
God will have an honest people. He will have a pure people; He will have a
virtuous people. He will cleanse us, and keep cleansing us until we shall be
pure, and there will be a people found that are not hypocrites. The hypocrite
will be cleansed from the midst of the Saints. In this way we will be built up
and the Church will increase. There are people in this Church who are becoming
more perfect every day, and Satan is having less power over them every day. As
they listen to the word of God and seek to comply with the requirements of the
Gospel, they grow stronger, and Satan has less and less power over the people.
He will have more power over the sinners, and he will exercise that power, and
he will lead them away. But the righteous who are determined to serve God will
become stronger and stronger. And do you know, my brethren and sisters, it is
the great desire of my heart for myself and family and for the whole Church,
that we may become so perfect in keeping the commandments of God that Satan
will be comparatively bound, so far as we are concerned. I have felt led to say
to the Saints in my speaking of late, that there are some sins that God has
pronounced against that Satan does not have power over hundreds, and I hope
thousands, of Latter-day Saints to lead them astray in these directions. I will
instance adultery. I believe there are thousands-at least, I hope there are,
and I believe there are, in this congregation of Latter-day Saints, that would
rather die, rather meet any kind of fate that could be inflicted on their
mortal bodies, than commit adultery. Do you not believe it? (Many responded,
Yes) I do believe it with all my heart. Then so far as this is concerned, Satan
has ceased to have power over all the men and women who are in this condition.
I believe there are hundreds and thousands in this congregation, and especially
in the Church, who would rather die than commit whoredom-have illicit
association with the other sex. I believe there are women by hundreds and by
thousands who would rather die than commit those sins. Now, do you believe
there is in any community as large a number of people to be found in this
condition as can be found among the Latter-day Saints? I do not believe there
is. I have no idea that there is. Therefore, so far as those two crimes are
concerned, Satan has less power over us here than he has in some other places.
I might
go on and speak about stealing, and dishonesty, and many other sins. I believe
that the Latter-day Satins as a people are a more honest people, that they
respect their obligations more than other people. We show this in our business
associations and dealing. We have the credit for it everywhere. Men who have
found fault with our religion frequently acknowledge that we are an honest
people, and our credit is "gilt edged." But there are some things
that we are still guilty of. I believe, however, that the young and rising
generation will outgrow them. It is a strong temptation for a man, when he has
got a piece of property and he has a chance to trade or sell it, to let the
buyer think it is better than it is. Now, if we were strictly honest, we would
tell exactly the character of that which we have to sell. We would not allow a
man to deceive himself; we would tell him the facts. But I know that we are all
under the influence of the old traditions. The old traditions were that a man
should have his own eyesight, and that the seller should not furnish him with
anything to aid his perception or to enable him to perceive something that he
would not otherwise see. It is a hard thing for men who have grown up under
that system of things to refrain from it. You see everywhere where things are
for sale the endeavor to make them appear better in the eyes of the purchaser
than they are. We have got to change in this respect. Whenever a man yields to
do a dishonest thing he yields to Satan, and Satan has influence and power over
him to that extent. We have got to learn to overcome these things, and to have
Satan bound.
I do want
with all my heart-I pray for it incessantly-that God will lessen the amount of
apostasy among us. How will He do it? It can only be done by a horror of sin
growing up in the hearts of our children, so that the consequences of indulging
in sin will appear so terrible in every respect that a man will say, "I
would rather die than do that." I cannot do that, for if I do I yield to
Satan and I endanger my salvation. I would like to see that feeling in my own
breast and in the breasts of my family, and especially in the breast of the
rising generation in the Church. We all shun death; when we see it in our
pathway we avoid it. In like manner I would like to see, and I know I will see,
the day when men, seeing spiritual destruction in their pathway, will turn
aside from it quicker than they would from death itself, because they know the
consequences would be more serious in every respect than the mere death of the
body.
My
brethren and sisters, I feel this is a most important subject for us. Who is
there among you that does not want to live and have your name live in the
Church of Christ? Who is there that wants to be blotted out? Who is there that
has laborer, as many have, through life to keep the commandments of God, that
now wants to fail, and his children to pass out of the Church and fall into
oblivion! When I hear of boys and girls, marrying out of the Church, especially
when they belong to good families, my heart is filled with inexpressible
sorrow. I ask myself, what will be the fate of their offspring? Will their
names be obliterated from among the Saints of God? One of the blessings that
God gave to His ancient servants was that He would build them "a sure
house;" and one of the great blessings that Jeremiah was commissioned to
give to the descendants of Rechab because of their faithfulness in keeping the
command of their father that they should not drink strong drink, etc., was the
promise from God that "Jonadab, the son of Rechab, shall not want a man to
stand before me for ever;" and when the genealogy of that family is found
you will find the descendants of that man with the people of God, whether it be
among us or among the ten tribes. And so with every man unto whom promises were
made. The great promise that was made to Abraham was that in his seed all the
nations of the earth should be blessed. It is the greatest promise apparently
that the Father could give to him. Now, who is there among us that does not
want his name preserved in the Church of Christ? Who does not want his children
to live from generation to generation, through the calamities and the
overwhelming destructions that are coming upon the inhabitants of the earth? I
cannot think of anything that would fill me with deeper sorrow, next to the
loss of my own salvation, than the thought that my name would be blotted out,
that my descendants would be blotted out, and I would not have a man of my
descent throughout the Millennium to stand before the Lord bearing the Priesthood.
God forbid that such a fate should happen to any of us, especially those who
have been faithful in the Church of Christ! Therefore, apostasy ought to be
dreaded, and the dread of it ought to be instilled into every heart, and into
the heart of every child, so that it will grow up loving the truth, loving the
Church, hating iniquity, clinging to that which is virtuous and pure and that
which will preserve the Spirit of God. We all should seek to shun everything
that will bring darkness upon us. We have been told during this Conference how
necessary it is that we should follow the guidance of God's servants. Why,
everything depends upon this. I would rather get down on my knees, in the most
abject manner, before my fellow servants and beg them to forgive me and to tell
me what to do, than to have them feel that I was doing anything that was in
opposition to their wishes or contrary to their counsel. I have always had this
feeling; I trust I always shall have. And yet among my acquaintances I am not credited
with having a lack of independence. We all no doubt feel as though death is
nothing compared with grieving the Spirit of God and doing those things that
will cause a loss of the fellowship of the Saints of God and communion with the
Holy Ghost. These are dreadful things to do, and I would like to impress upon
you the importance of this. Some men and women treat lightly their standing in
the Church. They think they can grieve their brethren and sisters and it will
not harm themselves. But it is dangerous ground. We should refrain from it.
In my
early boyhood I received the Spirit of God, in bowing in obedience to the
commands of God. It has been the sweetest thing that I ever felt. It has been
my fortune during my life to be in a great variety of situations and
circumstances. I have preached the Gospel in extreme poverty. I have gone
through a great many vicissitudes, I have also been in positions where I had
all that man could desire, so far as the gratification of earthly things was
concerned. But I wish to bear testimony this afternoon to you that there is
nothing on the earth, nothing that men can taste or experience, that is so
sweet, so happifying, so full of delight, as the presence of the Spirit of God.
It fills the soul with joy that is inexpressible. And I have had this in the
midst of poverty and hard times. It has made my life an exceedingly happy one.
I have thought that no man on earth was so happy a man or lived so happy a life
as I have. And it has been due to the fact that God has given to me His Holy
Spirit. I would like to always have this. When I do not feel happy I know there
is something wrong, and I endeavor to find it out. I want to live every minute
in close communion with the Spirit of God. Pardon me for alluding to my own
experience, but the point that I wish to make is this: if our children can get
that Spirit, and they are taught to cherish it, they will not be so easily led
into sin. They will think, "I cannot part with this precious gift. I
cannot grieve this Holy Spirit." They should be taught to have it with
them in the morning and at night, and when they awake in the night; to have it
in all their thoughts, in all their words, and in all their actions. And then
what a happy people we will be! This earth will be a heaven to us, and all
associated with it will be joyful, and we will be the happiest people, the most
intelligent people, because the Spirit of God always brings intelligence. There
will be none like us, and we will set an example to all peoples on this, like
we do upon everything else. If we are strong in honesty, we will draw honest
men to us: and the day is not far distant when the honesty of this people will
be so well known and their integrity so well established that men will come
here and bring their money here, because the Latter-day Saints will be an
honest people whom they can trust.
We have
got to set the world an example in these directions, as well as in the carrying
out of all enterprises: show them that they can be done without stealing,
without peculation of any kind. We have got to show them that government can be
carried on without resort to those base arts and miserable tricks and practices
that prevail elsewhere and that are thought essential to success. this people
must rise above these things. Those who resort to them will go down; for God
will not bless them. This is His work. It is not man's work. Everybody will
find that God is at the helm. He will control and overrule the affairs of this
Territory and this State, for His glory; for this is His Zion. He has founded
it, and He will continue to care for it. He will control everything for its
good and for the happiness of His people and for the success of His glorious
purposes. Therefore, men may plot, men may contrive, men may indulge in
machinations; but God will sweep them aside, and He will bring to pass His
purposes and His salvation. We shall stand as a beacon light to the nations;
for there is no hope on the earth, unless it is with us. Upon every institution
of man is written "decay." If the elements of perpetuity are not to
be found among this people, then there are none to be found upon the face of
the earth.
Before I
sit down I desire to bear testimony to this being the truth. You have heard it
borne testimony to by all the brethren. I testify that this is the truth of
heaven, and that God is with this people, God is leading this Church. god is
with His servant Wilford Woodruff. God is with His Apostles. God will sustain
them and all the men who have the Priesthood and are endeavoring to magnify
their office and calling.
God grant
that we may live worthy of these things. Let us keep the commandments of God;
pay our tithing and our donations. The Lord that increased the widow's cruse of
oil and the barrel of meal can multiply His blessings upon us. god bless you
all, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT WOODRUFF
made a few closing remarks, in the course of which he bore testimony to the excellence of the instructions given by Presidents Cannon and Smith;, and closed with an exhortation to the Saints to be prompt and liberal in paying their offerings for the support of the poor.
Choir sang,
Hosanna.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
Conference adjourned for six months.
_____
4-6 Apr 1896, 66th
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 52:527, 4/11/96, p 15; Millennial Star 58:257, 273 289]
[4 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 52:527, 4/11/96, p 15]
SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
_____
The Sixty-sixth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt lake City, at 10 a. m., on Saturday, April 4th, 1896, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
Of the general authorities present on the stand there were, of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph f. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, franklin D. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Abraham H. Cannon; Patriarch John Smith; of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Edward Stevenson; of the Presiding Bishopric -- William B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John r;. Winder.
Conference called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang:
Come, come, ye Saints, no
toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.
Opening prayer by Elder John W. Hess.
Singing by the choir:
Hark! listen to the
trumpeteers! They sound for volunteers.
On Zion's bright and flowery mount, Behold the officers.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF.
Our hearts ought to be filled this morning with gratitude and thanksgiving to God our Heavenly Father, for the blessings that we enjoy at the present time, for the privilege of assembling this glorious morning in this tabernacle, in the Sixty-sixth annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If there is any man on the face of the earth who ought to be thankful, who ought to have gratitude, who ought to be faithful to the God of Heaven and the Church and kingdom of God, it is myself. When we look over the field in the last sixty-six years, and see all that the Lord has done since the organization of this Church, the number who have passed away, and the many changes which have taken place, we ought to be thankful for the blessings of God. Our history has been a very peculiar one, and we have been called to pass through many events. We have arrived where the promises of God in the revelations in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, by the voice of the Prophets of God, are being fulfilled before our eyes, before the heavens, and before the earth. We stand here to-day with this great and mighty responsibility resting upon us as the Holy Priesthood and the Saints of the Living God, to labor, and to be true and faithful to God, to our covenants, to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to those laws and principles which God has revealed concerning the last dispensation and the fulness of times. I feel thankful for these blessings, and hope that during this conference the Apostles and the Elders of Israel and the people may be filled with the inspiration of the Almighty God; that we might comprehend and understand the position we occupy to-day in the sight of heaven and earth; that the Spirit and power of God may be with us, that we may know the mind and will of God and rejoice together and be able to perform the things required at our hands. I ask God to bless the Latter-day Saints who are assembled in this conference, that these blessings may dwell with us during these meetings, from henceforth and forever. Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Expressed his gratitude for the presence at this general conference of president Woodruff, who had been wonderfully blessed and preserved by the Lord, to minister to the people in His name. He spoke similarly concerning Presidents George Q. Cannon and Lorenzo Snow, and Elder Franklin D. Richards, who had led useful and faithful lives in the Church of Christ for a long series of years. In the same connection of valor and integrity to truth he referred to the brethren of the Council of the Twelve generally and to the large number of other good, faithful brethren who had proved themselves worthy laborers in the work of God.
The speaker then dwelt upon the fact of the increasing numbers of Elders who were being sent into the nations to warn the people of the world. He looked forward to the extension of missionary labor to populous countries which had never yet been reached by the Elders, and anticipated that the missionaries would, before long, have access to classes of people with whom they had not heretofore been able to come in contact. He spoke of the wonderful change of sentiment that had taken place regarding the Latter-day Saints. It had been brought about by the Lord. This condition might not always exist, as opposition must be met in the future, but the people would have increased wisdom to meet with obstacles as they might arise.
President Smith dwelt for some time upon the danger associated with times of peace and worldly goodwill, unless great wisdom were exercised and purity of conduct should exist. He pointed out the nature of these dangers and what they consisted of and how they ought to be guarded against. The concluding portion of his discourse was devoted to the necessity of parents teaching their children to love the truth and abide in it, giving numerous excellent suggestions upon the value of early training. In the same connection he delineated that kind of missionary experience which cultivated faith in the young Elders who were sent abroad on missions, and the conditions which tended in the direction of destroying that principle, or at least retarding its development in their minds.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR.
of the Council of Apostles, followed. He expressed his gratitude at the privilege of listening to the inspired teachings of the Prophets of God. He referred to the prophecies made by the servants of God some years since, when conditions were much less favorable than at present; and testified to the fulfilment of as many of those predictions as time had permitted. He felt that those still awaiting fulfilment would not fail. These prophecies had a bearing upon the improvement to occur in the financial and social condition of the people of God. The inspiration thus shown in the words of the servants of God should be a cause of thanksgiving on the part of the Latter-day Saints.
The spirit of hatred formerly existing against the Saints, and the contempt of the world toward the people of God had disappeared to a great measure, and a feeling of respect and confidence had been established. The Saints were becoming better understood, and their mission more fully comprehended and respected. The world had learned through the efforts of the Tabernacle choir and others, that good can come out of Zion, and more of this good would be recognized in the future. Representation of Utah in the government being now of a free and efficient character, greater good could be done by good men in Washington, whether they be non-Mormons or Latter-day Saints. There had never, to the speaker's knowledge, been a union of church and state in Utah, and no such union was wanted.
The speaker exhorted all to new courage and hopefulness; and to press onward in the work, not giving way to despondency. He closed with a testimony to the truth of the work of God, and the self-sacrificing spirit of the officers of the church.
The anthem:
From afar, gracious lord, Thou hast gathered Thy flock.
was sung by the choir.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[4 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 52:527-528, 4/11/96, p 15-16]
Afternoon
Session.
2 p. m. -- Singing by the choir and congregation:
Now let us rejoice in the
day of salvation; No longer as strangers on earth need we roam,
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation, And shortly the hour of
redemption will come.
Prayer by elder Edward Partridge.
The choir sang:
Hark! listen to the gentle
strain, O'er hill and valley, grove and plain!
It echoes from the heights above The voice of freedom, peace and love.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW.
The Saints had been called to labor in the interest of our Father, God. It was one of the best desires that could possess us to gain an understanding of the purpose of our coming into the world from our former estate, and to put our whole heart into the labor of carrying it out. We were doubtless a pretty good class of people before we came here, and were innocent when we made our advent to this probation. We were in this stage of life that we might ultimately obtain a fulness of joy. There was in section 101 of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants a promise to the effect that a time would come when whatever a man shall desire he shall receive. Before that time shall come a great change should come over the whole face of nature. This would affect the whole animal creation as well as man. All destructive agencies would be banished. These things would take place and the promises gave us joy. We did not have things as we wanted them here. We did not succeed in inducing all of our children to do as we wished them to, but if we proved faithful we would ultimately have all our posterity with us. It might be a great period of time before all this should be realized, but it would surely be if we were obedient This had been promised to the speaker in the Temple at Kirtland, and he firmly believed that it would be fully fulfilled. He had great faith and confidence in the magnanimity and love of God. They were so comprehensive that we could not fully understand them.
Every man, woman and child could do something toward securing exaltation and glory. The opportunities were exhaustless. It was a mighty work we had to accomplish for ourselves, and when performing it we were also operating in the interest of others.
President Snow related the experience of a young man who wasted all his estate in profligate living and was on the point of suicide, when a supernatural being checked him and urged him to follow his counsel, with the promise that in two years he would govern a kingdom. He was to live a strictly moral life, and his kingdom would be secured. Seeking honest employment, and living faithfully for two years, he found himself a ruler over his own spirit and desires. He was informed that this was the realization of the promise. This was the great object of the second estate of men to overcome obstacles and temptations and learn self-control, preparatory to their becoming rulers over others. There was no need of discouragement; though heavy sacrifices might be necessary, and each one could show a willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others.
The work of the Lord in behalf of his people had been wonderful during the past few years, miraculous works having been performed in their behalf. The highest rejoicing should be on account of the spiritual blessings of the Gospel, with the glorious truths it has taught. Born of God, in His image men were to become more like him, through overcoming difficulties and temptations. In this respect the prospects were particularly aright. The Lord would be pleased with one ambitious to attain to spiritual advancement, and to become equal with God, through receiving of His fulness, in accordance with the original design. With the new light thrown upon their condition and prospects by the Gospel, the Saints would certainly not be willing to sacrifice those prospects for any earthly consideration. Even in the family relationships to be continued hereafter there was sufficient happiness to compensate them for all human losses.
It was a pleasure to the speaker to reflect upon the promise that we should see each other in the next life, when all enmity would be banished from the earth.
It was a pleasure to see this great audience of faithful Saints, who were associated with the work of God. He concluded by invoking the blessing of God upon the people.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
Of the Council of Apostles, followed. He said in substance: there had never been a time in the history of the Church when there was such cause for gratitude as now. Kindliness of feeling had increased to a marvelous degree, a fact which deserved the deepest gratitude of the Saints. Liberty of utterance and the blessings of the Spirit had attended him in his ministry among the people, and God had blessed the Saints through the labors of himself and other servants of God, similar blessings being experienced by the laborers themselves. This was not on account of increased knowledge and power on the part of the Elders, so much as the greater spirit of faithfulness which attended the people themselves. The time of harvest having now come, the Spirit of God had increased upon the Priesthood and the people alike, manifesting itself in the greater faith and confidence of all. If all would turn their attention to the preaching of the Gospel by precept and example there would be a great number of converts made among the people at home. Failure to live the commandments of God would weaken the effect of preaching them, and those who thus acted would be responsible for the lack of faith on the part of the young. On the other hand, if all should live to the law of God, a marvelous work for God would be performed. The changed feelings of the people of the land toward the Latter-day Saints were spoken of and illustrated by items of current history. Still greater favor with all good men could be gained by honesty and strictness in the lives of the people. All had been taught day by day the simple principles and duties of the Gospel, yet some were seemingly more anxious to perform great works than to keep the little commandments.
Turning to the financial condition of the people, the speaker stated that if the Word of Wisdom were strictly kept, The money thus saved to the community would give ample employment to all the idle men in Zion. In closing, the speaker touched upon the necessity of sustaining home industries.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
Of the Council of the Apostles, was the next speaker. He urged the Saints to become more consistent, and be not mere hearers of the word, but doers of it as well. It was the general desire that we should all have understanding of what God wished us to perform. We were living in the latter-days, which were to be similar in some of their conditions, to the times of the flood. In those ancient days the word of the Lord was preached, and the professedly wise people of the world did not accept of it. So matters were to a great extent in our day. There were many inducements to reject the light of the Gospel and to depart from it after it had been received. As the Apostle Paul expressed it prophetically, we were living in perilous times, when false philosophy was taught and false and seducing spirits were abroad. The speaker related some of his early experience in the Church, illustrating the fact that when men who had embraced the Gospel became puffed up in pride, and imbued with a disposition to find fault with the authorities, they became darkened in their minds, and finally opposed the work of God and made shipwreck of their faith.
The rising generation must be tested as the older ones had been; but they had the advantage of individual knowledge as embodied in the doctrine of each one asking wisdom of God. The delusive influences of the world were being introduced among the youth, and must be overcome by the word of truth. But one way was open for the redemption of men from error and darkness, and that was through the true principles and ordinances of the Gospel. These ordinances must be administered through the proper authority, that the spirit of God might be a witness to their efficacy. The burial in the water of baptism, with its accompanying resurrection, was spoken of, and its proper performance urged The gifts and keys by which the doctrine might be understood and its truth known, were referred to as of great importance and obtainable only through obedience and humility. Truth could be obtained through meekness and righteousness, and the avoidance of contention and debate on Gospel principles. He referred to the 46th section of the Doctrine and covenants, commencing with the 7th verse, where asking of blessings and wisdom from God is commanded, that the seductions of evil spirits might be avoided, and the operations of the Spirit of god, comprehended. The speaker continued in this vein of thought through the remainder of his discourse, concluding with an exhortation to the young to honor their parents.
The choir sang the anthem:
Let the Mountains Shout for Joy,
after which the congregation arose and joined in singing the Doxology.
Benediction by Elder George Reynolds.
_____
[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 52:528-529, 4/11/96, p 16-17]
SECOND
DAY.
Sunday, April 5th, 10 a.m.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word.
Prayer by Elder Jonathan G. Kimball.
Singing by the choir:
What was witnessed in the
heavens? Why, an angel, earthward bound.
Had he something with him bringing? Yes -- the Gospel -- joyful sound.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
was the first speaker this morning. He treated upon the nature and functions of the Holy Priesthood, which conveyed the highest calling in which man could be engaged -- to be a minister of salvation to the inhabitants of the earth. He spoke of its antiquity, beginning, so far as this planet was concerned, with Adam. He enumerated the various dispensations of God to man from the beginning till now, and expressed himself to the effect that whenever the inhabitants of the world were prepared for the fulness of the Gospel, in any age, He revealed the Priesthood. He then dwelt upon the restoration of this power in this age, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and declared that in this latter-day dispensation the power to administer salvation had come to stay, never more to be removed from the earth. He next detailed some of the leading beneficent effects of the fulness of the Gospel, and administered much salutary advice to the young men of the community, exhorting them to appreciate the great blessings within their reach. President Woodruff expressed himself earnestly upon the necessity of the Latter-day Saints attending to the work necessary to be done in the Temple for the redemption of their kindred dead. A portion of the discourse was devoted to an explanation of the importance of the missionary department of the Church, to which the Gospel is to be extended to all nations. In conclusion the President spoke of the prerogative of the heads of the Church to counsel the Saints for their good and for the benefit and advancement of the work of God, and stated that if they were to attempt to direct the people in a pathway that was wrong, God would remove them
The remarks of the speaker were interesting and comprehensive. An adequate idea of them could not be conveyed in a brief reference.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 52:545, 4/18/96, p 1; CD 5:102-107]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of [the] Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, April 5th, 1896, by
PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER]
_____
The
highest calling the Lord ever called any human being to, in any age of the
world, has been to receive the Holy Priesthood, with its keys and powers, and
to be called to go forth to the inhabitants of the earth and teach them the
principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to qualify and prepare them for a
part in the first resurrection and to go back into the presence of God, their
Creator, to dwell in glory worlds without end. The Lord bestowed that blessing,
that Priesthood and that power in the beginning of creation. Father Adam was
called of God and ordained to the fullness of the Melchisedek
Priesthood-ordained to the highest office and gift of God to man on the earth.
Adam bestowed that blessing upon seven of his sons-Seth, Enos, Jared, Canaan,
Mahalaleel, Enoch and Methuselah. They were all ordained High Priests by their
father Adam, and possessed the privilege and the right to understand the Gospel
of Jesus Christ and to give it to the human family, so that they might qualify
and prepare themselves for eternal life. In tracing the history of the dealings
of God with men from that day to this, we find the Lord has in various
dispensations and times given unto the sons of men that blessing. Israel had it
in the beginning, from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob down, and until Moses, who
traveled with the children of Israel forty years in the wilderness. They had
the gifts and graces of that Priesthood bestowed upon them, and they had the
privilege of magnifying their callings and preparing themselves for eternal
life. But Israel would not accept the Melchisedek Priesthood, and therefore it
was taken from them, and the Lesser Priesthood was conferred upon them while
they traveled in the wilderness. It is not necessary for me to spend time in
tracing this Priesthood through the six thousand years that have past and gone;
but it has been manifest in every age and dispensation when God has had
prophets and apostles on the earth. Jesus Christ came into the world in the
meridian of time. He was the Great High Priest to Israel. He was the Son of
God, the Savior of the world. He chose His Apostles, He organized His Church.
He bestowed upon these Apostles all the gifts and graces belonging to the
apostleship. In that dispensation it seems that they were called to lay down
their lives for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. The Savior
himself was put to death. the Apostles were all, with one exception, put to
death in their day and time, until finally the Priesthood was taken home to
God, and remained there for a length of time. But my views are that whenever
the inhabitants of the earth were prepared for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
the power of the Priesthood, it has been bestowed upon them.
In the
days of the Savior and His Apostles, John the Revelator, while upon the Isle of
Patmos, gave an outline of great events which were to transpire in the last
dispensation of the fulness of times. Other prophets and apostles, who spoke as
they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, left on the pages of history a record
of what the Lord would do in the last dispensation. Among the great events that
the Revelator saw was the one described in the 14th chapter of his Revelation,
and which is often quoted by our elders, because it is very applicable.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear
God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.
If this
revelation had not been fulfilled, neither you nor I would be here to-day, this
Tabernacle would not be erected, this city would be still part of the Great
American Desert, as we found it; but in the fulfillment of the revelations of
God, these things have been done and some of us have lived to see them. The angel
of God did visit Joseph Smith, the Prophet of God, who was raised up by the
power of God as a prophet, seer and revelator, and who organized the Church of
Jesus Christ in the earth. From that day until this the work has progressed and
the Gospel has been preached. The Holy Ghost has been with the people. The Lord
Almighty has set His hand to carry out the great programme-to establish the
Zion of God in the earth and to prepare the people for the coming of the Son of
Man.
These are
my views with regard to the calling of men in this dispensation. Gold and
silver may pass away; houses and lands may perish; all temporal matters will
pass away; but the Priesthood never, salvation never, the kingdom of God never,
and prophecy will never fall unfulfilled. We have had Apostles now for upwards
of sixty years. Many have died and gone to the other side of the veil; and
those upon whom God bestowed the glory and power of the organization of the
Church have sealed their testimony with their blood, as the ancient Apostles
did. They have gone home to receive their reward; but that organization has
remained; the Holy Priesthood has been given to the sons of men and has
remained upon their heads, and will remain upon the heads of this people until
the coming of the Son of Man. Therefore, I say to the Latter-day Saints, we are
in this organization to-day. I do not pretend to say exactly the number that we
have in the Priesthood; but we have from fifteen to twenty thousand Elders in
this Church; we have many various organizations of the Priesthood, and churches
are organized throughout the world as far as we have had an opportunity. I have
been called, these Apostles have, many of the Elders have, to go to the nations
of the earth and the islands of the sea to preach the Gospel to our fellow-men.
What greater calling can any man have on the face of the earth than to hold in
his hands power and authority to go forth and administer in the ordinances of
salvation? Do we prize these things in their fullness? I do not think we do.
Nevertheless, so far we have been enabled to maintain our position, and to go
forth and fulfill our missions as far as we have had time and opportunity.
Certainly there has been nothing in this work that I have had greater
consolation in than in preaching the Gospel to my fellow-men and in
administering unto them the ordinances of the house of God, both for the living
and the dead. I may say the same with regard to my brethren who are called to
perform those ordinances.
There was
something said yesterday by the brethren with regard to our sons and our
missionaries abroad. I will say for myself-and when I say it for myself I think
I speak for a great many others-there is no joy that I have ever had that has
been greater than that which has come to me in having sons receive the Holy
Priesthood and go forth and administer among the nations of the earth the
ordinances of life and salvation. It is a glorious gift to the sons of men. It
is what men have not enjoyed before us for the last eighteen hundred years almost.
Then should we not prize these things? Yes, we should. The Lord, in the
dispensation of His providences, has given to us an army of sons and daughters,
and our sons are called to go to the nations of the earth. We want to instill
into their minds the importance of these blessings to the inhabitants of the
earth and the saving of souls from sin. You give unto any soul the principles
of life and salvation and administer these ordinances to him, and you become an
instrument in the hands of God in the salvation of that soul. There is nothing
given to the children of men that is equal to it.
This is
our position to-day in these mountains. We have been led here by the power of
God-led by a prophet, seer and revelator, President Brigham Young, who was full
of the Holy Ghost and full of revelation, appointed of the Lord, and who
magnified his calling up to the hour of his death. We came here and found a
barren desert. From that day till this it has been a continual growth and
increase, until we have arrived at a point where we have a tabernacle as a
"shadow in the daytime from the heat * * * and for a covert from storm and
from rain." These things have all been prophesied of thousands of years
ago by the ancient prophets and patriarchs who foresaw the work of God in the
last days.
I want to
say a few words to our young men who are rising up among us. I want them to
comprehend and understand the blessings that are within their reach. The Lord
has given us a large number of sons and daughters. They have got to take the
places of their fathers, the same as the sons of Adam had in his day and
generation. A great responsibility rests upon them. The Lord requires at the
hands of our sons that they shall bear off this kingdom of our God while they
dwell in the flesh, that they may be justified. The Lord told Oliver Cowdery,
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance
unto this people, and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be
your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father." It requires light,
knowledge, and understanding; it requires the spirit and power of God for us to
comprehend our position, our blessings, and our gifts that God has placed upon
us. I feel to rejoice and thank God myself that I have lived to see what I do in
these valleys of the mountains; that I have lived to see these multitudes that
fill these tabernacles and temples and labor here in the building up of the
kingdom of God. The Lord has been very merciful to me, and my life has been
preserved to pass through these things, and I still remain in the midst of this
people. I have to acknowledge the hand of God in the whole of it. I suppose you
have to do so with regard to your lives. The fact is, there is not a blessing
that God has bestowed upon us from the beginning but has been the gift of God.
We should understand this. We have preached the Gospel to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people, as far as the Lord has opened doors for us and we
have had the privilege of going. Still the world to-day is full of people who
have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and while the Priesthood rests upon
our shoulders we are still under obligation and are still held responsible for
the salvation of the children of men, as far as we have the privilege of
bestowing these gifts upon the sons and daughters of Adam. Only think that by
embracing the Gospel of Christ we can become heirs of God and joint heirs with
Jesus Christ, that we can have part in the first resurrection, and come forth
out of our graves and be clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives,
and pass into the presence of God and the Lamb and dwell with them eternally in
the heavens! Who comprehends this? Do the inhabitants of the earth? They do
not. Satan has warred against us from the organization of this Church, to try
and destroy this people; but so far we have been preserved. We should be
thankful for these blessings. I realize myself that we are dependent upon the
Lord in all things. The Lord is our preserver. He is the author of our
salvation. Jesus Christ has laid down His life to redeem us by His blood, and
through that we have these blessings bestowed upon us.
Among
other things, we live in a generation in which the Lord has enabled us to rear
several temples-some in these mountains and some before we came here; and
hundreds and thousands of people go into these temples to redeem their dead.
This is a blessing the Latter-day Saints should prize. It is a duty that is
required at our hands to do what we can in this direction. It is a blessing that
the inhabitants of the earth have not had for centuries until this
dispensation. I hope that no man who has got a record of his father's house
will go down to his grave without having attended to this work. How would I
feel, after living as long as I have, with the privileges I have had of going
into these temples, to go into the spirit world without having done this work?
I meet my father's house, I meet my mother's house, I meet my progenitors, and
they are shut up in prison; I held the keys of their salvation, and yet did
nothing for them; what would be my feelings, or what would their feelings
toward me? They would not like it. I feel that while the Lord has given us this
blessing, every man and woman in this Church that has any faith at all in God
and in the Gospel should attend to this duty. Jesus Christ, while His body lay
in the tomb, went and preached to the spirits in prison, that were drowned in
the days of Noah by the flood, because of their wickedness and abominations.
They had been in prison for a long time, and He went and preached to them,
"that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live
according to God in the spirit." Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, David Patten,
and the Apostles and Elders who have been true and faithful unto death have
also gone to the spirits in prison in their day and time and preached the
Gospel of Christ to their fathers' houses and to those who are shut up in
prison, and they are laboring there for the salvation of the children of men.
These are glorious principles -- principles which the Latter-day Saints should
not neglect while they have the privilege and power. As I said in the
beginning, there is no calling a man can be called to any greater than to have
this right and privilege to go forth and save the souls of men -- save them by
preaching the Gospel to them, by administering the ordinances of the house of
God to them, that they may be prepared themselves to go into the kingdom of
heaven and into a celestial glory. There are three glories. Paul in speaking
upon that subject said, "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory
of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from
another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead." These
glories over-shadow the whole human family. Now, how much better it is for a
man to receive these ordinances, that he may go where God and Christ dwell,
which is the highest glory! But Jesus said in His day, "Strait is the
gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that
find it;" while "Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat." I think many times that we ourselves
do not prize the blessings that we enjoy and that are within our reach. Our
hearts should be set upon the building up of the kingdom of God, the Zion of
God, and the work of God, while we are here and have power to perform these
things. It is our duty as the Presidency and as Apostles, not only to labor
ourselves, but to send forth the Elders of Israel to the nations of the earth
to proclaim the Gospel. Doors are open to-day among many of the nations for the
spread of the Gospel of Christ, and to bring the people unto Christ, that they
may receive these blessings.
Brethren
and sisters, this is the way I feel this morning. Of all people under heavens
we should be the best, the most righteous, and the most true and faithful to
God and to our fellow-men. We should be true and faithful to the Holy
Priesthood while we have it resting upon us, and true to our labors. I rejoice
at our condition to-day. I rejoice at the peace that has come unto us by the
power and blessing of God. I rejoice at the change that is taking place in the
world. We are visited now by hundreds of people from the nations of the earth.
They are coming to behold the glory of Zion. They come to enquire at our hands
concerning various matters, and there is a very different feeling to what there
was in former days toward us. Brother John W. Taylor referred to our going to
St. Louis and to Chicago. Yes, I recollect very well when we went into Jackson
County, Missouri. My labors there have been alluded to. When I went on my first
mission in 1834, I had to go through Jackson County on my way to Arkansas. It
was just after our brethren had been driven out. I had to go and hide in the
cornfields and in the brush during the day, and walk along in the night, till I
got through that country, for the lives of myself and companion were in danger
there. The last time I went there, the Mayor of Independence came out to meet
us with a fine carriage. He had but one arm having lost the other in the army,
but he gave us that arm and made us welcome. I could not help but feel the
difference between then and when I went through there as a missionary. There is
a change taking place. Zion is going to rise and shine, and the glory of God
will rest upon her. This people, if they do their duty, will fulfil and carry
out these great principles, and the eyes of the world will be turned toward
Zion, and men will come to enquire concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
We are in a good condition. We are blessed of the Lord. The Latter-day Saints
have never been so well off temporally. Go into the houses of the Latter-day
Saints, and you will find them in a better position than they have ever been
before. These are the blessings of God, and we should prize these things and
give God the glory for them, while we try to do our duty and magnify our
calling. I want to say that I am in for salvation and for eternal life. I have
labored for that since I was a boy. I have desired the gift, and graces, and
blessings manifest in the days of Jesus and His Apostles. In my childhood I
prayed God that I might live to see a prophet or somebody who could teach me
the principles I read in the New Testament. The clergy of the day did not do
it. Nobody around there appeared to believe in such things. Well, I have lived
to see prophets and apostles; I have lived to travel with them and to unite
with them in the kingdom of God. I have been in the apostleship fifty-eight
years; I have been in the Church sixty-three years. My whole life almost has
been spent in this Church; and from the time I came into the Church I went on
missions and have never ceased altogether from that day to this. I have always
rejoiced in this, and do to-day. When I die and lay down my body, I do not want
anybody to rise up and say that I have neglected my duty in trying to give him
salvation as far as I could. I have always rejoiced in preaching the Gospel; I
have rejoiced in administering the ordinances of life and salvation at home and
abroad, because I have known that this was the work of God, and I know it is
to-day.
I want to
say now to the rising generation, gird up the loins of your minds, prepare
yourselves, and realize you have a mission before you. Who are going to bear
this kingdom off when we go to the grave? To whom does the God of Israel look
to do this? He looks to our sons and daughters that are rising up here. This
responsibility rests upon them, and I hope they will fulfill and magnify their
calling. There is nothing like it on earth. You may get the riches of the
world; they pass away; but eternal life, celestial glory, a place with the
righteous after resurrection, with immortal bodies, are worth more than all this
world can give. I have confidence to believe that the Latter-day Saints will
carry out these principles and magnify their calling before the Lord. I have
hopes that our sons and daughters will do the same.
Brethren
and sisters, I say, God bless you. I am glad to meet with you. I rejoice in the
Gospel, in the kingdom of God, and in the Holy Priesthood. I pray God to bless
you, to open your eyes to see, and ears to hear, and your hearts to understand.
I pray God to open your understanding, that you may comprehend the value and
blessing of the Gospel that you have received and of the blessings of these
temples and tabernacles in the midst of which you have the privilege of
dwelling and receiving the ordinances of God. I pray that we may pursue that
course that when we get on the other side of the veil we shall be satisfied
with our record. We will find our history and our record there in the great
library of the celestial kingdom of our God, and we will know what we have been
doing in this life. If we do anything that is wrong we will be sorry for it. We
should repent of wrong and try to do better. I pray that the Spirit of God may
be with us to guide and direct us in our labors until we get through here, then
when we pass away we may be received in the kingdom of God. We shall rejoice if
we do right; for our eyes have not seen, our ears have not heard, and it has
never entered into the hearts of the children of men the glory that lies before
the sons and daughters of Adam. It is hidden from our eyes to-day, and will
never be open to us until we enter into the presence of God and the Lamb. Amen.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS,
of the Council of the Apostles, next addressed the Conference. Following is a brief outline of his remarks: No one who had the spirit of Zion could, under the existing favorable conditions, feel otherwise than happy. It had been remarked by a wise man that there was a time for all things. The work of the Lord had its times of apparent adversity alternating with periods of refreshing. The speaker here referred to the distressing circumstances which surrounded the Saints in Missouri, followed by the pleasanter situation that ensued when the migration to Illinois was completed, where many advantages were enjoyed. Nauvoo became a glorious city, and many people came from distant parts of the nation to see and hear the Prophet Joseph. Then came the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum, precipitating another season of gloom, and the people suffered as wanderers in the wilderness for a season. The setting of this western region brought a cessation of disturbance, and again peace reigned. Soon apostles were sent out to the different nations, where the door of the Gospel was opened up to their people.
The speaker continued in this strain, giving a graphic condensed delineation of the history and experience of the Saints, in consecutive order, leading up to the present status of affairs. Now, he held, came another appearance of springtime in the affairs of the Saints. Among the symptoms were calls from various parts of the earth for Elders, and for information concerning the belief and doctrines of the Church, and the cause of our being distinctive in many of our peculiarities from other peoples of the earth.
Some of the speaker's remarks were directed to Elders whose duty it was to respond to calls to go forth to the nations with the message which God had given us to proclaim. They should be willing to undertake this great labor for the salvation of mankind, as did the earlier Elders, in the rise of the Church. The new and enlarged political status would enable the brethren to go abroad under more favorable circumstances than heretofore. The Lord had opened up the way, that the Gospel banner might be carried to every people under heaven by the Heralds of the Lord. The Elders abroad should see that good and accurate records were kept n the branches of the Church that had been and might be established.
Speaking of the children of the Saints, he said that if parents could not induce their sons and daughters to walk in the path of the Gospel of Christ, they could at least do the best they could, and the Lord would do the rest, and all would come right at last.
Many of the children of the best men on earth in all ages had gone astray, and their recovery, or redemption, provided a wide and important field for their parents in eternity as well as in time.
God was going to turn the favor of the best and most influential men on the earth toward this community, because they were learning something concerning the virtues of the people here. The confidence of intelligent people abroad was being increased by the spread of correct information concerning us.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 52:641, 5/9/96, p 1; CD 5:108-113]
TIMES AND SEASONS
_____
Discourse delivered at the General Conference of the
Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, April 5th, 1896, by
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
After the
very precious instructions that we have been listening to from our First
Presidency in the Church and in the Priesthood, I feel, on being called upon to
speak, as though it was not following the rule of giving the best at the last
of the feast; but being thus called, I desire to give my testimony with the
rest of the brethren. And in this vast congregation, while it is difficult for
us to make all hear, I would ask the people kindly to be as quiet as they can,
so that we may, most of us, hear, and I will try to speak so as to be heard;
and if the Lord pleases to give us a generous measure of His Holy Spirit we may
still be edified.
I have
been exceedingly refreshed by the instructions of yesterday and to-day, and I
realize that it is an instructive, interesting and important time in which we
live; and if we can but understand the importance of the times and the
circumstances that surround and attend upon us, no person who possesses the
spirit of Zion, can be otherwise than happy and rejoice in the multitude of the
tender mercies of our God which He is bestowing upon His people. It was said by
an ancient wise man that "there is a season and a time to every purpose
under the heaven." There is a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to
plant and a time to gather. There are times when it appears as if all nature
was by the frost of life not only hidden up, but when the severity is so great
that it seems as if it must be killed outright, and that vegetation could not
start in the spring. Then again we see the opposite extreme in the summer, when
the heat is so great that human flesh and blood faints and subsides before it.
Now, when we look at the great work of the Lord in the last days, there is
quite a similarity in the course of God's providences to His people to what
there is in the course of the seasons of revolving years. The work of the Lord
has had its time of refreshing and sunshine, of sowing and of maturing, and
reaping the plentiful, the bounteous, the glorious harvest, in the temples of
God for instance, as they have been completed and dedicated, and as we have
received the blessings of heaven therein. While on the other hand there have
been times of persecution, affliction, sorrow, and distress, until to all
outward appearance it would seem as if the tree of life which God had planted
in the earth had been about frozen to death.
Such was
a time in Missouri, when the Prophet and his immediate associates were in
prison together; when other brethren by the score were in other prisons; when
the voice of the military chieftain told us we need never expect to see our
Prophet again, and we were, with all military sternness informed that we must
locate as other people locate, and never organize again in wards and stakes,
under bishops and presidents. The consummation of that serious event looked
like destruction for the Church. We were banished from the state, and it took
all that winter with all the brethren could do to help everybody get out from
those distressing conditions and into the State of Illinois. There spring
opened. There was found a feeling of kindness, benevolence and generosity on
the part of the good people of the City of Quincy and the regions round about;
brethren came and went, took up farms, worked them upon shares, hired out, and
did whatever they could to sustain life, get their families located, and
overcome the adversities of the previous year.
What was
the result? As this spring weather opened to them, they got situations and
labor. In a little while the Prophet Joseph came along, having been delivered
by the almighty power of God, also his brother Hyrum, and the brethren of the
Apostles. Directly the work of the Lord began to prosper, Brother Joseph
purchased a place for Nauvoo, bought out Commerce, because it was so sickly
that other people could not live there. Nauvoo was built up in the short space
of seven years, and a temple was built there which cost about a million
dollars. That was a glorious summer's work. Our Elders went everywhere
preaching the word, explaining to the people around them the faith that we were
persecuted for and driven from state to state, telling them what was the cause
of the terrible frosty winter that we had been passing through; and it had its
effects. Many people were gathered in. Nauvoo became a glorious city. People
came from New Orleans, from New York and from Canada to find out and hear the
word of the Prophet Joseph, and to see what these people were doing, because
they made the welkin ring from morning till night with the saw and hammer,
building up that beautiful place.
Well,
before the temple was completed our Prophet laid down his life, having been led
like a lamb to the slaughter. But the work of the Lord went on. Our treaties
with our enemies allowed us a certain period to get our wagons together, and
another terrible winter set in upon us. We had the journey over the prairies of
Iowa, the period of sickness, the cold of the winter, the suffering in Winter
Quarters; and we journeyed over the plains exiled-Israel in the wilderness-the
kingdom of God on wheels-for about two years, till we arrived in this
"great American desert" -- a country of sage-brush, grease-wood,
wolves, and Indians. We got here and winter began to break again. A little
experience soon taught us that the Lord would bless and prosper us and make the
earth fruitful for our sakes, after striving to keep His commandments and to do
His will. We had hardly got located here, however, just so that we could spend
the 24th of July and have a good dinner under a bowery, when at the following
conference the Twelve were started off -- President Lorenzo Snow to Italy,
Erastus Snow to Denmark, John Taylor to France and Germany, and Franklin D.
Richards to England. The Elders went abroad everywhere preaching the Gospel,
and found people willing to hear. What was the matter with this people, driven
out from the nation and having to become a people to themselves? And yet the
Gospel spread abroad. In England and other European countries, people were
added to the Church by the thousands and tens of thousands in wonderful rapidity.
The work of the Lord prospered, and we had another summer time to a certain
extent, locating settlements all over this country and building four temples.
Then behold, another winter set in.
You know,
winters are not always of the same temperature. We sometimes have a winter that
freezes so hard that bark on the trees becomes loose, and then we have other
winters that are mild. Well, we had a winter set in here that was so severe
that nearly all manner of business was closed up-except the marshals, the
attorneys, the courts, and the penitentiary; they were about the only line of
prosperous business that was done here during that winter of some six to twelve
years ago. Now, the Lord has seemed to cause these things to work in this way.
It seems to be a natural periodic state that we pass through from time to time.
It happened that during this winter, when we could not be abroad preaching the
Gospel (for you must know our Elders went sometimes clear to the sea and back
again and reported that they could not get a house to speak in anywhere, not
even a congregation out of doors), the Supreme Court in Washington, had our
leading men's characters brought up there and canvassed, and the decisions of
those courts were published and have gone abroad in the court reports into all
the spheres of legal lore throughout this country and the world; and so we
became advertised while we were staying around at home and away from home
taking care of ourselves as best we could, we were making acquaintances through
the attorneys and the courts in the higher circles of life.
When this
had been going on for some months and years, there was a council held down
East, and our leading ladies were invited to join the National Council of
Women, in Washington and they reported the Relief Societies, etc., and those
reports were published in the papers and books, which have gone to all the
States and Territories of the Union, and in a higher circle than merely those
that are plowing and sowing, the mechanics, etc. These means the Lord employed
during the hard period of our winter. It was not very much the "winter of
discontent" after all. He made us to become known among the people. They
could take these books and hunt over the decisions of the law courts, and they
could read the reports of this grand Council of Women from all parts of the
world, and quietly learn something about us.
Directly
there was a great call for all the inhabitants of the earth to come to Chicago
and celebrate the World's Columbian Exposition. At this Exposition there came
commissioners from all civilized countries; many of them got a chance to talk
with our brethren and sisters in Chicago, and a number of them came to Salt
Lake City. We gave them copies of our Church works and of the History of Utah,
which they carried off with them to their homes, and they have no doubt been
reading over these things. So the work has been going on. Our dear sisters and
brethren of the choir went down and really put the country on its mettle in
music. Thus we got some of the fine arts before the people of the earth. The
Presidency went along also, and as has been shown you this morning, the Mayor
of Independence welcomed them and accompanied them to the hall where they could
exchange congratulations publicly.
These
things have been going on until, I want to say to you brethren and sisters, and
especially the Elders of Israel, spring-time seems to be on us again; and as
the earth, after the frosts and snows of the winter, is being broken up and
pulverized and prepared for the seed, so calls are coming from all parts of the
earth for Elders. "Where can we find an Elder?" "If you have an
Elder coming this way, please direct him to our place." Calls are being
made, and the people of the earth are now ready to hear the Gospel. I want to
tell this legion of Seventies that are before us-the bone and sinew of Israel,
if you please-and the multitudes of the Elder's quorums, that the time has come
when the inhabitants of the earth want the Gospel; want to know what it is that
we have been making such a fuss about in the earth, keeping the courts busy and
the penitentiary full. They want us to send some Elders along, that they can
ask questions of them, and that the Gospel may be explained unto them. We have
calls for Elders from sea to sea and from the rivers to the ends of the earth.
The time has come when we must rise up and sow-go forth and scatter the Gospel
seeds throughout the lands. The inhabitants of the earth are ready to hear it,
and it is our duty, and it is made the duty of the Twelve Apostles, and
especially you have made it the duty of the missionary committee, to hunt up
Elders and send them abroad to preach the Gospel. We have had a good deal of
difficulty to find them as fast as they have been wanted. One mission in the
South called for one hundred extra Elders. We have a thousand or more in the
field; but there is wanted a great multitude yet to go everywhere, and we are
seeking through Israel, almost with lighted candles, to find men of suitable
spirit and faith-men that can go and preach the word of God to the nations of
the earth. There never has been a time when we have been so able to do it as at
the present time. I know one says, "I am owing something;" another,
"I am a little in debt," etc. Arrange these things from this day
forth, as if you knew you had to go on a mission. Then when you are ready to
go, you will be ready to stay if you are not wanted. I do not want you to think
it is a difficult thing. We do not ask anybody to go on missions until they can
go reasonably and consistently with the spirit of the Gospel, with the faith of
their kindred, and with the blessings of their Bishops and Presidents. In the
beginning, when Presidents Young, Woodruff, Snow, and others that are around
me, were called to go and preach the Gospel, and had nothing to go with, we
went whether we could or not. You do not have to do that to-day; you are given
time to go consistently and comfortably. But I give you notice that we want
Elders to go and preach the Gospel; for now is the time when the desire of the
people is open to receive it. It is the great leading duty of Israel to preach
this Gospel to the nations of the earth, laid specially upon the Twelve
Apostles with the First Presidency to see that it is carried out.
Think
what the Lord is doing for us! A little while ago we were set upon fiercely by
the government, and if the Lord had not come to our rescue to tell us we might
suspend operations in some of His ordinances, not only would our public and our
private property have been taken away from us, but our temples would have been
closed up. Now the government has come back, and gave us, a while ago, our
personal property, and last week, by enactment and the signature of the
Executive, they restored to us the real property, except that which has been
lost and wasted in the handling.
We have
occasion to rejoice in this. The work of the Lord is beginning to triumph in
some of these matters. This is the first time we have had the chance to hold
the general Conference with these Stars and Stripes over us in the relationship
we sustain to them now. Utah is no longer a territory, looked upon with
suspicion; but it has become a state-I had almost said a sovereign state. Well,
if the states are sovereign, then I suppose Utah is sovereign, too. Heretofore
we have always had to go under the direction and counsel of the President and
Congress of the United States; but now we have a state organization, and a
Governor, a native born Governor, who can give letters of commendation to
honorable men and can introduce them to governors of other States and men in
high positions. Thus the Lord is opening the way, by which we can carry the
Gospel wherever it should be carried.
I think,
brethren and sisters, we ought to rise up to the possibilities and opportunities
of the situation, and spread the knowledge of this Gospel. If you have
relatives out in the world, and you may have been slow to communicate with
them, keep up a kindly, friendly correspondence with them. If you have been
backward in sending the word of the Lord to your kindred, send them some of it.
Let them be enlightened. Feed them a little. As Brigham and Heber used to say,
hand them a little salt, that they can taste of it and see how good it is. And
so let us go on with the good work of the Lord which He has given to us to do,
and let us work while it is to-day.
You know,
in going out in a great field, where some of the land is high and some low,
that which is on the knolls ripens the quickest, while down in the swales it
doesn't get ripe so quick. It is just so with this great vineyard of the Lord
and field of the world. There are spots and places where it is ripe sooner than
others. But we want to be prepared and ready that when the summer is on we may
gather in the harvest. When the springtime comes we want to cast in the
seed-the word of the Lord, that we may by and by, in the autumn, realize a
great ingathering, a harvest of souls, to Zion, that shall increase and extend
and multiply, till we will be building other temples, other stakes, and
multiplying the wards of Israel throughout the land. You must not think because
we have become a state, and these sisters must not think now they have the
franchise, that we have got it all and we can sit down to enjoy it. This is
simply the armor that God gives us to pick up and buckle on to go to work for
another summer's labor. The winter has gone again, and after the sowing the
Lord will bring the harvest as He would have it. We need not wonder or marvel
about things in the future; we want to be up and doing to-day.
Now, I
want to notify you Elders that in going abroad we wish you, when you get to be
presidents of missions, to bring home the very best published histories there
are of those countries that you go to, so that we can have the history of the
generations of men on the earth in the Historian's Office; and we do hope, now
that the government has given us back our substance, that some time we shall
have a Historian's Office that will be a credit to the Church, so that we can
preserve the records properly. I wish you to see that there are good, complete
records instituted in your conferences, in your missions. And when you go to
those nations where they are led by chiefs, in tribes, as in New Zealand among
the Maoris, (and among the Lamanites, if they don't get killed off before their
day comes,) you get at some of those venerable old Maori chiefs, and you will
find they are full of the genealogy and history of their tribes and will take
you back by tradition for hundreds of years. Get what they know, and write it
for the benefit of those people that live around them; for when they come up to
Zion or when temples shall be built in their midst, they will find that the
people of Zion are getting up records of their fathers. We must begin to be
Israel in this direction more than we have been before.
These are
some of my ideas just now, as I enjoy this rich and precious and glorious
conference that I am sharing with you. We talk about our sons and our families.
It really makes folks feel terrible all over if they see their families not in
so good a situation as some of their brethren's. But we must just do the best
we can, and then the Lord will do the rest for us, and set angels to help us.
It is precious that we can look back to so great a father as Abraham. The Lord
says, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household
after him." And so he did. He instructed them concerning the very first
commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." While he had
one side of his family, the descendants of Sarah, that came to be Twelve Tribes
to enter into the Gospel covenant and the power of great salvation, there was
another side of his household, the descendants of his other wives, that have
gone off in the line of Mohammedanism. But as different as their views are from
ours, they have maintained that feature which our father Abraham taught them,
that they should have no other gods before Him, and with them there is but one
God, and Mohammed is His prophet; while with us there is but one God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior. If we can establish our children in the right
ways of the Lord, that is what we ought to do. But we can look back over some
of the best families of Israel, beginning with the Prophet Joseph's family and
going all along the line, and where are they? Look into the world and at some
of the best preachers among the different denominations-men living up to the
best light they have-and some of their children are the renegades of their
town. Well, if men do the best they can, there will be help given to the
righteous. Think of Father Abraham! The Lord has told us that he has passed the
angels and the Gods and gone into his exaltation. Where are his generations?
where are these Moslems? Father Abraham has gone up to where he has power --
power with the Gods, power with the Son of God, power with the courts of
heaven, power with the council of the Eternal. He has a work on hand. In this
world he has a multitude, like the sand of the sea-shore, and they have to come
around in time or eternity, to inherit the presence and glory of their father
Abraham in the eternal world, so many of them as can be rescued through
obedience to the Gospel. I hope the Lord will bless us, and help us to
understand the times and seasons in which we live, that we may make the most
and the best of them, glorify His name and build up His Church.
The Lord
is going to turn the favor of the best men on earth towards this people as fast
as we will let Him. Men already have come here with their millions and offered
their money to us. They sense that we are a people who are trustworthy, and
that pay our debts. They sense that we are a staid people, and our merchants
have paid their debts in the East and maintained as good a financial reputation
as any people in these whole United States. (We can say "these United
States" since we have got in.) Why do they feel that way? It is because
they see the integrity of this people; that during the late panic banks did not
close up and burst us all to pieces and ruin everything, but held steady. They
see virtues among this people that make them feel safe that if there is a
people anywhere where they can invest and do business with safety, they are
here. We have the least number of defaulters among us, we have the least
bankrupts among us, we have the least of anything of that kind that is
mischievous and bad.
We need
to cultivate these virtues, not in our merchants only, but every man, woman,
and child ought to be brought up in a culture of these graces and virtues, so
that we can stand up and be exalted above every other people; and the glory of
God will come upon Zion, and they will look to her as the safest and best place
for their great treasure storehouses and the establishment of all that is good.
We will have men come in here with means to build railroads, and make labor for
our brethren, and cause them to rejoice, so that they can get a little money to
pay their debts and their tithing with. I pray the Lord to bless us all in
cultivating every grace and virtue that the Gospel grants us, that we may so
live as to be proper exemplars in the Church of our God, and be worthy of the
blessings that heaven has to bestow upon us. May it be so. Amen.
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN,
of the Council of the Apostles, addressed the conference. It was a precious privilege to gather together without molestation. When the prophecies which had been given from the Lord through His servants and their fulfilment were alluded to we were reminded of some of early date in the history of the Church. Notably the prophecy concerning the war of the Rebellion on this nation, given through Joseph the Prophet in 1832. This prediction was, as was now a matter of history, literally fulfilled. It had also been declared by the Prophet that great changes would occur at a later time, growing out of the labor performed by Zion's Camp. He made certain declarations at a meeting of the members of that historic body of men, concerning a period more than fifty years in advance of the time they were uttered. The speaker then dwelt upon a series of circumstances which he regarded as a fulfilment of the prophecy to which he had reference. As evidence in support of this statement, Elder Lyman directed attention to prominent events which had occurred in recent years. He held that the changes they involved were in fulfilment of what the Prophet had predicted in February, 1835, when the members of Zion's Camp were designated as messengers of the lord to go forth and prune His vineyard for the last time, previous to the coming of the Son of Man.
The usual time for the closing of the morning session of the Conference having nearly arrived when Elder Lyman began his discourse, his remarks were necessarily brief.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[CD 5:113-116]
MODERN PROPHECY FULFILLED
_____
DISCOURSE
Delivered by Elder Francis M. Lyman, at the General
Conference of the Church
held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 5, 1896]
I
appreciate the privilege, my brethren and sisters, of meeting with so large an
assemblage of the Latter-day Saints and of our friends. It is a precious
privilege when Israel can gather together unmolested, when we can feel that
peace broods over the land, and that we have the "springtime" of
peace coming to us again.
When I
hear the brethren referring to the prophecies that have been given from the
Lord to His servants, and their fulfilment, I am reminded of some that were
made in early days, in the early part of the history of this church.
In 1832,
the Lord manifested to the Prophet Joseph Smith that a time of
"winter" and a time of trouble and discontent, and of woe and sorrow,
was coming to this nation. A score of years and more after that prophecy was
uttered, it was nearly all literally fulfilled. The fulfilment is fresh in the
minds of all people of mature age, so thoroughly was the word of the Lord
through the Prophet Joseph Smith vindicated. And long after that prophecy was
uttered, when the Prophet was only thirty years of age, and hardly that, there
were inspirations given to him of matters that should occur a half century
later, and many of the early members of the Church, because of that prediction,
were led to believe that in 1891 the world would come to an end, or something
else very remarkable should occur. And I have thought that in some instances
men's faith was shaken because nothing occurred in 1891 that was deemed of
sufficient importance to be considered as the fulfilment of that inspiration.
But I
would like to ask the Latter-day Saints here gathered together, if something
remarkable did not occur in 1891, as the Prophet signified there should be? On
the 14th of February, 1835, the day when the Twelve Apostles were selected from
that important and tried body of men who formed the Camp of Zion, who went out
with the Prophet Joseph to Missouri for the redemption of Zion, the Prophet
announced that that labor was not in vain, that there was a design of our
Heavenly Father in that mission and in the labor of those Elders; that their
labor was accepted of the Lord, and that they were entitled to be ordained to
the ministry, to go forth to the nations of the earth to preach the Gospel; and
that from that body of men was to be selected the Twelve Apostles who should
hold the keys of the Kingdom. On that day also the Prophet announced that they were
to be called into the ministry and to go forth to prune the vineyard for the
last time, "for the coming of the Lord, which is nigh, even fifty-six
years should wind up the scene." The harvest was ripe, and the laborers
were few, and they were to cast in their might and their labors for the
accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord; and he announced, at that time,
that in fifty-six years the scene should be wound up, that some scene was to be
wound up in 1891-fifty-six years added to 1835. And thus many of the older
brethren were expecting to discover something in 1891 that perhaps it has been
felt has not been accomplished.
I want to
draw the attention of all Israel to the fact that God has magnified and
fulfilled the prediction of His servant, Joseph Smith, made on that occasion. I
want to refer you also to the important revelation given the Prophet Joseph
when he inquired of the Lord on one occasion to know when the coming of the Son
of Man should be, and the Lord manifested to him that if he should live to be
eighty-five years of age-which he would be in December, 1890-that he should see
the face of the Son of Man; and the Lord said to him, "Let this suffice,
and trouble me no more upon this matter." The Prophet was left without
being able to understand whether the coming of the Son of Man should be at that
time, or whether it should be the opening of the Millennium. It was not made
known to him, nor is it made known to any, nor will it be made known to any man
upon the earth. That is in the keeping of our Father who is in Heaven, and will
be made manifest when it is fulfilled.
But we
find that after the "winter" and the serious troubles and trials that
subsequently beset Israel, the spirit of the Lord came upon President Woodruff
and his counselors in 1889, when they proclaimed a solemn fast for all Israel,
and it was called upon the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the 23rd day
of December, 1889, when the prophet would have been 84 years of age-just
approaching his 85th year, the year in which the Lord had manifested to him
that if he should live to see that day that he should see the face of his
Savior. This solemn fast was announced to all Israel, and we met in our places
of worship, and in accordance with the instructions from the First Presidency,
we laid before the Lord the necessities of Israel, for we were in great
distress. We had endured prosecutions by the government of the United States
for a number of years, until more than a thousand men among us had languished
in prison, and thousands had been driven into exile, and the families of the
Latter-day Saints had been torn asunder, and sorrow and misery had been brought
to the homes of Israel. Then the Lord indicated that it was time that these
afflictions of the Saints should be laid before Him, and He would answer, and
would come out and sustain the cause of Israel. Following that petition of all
Israel before the Lord came that utterance of the manifesto, placing the
Latter-day Saints in harmony with the people of the United States upon the
question of marriage. Then came the division upon party lines in politics, and
thus we became harmonious with the states of this nation in regard to political
affairs. About this time, also, the spirit of the Lord came upon the Prophet
Wilford Woodruff, and he announced to the Elders of Israel that it was the mind
and will of the Lord that the Saints should put forth their energies, in means
and labor for the finishing of this great temple, which should be finished and
dedicated at the end of forty years from the date of the laying of its corner
stones. It seemed as though it was the only time when we could have
accomplished that work, and it was not undertaken any too soon, for the
financial troubles of the world came upon us in the fall of 1892, just after
the last great effort had been made, and the grand structure was completed and
the dedication took place on the 6th of April, 1893.
In the
culmination of these events we recognize the fulfillment of the prediction of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, that about 1890 or 1891, the scene would change, and
the conditions that had existed from those early days of persecutions and
troubles should be wound up and cease forever. The Prophets Brigham Young and
John Taylor laid down their lives while carrying forward the great work, though
it was not their good fortune to witness the relief and the independence and
the measure of sovereignty of statehood that the people of this state enjoy
today. But after that time when the Lord had indicated that the scene should
change, and the winding up of the conditions that had formerly existed, from
that time till now, everything has moved in harmony with the directions and
counsels of the Lord through His servants. Think of the change of feeling from
hostility to friendliness in the people of the United States toward the people
of this state. We not only have the governor and judges of our own choice, and
courts organized here in this state, but we have our senators in congress, and
our representative, and they are as honored and equally influential as are
those of any other state in the Union; and the Lord has magnified His people
and verified the prophesy of His servant Joseph in regard to this great change.
Is it not clear that the inspiration in the Prophet Joseph at that time indicated
and pointed to the conditions that we see today? The scene is changed, and it
has changed to remain, and will never return to the old conditions again. That
liberty and freedom that has been wrought out and secured to Israel by the God
of Heaven will endure with this people from this time henceforth and forever.
We will have trials but they will be different from what we have had in the
past. We today not only have the state of Utah, but the state of Colorado, the
state of Wyoming, the state of Idaho, the state of Nevada, the state of
California, and other states, and their senators and representatives, are our
friends and the defenders of the rights of our people and of the people of this
central western state. We have won them to be our friends, and they know us,
and have confidence in us as a people of righteousness, of purity and truth,
and of strength of character and determination to build up a commonwealth in
this central western country, that shall be honorable in the earth, and that
shall bring credit to the Union. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
Hark! Hark! my soul.
Benediction by Elder Charles W. Penrose.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 52:529-530, 4/11/96, p 17-18]
Afternoon
Session.
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet, To guide us in these latter days,
was sung by the choir and congregations.
Prayer by Elder George Goddard.
The anthem, Hosanna, was sung by the choir.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
delivered an elaborate discourse on the subject of the guidance of the Church by revelation from God. He showed, with great clearness, that the Saints had been led by that power from the beginning of the latter-day dispensation to the present hour, and that the heads of the Church had been divinely selected on account of their adaptability to perform the special work necessary to be accomplished in the development of the purposes of the Almighty.
ELDER ABRAHAM H. CANNON,
of the Council of the Apostles, was the next speaker. It appeared to him that the burden of the teachings of the Conference had been in relation to the carrying of the Gospel to the nations, owing to the favorable existing conditions for prosecuting that labor. There was also a missionary work needed at home, as it was expected that the Elders sent abroad would be fortified with the strongest kind of recommendations. He had been pleased to note that those being selected were, as a rule, men who had been doing their duty at home. The demand for Elders was being favorably met by those who were requested to engage in missionary work. They generally responded with expressions of willingness.
Of late the gathering of the Saints from abroad had not been preached as strongly as in earlier times. Perhaps this had occurred in the Providence of God, that the few scattered Saints might remain for a time in the countries of their nativity to preserve the world from destruction. It was probable that when the "salt of the earth" should be withdrawn, that there would come such a clash of nations as had never occurred in history. God would gather his people to these mountain fastnesses in his own time. But it had struck the speaker that we did not pay as much attention as we should to those who did gather here. Many of them were left to wander whithersoever they would, without anyone to direct them or aid them in obtaining employment. Bishops who merely attended to their strictly local and routine duties were contracted in their operations. Notwithstanding these conditions there existed some disposition to criticize recent endeavors of the First Presidency to find employment for those who needed it. Yet when we looked around we could witness everywhere the beneficent results of the efforts of the leaders of the Church in the direction of temporal affairs. God was just as able to give financial wisdom to the authorities as to bestow gifts upon them in the domain of spiritual affairs. He had done this heretofore and would continue to do so. The Almighty could give to His servants every kind of ability to further the cause of truth and progress on the earth. The day would come when men who now thought they had great practical talent would seek advice on temporal affairs from the servants of God.
Statehood had come to us, but with it came greater responsibility. Would we act as patriots, or would we act selfishly? All laws enacted should be such only as would conduce to the public weal. In selecting men for office, only the good, the noble and the virtuous should be chosen. Otherwise we would fail to use aright the powers which political emancipation afforded us.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL.
of the Council of the Apostles, addressed the Conference. He had been entertained and pleased in listening to the discourses delivered thus far. He had been reminded, in listening to President Woodruff this morning, of the difficulties which were encountered in the early settlement of these valleys. These obstacles were most severe in the frontier locations. The Indians were troublesome, and President Young advised the people to feed them and not fight them.
Some instances occurred where the brethren neglected to take the counsels of the leaders. In such cases disaster resulted and numbers lost their lives. But nothing of this kind happened when the advice of the authorities was followed. The advice of the speaker to all was to adhere to the teachings of the servants of God. This was the path of safety.
None should fail to take heed to the instructions of the President of the Church in relation to the redemption of the dead. Millions of dollars had been spent in erecting houses to the name of the Lord. These facilities for the blessing of the living and redemption of the dead ought to be economized.
In his early experience the speaker had never entertained the thought that any other than the Salt Lake Temple would be erected in this region. The first intimation he received to the contrary was many years ago, in Logan, when President Woodruff, in delivering a public discourse there, prophesied that the time would come when a temple would be built on the hill overlooking the town, and our young people would go up on the towers and from them view the surrounding country, all of which had been fulfilled.
The Lord was pleased with the Temple, His power was thee, and it rested upon the people who entered them with honest hearts to perform work for their dead. It as a great and sacred labor and it was now only in its incipient stages. Many things had happened in the temples which, if it were wise to talk about them, would astonish some people.
The speaker thought it would be a good thing if the Elders who went abroad would take an interest in collecting genealogical information. It would be of great use to the Saints.
Elder Merrill declared that he knew this labor to be of God, and that this was the true Church of Christ; also that the Presidency of the Church were chosen of God and sought the welfare of the people continually. He would not dare make this declaration if he did not have a personal knowledge of its truth. We knew but little of the weight of care and responsibility which rested upon these men, and it became our duty to sustain them and do our part in trying to make their burdens lighter.
The choir sang the anthem,
Let all Israel sing
Benediction by elder Angus M. Cannon.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 52:530, 4/11/96, p 18]
THE
ASSEMBLY HALL.
An overflow meeting was held in the Assembly Hall at 2 p. m.
Present on the stand: Of the Apostles, Brigham Young, John W. Taylor and George Teasdale.
Of the First Council of Seventies, Seymour B. Young and Edward Stevenson.
The congregation sang:
Do what is right.
Prayer by Elder A. H. Raleigh.
Singing:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation.
EDWARD STEVENSON
said he stood before the people as a witness for Christ and also for the Latter-day Prophets. all the Prophets of old spoke of our day. In the spring of 1820, when Joseph was praying in the woods, the light of heaven shone about him and two personages stood before him and one said to him, this is my beloved Son, hear Him. He was forbidden to join any of the churches. The history of the people of this continent was hid up until the Lord chose to reveal it through Joseph Smith. The Savior appeared unto the people of this hemisphere and organized His Church as He did on the eastern hemisphere. In the twenty-second year of his age the Lord permitted Joseph Smith to bring forth this record.
Referred to 11th chapter of Genesis: "Let us go down and scatter the people upon all the face of the land." First chapter of Ether, records of the people from Tower of Babel. Jared and his brother were of the people who were scattered.
Six hundred years before Christ another colony came out from Jerusalem. Joseph Smith brought forth records of these peoples.
John the baptist came and conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the Lesser priesthood. Peter James and John conferred the Melchisedec Priesthood upon them. The speaker had heard the prophet Joseph declare this. The speaker wished to call upon the world to repent and accept the Gospel.
Sister Maggie Hull, assisted by the Temple choir, sang "Glory to God on high."
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
Was pleased with the remarks of President Woodruff this morning. It is a joy to see him so full of vigor. We have every opportunity to enjoy ourselves. He desired the spirit of the Lord to enable him to say a few words in relation to a subject that had occurred to him. The human family are being educated. There are agencies at work educating the Latter-day Saints and intervening a barrier between them and their God. It is proper for all to have what might be termed a good English education. There are lessons to be learned to prepare us for the life to come. We arise in the resurrection with the knowledge which we acquire in this life.
The Latter-day Saints are original and take the lead. It takes the spirit of God to decide what to take up and what to leave behind. Where is the institution that is teaching the people for the present and future like our temples? You cannot find it in any of the seminaries or churches in the world.
Every individual educated in the Latter-day Saint educational institutions should have the missionary sentiment to disseminate the knowledge they received. He regretted that some who were educated in these institutions manifested a spirit of indifference in this direction.
The spirit of the Gospel that is in the hearts of the people will bring about a revolution in these matters. A system of education is going on and some are sinking lower while others are rising higher.
In course of time we will see the man or the woman as they have made themselves by the education that has been going on within the individual. There is an object lesson for all in the fact that the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum gave their lives as a seal to their testimony.
He thanked God that the people generally were seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that all things may be added unto them.
Singing:
We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.
Benediction by Elder Robert T. burton.
_____
[5 Apr, 7 pm]
[DNW 52:530-531, 4/11/96, p 18-19]
Priesthood
Meeting.
7 p. m.
A Priesthood meeting was held in the Tabernacle. At the afternoon session of the Conference an invitation had been extended to the sisters as well as the brethren to attend the evening meeting. The choir and congregation joined in singing, and the opening prayer was offered by Elder George B. Wallace.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG
was the first speaker. He expressed gratification at the instructions given during conference, and spoke of the education of the children of the Saints, making particular reference to the counsel given by revelation, in the Word of Wisdom, by the observance of which the physical organization of the children was made healthy and strong. He pointed out the necessity of obedience to all the counsels of the Lord, in order to make desirable progress in spiritual and temporal matters; and concluded by bearing witness to the divine calling of the leaders of the Church in this dispensation.
BISHOP WILLIAM B. PRESTON
addressed the congregation. He urged the Bishops and those associated with them in temporal matters of the Church to be more diligent in learning what was required of them and in doing it. They should set worthy examples and should counsel and instruct the people for their improvement in material affairs as well as in spiritual duties. He called special attention to the duties that devolved upon the Lesser Priesthood in their labors among the Saints.
ELDER JONATHAN G. KIMBALL
made some pointed suggestions to the young men, particularly on the necessity of being humble. He spoke of the need for pruning which existed among the Seventies, that they might be more firmly rooted and be more diligent in performing their duties. He also referred to the labors of the missionaries, and to traveling without purse or scrip, trusting in the Lord to give them what they needed; the Seventies should learn at home the requirements of missionary work. The Lord would bless the people if they had faith. He exhorted the people to sustain those called to officiate in the Priesthood.
After singing by the choir and congregation;, prayer was offered by Elder John Nicholson.
_____
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 52:531, 4/11/96, p 19]
THIRD
DAY
April 6th, 10 a. m.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
The time is far spent, there
is little remaining, To publish glad tidings by sea and by land;
Then hasten, ye heralds, go forward proclaiming. Repent, for the Kingdom of
heaven's at hand.
Prayer was offered by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Singing by the choir:
Prayer is the soul's sincere
desire, Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast.
The following reports were read by Elder Heber J. Grant:
A statistical report of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Statistical and financial report of the National Woman's Relief Society for the year ending December 31, 1895: Besides other information it showed an enrollment of 23,943, and that 503 branches had been organized in the State; receipts of various kinds of property, including amount on hand at the beginning of the year, $36,310; expended during the year, $18,417. The report bears the signatures of Zina D. H. Young, president; Jane S. Richards, Bathsheba W. Smith and Sarah M. Kimball, vice presidents; Emmelene B. Wells, secretary, and Isabella M. Horne, treasurer.
Annual report of the Young Ladies National Mutual Improvement association of Zion, from January 1st 1895 to January 1st 1896. It exhibited as follows: No. of associations 406; cash on hand and received, $9886; property, $3,882; increase in membership 227; in average attendance, 841.
Signed by Elmina S. Taylor, president, Maria Y. Dougal and Martha H Tingey, counselors, Ann M. Cannon, secretary and treasurer.
Of the Primary associations of the Church:
Six of the Stakes not reported. Number of associations, 437; officers and members, 32,343; average attendance, 14,848; meetings with miscellaneous exercises, 11,353; donations to charitable purposes, $576; to missionaries $43. Signed by Louie B. Felt, president, Lillie T. Freeze, counselor; May Anderson;, secretary, and nine aids to the general board.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH,
of the Council of the Apostles, was the first speaker. He referred to the erection of the Pioneer Monument, stating that the statue of Brigham young had been placed upon a temporary pedestal, for protection from the depredations of relic hunters. The permanent monument would be so elaborate as to be well worth the amount it would cost when completed. He urged greater zeal in laboring toward its completion. The speaker also stated the desire of the authorities that home publications should be more liberally patronized. They were established and distributed for the purpose [of] spreading among the people the principles of the Gospel and of Church government. Every home in the Church should secure as many of these magazines and papers as possible, and they should be feyly distributed in the different missions as efficient aids to the Elders. Their value in this connection had been proved. The spirit of loyalty to these publications should be developed to equal the increasing zeal for missionary work. The zeal in the latter direction was spoken of as developing to a remarkable and gratifying extent, and it was thought that this, coupled with the needed improvement in the matter of supporting home periodicals, would make the promulgation of Gospel principles in the world more efficient and easy. He closed with a testimony to the unity and faithfulness of the Church authorities, and their zeal in the performance of their duties, to the end that liberality and love toward all men might be increased, and as many as possible be brought to a knowledge of the truth.
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON
was called upon to address the congregation. He had rejoiced with the general body of Conference attendants, in the spirit of the meetings, which he characterized as the most enjoyable in his recollection. One principle he felt to impress unequivocally upon the minds of the Saints, their union in carrying out all the designs and purposes now in contemplation and progress. The authorities should be liberally sustained in their various projects, that they, holding the keys of the kingdom, might be able to open the doors of salvation and development to the people. There could be no doubt as to where those keys were to be found today. It was well sustained by a revelation to Frederick G. Williams, where he was told these keys should always remain with the First Presidency.
Referring to the peculiar position of the Saints in the past, and their firmness in holding it, he said that it was at first difficult for him to understand the correctness of the new position taken when the old was abandoned, but the key before referred to was manifested to him and he was convinced of the correctness of the new stand. With that key in their possession the Saints would have no fear for delusions, which would thus be stripped of their power to deceive. On every great occasion the preeminence of the Presidency has been displayed, and this Conference was a notable example. Such triumphs, progression, intelligence and freedom, would continue, until Zion would take its legitimate place at the head. The speaker closed with the prayer that the day of this consummation might be hastened.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
made interesting remarks in relation to the "Manifesto," for which he said the Lord was responsible. He gave a relation of some of his personal experience, showing how he had been led by the spirit of revelation from his boyhood. He also told the manner in which he had been shown, long before it occurred, that he should dedicate the Temple in this city. He predicted many good things concerning Zion.
ELDER B. H. ROBERTS,
of the first council of Seventy, followed. He said in substance: He had experienced great joy in the work of the conference, and especially that nothing had been done which might cause regret. He had possessed from boyhood a testimony of the work, and had often been led by the promptings and whisperings of the spirit. He had perhaps, not always been thus guided and controlled, and every such case had occasioned him much sorrow. He had been reminded of the word of the Lord to the whole Church at the time of its organization, when it was distinctly shown that the Prophet Joseph, having been accepted as first Elder in the Church, by the members of it, should be sustained as a seer, translator and Prophet of Jesus Christ, heed being given to all his words and commandments, as received from God. This to the end that the work might be strengthened and preserved from the storms that should break upon it. This position would give wisdom to the leaders of the Church, to sustain the liberty of the people, and yet guide that liberty to the glory of God, by his unerring counsel.
The speaker also bore testimony to the fact that this power and order would never be removed from earth, as it had been in all former dispensations, on account of the unworthiness of the people. In this dispensation the unfailing word of God had been pledged to the stability of the work, notwithstanding the imperfections of the people. Their loyalty to the truth was assured through the promise of God, and the speaker testified with power that the authority now exercised in love and zeal by the Priesthood should never be taken from them. They would be sustained of God, and even though some might have stumbled in the darkness, they might still return to the path of right, taking advantage of its unerring guidance to the good of salvation He sustained with humility and faithfulness the decisions and instructions of the Presidency and Apostles, and felt to urge all to submit themselves in obedience to the counsels and labors of the Priesthood. He hoped always to be able an willing to place the Kingdom of God and its interests paramount to all other issues.
The anthem,
Praise ye the Father,
was sung by the choir.
Benediction by L. W. Shurtleff.
_____
[6 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 52:531-532, 4/11/96, p 19-20]
Afternoon
Session
2 p.m.
The session opened by the choir singing
Great God, indulge my humble
claim; Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;
The glories that compose Thy name Stand all engaged to make me blest.
Prayer by Elder William C. Dunbar.
Singing by the choir, the anthem:
Cone, let us sing unto the Lord.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON,
after some preliminary remarks relating to its contents, announced to the Conference that a document addressed to the officers and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be read by Elder Heber J. Grant. The reading was then proceeded with.
[DNW 52:532-534, 4/11/96, p 20-22]
TO THE SAINTS:
_____
To the officers and members of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, in General Conference assembled:
Dear
Brethren and Sisters -- Every Latter-day Saint will recognize the value of
union, not only in action but in matters of faith and discipline. As to the
rights and authority of the priesthood of the Son of God, it is of the highest
importance that there should be no difference of opinion among the officers and
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Feeling the
necessity of a correct understanding of this principle, we deem it proper at
this sixty-sixth anniversary of the organization of the Church in these last
days, to prepare and present a statement on the subject, embodying the doctrine
which has always prevailed in the Church, and our views upon it. We are
prompted to adopt this course at the present time because of events which have
happened during the late political contest. A great diversity of opinion on the
subject has been expressed, and even by leading Elders in the Church, which
latter fact has naturally led in some instances to considerable division of
sentiment.
It is of
great importance that we understand each other and that there be harmony in our
teachings. It is especially important that these teachings shall be in
accordance with the rules and regulations and doctrines which have been taught
and which have prevailed from the beginning until the present time, having not
only the sanction of undisputed usage, but the approval of all faithful leaders
in the Church and of Him in whose name and by whose authority they act.
In the
late exciting contest, to which reference has been made, the presiding
authorities to some instances have been misunderstood. In other instances they
have been misrepresented, which has led to a wrongful conception of their real
views. It has been asserted too freely, and without foundation, that there has
been a disposition on their part to interfere with individual liberty and to
rebuke in some men a course which was applauded in others. In a word, that they
have appeared to desire to assert and maintain an unjust and oppressive control
over the actions of the members of the Church, and in thus doing have
endeavored to effect a union of Church and State. In the heat of political
discussion, assertions have been made and arguments used conveying to the
public mind a false idea concerning the position of the officers of the Church,
and leaving the impression that there has been and was now being made an
attempt to accomplish the union above referred to. Now that the excitement has
passed, and calmer reason has resumed its sway, we think it prudent to set
forth, so that all may understand, the exact position occupied by the leading
authorities of the Church.
In the
first place we wish to state in the most positive and emphatic language that at
no time has there ever been any attempt or even desire on the part of the
leading authorities referred to to have the Church in any manner encroach upon
the rights of the State or to unite in any degree the functions of the one with
those of the other.
Peculiar
circumstances have surrounded the people of Utah. For many years a majority of
them in every portion of the Territory belonged to one Church, every reputable
member of which was entitled to hold and did hold some ecclesiastical office.
It is easy to see how, to the casual observer, it might appear singular that so
many officers of the Church were also officers of the State; but while this was
in fact the case, the distinction between the Church and the State throughout
those years was carefully maintained. The President of the Church held for
eight years the highest civil office in the community, having been appointed by
the national administration governor of the Territory. The first secretary of
the Territory was a prominent Church official. An Apostle represented the
Territory in Congress as a delegate during ten years. The members of the
Legislature held also offices in the Church. This was unavoidable; for the most
suitable men were elected by the votes of the people, and, as we have stated,
every reputable man in the entire community held some Church position, the most
energetic and capable holding leading positions. This is all natural and plain
enough to those who consider the circumstances; but it furnished opportunity
for those who were disposed to assail the people of the Territory to charge
them with attempting to unite Church and State. A fair investigation of the
conditions will abundantly disprove the charge and show its utter falsity.
On behalf
of the Church of which we are leading officers, we desire again to state to the
members and also to the public generally, that there has not been, or is there,
the remotest desire on our part or on the part of our co-religionists to do
anything looking to a union of Church and State.
We
declare that there has never been any attempt to curtail individual liberty-the
personal liberty of any of the officers or members of the Church. The First
Presidency and other leading officers did make certain suggestions to the
people when the division on party lines took place. That movement was an
entirely new departure, and it was necessary, in order that the full benefit
should not be lost which was hoped to result from this new political division,
that people who were inexperienced should be warned against hasty and
ill-considered action. In some cases they were counseled to be wise and prudent
in the political steps they were about to take, and this with no idea of
winning them against their will to either side. To this extent, and no further,
was anything said or done upon this question, and at no time and under no circumstances
was any attempt made to say to voters how they should cast their ballots. Any
charge that has been made to the contrary is utterly false.
Concerning
officers of the Church themselves, the feeling was generally expressed in the
beginning of the political division spoken of that it would be prudent for
leading men not to accept of office at the hands of the political party to
which they might belong. This counsel was given to men of both parties
alike-not because it was thought that there was any impropriety in religious
men holding civil office, not to deprive them of any of the rights of
citizenship, but because of the feeling that it would be better under all the
circumstances which had now arisen to avoid any action that would be likely to
create jealousy and ill-feeling. An era of peace and good-will seemed to be
dawning upon the people, and it was deemed good to shun everything that could
have the least tendency to prevent the consummation of this happy prospect. In
many instances, however, the pressure brought to bear upon efficient and
popular men by the members of the parties to which they belonged was of such a
character that they had to yield to the solicitation to accept nomination to
office, or subject themselves to the suspicion of bad faith in their party
affiliations. In some cases they did this without consulting the authorities of
the Church; but where important positions were held, and where the duties were
of a responsible and exacting character, some did seek the counsel and advice
of the leading Church authorities before accepting the political honors
tendered them. Because some others did not seek this counsel and advice,
ill-feeling was engendered, and undue and painful sensitiveness was stimulated;
misunderstanding readily followed, and as a result the authorities of the
Church were accused of bad faith and made the subjects of bitter reproach. We
have maintained that in the case of men who hold high positions in the Church,
whose duties are well defined, and whose ecclesiastical labors are understood
to be continuous and necessary, it would be an improper thing to accept
political office or enter into any vocation that would distract or remove them
from the religious duties resting upon them, without first consulting and obtaining
the approval of their associates and those who preside over them. It has been
understood from the very beginning of the Church that no officer whose duties
are of the character referred to, has the right to engage in any pursuit,
political or otherwise, that will divide his time and remove his attention from
the calling already accepted. It has been the constant practice with officers
of the Church to consult or, to use our language, to "counsel" with
their brethren concerning all questions of this kind. They have not felt that
they were sacrificing their manhood in doing so, nor that they were submitting
to improper dictation, nor that in soliciting and acting upon the advice of
those over them, they were in any manner doing away with their individual
rights and agency, nor that to any improper degree were their rights and duties
as American citizens being abridged or interfered with. They realized that in
accepting ecclesiastical office they assumed certain obligations; that among
these was the obligation to magnify the office which they held, to attend to
its duties in preference to every other labor, and to devote themselves
exclusively to it with all the zeal, industry and strength they possessed,
unless released in part or for a time by those who preside over them. Our view,
and it has been the view of all our predecessors, is that no officer of our
Church, especially those in high standing, should take a course to violate this
long-established practice. Rather than disobey it, and declare himself by his
actions defiantly independent of his associates and his file leaders, it has
always been held that it would be better for a man to resign the duties of his
Priesthood: and we entertain the same view today.
In view
of all the occurrences to which reference has been made, and to the diversity
of views that have arisen among the people in consequence, we feel it to be our
duty to clearly define our position, so there may be no cause hereafter for
dispute or controversy upon the subject:
First --
We unanimously agree to and promulgate as a rule that should always be observed
in the Church and by every leading official thereof, that before accepting any
position, political or otherwise, which would interfere with the proper and
complete discharge of his ecclesiastical duties, and before accepting a
nomination or entering into engagements to perform new duties, said official
should apply to the proper authorities and learn from them whether he can,
consistently with the obligations already entered into with the Church upon
assuming his office, take upon himself the added duties and labors and
responsibilities of the new position. To maintain proper discipline and order
in the Church, we deem this absolutely necessary; and in asserting this rule,
we do not consider that we are infringing in the least degree upon the
individual rights of the citizen. Our position is that a man having accepted
the honors and obligations of ecclesiastical office in the Church cannot
properly of his own volition make those honors subordinate to or even
coordinate with new ones of an entirely different character; we hold that
unless he is willing to counsel with and obtain the consent of his
fellow-laborers and presiding officers in the Priesthood, he should be released
from all obligations associated with the latter, before accepting any new
position.
Second --
We declare that in making these requirements of ourselves and our brethren in
the ministry, we do not in the least desire to dictate to them concerning their
duties as American citizens, or to interfere with the affairs of the State;
neither do we consider that in the remotest degree we are seeking the union of
Church and State. We once more here repudiate the insinuation that there is or
ever has been an attempt by our leading men to trespass upon the ground
occupied by the State, or that there has been or is the wish to curtail in any
manner any of its functions. Your brethren,
WILFORD WOODRUFF,
GEORGE Q CANNON,
JOSEPH F. SMITH,
First
Presidency.
LORENZO SNOW,
F. D. RICHARDS,
BRIGHAM YOUNG,
FRANCIS M. LYMAN,
JOHN HENRY SMITH,
GEORGE TEASDALE,
HEBER J. GRANT,
JOHN W. TAYLOR,
MARRINER W. MERRILL,
ABRAHAM H. CANNON,
Apostles.
JOHN SMITH,
Patriarch.
SEYMOUR B. YOUNG,
C. D. FJELDSTED,
B. H. ROBERTS,
GEORGE REYNOLDS,
JONATHAN G. KIMBALL,
RULON S. WELLS,
EDWARD STEVENSON,
First
Council of Seventies.
WM. B. PRESTON,
R. T. BURTON,
JOHN R. WINDER,
Presiding
Bishopric.
SALT
LAKE CITY, April 6th, 1896.
NOTE --
The reason the signature of Apostle Anton H. Lund does not appear in connection
with those of his quorum is because he is absent, presiding over the European
mission. He, however, will be given the opportunity of appending his signature
when he returns home.
_____
[DNW 52:531-532, 4/11/96, p 19-20]
The paper in question appears in this issue of the NEWS. It was stated by Elder Grant that the only reason why the name of Anton H. Lund did not appear on the document in connection with his associate Apostles was because he was in Europe on a mission and, he being out of reach, his signature could not be obtained.
A motion was made by Elder Angus M. Cannon, Seconded by Elder Joseph E. Taylor, that the Conference adopt the position of the authorities as defined in their statement to which the people had listened. An opportunity was given for remarks pertinent to the motion. None were offered and the question being called for, it was put to the people by President George Q. Cannon and carried unanimously
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
presented the general authorities of the Church to the conference as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abraham H. Cannon.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Edward Stevenson.
William B. Preston, as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his Second Counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church historian and general Church recorder, with John Jaques and Chas. W. Penrose as his assistants.
As the Church Board of Education: Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. Thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
All the voting to sustain the authorities as presented was unanimous.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG,
of the Council of the Apostles, said in substance:
The action taken in the Conference today had brought great relief to the community and manifested the wisdom and consistency of the watchcare of God in the affairs of the Church. He rejoiced in the acquisition of Statehood after so many years of waiting, and in the prudence already displayed in the administration of the affairs of the commonwealth. Tried under new and peculiar conditions, the Saints, he hoped, would be equal to the emergencies presented to them. Many vicissitudes had been passed through of late, resulting in the unexpected wealth and poverty of many of the people. These were intended to prepare the people for the use of the means God was preparing to give them, for the furtherance of the cause of truth. He testified to the growth and improvement of the people of God, and the attention being attracted to the Latter-day Saints from the world at large.
He closed with the invocation of the blessings of God upon all who work righteousness in the earth.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
addressed the conference on spiritual gifts; especially that of revelation, by which the Church is led. He defined the operations of that gift, and explained some of its leading manifestations. He also asked the Saints to regard the First presidency in their true light, and declared that they had never done anything to forfeit their confidence. He asserted that if they entertained a feeling of love and confidence in those whom God loved the Almighty would bless them. The unjust reproaches of the world could be borne with, but foundationless insinuations of brethren, cut to the soul. He continued for some time giving timely instructions appropriate to existing conditions.
The concluding portion of President Cannon's discourse was devoted to giving an explanation of the recent efforts of the Presidency to establish enterprises which would furnish the people with employment.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 52:769, 6/6/96, p 1; CD 5:116-120[
REMARKS
Made at the General Conference of the Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Monday, April 8 [6], 1896, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER
_____
The
spirit that is enjoyed in this conference is a very sweet and heavenly feeling;
it produces pure happiness and contentment, and our hearts are filled with joy.
These are the evidences of God's favor; that He accepts of us and approves of
our course. There has been a great deal of curiosity indulged in by different
members of the Church as to the spirit of revelation and how it manifests
itself. It is true that in the Church the Lord has given, among other gifts,
the gift of the ministering of angels, also the gift of visions and dreams, and
some people imagine that the Church is led of God by the ministering of angels.
Now, angels do minister unto men in our day, and we can testify to this. We can
testify that Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer, has visited the earth and has
ministered unto men. Some can testify of this from their personal experience.
But the Church is led by the gift of revelation through the Holy Ghost. And how
is it known to be from God, that which comes, sometimes with power, and
sometimes with the still small voice of the Spirit? It is known by its fruits.
Questions arise upon various matters; differences of views exist and are
expressed; for the men whom God has chosen to lead the people are men of independent
thought and of positive character, and they do not consent without being
convinced; but there is a way by which the truth and the right can always be
known. Darkness is not one of the manifestations of revelations from God; it is
light-light which removes darkness and doubt from the human mind-that is the
evidence that a thing is right or that it is revelation from God. If you read
what the Prophet Joseph had revealed to him concerning Oliver Cowdery connected
with the work of translation, you will get a key to the spirit of revelation
that God has placed in His Church. Just as Brother B. H. Roberts quoted this
morning, the Lord told the Church that they should receive the words of His
servant Joseph "as if from mine own mouth." It is in this manner that
the Church of Christ is guided; it is this that constitutes its strength; it is
this that has given it its success. Men wonder at its success, but if they
could see how the Lord operates and how He brings things about to accomplish
certain ends, they would understand it. Why, if it were not so we would be
worried to death. We never could stand up under the pressure if we had to care
for this work, or if we had to indulge in fears concerning it; it would kill
the strongest man that ever lived. But it is not necessary to worry, or to take
trouble; it is only necessary to do our part and leave the result with God. He
will take care of His work. He has not gone to sleep; He has not gone on a
journey; He has not forgotten this work that He has established. Not in the
darkest hour, not in the deepest dilemma does He forget us. We can go to bed
and sleep without worrying over the work of God. And I do not believe that that
keeps the servants of God awake. Financial troubles may have worried some; but
so far as the work itself is concerned, that does not disturb the servants of
God. They know that He is taking care of it; and when the burden appears heavy
and oppressive the only course then is to ask God to make it light and to lift
the burden, and He never fails to do it in his own time and way. There is no
reason in the world why we should not live if not forever in the flesh, at
least, till we are all satisfied with life. I was going to say if I live till
then I will be very old; for I am very fond of life. There are so many
opportunities to labor. I would like to live and work; and I suppose we all
have that feeling.
We have
had a good time at this conference, and I want to say a few words that are in
my heart. I want you, my brethren and sisters, to bear with the First
Presidency. Think us honest men. Think us true men. Think us men that are not
schemers, and designers, and full of tricks. Do not think of us as bad men-men
that are ever ready to take advantage. What right have you to entertain such a
thought about any of us? What right has any man or woman in this congregation,
or in the Church, to have such an estimate about Wilford Woodruff or George Q.
Cannon or Joseph F. Smith? Have we ever done anything in our lives to furnish
the least foundation for such a view of our characters? I declare to you in the
presence of the Lord Almighty and all the holy hosts, that we have never done
anything in our lives to justify any suspicion of this character. Go through
our entire lives, in secret and in public, and in our transactions with the
children of men, you cannot put your finger on where we have done intentional
wrong. I do not say this to boast, but because of what has occurred in the past
months. At the same time, in another light, we feel that we are unworthy of that
responsibility and that honor which God has, in His wisdom, seen fit to place
upon us. Now, I want to say to all of you who are here-and I wish all Israel
could hear my words-go away from this conference carrying with you a feeling of
confidence and love in and for the First Presidency of this Church, as well as
the Twelve Apostles, and if you will do so God will bless you. If you do not do
it, I will not say what the consequences will be. I do not want to predict
evil; but I say that God will bless you if you love the men whom He loves, and
whom He has chosen out of all Israel for these stations. They have not chosen
themselves; they have not sought the offices themselves. The Lord knows this;
and many of you ought to know it. It is bad enough to have the world to fight.
I have been willing through my life to battle and to stand up and take all that
men would heap upon me that did not belong to the Church; but I have been
wounded to the very soul when my brethren and my sisters have said things that
were false concerning me, and concerning my brethren-for their reputation is as
dear to me as my own is. There is where it wounds; there is where it cuts;
there is where it hurts. Why, I have felt as though I could fight the whole
world, if I only did what God wanted me to do. I have suffered from mental fear
as very few men in the world have; but I have not suffered from the other fear.
I thank God for that; and I thank Him that the men who stand at your head are
men whose knees have never trembled, whose hands have never shook, whose hearts
have never failed them in the hour of peril and danger. The Lord has stood by
them and has made them valiant in the truth. Now, whether you know it or not, I
know it, and I bear testimony to it this afternoon. We have not paltered with
the word of God; we have not temporized with the enemy of the Church of Christ;
but when peril has come we have been ready to meet it and to face it, and to
stand all the consequences, with the Lord to help us. Now, we should esteem
these men. We are unworthy of the blessings of God if we do not do it. I have
had some experience before I was a member of the First Presidency, in traveling
with President Young, and listening to complaints from married people. It is
surprising how lenient a man will be with his wife when he loves her; but if he
does not love her, he is apt to be suspicious of her, and, perhaps, unkind and
hard towards her. So, on the other hand, when a woman becomes alienated from
her husband, and her affections are drawn from him, how wonderfully suspicious
she grows and how she distorts and misconstrues her husband's words and acts,
because of jealousy! Her mind becomes so filled with jealousy that she
illustrates the truth of the words of Shakespeare:
"Trifles, light as air, are to the jealous
confirmations strong as proofs of Holy Writ."
Yes,
trifles that would not be noticed ordinarily, to a jealous person, and
especially where there is no love, or where love is not strong enough to
overcome jealousy, become as strong as proofs of Holy Writ. I have seen this
illustrated many times.
Now, if
you love us, you will not be jealous of us, you will not suspect our acts, you
will not attribute false motives to us, you will not distort our words and put
a wrong construction on them; but you will have confidence in us. We ought to
be trusted. The Lord has trusted us, and cannot you trust us? Can not you have
confidence enough in us to believe that we will give right counsel in all
affairs? If you do not, then our declaration to-day is of no use. It would be
useless if you are going to rise up and say, "Oh! don't you see how they
favor that man?" "Don't you see how they discriminate against that
other man?" "Don't you see they will allow that man to do this, and
they will restrain that other man? That man is a Republican and this man is a
Democrat-or that man is a Democrat and this man is a Republican." Thus
they would attribute false motives to us, and color our conduct, and look at us
with suspicious eyes, watching for some evidence of unfairness on our part. Let
me warn you to-day, in the presence of the Lord and in the name of our Lord and
Master, against that, and be careful; for Satan will strive to instill these
ideas and thoughts into your minds to weaken the influence of the Priesthood of
the Son of God. It is most unfair to us; it is most unjust, because we can see
what others cannot see always; we can see reasons for a certain course of
conduct that others cannot see. You men that have large families understand
this. One child may think, Father is not fair; he lets my brother or sister do
such a thing or have such a thing, and why cannot I do the same or have the
same? Now, the father knows the reasons for doing as he does. We may as well
impugn the providence of our Heavenly Father on the same principle, if we carry
it far enough. The Lord blesses some men in various ways, and others do not
receive these blessings, although apparently they are just as worthy. And
infidels impugn the justice of the Eternal Father because of this,-as they see
it,-discrimination in His treatment of His children, and they scout the idea of
there being a God, because, measured by their puny, fallible standard, He does
not come up to the mark that they think He ought to reach.
As I say
to you again, have confidence in us, believe that we are honest, and say,
"No, I cannot understand that; it is not altogether clear to me; but I
know that there is nothing wrong. If I understood it, I know it would be all
right." That is the way we should talk. Do you think that I would doubt a
man whom I knew? No. I always believe good about him. If I cannot understand
some of his actions, I think, Well, if I knew the reasons I would understand it
and it would be reconcilable with my ideas of the justice of his character. That
is the way I feel towards all my friends. I am loth to believe that they are
acting from improper motives or with improper feelings. For this reason I never
want to hear a one-sided statement, nothing ex parte, because it is impossible
to come to a correct conclusion without hearing both sides.
I trust
that the Lord will impress these thoughts on all our hearts, that we may feel
and realize the truth of these things.
There is
another subject that I would like to allude to, if time will permit. It is this:
You have heard of our entering into enterprises and striving to do something to
furnish employment for the people and to cause the people of this State to
assume that position which we think they are entitled to. We have endeavored to
seek the mind and will of God concerning this; and we have endeavored to be
careful about every step, that there should be no misstep, no wrong conclusion,
no wrong action. If ever men sought this, I believe I am justified in saying
that we have. Now, we are entering into these enterprises for wise purposes.
First, speaking for the Latter-day Saints, it does not seem right that the
people should gather to Zion, and then scatter throughout the land. This is a
gathering dispensation. We have felt that God has entrusted you to us as a
flock is entrusted to a shepherd. The eyes of the Latter-day Saints naturally
turn for counsel and help to the authorities of their Church, in the hours of
distress and affliction. It is therefore a cause of unfeigned sorrow to us to
see men and women-either Latter-day Saints or others-idle in our land, being
without employment, and dependent upon the Church or upon individual charity
for that which is necessary to sustain life. According to the report read at
this conference there are too many dependent upon the Church for assistance. We
should lessen this number by every means in our power, and place within every
person's reach-not only the Latter-day Saints, but every citizen of Utah-the
opportunity of earning his or her own bread. I can scarcely conceive of
anything in human affairs that is so painful to men and women who have been
energetic and industrious to be reduced to penury and to a condition of
dependence; and we should be merciful to those who are in this condition. Some
people become helpless and they have to be sustained. When help is extended to
such, it should be done in the most delicate manner, not to wound the
susceptibilities of the poor. I believe there are men and women that would
almost rather starve than to go about and make their wants known. They feel
what we would call proud. Well, it is a proper pride to feel independent; and
it is contrary to all our practices in the past to do anything that would have
the effect to reduce people to pauperism. Residents of this State should earn
their own living, by some honorable means of employment.
These
reasons have had great weight with us, and we have talked and counseled about
them a great deal, as well as prayed about them. Now, the Lord in His goodness
seems to be opening the way for us to obtain employment. We have, as you know,
a large enterprise at Ogden. Some of the brethren who went up there, I
understand, have become dissatisfied and come away because the conditions did
not altogether suit them. We are doing everything in our power to make
employment for our own people. We do not want people from afar to come in and
take the bread that ought to be earned by the residents of this State. But some
have said they are not suited with the conditions. This is unfortunate. The
contractor is desirous of employing residents of the State. He says he likes
our citizens; he has had them work for him before, and they have given him
entire satisfaction, as they are peaceful and quiet and do their work. A number
of men were sent up there the other day, and I met one of them on the street.
He said to me, "Well, a good many of us have come back." I asked him
the reason. Said he, "we did not like the man"-a sort of
subcontractor I think he was. I asked him whether he required of the men
anything that was improper. "No, but we did not like him." Therefore,
he and others had quit work. I think that is a very unreasonable thing. If work
is there, it seems to me that we should embrace the opportunity to work. We do
not want any working man oppressed; we do not want any tyranny exercised over
them; but this contractor can get the men without drawing them from our
settlements. There are many coming here who will gladly take employment. They
may not stay long; they may give dissatisfaction in some respects; but they can
be obtained.
I wanted
to say this much to this conference before we adjourned. Our brethren ought to
look at this in the light that we design they shall view it in-look at it a
little from our standpoint. We want employment furnished to the people. We want
business revived. We want to control that which we should control. We want to
obtain the influence that belongs to a people having a credit that is
unexampled for integrity and honesty and good management. We want to reap the
benefits of this character and this credit, which President Young commenced,
and which has been carefully built up during forty-eight years. We want the
citizens of Utah-the entire community, to have the benefit of this credit, and
not see strangers come from afar and do that which we ought to do. And if you
will take hold and have the union that has been shown in our proceedings at
this conference, and be determined to be united, it will give us power and
influence in the earth, and men will respect and honor us.
Allusions
were made by Brother John Henry Smith to the circulation of our periodicals. It
occurred to me while he was speaking that the day has at last come, I believe,
when we should use the press as we never have used it. It is a mighty engine
for good, if used properly. Our enemies have used it in the most effective
manner against us, and Satan has been determined apparently to exclude every
line of truth from circulation in the world. I believe that instead of this
mighty engine being used for our destruction, we should use it for the
salvation of our fellowmen, by disseminating the truth and circulating it in
every corner of the habitable globe. I trust that that day has come; and we
must enlarge our hearts and become liberal in these things, and use the paper
and the ink for the purpose which our Great Creator undoubtedly designed them
for-to do good to human kind.
My
brethren and sisters, I pray God, in the name of Jesus, to bless you all, to
bless you in all your relations in life, and to fill you with the Holy Ghost
continually. No better blessing could I ask in your behalf, or in my own, than
this. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang:
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning.
Conference adjourned for six months.
Benediction by President Wilford Woodruff.
_____
4-6 Oct 1896, 66th
Semi-Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 53:524, 10/10/96, p 12; Millennial Star, 58:689]
[4 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 53:524, 10/10/96, p 12]
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
_____
The sixty-seventh [66th] semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt lake City, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 4th, 1896, President Wilford Woodruff presiding.
Of the general authorities present on the stand there were of the First Presidency -- Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anthon H. Lund; Patriarch John Smith; of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, George Reynolds and Jonathan G. Kimball; of the Presiding Bishopric -- Wm. B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
Conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
Softly beams the sacred dawning Of the great Millennial morn.
Opening prayer by Elder Brigham young.
The choir again sang, the hymn commencing:
High on the mountain top A banner is unfurled. Ye nations now look up, It waves to all the world.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
was the first speaker. His remarks dealt chiefly with the pleasure he felt in meeting with the Saints, reflections on the evident fulfillment of prophecies concerning the results upon the Jews of killing the Savior and the effects upon this generation of the killing of the Prophet Joseph Smith and other holy men; the delivery by Joseph of the keys and responsibility upon the Apostles to carry the gospel to the world and build up the kingdom of God on the earth.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 53:545, 10/17/96, p 1 pars 1-6; CD 5:187-190]
REMARKS [1st part]
Made at the General conference of [the] Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 4th, 1896, by
PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
If I ever
felt thankful in my life for anything, I do this morning that I am alive, that
I stand in the flesh and have again the privilege of assembling in conference.
I am thankful that I have the privilege of meeting in this capacity Prophets,
Patriarchs, Apostles, Elders and Latter-day Saints. For the sixty-three years
of the sixty-six since the organization of the Church I have been blessed to
meet, when at home, with the general conferences of the Church. I have listened
to the testimony of Prophets and Apostles and Elders of Israel, including that
good and great man, the Prophet Joseph Smith, whom God raised up and appointed
from before the foundation of the world to stand in the flesh in the latter
days and organize the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to prepare
the way for the coming of the Son of Man, to warn the whole world as far as
doors should be opened, and to prepare for the great events to transpire in the
generation in which we live. The testimony of the Prophet Joseph has been a
strong one concerning the great and last dispensation of God to man on the
earth. Upwards of eighteen hundred years have rolled away since the death of
the Savior of the world and His Apostles, and the God of heaven knows what it
cost the Jewish nation to shed the blood of their Savior and their Shiloh, and
the blood of the Apostles. The blood of the Lord's anointed which was shed by
that nation in that day cost more than the human family can comprehend. Well
might the Savior say, while passing through that ignominious death upon the
cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Truly,
they knew not what they did; but the effect of it has been manifest with the
house of Israel now for eighteen hundred years, and the end is not yet. So I
will say with regard to the Gentiles. The God of heaven knows what it will cost
them for shedding the blood of the Prophet of God and his brother, and the
Apostles and brethren who laid down their lives for the word of God and
testimony of Jesus Christ. It costs something to shed righteous blood. And the
Gentiles have not got eighteen hundred years before them in which to pay the
debt. The words of the Lord have got to be fulfilled upon them in the day and
generation in which these holy men have been slain.
I refer
to these things because I know not how long I may have the privilege of bearing
my testimony of the Gospel of Christ on the earth. The revelations that are in
the Bible, the predictions of the Patriarchs and Prophets who saw by vision and
revelation the last dispensation and fullness of times, plainly tell us what is
to come to pass. The 49th chapter of Isaiah is having its fulfillment, as are
the sayings of the Patriarchs and Prophets as laid down in the records of
divine truth. And they will be rapid in their fulfillment. I have often said in
my teachings, if the world want to know what is coming to pass, let them read
the revelations of St. John. Read of the judgments of God that are going to
overtake the world in the last dispensation. Read the papers and see what is
taking place in our own nation and in the nations of the earth, and what does
it all mean? It means the commencement of the fulfillment of what the Prophets
of God have predicted. In the Doctrine and Covenants there are many revelations
given through the mouth of the Prophet of God; these revelations will all have
their fulfillment, as the Lord lives, and no power can hinder it. In one of the
revelations the Lord told Joseph Smith:
Behold,
verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who
are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
But the Lord saith unto them,
pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender, (for verily your faith is
weak,) lest you destroy the wheat also.
Therefore let the wheat and the
tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe, then ye shall first gather
out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat,
behold and lo! the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be
burned.
I want to
bear testimony to this congregation, and to the heavens and the earth, that the
day is come when those angels are privileged to go forth and commence their
work. They are laboring in the United States of America; they are laboring
among the nations of the earth; and they will continue. These things are at our
doors, and neither you nor I can hinder them. We need not marvel or wonder at
anything that is transpiring in the earth. The world do not comprehend the
revelations of God. They did not in the days of the Jews; yet all that the
Prophets had spoken concerning them came to pass. So in our day, these things
will come to pass. I heard the Prophet Joseph bear his testimony to these
events that would transpire in the earth. I have had the privilege during my
life to see the beginning of the fulfillment of the words of the Prophet of God
unto the inhabitants of the earth. He lived but a short time; but the Savior's
life was much shorter after entering the ministry. He was put to death, as were
all His Apostles, excepting John; and that blood has been paid for as far as
time would admit. We cannot draw a veil over the events that await this
generation. No man that is inspired by the Spirit and power of God can close
his ears, his eyes or his lips to these things. I do not know that I shall live
to see much more; it is not likely that I shall; but I have lived to see the
commencement in the earth. I have lived to see the words of the Prophet of God
being fulfilled concerning Zion, concerning the mountains of Israel, and the
gathering together of the Lord's people to prepare for the coming of the Son of
Man. We have been led to these mountains in fulfillment of revelation. We have
laid a foundation for the gathering of the House of Israel and the Saints of
the living God. I hope that we as a people may comprehend these things. I have
listened to the testimony, not only of the Prophet of God, but also of many of
the Apostles. I remember very well the last charge that Joseph gave to the
Apostles. We had as little idea that he was going from us as the Apostles of
the Savior did that He was going to be taken from them. Joseph talked with us
as plainly as did the Savior to His Apostles, but we did not understand that he
was about to depart from us any more than the Apostles understood the Savior.
Now, I have heard of other parties rising up and pretending that the Prophet
Joseph Smith gave unto them a charge to lead and direct the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. I want to say that it is false; there is not a
word of truth in it. When he delivered that charge to the Apostles he was
filled with the power of God. His face was clear as amber, and the room was
filled with the Spirit of God, like the holy fire. In his address he told us
that he had received at the hands of the Almighty God all the keys, and powers,
and priesthood, and ordinances and gifts belonging to the dispensation in which
we lived. "Now," says he, "I have sealed all these blessings
upon your heads, upon you Apostles of the Lamb of God, who have been chosen to
bear off this Church and kingdom on the earth;" and after making this
solemn proclamation to us, he said, "Now, you have got to round up your
shoulders and bear off this kingdom, or you will be damned." I never shall
forget that. All of those Apostles today are in the spirit world, excepting
myself, and they know that what he said is true; and those of us who have the
Spirit of God know that it is true.
I feel to
thank God for the progress of the work. The Elders of Israel are abroad among
the nations carrying the Gospel to the children of men, and the Lord is
blessing them and opening the way before them. It is true, our doctrine is not
popular. In fact, the Latter-day Saints as a body have been under a ban, in a
great measure, from the organization of the Church until of late. The doctrine
of Jesus is an unpopular doctrine. But there is only one Gospel; never was but
one Gospel ordained of God to man for the salvation of the human family. That
Gospel was taught by the Savior and by His Apostles. It was taught Joseph Smith
by Moroni, and the Priesthood was given unto him by John the Baptist, and
Peter, James and John. The first principle of that Gospel is faith. Well, the
people of the world may say, we all believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, but there is
something to do besides believing in Christ. We must repent of our sins, be
baptized for the remission of them, and receive the Holy Ghost. This is the
doctrine taught by Christ and His Apostles. The same Gospel was taught to Adam
and by him to his children. These doctrines have been revealed to us by the
administration of angels. The gifts, the graces, and powers that belonged to
that Gospel are with this people, and have been from the organization of the
Church.
My
brethren and sisters, we must be faithful, because the responsibility is great
and mighty that rests upon us as bearers of the Holy Priesthood. You will see
many strange things take place in the earth. We are at the end, so to speak, of
the six thousand years. We are bordering on the millennium, when the Son of Man
shall come in the clouds of heaven. Therefore, we cannot lay down our
Priesthood and the work which the God of heaven has put into our hands. The
eyes of God and the heavenly host are upon us. The eyes of the Prophet Joseph
and all those sanctified spirits who have laid down their lives for the work of
God and testimony of Jesus are upon us. Therefore, I feel this morning to bear
my testimony to these things. The Lord has blessed me, so far as life is
concerned, a long time. I have been connected with this Church while almost two
or three quorums of Apostles have passed away. Let us lay these things to
heart. Let us look at our position before the Lord. Let us be true and faithful
in the work of the ministry and in doing the things God requires at our hands.
God has blessed us. He has led us unto these mountains of Israel. The prophet
of God was inspired to bring the people to this great American desert. There
were no marks of the white man here, no marks of agriculture, and nothing to
encourage any man to stop here; but President Brigham Young pitched his tent
here, and laid the foundation of this city, with these broad streets and
sidewalks, in the midst of sand and sagebrush. The Lord's Spirit was with him,
and he saw what was to do here. We are in the midst of the mountains of Israel,
prophesied of as the gathering place of the people of God in the last days,
where they might stand in holy places while the judgments of God worked in the
earth. Let us try to do our duty, and labor for the Holy Spirit. The devil and
the fallen spirits have labored from the creation of the world to thwart the
purposes of God. He did it in the days of Christ. He tempted even Him forty
days and forty nights. His Apostles did not escape, either. We shall not escape
any more than they did. The arch-enemy is laboring for the overthrow of this
Church and kingdom. He knows something about it. Therefore, you and I ought to
pursue a course wherein we can be justified before the Lord. There are many
events before us and at our door, and they follow each other in quick
succession. No power on earth or under the earth can stay the fulfillment of
these things. You can hardly see them with your eyes, hear them with your ears,
and feel them in your spirits. And when these strange things take place, no man
should marvel and wonder at them, because they are in the great programme. They
have been decreed by Almighty God, and these things are only the beginning of
sorrows.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
next addressed the Conference. He spoke of the force and value of the testimony of President Woodruff, who had been personally taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. He had heard the charge of Joseph to the Twelve, on whom he placed the authority to carry forward the work of God to success. He had known that all those who had arisen and made claims to lead the church had no divine authority. President Smith spoke of there being many good and pious people in the world, and explained that goodness alone was not sufficient to empower them to represent God in the building up of His kingdom. He stated that the leaders of this Church were recognized by the Almighty, and that they should also be recognized by the people. Those who failed to support whom God had chosen would not receive recognition at the hands of the Lord. Besides dwelling clearly and elaborately upon the foregoing points, he discoursed earnestly upon the necessity of parents teaching their children in Zion the principles of the Gospel, that they might keep the faith when they reached maturity.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
testified to the harmony of this dispensation with all that had preceded it, in the gifts and blessings of the Spirit, naming instances of the exercises of such gifts. He also referred to the work for the dead, testifying that this labor is being accepted in heaven and that Apostle Abraham H. Cannon and others had been called into the spirit world to perform missions there in connection with this work. Joseph Smith was the first since the days of the ancient Apostles to preach this doctrine.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 53:545, 10/17/96, p 1 pars 7-12; CD 5:187-190]
REMARKS [1st part]
Made at the General conference of [the] Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 4th, 1896, by
PREST. WILFORD WOODRUFF.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I want to
make a few remarks on another subject. Whenever the Lord has a people on the
earth, no matter in what age of the world, they will dove-tail right square
into any other dispensation. You may see that throughout the whole history of
the world. When Christ was born and entered into the ministry, and when He
chose His Apostles they acknowledged every revelation that had ever been given
from father Adam down to their day. They had the same Gospel, the same gifts,
the same fruits. Now, if these Latter-day Saints are the saints of God, their
works will be the same as were Christ's and the Apostles'. I hold in my hand
the Doctrine and Covenants, containing revelations given through the Prophet
Joseph Smith while he dwelt in the flesh. Read those revelations, and from
beginning to end they unite with all dispensations God has had on the earth.
And that is not all. When God has a people on the earth the fruits of the
Gospel will be manifest. In my boyhood I went to Sabbath school, under old Dr.
Porter. I read the New Testament; I read about the gifts and graces that Christ
and His Apostles had; and I asked Dr. Porter why it was that they did not
contend for this faith, and why they did not have these gifts and graces.
"Oh," said he, "those things were given in the dark ages of the
world, to convince the world that Jesus was the Christ. We live today in the
glorious Gospel light of Christ, and we do not need them." Then, said I,
for God's sake give me the dark ages of the world! That has been my spirit from
that day to this. Here are thousands of men and women in this house, if they
had the opportunity, could rise up and bear testimony that the fruits of the
Gospel which the Apostles enjoyed are with these people. These Elders who have
traveled thousands of miles can bear testimony that wherever this Gospel has
been preached and wherever the Elders of Israel have administered, the gifts
and graces have followed them. I bear testimony to this. My brethren can bear
testimony to it. The sick have been healed, devils have been cast out, the lame
have leaped, the deaf have heard, and all the gifts and graces that ever were
manifest have been enjoyed among these Elders of Israel.
Several
years ago I met a man and woman here in the street. The woman said, "Do
you know me?" I said I do not. "Do you know this man that is with
me?" "No, I do not." "Why," said she, "you laid
hands on this boy in Herefordshire fifty years ago. He was dumbfounded-never
spoke a word till you laid hands upon him and blessed him; and he has spoken
ever since." We have no business to claim to be Saints of the living God
without we have the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we have that these
gifts will be with us. You know this as well as I do. Joseph Smith had the
whole spirit and power of this resting upon him while he lived. He taught these
principles to us, and they have been realized, and will be until this scene is
wound up. This work shows for itself. That Gospel was taught Joseph Smith by an
angel, as John the Revelator says:
And I saw
another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people.
Saying with a loud voice, Fear
God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.
Yes, the
hour of God's judgment is come, and we should be prepared. Who besides the
Latter-day Saints, since the days of Christ and His Apostles, have ever taught
the principle of the redemption of the dead? Here we have four temples reared
in this State by the Latter-day Saints, and tens of thousands of the dead have
been redeemed by the administration of the Gospel of Christ to their posterity
or friends. This is one of the evidences of the fulfillment of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. The prophet says, "Saviors shall come upon mount Zion * * *
and the kingdom shall be the Lord's." If we were not the Saints of God, we
could not do this. Whatever other dispensations may have done in this
direction, we have no record of it. Jesus Himself preached this doctrine. While
His body lay in the tomb He went and preached to those who were in the spirit
world, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh. This work is
with the Latter-day Saints, and will remain with us.
We lost
one of our Apostles a short time since. He was about the youngest man in the
quorum of the Apostles. He was called suddenly away from us. There is a meaning
to this. Many times things take place with us that we do not comprehend, unless
it is given to us by revelation. But there is a meaning in the loss of that young
Apostle. I had a manifestation of that while in San Francisco recently. One
evening, as I fell asleep, I was very much troubled with evil spirits, that
tried to afflict me; and while laboring to throw off these spirits and their
influence, there was another spirit visited me that seemed to have power over
the evil spirits, and they departed from me. Before he left me he told me not
to grieve because of the departure of Abraham Hoagland Cannon; for the Lord had
called him to fill another important mission in the spirit world, as a pure and
holy Apostle from Zion in the Rocky Mountains-a labor which would not only
prove a great benefit to his father's household, but to the Church and kingdom
of God upon the earth. I feel to name this, because it is true. I have become
acquainted with many things in our history that I have marveled at. While in
the St. George Temple I had a son, who was in the north country, drowned. He
was 21 years of age, and was a faithful young man. He had a warning of this. In
a dream he was notified how he would die. We had testimony of that after his
death. I asked the Lord why he was taken from me. The answer to me was,
"You are doing a great deal for the redemption of your dead; but the law
of redemption requires some of your own seed in the spirit world to attend to
work connected with this." That was a new principle to me; but it
satisfied me why he was taken away. I name this because there are a great many
instances like it among the Latter-day Saints. This was the case with Brother Abraham
Cannon. He was taken away to fulfill that mission. And where we have anything
of this kind, we should leave it in the hands of God to reconcile.
Let us
try as Latter-day Saints to qualify ourselves to do the will of God and bear
off His kingdom, and be true and faithful to the end, which may God grant, for
Christ's sake. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
Israel's sons, with one accord, Raise a song, a song of joy.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
_____
[4 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 53:524, 10/10/96, p 12]
Afternoon
Session
The choir sang a portion of the hymn which commences:
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! The latter-day glory begins to come forth.
Prayer by Elder John W. Hess.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
O may Father, Thou that dwellest In the high and glorious place.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
addressed the congregation. He took for the basis of the first part of his discourse the truths embodied in the hymn which had just been sung by the choir, and dwelt for some time on the origin of man, who, according to the revelation, was descended in his spiritual being from God, whose gifts and attributes he inherited. The speaker also explained the object of man's probationary existence on the earth. God had in various ways vindicated these truths, not withstanding the fluctuating and changing theories of men in relation to human kind evolving from lower forms and orders of life. He spoke of the joy to be derived from the possession of such sublime truths and the consciousness of an exalted origin. The closing part of the discourse related to the nature and character of the Priesthood which God had revealed to this dispensation, and the necessity for the Saints being advised and directed by that authority. It was clearly shown that in taking this course and giving ear to the councils of the leaders of the Church, there was no loss of independence. It was not man-worship, but a just and consistent recognition of the authority of God. The character and history of the Saints showed that there was no community on earth more independent than they.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 53:737, 11/28/96, p 1; CD 5:192-197]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of [the] Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, October 4th, 1896, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I trust
that the Latter-day Saints will exercise faith in behalf of those who address
them. A congregation of people like those present, who have come together to
worship the Lord have come doubtless with great desire that they may be fed the
bread of life, and one would naturally be appalled at attempting to address a
gathering of this size and character, unless he had the assurance that the Lord
would help him. This hymn that we have just sung ("O, my Father, thou that
dwellest," etc.), is full of meaning and inspires solemn thoughts. It
seems to be almost a revelation of itself; (in fact, the grand truths which it
contains were revealed through the Prophet Joseph) and while it was being sung,
I thought how little mankind know of the truths which are embodied in those
four verses of poetry. The Lord has been very kind and merciful unto His
children in these latter days, in revealing the relationship which exists
between Himself and the children of men, and in communicating some of His
purposes in placing man here upon the earth. In this respect the Latter-day
Saints, or those who have received the Gospel, have the advantage of the rest
of mankind. While the scientific world and a large portion of the religious
world are groping in dense darkness concerning the origin of man and the
purpose of the Creator in placing him here, and while they are striving to
arrive at some conclusion that will prove satisfactory, the Latter-day Saints
possess knowledge concerning their origin. They do not believe that they have
been evolved from some lower order of creation, nor that they have come on the
earth by chance. If the Gospel did no more for us than this, what a great boon
it would be, dispelling darkness and uncertainty and men's theories concerning
the origin of man. And we could go on and touch upon a great many principles in
like manner, concerning which the revelations of Jesus have given us knowledge
and understanding.
The
Latter-day Saints are in a position to progress and to become informed in every
direction without having to stop to investigate the theories and views of men.
The Lord has revealed with plainness and simplicity, accompanied by the
testimony of the Holy Ghost, many things about which the world is in doubt.
Books have been written and years of time spent by learned men to establish
what is called the Darwinian theory, while others have endeavored to combat
that theory. It has disturbed the whole religious world. Many preachers of the
Gospel have adopted this theory. The result is, infidelity has spread. Doubt
has been thrown upon the Mosaic account of creation, the whole religious world
has been agitated, and in many instances faith in the scriptures has been
destroyed by this theory of the eminent philosopher, Charles Darwin. I suppose
the majority of the theologians who have been trained in the universities
during the last quarter of a century, are inclined to look upon the Mosaic
account of the creation as mythical in character. Men will try to show you-and
apparently succeed-that this earth and its inhabitants have existed for a far
longer period than the Bible warrants us in believing. Only a week or two ago
it was published that some scientific man, in digging in the ruins of one of
the ancient cities, found, as he claims, evidences that that city was in
existence thousands of years before the biblical time of the creation of man.
According to the chronology in the Bible, the Savior came about four thousand
years after the placing of Adam on the earth; but this man of science says this
city must have been in existence seven or eight thousand years before the birth
of the Savior. He produces evidence of this in the form of pottery upon which
the records of those days were kept, and which he has succeeded in deciphering.
Other scientific men attempt to prove in different ways that the earth has been
in existence long periods anterior to the time that those who believe in the
Bible accept. They talk of the flint age, of the bronze age, of the iron age,
etc., and try to prove from these things that the antiquity of man is far
greater than the Bible chronology gives evidence of.
Had not
the Lord given us revelation, confirmed by the gift of the Holy Ghost what a
condition we would have been in as well as the rest of mankind! How we would
have been agitated and left a prey to doubt and uncertainty concerning these
vital truths! But the Lord has given unto us evidences that are indisputable.
He has given unto us the Bible, which has come down from the Jews. He has
corroborated that by the revelation of the Book of Mormon. One, though
translated by the learning of man, contains many precious truths; and the other
has been translated by the power of God. There is no other book that it is
claimed has been translated by the power of God, but the Book of Mormon. This
has come to us pure and authentic, and we can rely upon its testimony. In
addition to these books, we have the revelations of the Lord to this Church
contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. These three witnesses agree.
President Woodruff used a very happy and expressive phrase this morning when he
said that this dispensation dovetailed into the former dispensations. So with
these books. They dovetail into each other, and they form a combination that
cannot be broken, because they agree exactly. Every truth harmonizes with every
other truth, and there is no conflict between them.
This
people are exceedingly happy in having possession of these indisputable
evidences concerning such important subjects. Do the Latter-day Saints believe
that they have ascended or been evolved from a lower order of creation? No; for
God has revealed to this Church that we are His children, made in His image,
and possessing the gifts and attributes of God-not in their perfection, not in
their developed condition, but possessing them nevertheless. We have these
Godlike powers and attributes. We have descended from God, and can claim our
parentage from Him, as much as our children can claim their parentage from us.
Men may have lived in a low condition. The evidences of this can be produced.
It can be proved that men fell from their high estate, and that in many
instances they have lived in degradation, just as the Lamanites have descended
to their low estate. But we know, from the record that God has given to us, the
causes that have produced this. We know that the Lamanites were once a noble
race of people. But through centuries of wrong-doing they have become degraded
and low. This has been the case with many races. Our own ancestors have been in
this condition, if we trace back far enough. Originally, however, man stood in
the presence of his Maker, and his Maker recognized him as His son. He bestowed
upon man blessings such as One so exalted would naturally bestow upon His
offspring. But there was another power at work. Satan, who rebelled against God
and sought to destroy the purposes of Jehovah, spread abroad his baneful
influences, and these evil influences have had to be contended with through all
the generations of men until the present time.
You can
see, my brethren and sisters, the advantage that we possess in having the truth
revealed to us. It ought to be the aim of our lives to preserve that truth, and
to teach it to our children, that they may be the custodians of it and preserve
it from the false ideas and vain philosophy that are being so industriously
propagated at the present time in the highest institutions of learning in our
land. This is one of the reasons why our young men who go away to college incur
such risks of losing their faith. Nearly all the text books and the teachings
of these institutions of learning, not excepting theological institutions, have
a tendency to make the students accept as true the modern ideas concerning the
antiquity of man and the age of the earth.
Now, this
Church is the repository of the truth. I know of no other organization on the
earth that is made the custodian of these grand truths which the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds. This is a very important mission that
God has entrusted to us. He has communicated to us these truths, and has borne
testimony to them unto us by His Holy Spirit. Men may philosophize and say they
can prove that man lived on the earth more than four thousand years before the
Savior came, and that the earth itself was organized and inhabited long
anterior to the time assigned in the Mosaic account. Suppose they entertain
this idea and think they can do this, it ought not to disturb our faith. We
have seen theory after theory dissipated. Scientific men are continually
advancing theories and creating hypothetical conditions, only to be shattered
later on. Almost every generation changes it views in regard to these things.
That which was believed fifty years ago is overturned today; that which is
believed by the scientific world today may be upset, if things don't change,
fifty years hence, by new theories as unsound probably as those they displace.
But this is not our condition. The Lord has revealed the truth to us, and the
records that we have confirm His revelations to us.
We may be
called ignorant and fanatical for clinging to these things. But it is like the
rod of iron that Lehi saw in his vision; if we cling to it, we have got
something firm in our grasp, and though the mists of darkness may surround us,
making it difficult to see the path before us, we may rest assured that we will
be brought safely through.
Aside
from these evidences, however, I would rather believe that I was a literal
descendant of the Almighty, and lift my eyes to Him as my Father, and aspire to
be like Him, than to entertain any other belief, however well supported it
might be by the evidences of men. No, no; we have not ascended from any
inferior order of beings. We have, I repeat, descended from the God of heaven,
the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The sublime words of this hymn that
we have sung this afternoon are true.
My brethren
and sisters, we come together on these occasions to be taught of the Lord by
the outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon us; and when we come with this feeling,
I am sure none of us go away empty. How often we hear the expression, "I
have enjoyed this conference better than any conference I ever attended,"
and there is no reason why this present conference should be an exception. The
Lord is willing to bestow His blessings upon us and to fill our souls with
light and intelligence. We have heard this morning testimonies that I consider
of the greatest importance to us. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the
principle of recognizing and acknowledging the counsels and the guidance of the
Priesthood of the Son of God. Oh! that our eyes could be open to see and our
hearts be made to understand that which God has done for us in placing the Holy
Priesthood in His Church. If we could but comprehend it, every heart would
swell to its utmost capacity in thanksgiving and praise to the God of heaven
for His infinite kindness and mercy in bestowing the Priesthood upon men in
this day and age, in giving unto us the organization of the Church and the
Gospel, with its glorious principles, and in giving unto us men who have the
authority to officiate in all the ordinances of the Gospel. Do the servants of
God want to lift themselves up and become objects of adoration among the
people? Do they want you to bow to them and to do reverence to them? If there
are any among those who occupy official positions in this Church that have this
feeling, I have not met them. My observation has been that while these men feel
the importance of the Priesthood God has bestowed upon them, and have a desire
to magnify and honor it, and to see it honored, yet they recognize that in and
of themselves they are very weak, and they feel the lack of that ability and
power which they ought to have to magnify their offices to the acceptance of
God and the satisfaction of the people. You know the President of this Church.
I need not-in his presence, at least-enumerate his qualities, nor speak to you
of his humility and his unassuming character. You know him. So it is with the
rest. Some may not have so happy a faculty of appearing humble in public as
others; but in the hearts of these men there is no desire to exercise any
improper authority among this people. I can testify of this, for I know these
men and their spirit. What, then, is it that prompts them to talk about the
Priesthood and to appeal to the Saints to honor that Priesthood? It is that God
our Eternal Father may be honored. He has bestowed this authority, and it is
representative of Him, and we should honor it as we desire to honor Him. I know
that if this people will listen to the counsel of God's servants they will be
prospered and blessed, and the gifts and graces of the Gospel will be enjoyed
by them to their fullest extent. I know that those who have this spirit grow in
knowledge, in strength, and in the gifts of the Gospel, and are, I might say,
better Latter-day Saints than those who do not.
You take
the leading men of this Church, not only the Twelve, but the Presidents of
Stakes, the High Councilors and the Bishops, and I do not believe you can find
in any organization, religious, political or social, a body of men so
independent, so desirous of having their own way, so firm, and so determined,
as those to whom I allude. Take the First Presidency. Those who know us know
what our characteristics are. Take the Twelve, the Seven Presidents of
Seventies, the Presidents of Stakes, the High Councilors and the Bishops of
wards. Those who know these men know to a great extent what their
characteristics are. These men, generally speaking, are men of independent
thought, men that will not bow lightly to the behests of others. They are men
that would rather die than sacrifice a principle. They would suffer their goods
to be destroyed and their bodies to be burned rather than to bow to that which
in their estimation was not right. I call attention to this because these men
are submissive men. It is not because they are easily influenced. What is the
cause of their submission and their obedience? It is because God has revealed
the Priesthood and has restored the authority. That is what I bow to. When I
respect and honor Wilford Woodruff I bow to God who has chosen him. My neck
does not nor never did bow to man. Those who know me know that I am unbending
in that respect. I may get along quietly; I do not like to quarrel; but I never
yet bowed to man. I only bow to proper authority. If I listen to Wilford Woodruff,
if I look to him to see how the Spirit of God moves upon him; if I ask his
counsel and take it, it is because God has commanded me. God has given him the
keys of authority. Let anybody else try it, and see what effect their action
would have. When Joseph F. Smith obeys Wilford Woodruff, he does it upon the
same principle. We reverence him as the prophet of God, and as our leader. We
listen to him, and are guided by his slightest wish. It is because we know that
he is the servant of God, chosen by the Almighty to fill that place, and that
he holds the keys of the Priesthood to this generation on the earth at the
present time. I can say truthfully that we strive to consult his slightest
wish, and honor him in his position, because we know that God has chosen him.
And who are we that we should withstand God? Who are we that we should
withstand that which God reveals? Does this sacrifice our independence? Not in
the least. And these Twelve Apostles are in precisely the same position. When
they accept the counsel of the First Presidency, they do it because they
believe the First Presidency to be chosen of God. They may have different views
on many things; but when the First Presidency gives counsel, every man that has
the Spirit of God accepts that counsel. This does not prevent him from
entertaining his views and expressing them, and it does not detract from his
influence.
Now, we
do not ask this people to be more obedient than we are. We do not ask you to do
something that we are not willing to do. We have set you the example. We ask
you, as the Lord asks you, to obey the authority of God and to respect it. Does
this mean man-worship? Does this mean loss of independence? No, a thousand
times no. There is no more independent people on the earth than the Latter-day
Saints. They have proved it. They have been willing to leave everything they
had on earth, and even to risk their lives, for that which they knew to be
true. Men, therefore, who talk about us, as though we were servile, as though
we do not have independence of character, as though we blindly follow a few
leaders, are guilty of falsehood. We are as independent as human beings can be.
But we know that God has restored the Priesthood, and we obey that. When a man
takes me down into the water, after believing in Jesus and repenting of my
sins, and baptizes me in the water, and I know that I receive the remission of
my sins through that act; when a man lays his hands upon me and confirms me a
member of the Church of Christ and confers upon me the gift of the Holy Ghost,
and I know that I receive that gift through that ordinance, shall I not respect
and honor that man unto whom God has given such extraordinary power? Why, I
would be the meanest being on the earth if I would not respect authority of
that kind. To go farther: when a man administers to me certain ordinances, and
he promises unto me that I shall come forth in the morning of the first
resurrection, clothed with glory, immortality and eternal life; he seals a wife
to me and says she shall be mine for time and for all eternity, and God hears
witness to this by the power of the Holy Ghost, so that no doubt exists in my
mind concerning the truth of these promises, shall I not honor the man and
reverence the authority that that man has who can do such wonderful things as
this? This is my condition. I have been baptized-my sins have been remitted; I
have had hands laid upon me for the gift of the Holy Ghost-I have received that
gift; I have had other ordinances administered to me and promises made to me-I know
I have received herein part and will hereafter receive in fulness the
fulfillment of those promises. Then what power on earth shall prevent me from
honoring those men, from respecting that authority, and from being submissive
to it? Shall I say I will accept that authority in one direction, but not in
another? If I do, I am unworthy of the blessings God has bestowed upon me. And
I have never done it. I honor that authority. I love the men that bear it,
because I know they are men of God. Now, why not all of us do this? You who
have not had your sins remitted, you who have not had the gift of the Holy
Ghost, you who have not received these other blessings, you can rebel and say
you will do as you please; but that will not do for those who have received all
these blessings and gifts-at least, it will not if they expect to continue in
the favor of God.
I love
this Church because it is the Church of Christ. I love it because it has
brought me every earthly blessing. It has made my life a life of great happiness.
I have had trials, as the rest have; but my life has been an exceedingly happy
one. I have been happy in the great truths which God has revealed, and which I
know to be truths; but more especially have I been happy in the blessings that
have been brought to me through the Priesthood and the exercise of its power by
men like myself whom God has seen fit to endow with it. Sometimes I have felt
that I could not stay here on the earth, so happy have I been. I rejoice in
this happiness and in these blessings. I would that all mankind could share in
them. When I was a missionary it was the great delight of my life to preach
this Gospel, and to entreat men to come to the Lord and receive the blessings I
had received. I feel now that I would like to live until the Savior comes, if
it were the Lord's will, to preach this Gospel of salvation to mankind, and to
make them sharers in the joys that I have partaken of. And it is through the
Priesthood that all these blessings have come. I have been in poverty; I have been
through the persecutions we all endured; I have been short of food; I have been
in need of water; I have been destitute of clothing; I have preached the Gospel
without purse and scrip; I have been in prosperity; I have mingled with the
leading men of the land, and have lived where I had everything I needed; and I
bear testimony to you this day that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is
sufficient for every circumstance in life. It will make men happy in poverty
and in adversity; it will make them happy in prosperity and in plenty. It is
not confined to one condition of life; it extends over every condition in which
man can be placed. I take delight this day, in this solemn assembly, in bearing
my testimony to this.
Now, what
can we say to you to entreat you to honor the Priesthood that God has restored?
We do not ask you to honor us (though it is a difficult thing to divest the
Priesthood from the man); but we entreat you to honor the Priesthood. Do not
allow the falsehoods that are told concerning the Priesthood to enter into your
heads. God is with this Priesthood. He is with the Elders of this Church, and
with the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, and He will bear them off
triumphantly. He will bear testimony to their being His servants by the fruits
that will follow obedience to the counsels which they give. We who love our
religion cannot do better than take this course. And what is the use of our
religion if we do not love it and carry out its principles? It is of no value
to us, but will prove a condemnation rather than a blessing to us.
I feel to
rejoice this day in the presence of God, that He has been so good and kind to
us as to reveal Himself to us, so that we know the truth; that we need not go
groping after the theories of men and the confusion that exists in the world,
but that we can cling to the truth and live by it; and when the time comes for
us to go hence, go with the assurance that we shall enter into that glorious
rest which the Lord has in store for His faithful people. I pray God to grant
this unto all of us, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW
said the Saints might think it difficult to live up to the commandments of God, but He would never give any law without bestowing upon men the ability to obey it, thus bringing out the divine in man's nature. This would arise from man's close relationship to God. The speaker had received a manifestation of this relationship when he was young in the work; "As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become. This had been firmly impressed upon the servants of God in other ages. Moses especially having shown remarkable power in this direction at various times. By this power he had been able to turn aside the great anger of the Lord from the people, even when this anger promised to make of Moses the greatest of the children of Israel. Such a point of godly education should be reached by his servants in this day, that they might act humbly and unselfishly under all conditions. The speaker asked if the Saints had realized all the blessings they anticipated from obedience to the Gospel, and answered that in his opinion the faithful servants of God had gained vastly more than they were able to expect. This was realized in the knowledge of man's relationship with God, without considering any other blessings the Gospel had bestowed, for this knowledge had as its end the cultivation of a holy ambition in man to make himself more like the divine Father. This was illustrated anciently in the life of David, who had cultivated godliness and nobility of heart. A striking instance was his sparing Saul's life that he might not be found guilty of raising his hand against the Lord's anointed. Latter-day Saints should strive to educate themselves to a greater degree of self-control in preparation for the trying situations of the future. In the light of the destiny of the Saints, the speaker thought that any required self-sacrifice should not be considered too great for bringing about that destiny.
He commended the work being performed in the temples as being preeminently fitted for advancing spirituality, and a work in which there could be no failure; he urged upon the people greater faithfulness in this work, for the benefit it would bestow upon the living and the dead. He closed by exhorting the Saints to greater encouragement and diligence in their labors.
The choir sang the anthem:
Awake, my soul.
Benediction by Elder John Nicholson.
_____
[4 Oct, 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 53:524-525, 10/10/96, p 12-13]
Overflow Meeting
An overflow meeting was held in the Assembly [Hall] at 2 p. m. Elder Brigham Young, of the Council of the Twelve presided.
The Temple choir and congregation, under the leadership of Brother C. J. Thomas, sang:
Redeemer of Israel, our only delight.
Prayer was offered by Elder Wm. H. Walker.
Choir and congregation sang:
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear.
ELDER ANTHON H. LUND
spoke concerning his recent mission to Europe, of the guiding hand of God over the Church, and the judgments which are to be visited upon the wicked.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
spoke of the restoration of the Gospel of Christ through Joseph Smith the Prophet, and the present condition of the world, which was steeped in wickedness. The Saints were in possession of the truth, which would regenerate them. They had light and darkness, truth and error presented for their acceptance, and if they chose the former it would lead them up to the presence of God. The slothful and indifferent among them would not be accounted worthy to stand.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
treated upon the characteristics which distinguished the Saints from the world, and upon the sphere of the Church in contradistinction to that of the State.
The choir sang:
Guide us, O thou great Jehovah, Saints unto the promised land.
Benediction by Elder Alonzo H. Raleigh.
_____
[5 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 53:525-526, 10/10/96, p 13-14]
AT
THE TABERNACLE -- SECOND DAY.
Monday, Oct. 5th
The hymn which begins,
We thank Thee, O God, for a
Prophet, To guide us in these latter days;
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel To lighten our minds with its rays.
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
Singing by the choir:
Truth reflects upon our
senses, Gospel light reveals to some
If there still should be offenses, Woe to them by whom they come.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS,
of the quorum of the Apostles, was the first speaker . He stated that the knowledge and blessings received from the Gospel had all come through the ministry and dispensation of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which fact made the whole work wonderful in the eyes of the Saints. His name and fame had gone into all the world, the significant fact being that one who commenced his work when an unlettered boy of fourteen years should gain such prominence in so short a time. God had chosen such an instrument on account of the humility and obedience he would display in carrying out the divine purpose. He had received the gift of translation by means of which the perfect record, the Book of Mormon, was brought into the world, a monument to the power of inspired writing and translating. During the continuance of this work other powers were bestowed upon the young man, such as the authority of the lesser priesthood, with its power of remitting sin and receiving the ministrations of angels, the Melchizedek Priesthood, with the power of ministering in the higher ordinances of God's work. The conditions and circumstances of the bestowal of this latter Priesthood were related, to the effect that it was given to Joseph and Oliver on the banks of the Susquehanna river, while they were in a state of exhaustion through long wanderings, by the Apostles Peter, James and John. Considering the difficulties, trials and opposition he had to meet, it seemed wonderful that Joseph could accomplish so much for the advancement of the work and the blessing of the people.
At a conference held at Quincy, Ills., the speaker had met the Prophet, felt his great influence and heard his instructions. There a committee was appointed to make a record of the misstatements made by the enemies of the work of the Lord. Soon afterward a committee went to Commerce, subsequently known as Nauvoo, where, in spite of disease and death, the people were sustained and nourished through the healing power of the Spirit as enjoyed by the Prophet. The gift of tongues, prophecy, ordinances for the dead, and other blessings, were given to and enjoyed by him, to be transmitted through his ministrations to the people of later generations. The sealing of husband and wife for time and all eternity was one of these principles, and Joseph seemed to enjoy this ordinance especially in connection with his wife Emma, who had endeared herself to him by her fidelity. The acceptance of the Kirtland Temple by the Lord Jesus, after it had been built by the self-sacrifice of the people, the appearance of the Savior and Moses, Elias, and Elijah, each giving keys and promises of future advancement and progress, was spoken of and commended to the thought of the people. Thus had the power and authority of ancient times been confirmed upon the servants of God in our day, and its efficacy demonstrated in this age of the world, with signs following. Joseph had been in communication with the Gods and with angels, until he had been brought to a condition of obedience, so that he could perform even the duties which seemed almost revolting to him. Some of the speaker's personal reminiscences of the prophet Joseph and his associates were recalled, and a strong testimony borne of the wonderful power and influence wielded by the latter-day Prophet. His access to the heavens had enabled him to gain knowledge, the extent and nature of which would appear impossible without such spiritual communion.
The speaker closed with an earnest exhortation to the people to listen to the testimonies of those who had associated with the Prophet and carry out in its fullness, the work he instituted.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 54:33, 12/26/96, p 1; CD 5:214-221]
DISCOURSE
Discourse delivered in the Tabernacle, Monday, October 5th,
1896, by
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I
earnestly desire a measure of the Holy Spirit to assist me the few minutes that
I may stand before you this morning. We have been receiving most precious
instructions given to us by those who have spoken. It was brought impressively
home to my mind yesterday while listening with the rest of you, the great fact
that all this knowledge and all this experience in the Church of Christ, with
every blessing that we have received therein and that we hope to obtain
hereafter, has all come to us through the agency, the ministry and the
dispensation that was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This great fact
connected with the manner of God's dealing with this young man contributes to
make our whole work seem the more wonderful, mysterious and all-powerful in our
eyes. We have been singing this morning, "We thank thee, O God, for a
prophet, to guide us in these latter days." The character of this man
became such that he has been an object of song in the assemblies of Saints in
all the world where the Gospel has been preached; so that he has been spoken of
as the angel said he would be-his name would be had for good and for evil in all
the world. It has been, so far as the sound of him and his work has gone. There
is something very strange that the Lord should take a boy fourteen years old in
December; and in the early part of the next spring He began to deal with him.
The boy was simple enough to believe that there was a God in heaven, and that
he might inquire after Him as the Scriptures said he might. Wonderful also to
contemplate, that so strange an affair occurred in the backwoods-away on the
frontier. The western part of New York in those days was away out west. And
that the Lord should pick up a boy that way and deal with him was a strange
affair. Why did He not choose some learned man? If He had taken a learned man,
he would have very soon been telling the Lord He did not know His business; and
if the Lord did not hearken to his counsels, he would turn and leave Him. We
see plenty of those things going on in our experience. But He took a boy, and
began to discipline and teach him. He showed Himself to him, spoke to him, and
told him that the way of the world was wrong. He sent His angels to teach him
and to educate him.
The Lord
tells us in the revelations that the first great gift He gave to him was the
gift to translate the Book of Mormon, and that He would give him no other gift
until that was accomplished. Thus he brought forth to us, by the information
given through Moroni to him where the record was found, the precious history of
this half of the world extending through a number of centuries. This book, that
has been so despised by the world, was testified to by the Prophet Joseph when
asked: "How and when did you obtain the Book of Mormon? Answer. Moroni,
the person who deposited the plates, from which the Book of Mormon was
translated, in a hill in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, being dead, and
raised again therefrom, appeared unto me, and told me where they were; and gave
me directions how to obtain them. I obtained them, and the Urim and Thummim
with them, by the means of which I translated the plates, and thus came the
Book of Mormon." It contains the simplest declaration and the best
elucidation of the principles of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ of any one
book extant. And why should it not be? translated word by word, sentence by
sentence, line by line, page by page, through the Urim and Thummim? We have no
other book on earth that has such claims to our undivided confidence as the
Book of Mormon.
This
appeared to be the opening wedge and stepping stone to the great work of
ushering in the last dispensation. The Prophet Joseph, while going on with this
work, learned that there was a necessity for all people to be baptized, and
when he saw that, he earnestly desired the blessings as they were offered. He
called on the Lord about it, and John the Baptist came and ordained him and
Oliver Cowdery to the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood. This was a most wonderful
thing. Now there were two men found on earth who could administer baptism by
authority for the forgiveness or remission of sins. This stirred up the wrath of
the ungodly till the boy was hunted, searched for, persecuted and driven from
place to place. Soon after he received this blessing and power, he heard the
word of the Lord unto him in the house of Father Whitmer saying that if
faithful in this he should soon receive other authority by which to administer
spiritual blessings. Therein he received the oracles of the Apostleship, was
ordained to the Melchisedek Priesthood, with power to administer all blessings
of a spiritual nature upon the people as well as those of a temporal or
physical nature.
Referring
to these ordinations, it is revealed in the 27th section of Doctrine and
Covenants, that he will partake with Adam, Noah, Abraham and John the Baptist,
"which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith Jr., and
Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto this first Priesthood which you have
received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron.
"And
also with Peter and James and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have
ordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles, and especial witnesses of my
name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things which I reveal
unto them.
"Unto
whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the Gospel
for the last times; and for the fullness of times, in the which I will gather
together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth."
The
account of this is not given us very fully as to when it occurred; but Brother
Addison Everett, who died a short time ago, has left it on record that he heard
the Prophet Joseph say in the Mansion House, in Nauvoo, that it was on an
occasion when they were returning from Colesville in York State, to Harmony, in
Pennsylvania. A numerous mob had gathered in Colesville determined to destroy
him, and the only way to save his life, to all human appearance, was to leave
at once, and he and Oliver Cowdery went. After traveling and wandering along on
the banks of the Susquehanna, through the marshes and swamps, all night long, and
having had little or nothing to eat the day before, they were weary, faint and
well nigh exhausted. Oliver became so weary that Joseph had to put his arm
around him to steady him while they got out on to dryer land where they could
sit down and rest. When they came out into this place, this brother says,
Joseph told him that it was there that Peter, James and John met them in their
loneliness and weariness, and declared unto them their testimony, that they had
been sent of the Lord Jesus Christ to ordain them to the Apostleship. The
Prophet Joseph, in writing about the great work of the Lord in his seclusion in
the days of Nauvoo, says:
And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah!
Moroni, and an angel from Heaven, declaring the fulfillment of the Prophets,
the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette,
Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book. The
voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he
appeared as an angel of light. The voice of Peter, James and John in the
wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville, Broome County,
on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the
kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times.
And again, the voice of God in the
chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca County, and at sundry times,
and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 128:20-21).
This
corresponds with our brother's statement, though we are nowhere told just when
it occurred. When they had received this ordination and blessing, they arose
and walked the remaining seventeen miles like giants refreshed with wine,
strong and able to finish their journey to Harmony. The Lord in His various and
peculiar ways has restored authority and power to the human family, to
administer and to receive the everlasting gospel. How strangely He led the
Prophet Joseph from time to time, from place to place, in His great work to
build Temples and establish His people in the gathering places and to
accomplish the wonders that have been performed, for he was attacked by the
powers of darkness from the day he began to receive the discipline of the Lord.
He says himself that he was used continually to wading in deep water.
Twenty or
thirty minutes is too short a time in which to mention more that two or three
events in the Prophet's life. As I am called a historian, you will naturally
expect to hear some items of history from me.
After
healing the sick in Montrose, all the company followed Joseph to the bank of
the river, where he was going to take the boat to return home. While waiting
for the boat a man from the west, who had seen that the sick and dying were
healed, asked Joseph if he would not go to his house and heal two of his
children, who were very sick. They were twins and were three months old. Joseph
told the man he could not go, but he would send someone to heal them. He told
Elder Woodruff to go with the man and heal his children. At the same time he
took from his pocket a bandana handkerchief, and gave it to Brother Woodruff,
telling him to wipe the faces of the children with it and they should be
healed; and remarked at the same time: "As long as you keep that
handkerchief it shall remain a league between you and me." Elder Woodruff
did as he was commanded, and the children were healed, and he keeps the
handkerchief to this day.
On
another occasion, in the days of Kirtland, (January 22nd, 1832,) when the
Church was yet young and composed of but very few members, they met together in
conference, and there were males and females, Elders and High Priests, beside
the Presidency of the Church. The Prophet, in his history, tells us that the
Spirit and power of God came down upon them, and he spoke in another language
and others spoke in tongues, and he continued with them until all the
congregation spoke or prayed or sung in tongues, giving them a regular
Pentecost in these last days essentially like unto the Pentecost of ancient
times, only that it was not so extensive. He further says:
The gifts which will follow them that believe and obey the
Gospel, as tokens that the Lord is ever the same in his dealings with the
humble lovers and followers of truth, began to be poured out among us, as in
ancient days;-for as we, viz; Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G.
Williams, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, Zebedee Coltrin, Joseph Smith, Sen.,
Samuel H. Smith, John Murdock, Lyman Johnson, Orson Hyde, Ezra Thayer, High
Priests; and Levi Hancock, and William Smith, Elders, were assembled in
conference, on the 23rd of January, I spoke to the conference in another
tongue, and was followed in the same gift by Brother Zebedee Coltrin, and he by
Brother William Smith, after which the Lord poured out His Spirit in a
miraculous manner, until all the Elders spoke in tongues, and several members,
both male and female. Great and glorious were the divine manifestations of the
Holy Spirit. Praises were sung to God and the Lamb; speaking and praying, all
in tongues, occupied the conference, until a late hour at night, so rejoiced
were we at the return of these long absent blessings.
On the 23rd, we again assembled in
conference; when, after much speaking, singing, praying, and praising God, all
in tongues, we proceeded to the washing of feet.
When the
Prophet Joseph had returned from Missouri he attended a conference. I was
present at the first conference that he held after he escaped from prison in
Missouri. It was at the old Presbyterian camp ground near the city of Quincy,
Illinois, a little east of the town. I recollect well when President Joseph
Young introduced me to him (I was then in my teens,) and he took me by the
hand, and said, God bless you, Brother Franklin. I felt the shock go through me
from my head to my feet, as I had frequently felt the shock of electricity
passing through me. I recollect well an item of his instructions at that
conference. He appointed a committee to gather up the libelous publications of
abominable falsehood so that they could be preserved for history.
Conference
over, he went with a committee up to a place that was afterwards called Nauvoo
(then Commerce,) a little place on the east bank of the Mississippi river,
which was so sickly that a company of people from New York who had settled
there were glad to sell out. The Prophet Joseph and the committee bought them
out, and also purchased a tract of land on the west side of the river. After a
while and seeing how it was, the Prophet Joseph started out as if the heavens
had gathered around him and aroused him to go. He took some of the brethren
with him; and we have some of these brethren here today. President Woodruff was
with him, and Brother Joseph B. Noble, and perhaps others. They went through
the camp healing the sick and raising the dead-they that had not got into their
graves as yet. He went forth and as long as he could make his voice heard in
the ears of the sick and dying, he called them back to life again.
President
Woodruff writes concerning this eventful day:
It was a day in July, 1839, that many lay sick along the
banks of the Mississippi river, and Joseph walked up on the east bank to the
lower stone house, occupied by Sidney Rigdon, and he healed all the sick that lay
in his path. Among the number was Henry G. Sherwood, who was nigh unto death.
Joseph stood in the door and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to arise
and come out of his tent, and he obeyed him and was healed. Brother Benjamin
Brown and his family also lay sick, the former appearing to be in a dying
condition. Joseph healed them in the name of the Lord. After healing all that
lay sick upon the east bank of the river as far as the stone house, he called
upon Elder Kimball and some others to accompany him across the river to visit
the sick at Montrose. Many of the Saints were living at the old military
barracks. Among the number were several of the Twelve. On his arrival, the
first house he visited was that occupied by Elder Brigham Young, the president
of the quorum of the twelve, who lay sick. Joseph healed him, when he arose and
accompanied the Prophet on his visit to others who were in the same condition.
They visited Elder Wilford Woodruff, also Elders Orson Pratt and John Taylor,
all of whom were living in Montrose. They also accompanied him. The next place
they visited was the home of Elijah Fordham, who was supposed to be about
breathing his last. When the company entered the room the Prophet of God walked
up to the dying man, and took hold of his right hand and spoke to him; but
Brother Fordham was unable to speak. His eyes were set in his head like glass,
and he seemed entirely unconscious of all around him. Joseph held his hand and
looked into his eyes in silence for a length of time. A change in the
countenance of Brother Fordham was soon perceptible to all present. His sight
returned, and upon Joseph asking him if he knew him, he, in a low whisper,
answered, "yes." Joseph asked him if he had faith to be healed. He
answered, "I fear it is too late; if you had come sooner I think I could
have been healed." The Prophet said, "Do you not believe in Jesus
Christ?" He answered in a feeble voice, "I do." Joseph then
stood erect, still holding his hand in silence several moments, then he spoke
in a very loud voice, saying, "Brother Fordham, I command you in the name
of Jesus Christ to arise from this bed and be made whole." His voice was
like the voice of God, and not of man. It seemed as though the house shook to
its very foundation. Brother Fordham arose from his bed and was immediately
made whole. His feet were bound in poultices, which he kicked off. Then putting
on his clothes, he ate a bowl of bread and milk and followed the Prophet into
the street. The company next visited Brother Joseph Bates Noble, who lay very
sick. He was also healed by the Prophet. By this time the wicked became
alarmed, and followed the company into Brother Noble's house. After Brother
Noble was healed all kneeled down to pray. Brother Fordham was mouth, and,
while praying he fell to the floor. The Prophet arose, and looking round, he
saw quite a number of unbelievers in the house, whom he ordered out. When the
room was clear of them, Brother Fordham came to and finished his prayer.
We should
bear in mind also, the great blessings that are bestowed upon us now in the
Holy Temples. In Kirtland, the brethren were not endowed with the same
ordinances that are now bestowed upon the people, because they had not yet been
revealed. It was in the days of Nauvoo that these blessings and ordinances of
endowment were made known to the Prophet Joseph and he hastened to build a
temple, in order that these blessings might be dispensed there before we were
driven from the nation. His soul rejoiced wonderfully before he went to prison,
thinking of the joys and blessings of the sealing of husbands and wives and
children to parents. He could not in those times say very much about this
thing; for he was situated so that the laws of God and the order of His Church
had to be managed discreetly and suppressed, because of the prejudices of the
people and the obstacles that were in the way of the promulgation of the
principles; but to a great extent they were taught in the temple at Nauvoo. I
recollect a remark that Brother Joseph made one day, when an accident had
happened to him and Sister Emma, as they were going down from the temple
grounds to his house. I think they were thrown out of their buggy. The Prophet
Joseph remarked in the meeting that afternoon how he rejoiced in the love of
his faithful wife Emma, who had given her hand, her heart and her soul to him
in Harmony, Pennsylvania, when first he had been called to the work of the
Lord, and had braved all these difficulties with him; and he made this remark,
that whatever happened to Emma, he would go, if he had to go to hell, to find
her and bring her home, that she might share with him the blessings of his
exaltation as she had shared with him his sufferings. He rejoiced greatly in
the anticipation of these eternal family relations in the future.
Among the
many wonderful manifestations to the Prophet Joseph, soon after the dedication
of the temple in Kirtland, revelation tells us that he and Oliver Cowdery saw
the Lord stand upon the breastwork of the pulpit; that He acknowledged the
temple as accepted of Him, and said that from there should go forth the Gospel
to the nations of the earth. And let me say, that temple was built as none of
us have ever built temples since in these mountains; it was built by everything
that everybody could do to get the materials together and put it up. They had
nothing of property making until this temple was done. All there was to it was
by sacrifice, and not by tithing, in those days; and when it was done the Lord
accepted it and blessed them mightily.
Directly
after this manifestation that I speak of, Elders Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde,
Willard Richards and Joseph Fielding were appointed to England on their first
European mission. The blessing and power of God were upon them such as have
never been upon men before or since, except it was on President Woodruff when
he was over there. He seemed to baptize almost everybody that dared to go and
hear him preach in Herefordshire and the regions round about.
Well,
after the Savior had shown his good pleasure concerning the house, Joseph said:
After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened
unto us, and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the
gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the
Ten tribes from the land of the north.
After this, Elias appeared, and
committed the dispensation of the Gospel of Abraham; saying, that in us, and
our seed, all generations after us should be blessed.
After this vision had closed,
another great and glorious vision burst upon us, for Elijah the prophet, who
was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
Behold, the time has fully come,
which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying that he (Elijah) should
be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, to turn the hearts of
the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole
earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore the keys of this dispensation are
committed into your hands, and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful
day of the Lord is near, even at the doors (D&C 110).
Some of
these same characters were with Peter, James and John on the mount of
transfiguration with the Savior. They had not a temple in that day that they
could go into and receive these keys of Moses and Elias. There also they heard
the glorious voice from heaven: "This is my beloved Son; hear ye
him." These keys were delivered to Joseph in the temple at Kirtland by
Moses and Elias and Elijah, in fulfillment of the promises of the Lord through
Moses (Deut. 30:1-4). "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before
the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Mal. 4:4-5).
We should
have consideration of these things. This is how the Priesthood of ancient times
was dovetailed in with the Priesthood of modern times, so that it is the same
Priesthood, the same power, the same authority committed to men appointed of
God to administer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in all the ordinances of
His Church. These things came home with emphasis to my mind while I heard
President Woodruff yesterday recounting the circumstance when Joseph testified
that he had received all the keys that had been bestowed by the Lord upon any
man, and that he conferred them all upon the Twelve who were with him in that
holy place in Nauvoo. And these were the same blessings and powers which are
conferred and which we have with us now to preach the Gospel, build up the
Church, gather Israel and establish the righteousness of our God in the earth.
Wonderful! Marvelous! The Lord has made Joseph's ministry known and has
abundantly testified of it. He baptized for the remission of sins, and when he
was blessed to confer the Holy Ghost the heavens bore witness in the eyes of
the world. We want to bear these things in mind. We ought, all of us, to keep
them in our minds, and especially in the minds of the generation that is
growing up. We ought to be reminded from time to time that a man of God, second
only to Jesus Christ, has stood upon the earth, clothed with authority from
heaven. In the beginning the Father and Son appeared to him. At another time he
and Sidney Rigdon were in the spirit, and the Lord revealed to them the three
great glories of the future pertaining to the human family. Not only so, but he
was told to write them while he was yet in the spirit, and he wrote that vision
for our comfort, for our edification, our profit and our warning. And he attained
unto such power with the Lord that he told him before he died to ask whatsoever
he would and He would answer him. The Lord had now disciplined him for years;
He had brought him into straight places; He had brought him into a position
where the things required of him were such as made his nature to revolt, and
the Lord met him by a holy angel and told him he had to go forward in His work
or his life would be taken. This is a sample of how the Lord does. He brings
His faithful servants into narrow places, where they have to choose whom they
will serve. It is a great and glorious thing to know that we live in a day when
such men have dwelt among us, and that we have had their society and been
taught by them.
The first
time I went to Nauvoo I was full of ague and fever, in the spring of 1840. I
called at the Prophet Joseph's house and asked him if I might sleep in his
hayloft, being poorly, did not like to lay out of doors, and had no place to go
to. He looked at me and said, "Brother Franklin, you shall stay here in
the house; I see you are not hearty." I stayed in the house, slept there,
and the next morning ate breakfast with him. I rejoiced that I was fit to look
upon a Prophet in the last days. We went up to the conference, which was held
at the head of a ravine, just south of the Nauvoo Temple, so that persons
standing below could look up and see the people around them. At the
intermission, Brother Joseph Young called me aside, I sat down on a log, while
he and Albert P. Rockwood ordained me a Seventy. So that those places are
attended with hallowed and sacred memories to me. When again I was ill and in
the Prophet's company, I asked him, "Brother Joseph, can I be healed of
this affliction?" He looked at me and said, "Brother Franklin, if you
believe with all your heart, you can." I told him I believed all I knew
how to believe and that this was the work of God. I asked him if he could tell
me how I could believe any more. He told Brother Brigham Young to administer to
me and I should get well. He did so and I was healed. I feel to testify of him,
that the power of God was with him. He was a man that associated with the
angels here on the earth, and the God of heaven sustained him. No man could
have lived and passed through what he did except the powers of heaven attended
him and filled him with the understanding of time and eternity.
When
Secret Orders came there to be instituted and to carry our their designs the
Prophet Joseph enquired of the Lord and learned all about them. He could
comprehend everything that they ever knew or thought of in a very short time.
He had access to the heavens, and this people have had access through him. We
ought to understand that the history of the Prophet Joseph is the history of
the Church as long as he lived, and it is the authority by which we abide, and
to which we refer on matters that need to be enquired about that are not plain
before us. I know this is the work of the Lord. I have known it from the
beginning. It was in 1838 I embraced the Gospel, in the month of June; and in
October, the same year, the Lord gave me an abiding witness of the Holy Ghost,
so that I never have since then doubted the work of the Lord. It was revealed
to me on the grand prairie, in Missouri. It was a glorious day to me, I never
yet knew how to describe and tell the excellence, the power and the blessings
of that knowledge that filled my soul and made the journey pleasant; for I
walked about 300 miles from St. Louis to Far West.
I rejoice
with you in this great work. I only wish that I could live nearer to the Lord,
have more of His Spirit and the power of the Gospel to be with me, to qualify
me for every good word and work. I beseech of you, my brethren and sisters,
seek after this; for they who have this Spirit, shall come to the knowledge of
all things necessary for their salvation and exaltation. The principles that
the Prophet Joseph taught are the doctrines that we must abide in, or we shall
be overthrown. When the Lord, or the interest of Zion required anything, he did
it and let the consequences follow, and he was so highly favored of the Lord
with revelations affecting the whole human race, that he was shown their
destiny here and hereafter. It was manifest to him that the seed of Cain would
not come in remembrance before the Lord for their final redemption, until the
seed of Abel the righteous should all have their opportunity. This one incident
opens up a field of information so vast and comprehensive, that it is made
evident to what extent the Prophet Joseph's mind was enlightened in regard to
the dealings of God with mankind, and his eternal purposes concerning their
redemption.
I have
noticed only a few of the leading outlines of the Prophet Joseph's wonderful
experience during the twenty-four years of his labor in establishing the
dispensation of the fulness of times on the earth. Anything I could say in his
praise would be like the babbling of the babe in the ears of its parent-so
slightly do we comprehend the infinite and eternal consequences that will
result from his labors, to verify which he gave his life as a final attestation
of the doctrines that he revealed.
Let us work righteousness, my brethren and sisters, while the day lasts; for
the night soon cometh when no man can work. May the Lord bless us with this
spirit of Zion more and more to prepare us for all that awaits us, that we may
be able to finish our work with joy and enter into His presence and receive His
approval, which I humbly ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG,
of the Council of the Twelve, was the next speaker. He said that God was managing affairs pertaining to the earth, and the people were in His hands. He stood ready to pour out blessings according to His law. Our thanks were especially due to Him for the Gospel. It was well there was one people full [of] good desires and anxiety to serve the Lord. He had delivered us from every untoward circumstance and condition that had surrounded us in our history. There was no reason to doubt Him in relation to the future. It was hoped that we we would become better and more faithful as time progressed. If the Gospel was to be carried to the nations of the earth, it would be through the instrumentality of the Saints. Every effort that this people made in the direction of progress in material and spiritual development evinced that they were influenced by the inspiration of the Almighty. The order and organization of the community was the most perfect of which history affords any account. The speaker directed attention to events that occurred in the history of ancient Israel to illustrate the good results of obedience to the commandments of God. the Saints were not now as obedient as they should be, and they would have to suffer in consequence, until they conformed to the divine will. When they should be fully united in temporal as well as spiritual matters, they would be a beacon to all the nations and a means of blessing the whole human family. He continued to speak for some time upon the necessity of the complete unity of the Saints.
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN,
of the Council of Apostles, was the next speaker. He thought that the earnest testimony and exhortation of the inspired speakers of the Conference should imbue each individual with an assurance of the divinity of the work. Looking back at the history of the Church, he was struck by the fact that all those who associated with the Prophet Joseph would soon pass from this stage of action. Yet, all who remained could gain a sure testimony of the divinity of the work through the inspiration of the Spirit, the only sure way of gaining such a knowledge even of those personally acquainted with the Prophet, only those who were filled with this Spirit gained a knowledge of his true character. Favored as few had been, permitted to behold the faces of the Father and the Son, the Prophet Joseph had ushered in the dawn of spiritual day, after the long night of darkness. It was fitting that such a manifestation should be given at the commencement of the work, in order that one should be able to declare his knowledge of God, and exercise the authority emanating from him. All preparations had been made for the ushering in of the work, and it was introduced and God revealed it at the time which had been foreordained for this event. A great honor had thus been conferred upon the humble boy, parallel with that conferred upon John the Baptist, in being permitted to lead the Son of God into the waters of baptism. For his important mission Joseph had been prepared by discipline and instruction such as perhaps no other Prophet had received, and thousands had gained a testimony that his labor was accepted of God. They had become so fixed in the faith that it was next to impossible to move them from the sure anchorage, and they were as a consequence, filled with gratitude for the precious gifts bestowed upon them. They felt gratitude for the Priesthood of the Almighty and the overruling of their labors and suffering for the advancement of the work of God. Even persecutions and drivings had been necessary to try the texture of and prove the Saints, and purify them in preparation for the great labor required of them. Such had been the case with the Saints of former days, and even with the Lamb of God, in order that the redemption of the world might be brought about. Those who were unable to endure such persecutions were unworthy of the position of Saints, for the best material would be necessary to complete the work of God.
The proper recognition of God's authority was a necessity, for this was the principle on which the great labor resting upon the Saints would depend for its fulfilment. The speaker hoped for the time when there would be none in the Church of Christ unable to bear a testimony of the divine origin of the Church. Such would be the case if all would do the will of the Father, for the testimony of Jesus was promised to all such. The Father had been and would be with His faithful Saints, as he was with Joseph in their life-work. The quorum of Apostles would always be in existence. It was a quorum which would never be dissolved, but would exercise authority and power in accordance with the responsibilities places upon them.
All were exhorted to remain in the light and inspiration of the Gospel of Christ, persevering in good works, that the testimony of Jesus might remain with them forever, and they be saved from the burning of the dross when they should be tried as gold in the fire.
The choir sang:
The song of the Redeemed.
Benediction by Elder Seymour B. Young.
_____
[5 Oct, 2 pm]
[DNW 53:526-327, 10/10/96, p 14-15]
Afternoon
Session.
The hymn which commences,
Praise ye the Lord! my heart
shall join In work so pleasant, so divine.
Now, while the flesh is my abode, And when my soul ascends to God.
was sung by the choir.
Prayer by Elder Edward partridge.
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our god,
was sung by the choir.
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF
said there were two powers -- those of good and evil -- which had always existed and the latter invariably operated against God, Christ and His work. The evil spirits which were cast out of heaven had operated upon mankind to lead them into darkness from the beginning. President Woodruff narrated a number of incidents in which the power of evil spirits had been manifested among the Saints and had been overcome by the authority of the Priesthood. These manifestations of the influence of Satan referred to occurred in England during the early efforts of the Elders to introduce the Gospel into Great Britain. The speaker explained the principles upon which such malignant spirits operate, and stated that they would follow the Saints and have more or less power until Satan and his hosts should be banished from the earth and bound. The speaker had witnessed instances of men suffering themselves to be influenced by spirits which were not in unison with the interests of the work of God. He then made an explanation of the condition of Moses Thatcher, and of the reasons why his case had not been disposed of by this time. He had not been united with his quorum for a number of years, and the reasons why action had not been taken in the matter was owing to the delicate state of his health. The present status of Brother Thatcher, however, could not be maintained; a change must ultimately be reached one way or the other. In the meantime he was in the hands of his quorum.
[Wilford Woodruff]
[DNW 53:577, 10/24/96, p 1; CD 5:198-201]
REMARKS
Made at the General conference on the afternoon of Monday,
October 5, 1896
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF.
I did not
intend to occupy any more time in this conference, but there is a subject or
two that I feel in duty bound to talk upon, and I hope the Saints will give me
their prayers and faith, that I may be enabled to do my duty. In order to
arrive at the principles and subject I wish to speak of, I feel disposed to
deviate from my general course of testimony in some respects.
There are
two powers on the earth and in the midst of the inhabitants of the earth-the
power of God and the power of the devil. In our history we have had some very
peculiar experiences. When God has had a people on the earth, it matters not in
what age, Lucifer, the son of the morning, and the millions of fallen spirits that
were cast out of heaven, have warred against God, against Christ, against the
work of God, and against the people of God. And they are not backward in doing
it in our day and generation. Whenever the Lord set His hand to perform any
work, those powers labored to overthrow it. I have a little experience in this
direction that I want to refer to. Many of you probably have read the history
of the first proclamation of the Gospel in England, under the presidency of
Heber C. Kimball, in 1837. Just previous to that I crossed Lake Ontario with a
man by the name of Russell, from Canada into the United States. That man walked
the steamer almost day and night, moaning and groaning. What was the matter? He
had a class of spirits that stayed with him night and day, distressing him.
What he had done that they had power over him I do not know. When a man does
his duty and keeps the commandments of God, those spirits have no power over
him, although he may be distressed in a measure from their operation. This man
went to England, and those spirits went with him. He was with the Apostles
there, and while they were holding a conference there he was so troubled with
those spirits that Brother Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde and the brethren who
were there laid hands upon him and cast those evil spirits out of him. When
they left him they seized upon Brother Hyde, and he fell to the floor as though
he had been knocked on the head with a club. Brother Kimball and the brethren
immediately laid hands upon him, and the evil spirits left him. They then fell
upon Brother Kimball and tried to overcome him.* But the vision of his
mind was open and he saw them in the room. They gnashed their teeth at him; but
did they overcome him? Brother Kimball held the Apostleship and he stood at the
head of that Mission, and God gave him power over those spirits, and they were
rebuked and left him. This was the beginning of their labors there. In 1840,
when the Apostles were sent to England, we had a similar experience. The
history of my travels in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire is
published and known to the Church. After laboring there some eight months,
Brothers Heber C. Kimball and George A. Smith invited me to go to London. You
all know what kind of men Brothers Kimball and Smith were. They had power and
brought a great many into the Church. We three went into the City of London to
undertake to open doors in that great city. The first man who opened his doors
to receive us was a man by the name of Morgan. The very day we entered that
house it was filled with evil spirits, who sought to destroy us. We felt their
power day after day. They did not particularly injure us at that time, but we
knew they were with us. The incident that I am going to refer to now occurred
after Brother Kimball had returned to Manchester. Brother George A. Smith and
myself were left there. We sat up one night till about 11 o'clock, talking
about the Gospel of Christ, and then went to bed. The room in which we slept
was small; there was about three and a half feet between our cots. Those
spirits were gathered together in that room and sought to destroy us. They fell
upon us with the determination to take our lives. The distress, the suffering
and the horror that rested upon me I never experienced before nor since. While
in this condition a spirit said to me, "Pray to the Lord." Well, a
man in that kind of warfare, when he is choking almost to death, is in a
peculiar position to pray. Nevertheless I went to praying with all the power I
had. I knew we would die unless God opened some door for our deliverance,
because we were being choked to death, and I prayed the Lord, in the name of
Jesus Christ, to preserve our lives. While I was praying, the door opened and
three messengers entered, and the room was filled with light equal to the
blazing light of the sun at mid-day. Those messengers were all dressed in the
robes of immortal beings. Who they were I know not. They laid hands upon me and
my companion, and rebuked those evil powers, and we were saved. From that hour
to this day, not only our lives were saved, but those powers were rebuked by
the angels of God so that no Elder since has been tormented with them in
London.
[*
I want to correct a mistake that I made in referring to this matter at our
General conference. I got the names of Brother Kimball and Brother Hyde
confused in mind, and mad it appear that Brother Kimball rebuked those evil
spirits from Brother Hyde, when in fact it was Brother Kimball who was
afflicted with those spirits and Brother Hyde administered to him. As this is a
matter of history, I wish to state it correctly and therefore make this
explanation. (Wilford Woodruff, Oct. 19, 1896, DNW 53:642, 11/07/96, p 2; CD
5:236]
I name
this because there is a principle in it. From the day that the Prophet Joseph
Smith was called upon by the angel of God and the plates of the Book of Mormon
given into his hands, these evil spirits labored for his death, and finally his
blood was shed by the power of the devil. You know about that. It is before the
heavens and the earth, and has got to be settled for. Those spirits are
wherever the Saints of God are, and they will follow this up until He who holds
the keys of death and hell binds that old serpent, sets a seal upon him, and
shuts him up for a thousand years. These evil spirits are all around us. They
follow every Elder of Israel at home and abroad. They tempt me; they tempt you,
and will as long as we dwell in the flesh and they have their agency and power.
Why? Because they know the Priesthood is here; the know the power of God is
here; they know the authority is here to seal blessings upon the heads of the
children of men, and to preach the Gospel to the nations of the earth, that
they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing this, if
they can get any power over you and me they will exercise it.
There has
been some talk here about myself, and my counselors, and the Twelve Apostles,
and the position we hold as leaders of the people. I have been in the
Apostleship for fifty-seven years. I have been through all the apostacies in
this Church, if I may be allowed to use that expression, from the day of the
organization of the Twelve Apostles. On one occasion two Apostles came to me
while I was in Kirtland, and told me that Joseph Smith was a fallen prophet,
and that they wanted to put another man in his place-Oliver Cowdery. They
wanted to know what I would do about it. Said I, "Every man that lifts his
hand against the Prophet of God will go to hell, unless he repents of his sins."
Well, about half of them did repent; the others did not, and they lost their
crown and glory, and other men have taken their places.
My
brethren and sisters, there is something pressing upon my mind that I want to
say. We have arrived at a point here with regard to circumstances that it is my
duty to take up as the President of the Church. The First Presidency and the
Twelve Apostles were never more united as a body than they are today. Our
spirits are united. We believe together, we work together, we pray together;
and we believe in each other, because we are all trying to do the will of God.
This is the case with all of us, with one exception. That exception is Brother
Moses Thatcher. A great many people marvel and wonder why something is not done
with him. Some have said we were afraid of Moses Thatcher. I am not afraid of
Moses Thatcher, nor of any other man who breathes the breath of life, when it
comes to a matter of duty. But I am afraid to disobey God, or to not perform my
duty in any position that I am called to in the Church. There has been a great
deal said with regard to Brother Moses Thatcher, and many have wondered why
something was not done about him. Well, I will say that this is a matter that
belongs to the Twelve Apostles. He is a member of that quorum, and of course it
is their duty to take hold of that work and attend to it until it is settled.
But I have felt, as the President of the Church, it is my duty to not let this
conference pass without saying something upon this subject. Brother Moses Thatcher
has been a very sick man. Preparations have been made by the Twelve Apostles to
settle this difficulty with him in council; but he has been in the condition I
speak of. What is the difficulty with Brother Thatcher? The difficulty is, he
has not been with his quorum in spirit for years. He has not been united with
them hardly, I may say, since the death of President Taylor. It is not his
declining to sign this declaration of principle that was brought up at the last
conference by the leaders of Israel. This is a matter of comparatively small
consequence. I say here-and I say the truth-Brother Thatcher has not been in
fellowship with us for a series of years. He has not met with his quorum. He
has spent days and days in this city, when he was perfectly able to go about
and do business, and has not met with them-neither at their sacrament meetings
nor other meetings. Now, this cannot remain in this way. As I have said, these
evil spirits affect men. There is a spirit affecting him, and not a good spirit
either. With regard to his standing with his quorum, he should have met with
them and talked these things over; but he has not done it. He has met with them
comparatively few times since President Taylor's death.
Brethren
and sisters, these are truths. The Apostles know that he has neglected to meet
with them at times when he could and should have done so. He has been at
difference with them in many things that have transpired. He has been by
himself in his labor, and for himself, and not for the Church. Now, I want to
say that neither Moses Thatcher nor any other man on the face of the earth can
stand in the way of this Church. We have had almost whole quorums of Apostles
that have been in the road, and they have had to be moved out of it, because
the kingdom of God cannot stop for anybody-for Wilford Woodruff, for Moses
Thatcher, or for anybody else. Unless we work with the Saints of God, with the
Priesthood of God and with the organization of His Church, we cannot have any
power or influence. I make this testimony because it is my duty. I have thought
a great deal of Moses Thatcher. I had a good deal to do with his coming into
the quorum of the Apostles. I had a great respect for his family. I have for
any man that will bear his testimony to the Gospel and kingdom of God. But he
has stopped that. He has taken a different course with regard to this, and he
occupies that position today. I name this because he is not in a condition to
be tried. The Lord's kingdom is going to roll on. If I took a stand against my
counselors and against the Twelve Apostles, and we were not united together, I
could not go with them. But the Lord is with us, and with His people. Whatever
is required at our hands we want to perform it. I hope that the little time we
spend here in the flesh, before we go into the valley of the shadow of death,
we will pursue a course wherein we will be satisfied when we come to meet the
Lord, and Joseph Smith, and the patriarchs and prophets. We will meet these
people in the morning of the first resurrection. Many of them have got their
resurrected bodies, and those who have not will have their bodies raised from
the grave in an immortal condition. Who can sacrifice eternal life, and a part
in the first resurrection, to stand with their wives and children in celestial
glory, for the honor of this life or to gratify ambition? I cannot afford to do
it, neither can you. We will hail Brother Moses Thatcher with ever sentiment of
our hearts when he will meet with us, unite with us, repent of his wrongdoings,
and help carry on the work of God as he should do. Without this, he cannot go
with us.
God bless
you. I bear testimony to the heavens and the earth that this is the church and
kingdom of God. We have got to live our religion and to be united in order to
bear off the kingdom and receive those blessings that lie on the other side of
the veil for us. I pray that His blessing and spirit may rest, not only on the
First Presidency and Apostles and the whole Priesthood and the Saints, but upon
Moses Thatcher, that his eyes may be opened to see, his ears to hear, and his
heart to comprehend his position and duty before God and man.
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW
testified to the truth of President Woodruffs remarks about Moses Thatcher's fellowship with the Twelve. The present quorum of Apostles was organized seven years ago, with himself as president. He had tried to bring about a union between the brethren of the quorum, which had failed only in the case of Moses Thatcher. His lack of union with the rest of the quorum had been apparent more than a year before the dedication of the Temple. On the night before this event the quorum labored until almost 2 a.m. to bring Moses Thatcher into union with the other members of the quorum. An understanding was arrived at which obviated the necessity of a mention of this disunion during the dedicatory exercises. From that time to the present other attempts had been made to bring Brother Thatcher to a proper position with reference to his relationship with his quorum; but it had been in vain so far. But President Snow was determined to continue his efforts in that direction, because of the love he felt for Brother Thatcher. His refusal to sign the address issued at the Conference six months ago was only a small matter compared with the conditions before referred to, although in this matter he had shown a lack of confidence in his brethren. The trouble had been in his whole course since the speaker had presided over the quorum. President Snow closed by exhorting the Saints to pray for Brother Thatcher, as he himself and the other members of the council would do.
[Lorenzo Snow]
[DNW 53:578, 10/24/96, p 2; CD 5:201-204]
PRESIDENT LORENZO SNOW
As the
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of which Brother Thatcher is a
member, I want to say a few words in connection with this subject that has been
introduced by President Woodruff. I feel it my duty, however unpleasant that
duty may be to me, to testify to the truth of what President Woodruff has said
in reference to the fellowship existing between Brother Thatcher and our
quorum. I think it was seven years ago when the present Presidency of the
Church was organized, and I then was appointed to preside over the quorum of
the Apostles-a duty and an obligation that I felt the utmost incompetency to
discharge; and yet believing and knowing that it was my duty to accept that
position, I was satisfied that the Lord would aid and assist me in
accomplishing the duties pertaining to that sacred office. I have labored
actively from that day to the present to do that which I considered my duty, to
accomplish a perfect union between every member of that quorum, and a perfect
union also with the First Presidency. I felt the importance of this when I took
the position as President of the Twelve, and I asked the Lord to let me live
until these duties were accomplished-until I could see and feel that every
member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles was in perfect fellowship with each
other and with the First Presidency. The brethren of the Twelve can answer now
whether that has been accomplished, and how far it has failed. It has failed in
only one single instance, and that has been presented to you by President
Woodruff. There are now of the quorum of the Twelve ten members sitting here
upon these stands. With these ten brethren there is now a perfect union between
themselves and with the First Presidency.
I
distinctly remember a peculiar circumstance in connection with this subject. It
was when perhaps 150 brethren were assembled in the upper hall of the Temple.
The object of that assembling was to gather means to accomplish the completion
of the Temple, and that speedily. I do not remember now how much we raised
there, but it was a large sum, contributed by the brethren present. On that
occasion President George Q. Cannon arose and spoke very feelingly in reference
to the perfect union that then existed with the First Presidency, (this was
about one year before the dedication of the Temple,) in all matters pertaining
to the interest of the Church, both spiritual and financial. After he got
through, I dare say that the people there-I thought so, at least-expected that
I would arise and say something in reference to the union of the quorum of the
Twelve Apostles. I did not do it. I sat there in silence. And I never explained
the reason to the quorum of the Twelve, that I have any remembrance of, why I
sat there in silence. I am now going to explain it. I thought my brethren had
reasons to expect that I would arise and speak in reference to union. I could
have spoken as loudly and as effectively in reference to the union of our
quorum as Brother Cannon in reference to the union of the First Presidency,
with but one single exception. That exception, I regret to say, was Brother
Moses Thatcher. The brethren of the quorum will now understand why I sat there
in silence.
The next
day, I think it was, in going up to Brigham City on the train, Brother Thatcher
and I sat together. I there told him this circumstance that I have just told
you. I said to him that it was on his account-the love and respect that I had
for him-that I did not arise and make him an exception. I would have been
compelled at that time to have mentioned Brother Moses Thatcher as an
exception. There were eleven of us that were in perfect union, which we had
labored and toiled to effect completely and strongly and abundantly. But I
would not place him in an unpleasant attitude before the people. I explained
this to him.
But that
was not the only time. The night previous to the dedication of the Temple we
felt that the quorum of the Twelve ought all to be united, or perhaps there
would be something arise that would prove of a disagreeable character. We
called the quorum together. Every member was present. We labored and toiled at
that meeting to bring Brother Thatcher into a union with us, hour after hour,
till about two o'clock in the morning. I labored diligently. I always thought a
good deal of Brother Thatcher. He and I always got along lovingly together; and
he knows and will state it if he ever comes to address the people, that Brother
Snow was one of his particular friends and felt an interest for him as deep as
any man in the quorum. We labored there with only one object in view-to bring
one member of our quorum into a perfect union with ourselves and with the First
Presidency. At last I repeated to Brother Thatcher what I have been telling
you. I told him of the sacrifice I made in my feelings when I had to keep silence,
and I said I could not do it any more; I should be obliged to get up before the
gathering in the Temple and state that our quorum was in perfect union-that is,
if the subject came up, which it probably would-except in the case of Brother
Thatcher. Well, we patched the thing up, and he came to a conclusion that we
accepted at that time. How far that was really a conclusion made in his heart,
I am not prepared to say.
There was
another time, perhaps a year or a year and a half ago, when we sought to effect
a union with Brother Thatcher and the quorum. We had a pretty difficult time,
and failed. None of us felt satisfied.
About the
last conversation I had with Brother Thatcher was in the Temple, either at the
last spring or fall conference. We had prayed for him, and we had sent some of
our most experienced brethren to talk with him privately and beg of him to make
things satisfactory. I called on Brother Brigham Young, because I knew he felt
an interest in Brother Thatcher, and was a wise man, to go and see him and
plead with him to make things satisfactory. But he failed. He came and reported
to me that a spirit of darkness seemed to reign in Brother Thatcher's heart,
and he could not reach it. I still thought, however, that he would come and
make things right before he returned to his home in Logan; and about the second
or third day after this, I was visited by him in the Temple. I never felt to
rejoice more in my heart than when I saw him enter my room. I thought he had
made up his mind to do that which we requested him to do and to place himself
in perfect fellowship with the brethren of the quorum. I talked with him. I did
most of the talking myself. I felt the spirit of it, as I always did when I
spoke to him, because my heart was warm towards him, and the Lord seemed to
help me so that I felt perfectly at home in telling him just what the Lord
dictated to me. On a previous occasion in the Temple, I laid my hands upon his
head, according to his request and my own feelings, and blessed him. My heart went
out for him. But I could not fellowship Brother Thatcher, although I loved him.
Did I love that man? No man, it seems to me, could love another man more than I
loved Brother Thatcher; and I labored for him, toiled for him, and prayed for
him, and still shall do. I have not given up my hopes, and I will not give them
up. My principle has ever been, when called upon to administer to the sick, who
were perhaps at the point of death, without seemingly any hope whatever, to not
give them up until I saw they were actually dead. So I am with Brother
Thatcher, whose voice has been heard from this stand time after time, and we
have loved to listen to his beautiful and inspiring words. But he is a
different man now altogether-different in spirit, and of course, his physical
condition is very bad, although, I understand now, he is improving very
rapidly. President Woodruff has explained to you the reason why we have not had
him before our quorum and the matter investigated. His low physical condition
is the reason. But, as I was saying, I thought he had come to my room with his
mind made up to take a course to come into fellowship with his quorum. I was
disappointed, however. I felt like shedding tears when he left the room. There
was not that disposition existing in him that I hoped there would be when he
came.
Now,
there is a certain document that you have heard talked about a good deal.
Brother Young and myself took that document to Brother Thatcher. His physical
condition was not very promising, and I asked him if I should read it to him.
He said he preferred to read it himself, and he read it-read it very
deliberately. He said he did not feel then to approve of it altogether; he
wished it to remain for awhile. We accorded him his wish. As President Woodruff
had said, not half the trouble is in relation to that document-not
one-hundredth part that is talked about. Of course, it was rather singular.
There were appended to that document the names of the First Presidency, of the
Apostles, (with the exception of Brother Lund, who was then in England), of the
First Seven Presidents of Seventies, of the Patriarchs, and of the presiding
Bishopric-twenty-four names in all, representing the authorities of the Church;
but he did not feel inclined, he said, to put his name to the document.
I am
reminded of a little anecdote I heard of Brother Erastus Snow, which
illustrates a principle. Brother George A. Smith was speaking to an
"outside" audience one night, and Brother Erastus fell asleep. When
he got through preaching he sat down and elbowed Brother Erastus, and requested
him to bear his testimony. It was thought that Brother Erastus had scarcely
heard a word; but he arose and said, "My friends, every word that my
brother here has said is God's truth." Now, why did he say so? There was a
reason for this. Why, he knew Brother George A. Smith; he had heard him preach
a hundred times, and he knew that he was a man of inspiration, and that he
would never say anything but that was true. Well, I think when a man is so well
acquainted with the First Presidency, with the Apostles, with the Patriarch,
with the Presidents of Seventies, and with the presiding Bishops, he ought to
have some confidence in the position of these brethren; and if that brother is
rather low in his mind and does not really feel competent to judge of the
matter, he ought to have confidence in his brethren. Still, this matter does
not amount to very much anyway. It is the general tenor of the course that
Brother Thatcher has been pursuing since even before the organization of the
First Presidency or before I was called to be the President of the quorum. Many
others things might be said, but I do not want to occupy the time.
Brethren
and sisters, these are solemn truths that I have told you and what President
Woodruff has stated. I want you all to pray for Brother Thatcher. As soon as
his physical abilities will allow, we shall have him before our quorum, and he
will be treated by his friends. But there are certain rules and regulations
that we, as the servants of God, must conform to, and we are not responsible
for them.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
said that within three days after Brother Moses Thatcher refused to comply with the request of the quorum of the Twelve he would have been dealt with had it not been for his illness. The explanations which had been given on this subject were necessary, that the authorities might not be deemed affected with fearfulness. There could be no doubt that the Twelve and the Presidency of the Church were in full sympathy with the expressions of Presidents Woodruff and Snow. The speaker stood by his President and the President of the Church in the position they took in reference to this lamentable case. He still cherished a hope, however, that Brother Thatcher would yet, and at an early date, see his error. The Speaker had been disposed to so express himself and act in this matter as to admit of the allowance of fully as much time to the principal as would be proper in which to completely make up his mind regarding his final action.
Elder Smith then discoursed upon the necessity of being guided by the counsels of those whom God had selected to preside over His work. He had not been blessed with a personal acquaintance with the Prophet Joseph Smith, but he knew that the mission of that great man was divine. He had been afforded opportunities of becoming acquainted with other men of God, however, and he knew that they were the servants of the Most High. Among these were Brigham Young, John Taylor and the present Presidency of the Church. The speaker closed with an earnest testimony to the divine character of the work of God founded by Joseph Smith, according to the revelations of the Almighty.
[John Henry Smith]
[DNW 53:579, 10/24/96, p 3; CD 5:204-207]
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH.
My
brethren and sisters, this meeting is one of the sorrowful meetings in my
experience. I have recognized the fact that there must be an explanation made
to the Latter-day Saints in connection with the subject upon which the
President of the Church and the President of the Council of the Apostles have
treated. I fully understand that within three days after Brother Moses Thatcher
declined to sustain his associates he would have been dealt with for his
fellowship and standing in the Council of the Apostles but for his physical
condition. All have felt exceedingly tender, recognizing the fact that he had
been suffering for some time under conditions most unpleasant to himself. I am
fearful that the Saints this afternoon have not fully heard the remarks that
have been made by President Woodruff and President Snow. They have sought to
explain to the understanding of this audience the condition that has arisen in
this inner circle of the Church, that they might be free in the minds of the
Saints from the charge by the Saints of fearfulness as to the correctness of
the position that they have assumed and of the rightfulness of the position
that Brother Thatcher has taken. I believe, however, that the Latter-day Saints
as a whole, have read with certainty, through the influence of the Spirit, the
correctness of the position taken by the Presidency of the Church as well as
the other councils that have been united with them, and I trust that the
understanding will be received by those who are here today and heard the
remarks of the brethren, and by those who could not catch their words the
spirit in which those utterances were given.
The
Presidency of the Church and the Council of the Apostles, in their
deliberations upon all questions that affect the wellbeing and interest of the
cause, are as candid and frank in their consultations and expression of views
as any body of men could possible be. But when a conclusion has been reached as
to the course that should be pursued, it is expected that every man will give
in his adherence to the course marked out, and with unfaltering voice and fixed
determination, so that those counsels may prevail, so far as may be possible,
among the whole people. This feeling and sentiment has been expressed in
telling language by President Woodruff and by President Lorenzo Snow; and I
believe that every one of the Council of the Apostles, with the First
Presidency, would make a similar expression of views upon this matter, were
they to speak upon this subject.
It is not
my thought, in the time that I am here, to dwell upon the position in which our
brother finds himself. I have held the hope, I hold the hope now, that he will
see his way clear to put himself in unison with his associates, that he may
stand with them and receive in the end the commendation of our Father, through
his humility, and that his name may not be effaced from the roll of honor which
God in this dispensation and in this day has established. It is not for me to
speak further upon this subject. I stand by my President and by the Presidency of
this Church in the position they have taken, because I know they are right. It
is not a question of fear or doubt in my mind. It may be-and I presume my
brethren will bear me out in this-that I have been slower than any of them to
form judgment or pass an opinion in regard to this situation as it is today.
But it has not been because there was the least doubt or question in my mind of
the correctness of the position that they had taken. My judgment was convinced
that their position was absolutely correct, or I never would have subscribed my
name to that document, nor would I, in connection with my brethren, have sought
in various ways to awaken a class of reflections in the mind of our brother
that would have brought him in unison with the council of which he is a member.
My position has been such that I have felt the extremist delicacy, in every
place and under every circumstance, in giving expression to anything that could
in any sense reflect upon him. For this reason, if no other, in the midst of
the deliberations of my own council, with that of the Presidency of the Church,
I have felt extremely guarded, seeking to gain as much time as practicable in
his interest, trusting that the time would come when the Almighty would touch
his heart and he would feel the spirit of kindness that has welled up in the
soul of President Woodruff, that has guided his counselors, and that has been
the characteristic in every deliberation of President Snow in seeking to
preserve one who was dear to us all. But there can be no question in the minds
of the Latter-day Saints. There may come a time in all our lives when
perchance, amid the temptations and allurements of ambition, our hope and fears
for ourselves may be aroused; but in our sober senses and in the midst of the experiences
of this life, the men who have received the Apostleship, who have been chosen
by God Himself to be witnesses to His Son, must find themselves in that
position that they indeed listen to the still small voice and recognize the
power which God himself has established. I feel that this has been and is the
position of that circle in which I move; and the unfortunate circumstances
which have attended one of their associates in connection with this matter, is
to me indeed a matter of extreme regret. I have prayed, I have plead, I have
done everything so far as lay in my power in connection with these
circumstances, trusting that our Father might so move upon the heart of our
brother that he would meet his brethren with a broken heart and a contrite spirit
and say, "I am with you heart and soul."
During
this Conference, my brethren and sisters, the spirit of inspiration resting
upon the brethren has been, give ear to the legitimate and proper counsels of
the Priesthood. I presume there are none of us who have made a study of the
organization that our Father has established that can question the wisdom of
those counsels. If the people are to be united, it must be upon the basis that
their hearts are in attune with the propositions upon which they would be united.
We believe that God in this dispensation has restored the Gospel; that the
Father and the Son came to the Prophet and bestowed upon him the knowledge that
God did indeed live, and that Jesus Christ was indeed His Son; that all the
keys, powers and authorities necessary to the accomplishment of His work, and
that were exercised in former dispensations, were given to him; and that in all
these things and in the organization of His Church, He presented us a complete
and perfect pattern, that union might be the result of their counsels and their
action. We note the conditions of that organization in all its bearings, and
when one of the cogs in this machine that God himself has established shall
fail to be in attune with the balance of that machine, the results are manifest
in the spirits of the people; for they read, and read understandingly under the
influence of that Spirit, that these conditions do exist and that the machinery
is not working as it should. Therefore we, recognizing the purpose and design
of our Father in the completeness of that organization, keep in view the
movements and actions of the men at the head, the spirit of their counsel and
instruction, and we readily detect, while words may not speak it, the spirit of
insubordination or a determination to not carry out and fulfill the obligations
which our Father has placed upon His children; and recognizing this, a spirit
of uncertainty, of fear and of doubt takes possession of many men whose minds
are susceptible to that influence.
I trust
that the spirit of the work shall indeed ever be with the Latter-day Saints;
that the movements that are made, the efforts that are brought to pass to
secure the best interests of the work and of its spread in the world, shall be
written in the hearts of the people of God; and if they will attend to their
prayers and fulfill their obligations, our Father will never allow one of them
to drift from the path of rectitude and fail to maintain the honor and credit
of His cause in the world. But if perchance a spirit shall take possession of
us that we seek to avoid the responsibilities that may attach to us, and we
desire the encomiums and laudations of men, we may find ourselves carried away
with our ambitions, and catching our foot upon the applause of our fellows,
will trip and fall and will not be found carrying the standard and proclaiming
the truth as we should in the presence of all men.
I desire
to bear my testimony to the truth of the work of God. I did not live in the
flesh to know Joseph Smith. I did not live in the flesh to converse with him.
The line, I presume, is broken when you reach me in the Council of the
Apostles, as to those who knew him. But I am here as much of a witness to his
mission as my brethren who saw him in the flesh. God gave me the knowledge of
his mission. He also gave me the acquaintance of Brigham Young in the flesh,
whom He raised up as well as the Prophet Joseph, to plant the standard of
eternal truth in these mountains and to be a savior to this people whom he led
into the desert, taught the ways of husbandry and the responsibilities and
duties of the people of God. May the spirit of that Gospel well up in our
hearts, and the knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph
Smith was His prophet, that John Taylor was His prophet, that Wilford Woodruff
is His prophet, live in our hearts, and grow and spread until we shall scatter
that knowledge to the ends of the earth and all mankind know of its truth.
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
of the same quorum, spoke upon the subject of Moses Thatcher's position. The speaker had felt to mourn over the circumstance of Brother Thatcher standing out in opposition to his quorum, a thing which no man could do with safety. President Woodruff had given to the speaker the cause of Moses Thatcher's darkness of mind, in the words, "He has sought to rule over his brethren, and lost the Spirit." The speaker read from section 122 of the book of Doctrine and Covenants, verses 40 to 46.
A man might cut himself off from the proper line of communication with God, and deprive himself of the companionship of the Spirit of God, the only true guide. A man who refused to endorse such a document as that which was presented to Brother Thatcher, bearing the signatures of President Woodruff and counselors and the other authorities of the Church, placed himself in opposition to the work and authority of God and was in darkness.
[Brigham Young]
[DNW 53:580, 10/24/96, p 4; CD 5:207-208]
ELDER BRIGHAM YOUNG
I have a
desire to say a few words on this occasion, and I trust that the same spirit of
kindness will be in my heart that has been manifested by the brethren who have
spoken. I am sure I feel very kind and lenient and feel to extend mercy to my
brethren, as I ask for mercy from my God. There was a time when I was absent
from Utah for two years and a half. I left here in August, 1890. But I knew
more than I cared to know before I left then in relation to this matter. I
cannot see a man rise up and stand in open rebellion to his brethren in
defiance of the pleadings of his quorum, and feel that he has the Spirit of God
in him, which I witnessed previous to my departure in 1890; for I saw Brother
Moses stand in open rebellion to his quorum. I have prayed for him, and I want
to say to you that personally I have shed more tears over this situation since
the death of President Taylor than over all the griefs, public and private,
that I have had since that time. And I think this is the same with my brethren.
But what can we do? What position are we in? President Woodruff has given us
the keynote. No man nor set of men can place themselves in the way of this
Church and its progress and stay there; for they will be swept aside. They
cannot remain a stumbling block to the people.
There are
a few paragraphs in the Doctrine and Covenants that I would like to read. I do
not wish to multiply words, but I will say this: On a certain occasion, quite a
long time ago, I went to President Woodruff and asked him the question,
"What is the reason of this darkness that I see in the mind of a man whom
I have loved like a brother, whom I had placed in my affection equal to any man
upon the face of the earth?" This is the answer that he gave me: "He
has sought to rule over his brethren, and lost the Spirit." I will read
from a revelation that has often been referred to; it is "A Prayer and
Prophecies, written by Joseph the Seer, while in Liberty jail, Clay County,
Missouri, March 20th, 1839:"
Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why
are they not chosen?
Because their hearts are set so
much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they
do not learn this one lesson-
That the rights of the Priesthood
are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of
heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principle of
righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon
us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our
pride, or vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion,
upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness,
behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and
when it is withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood, or the authority of that man.
Where,
brethren and sisters, will you get the channel of communication opened up
between you and the powers that reign over the earth? The God that sits in the
heavens, and the angels and saints that visit us-through what line of
communication do they come? God has placed these authorities here to guide His
people, and when a man cuts that thread for himself, then the channel of
revelation is destroyed, so far as that man is concerned. If you and I ever
consider that we can reach God and get His mind and will in relation to this
great work without receiving it through the channel of those men who stand at
the head, then all I have to say to you or myself is, we have cut the thread
between us and the Spirit of God, and we are left to wander in bye and
forbidden paths. One channel, one organization! And no man may rise against
that and expect that he will be favored of the Lord or permitted to enjoy His
Spirit.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT,
also of the Council of the Apostles, was the next speaker. He spoke of the spirit of testimony, and proclaimed in all soberness and sincerity his absolute knowledge of the divinity of the mission of the latter-day Prophets, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff; and that no man could stand out against this testimony and hope to retain the blessings of God. He had prayed and pleaded for the salvation of the one who had been the chief subject of the afternoon's discourses, and had never felt in his heart to attack him, although he had been accused of doing so. He prayed that all might be saved from opposing the servants of God.
[Heber J. Grant]
[DNW 53:581, 10/24/96, p 5; CD 5:208-209]
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
It is
ever a source of pleasure to me to lift my voice in testimony of the divinity
of the work in which we are engaged, and, so far as I possess the ability, I
know of nothing that I desire so much to do as to keep the commandments of my
Heavenly Father, and to labor to try and persuade the Latter-day Saints to walk
in that straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. We have listened
here today to the testimony that has been borne by Brother John Henry Smith,
that although he was not personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, yet
he knows for himself and not for another that Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God, and so also was John Taylor, and he bears witness to you here today that
he knows that Wilford Woodruff is a prophet of the living God. In all humility,
and knowing that the words I utter I will have to meet when I stand before the
judgment seat of my Maker, I testify to you that I know that God lives; that I
know that Jesus was the Christ; that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God; that I know that Brigham Young was a prophet of God; that I know that
Wilford woodruff is a prophet of God and the mouthpiece of God upon the earth
today; that I know that his counselors are chosen of God; that I know that the
Twelve Apostles are inspired by the Lord; and that I know that no man living
upon the face of the earth, who has received a testimony of the Gospel, can
fail to recognize the authority of Almighty God that rests upon the earth
today, upon the shoulders of these men, and have the light and the inspiration
of the Spirit of God to guide him.
I pray
for our brother whose name has been mentioned here today. I have fasted, I have
wept, I have prayed for this brother of mine; yet I have been charged in the
papers with having attacked him. God forbid that I should ever attack any man!
But above all things, may God save me and my brethren from failing to recognize
the power of Almighty God whereby you and I, through obedience to the
principles of the Gospel, may be saved eternally.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE.
of the quorum of the Twelve, followed with his testimony of the truth of the work of God, which had been manifested to so many in its saving principles and ordinances. If all had paid prayerful attention to the prophecies of the past, and the signs of the times, they would not be in a position of rebellion against God. They were expected to offer, to their Heavenly Father a broken heart and a contrite spirit. No man should accept the position of an Elder of Christ, without a willingness to submit to the rightful authority of those placed over him. The speaker had experienced great pleasure in his association with the quorum of Apostles, because of his willingness to do as directed under the Spirit of God. He bore a strong testimony to the divine mission of President Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow, and their humble faithfulness in their labors. He felt to place himself and his talent and possessions at the disposal of God, because he desired to advance righteousness and to gain the reward of the faithful. He testified to the truth of the remarks regarding Moses Thatcher, who had been one of his best friends; and it was still the speaker's desire that he would yet humble himself and enter into fellowship with his brethren.
[George Teasdale]
[DNW 53:581, 10/24/96, p 5; CD 5:209-212]
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
It is
wonderful the power of the Spirit and testimony that has rested upon the
brethren at this conference. We have felt that God has been with us by His
power, and also that it should be manifested unto the world that the Priesthood
of the Son of God has been restored to the earth and those who bear it enjoy
the light and the power of God that was promised unto those who would bow in
obedience to the commandments of God. It has been manifested at this conference
by several witnesses that we are living in the dispensation of the fullness of
times; that the Lord has restored to the earth apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the
body of Christ, that we may come to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge
of the Son of God. We know in our experience that those who have offered unto
the Lord the acceptable offering of the broken heart and the contrite spirit,
who have repented of their sins, seeking earnestly at the hands of the Lord for
their sins to be remitted, and have submitted to baptism at the hands of a
servant of God, that they have known their sins were remitted, that they had
received the sanctifying influence of the blood of Christ, that they received
the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that God Himself revealed to them by His Spirit
that they had embraced the Gospel which has been restored to the earth. The
Prophet Isaiah predicted the judgments of Almighty God upon the world. John the
Revelator saw the angel fly through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those on the earth, crying with a loud voice, Fear God, and
give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come. If we would study
these scriptures that have been given unto us, we should be enabled to
understand by the revelations of God the day and age in which we live, and the
hour in which we live. As I understand it, I have no right to be an Elder in
Israel and to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood unless I have offered unto the Lord
the acceptable offering of the broken heart and the contrite spirit. The Lord
wants an intelligent obedience. When we go down into the waters of baptism we
make a solemn covenant with God that we will serve Him and keep His
commandments. And in our service, under whose direction do we move? Do we not
move under the direction of that Priesthood that God has restored to the earth?
"He that receiveth My servants," saith the Lord, speaking to the
Priesthood, "receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me receiveth My Father;
and he that receiveth My Father, receiveth My Father's Kingdom; therefore all
that My Father hath shall be given unto him." Have I any right to accept
the office of an Apostle unless I have offered this acceptable offering unto
the Lord, and I am willing to use my time, my means and my talent for the
building up of the kingdom of God and the establishment of His righteousness
upon the earth? Am I forced to be an Apostle? Do I not accept of this with my
own free agency? And do I not understand that we move under the direction of
the Presidency of the Church? Is there any man so weak and with so little
understanding that he does not understand this proposition? Is there any man
holding the Priesthood of the Son of God that does not know that the Apostles
move under the direction of the Presidency? I am often invited by my brethren
to attend conferences. I tell them I will be very glad to attend their
conference if I am so directed. When we meet on the Thursday with the First
Presidency we receive our appointments. We are subject to their direction
because we have offered unto the Lord the broken heart and the contrite spirit.
We have accepted of the conditions of His salvation, and I never have had more
happiness than I have had since it has been my privilege to associate with my
quorum. For many years I have been a traveling minister. I accepted of my
appointment to Mexico. I accepted of my appointment to the European Mission. I
accepted of my appointment to continue in Mexico in building up those settlements;
and I accepted my appointment when they told me that it was enough-I could come
home and travel in the stakes of Zion and hold meetings with the Priesthood. I
come and go and do and say as I am directed. And I have accepted of this
intelligently. It is not blind obedience. I know what I am doing.
I want to
bear testimony that I know that Wilford Woodruff is a prophet of the Most High
God. When he was President of the Twelve Apostles he laid his hands upon me and
appointed me to my mission, and the promises that he made me were literally
fulfilled. I knew that he spoke by the power of God, and that he had the spirit
of prophecy. I know that the spirit of prophecy is in the Church. I know of the
labors of my beloved President, Lorenzo Snow. We love him because we know that
he is a man of God, that he is filled with the inspiration of the Almighty; and
he has labored incessantly, and truly and faithfully to bring us to that unity
which exists today, because he loves us. He has taught us how to love each
other; and how to be in harmony with each other. He has taught us our duties,
and has explained the principles of righteousness, till we have rejoiced before
the Almighty. We are in union with the First Presidency. We love these our
brethren, and we sustain them with all our hearts by our faith and prayer, and
by being willing and obedient, to come and to go as may be necessary. All that
we have belongs to the Lord. We are the Lord's, and we hold all that we have
subject to Him simply because He has illuminated our minds by the power of His
Spirit and given us the living testimony that we have. And we love each other.
We love our brethren of the Presidency of the Stakes, and their counselors, and
the High Councilors, and Patriarchs, and Bishops, and the various officers of
the Church, with the Relief Societies, the various organizations of the young
people, and the Sabbath schools. We sustain them by our faith and prayers. We
set them apart for their duties, because we love them, and we love the work of God,
and want to see the establishment of His righteousness. We endeavor to be meek
men, teachable, and loving and kind to each other, esteeming our brethren
before ourselves, and feeling little in our own sight. The Lord knows, we are
little in our own sight. I tremble many times for fear that I should make a
mistake, or that I should say or do anything that would not be consistent in
the sight of God; for I do desire with all my heart to serve Him and keep His
commandments. I do desire to be redeemed back into His presence. I do desire to
be associated with my beloved ones in the morning of the first resurrection,
and to have the privilege of the thousand years with Christ on this earth. I do
desire the glories of the resurrection. I do desire an invitation at the
marriage supper of the Lamb. I do desire to be associated with this eternal
Priesthood. I do not think I would be kind to myself if I did not, nor to my
wife and children. I do not think I would be kind to my beloved brethren if I
did not; for I want their good feeling and to be associated with them. It is my
delight to be associated with them today, and I look forward with a great deal
of joy to the time when we shall be ourselves, not subject as we are today.
Subject to what? Why, we are subjected intelligences -- subject more or less to
these spirits that we have been instructed about. A man gets a false
impression, and then he becomes under the influence of the adversary; and we
are liable to these false impressions.
I bear my
testimony that God lives; that Jesus is the Christ; that Joseph Smith was a
true prophet sent of God; that Brigham Young was his proper successor, and John
Taylor, and our President today, Wilford Woodruff. I received this Gospel in
1852. The Lord brought me from London, England. He reached out his hand and led
me into the Church, and I have never been able to express my thanksgiving to
Almighty God for His goodness and kindness to me in giving me the privilege of
being a member of His Church, to be adopted into His royal family, and to have
the living witness that has been given unto me.
I desire
also to testify to the truth of that that has been said concerning our Brother
Moses. I love Brother Moses Thatcher. We were together in Mexico, and I
esteemed him as one of my best friends. It was Brother Moses Thatcher that laid
his hands upon me and blessed me when I went to undertake the mission to
Europe. I have plead for him, and all the Apostles have plead for him, and that
is the reason no action has been taken. We wanted him to have plenty of
opportunity for repentance; that he might come with the broken heart and
contrite spirit, and say, Brethren, forgive me for all my wrong-doings; let me
be one with you, as I have been in times that are past. That is what we have
patiently waited for. We have plead before the Lord that He would touch and
soften his heart, that he might see his position as we see it. Do you think
that we are all under a false impression? Do you think that this body of men,
who live near to the Lord, and whom you sustain as prophets, seers and
revelators, are all wrong, and he is right? I pity anybody that entertains such
an idea. It is rather untenable. It is not so. The reason there has been so
much leniency is because we have loved him. We hear that he is increasing in
health and strength, and we look for him to come with the broken heart and
contrite spirit, and be associated with us. If there is anybody that loves him
more than we do, I would like to know where you find him.
I am
thankful to bear my testimony concerning this work, because I know it is true.
I know that these principles we have received at this conference are true. We
are the representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, or we are not. And we can be
tested; for we tell the people that if they will repent and worship the living
and true God, and if they will be baptized by a man having authority, they
shall receive the remission of their sins, and they shall know through the gift
of the Holy Ghost concerning the doctrine; for the Lord will reveal it unto
them. That is our promise to all the world, because we know that the Lord has
spoken, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I pray that
the spirit of unity which exists between the Presidency and the Apostles may
never be any less, but that it may increase until we shall become one with
Christ as He is one with the Father, to His eternal honor and glory.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
admonished the people against unwise sympathy for those who are departing from their allegiance to the truth, and are doing wrong. He felt a love for those who were in the line of their duty, but if one steeled his heart against goodness and obedience, the speaker could not feel a love for him in his rebellion against God. He would let him go his own way and the speaker would go his. Repentance alone could re-instate the rebellious. When a disposition to humility was exhibited he was ready to meet such more than half way. But without repentance he would not move. The persistently rebellious could not be held in fellowship by the people of God, and would not be.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 53:582, 10/24/96, p 6; CD 5:212-213]
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
I wish
merely to say a word to guard the people from unwise sympathies. While we may
have a great deal of love for our fellow beings, and especially for those who
have been favored of the Lord in times past, we should exercise that love
wisely. Now, I love men and women who are devoted to the cause of truth, and my
sympathies are always with them. But it is impossible for me to sympathize with
those who do wrong. It is written somewhere in the laws of God that "the
Lord requireth the heart, and a willing mind and the willing and the obedient
shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days." Now, if a man
has given his heart unto the Lord, and is willing and obedient unto God and His
requirements, that man I love, and that man has my sympathy. But when he turns
away from the love of God, and steels his heart against the laws of God and the
counsels of His Priesthood, then amen to the authority and power of that man
and to my love and sympathy for him in his wrongdoing. I may pity him for his
wrongdoing, and I may love him, too, as well as anybody else; but when he
ceases to do right, that is the end of it with me. He may go his own road, and
I will go mine. I love my own brother; I love my sister; I love my wife and my
children; but when my brother, or sister, or wife, or child turns away from God
and raises the heel against the Almighty, and turns his or her heart to their
own selfish desires and whims, they are no more to me than the heathen; for
they are unbelievers, and they are not my brother nor my sister in the covenant
of the Gospel, and that covenant is stronger than all other covenants and all
other ties that bind the Saints together. The Lord has said:
Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies; for I have
decreed in my heart, saith the Lord that I will prove you in all things,
whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found
worthy. For if ye will not abide in my covenant, ye are not worthy of me.
The man
that will abide in the covenant is my brother and my friend, and has my
sympathy and love, and I will sustain him. But the man who raises his heel and
his voice against the servants of God and the authority of the Priesthood on
the earth, is not my friend, and he has not my sympathy nor my love. Of course
I respect the rights of all men, and honor those who are good and upright among
all people. And God knows, and I would that you should know, that when a man
repents of his sins, when a man that has done wrong will humble himself before
the Lord, and will show his determination to abide in the covenant unto death,
and comes with a humble spirit and contrite heart before the Lord and his
brethren and acknowledges his fault, asks forgiveness, and his acts correspond
with his professions, oh! God, how my heart yearns with love and affection,
compassion, charity and forgiveness for that man. I will go more than half way
to meet him. But I will not turn one hair out of my way for him that has
hardened his heart against the Lord and against the truth, and that has turned away
from the new and everlasting covenant and has proved that he will not abide in
it. He must look to his own way. I will turn him over to God to deal with him
as seemeth Him good.
That is
where I stand in relation to this matter. We have not dealt harshly with any
man. Charity and love, mercy and kindness have pervaded all our deliberations
and all our counsels together concerning our brethren, and all that we have had
to do with. We never entertain a feeling of bitterness, or of resentment, or of
wickedness in our hearts toward any man. On the contrary, we have exercised
charity, forbearance, patience and longsuffering, until patience ceases to be a
virtue, in my judgment, and it is about time that justice should claim its own.
Mercy has done its work; patience has endured long enough; and all Israel must
know that a man, whether he is an Apostle, a High Priest, or a Seventy, that
will not hearken to the voice of God, that will not give his heart unto the
Lord, that is not obedient, must cease to be fellowshipped by the people of
God. We cannot uphold men who will pursue a course like this, or who will
betray their brethren. We cannot afford it, and we cannot do it and be
justified before the Lord.
We have
received a communication, saying that we stood self-condemned before the
people, because we had transgressed the law of God. We have transgressed no law
of God, so far as we know. It is a clear case of the twelve jurymen, eleven of
whom were united and saw eye to eye, while the one stood out alone, claiming
that all the rest were wrong. We have borne and borne. Six months have
passed-aye, years have passed, because that which occurred six months ago
marked only the forks of the road, only the dividing line. For years before, we
had tolerated, and patiently waited, we had prayed and petitioned, and we had
suffered long, and yet to no avail. Our councils have seldom been graced by his
presence. He has not felt it necessary to be one with his brethren. He has
estranged himself from us, not we from him. He must abide the consequences. And
we want to tell you that these matters do not hinge upon political questions
either. We can tell you further, that every man is free, so far as this is
concerned. The question is not in regard to any man's political faith. It is in
regard to the order of the Priesthood. It is purely, clearly and solely an
ecclesiastical matter. It is not a personal matter at all. It is a matter of
compliance on the part of the members, with the order that God has instituted
in the Church or non-compliance therewith. It is a matter concerning the
government of the Church, and the authority which God has instituted to direct
and to guide. It is the question as to whether the people will unite with the
majority of the Priesthood, who are united and see eye to eye, or whether they
will be misled by one man.
May the
Lord help us to see the right, and not to condemn till we know all the truth,
and not to judge our brethren nor be harsh; for we have not been.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
Captain of Israel's host, and Guide,
Benediction by Elder Jonathan Golden Kimball.
_____
[6 Oct, 10 am]
[DNW 53:327-328, 10/10/96, p 15-16]
THIRD
DAY -- MORNING SESSION.
October 6th.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn which begins:
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear. But with joy wend your way.
Prayer by Elder Hugh S. Gowans. The hymn which commences:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation; No longer as strangers on earth need we roam
was sung by the choir and congregation.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR,
of the Council of Apostles was the first speaker. He referred to the remarks of President Joseph F. Smith yesterday afternoon, giving them his earnest approval. Speaking of the control of parents over children, and the course they were taking, he made application of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. His travels in the outlying stakes of Zion had convinced him of the neglect of many of the youth in performing their religious labors. Being deprived of the control and influence of parents, these young people had not been instructed in the early fundamental principles of the Gospel. Many had married out of the church, but notwithstanding these discouraging conditions the faith arising from the blood of Ephraim was strongly apparent, though not so much as it should be.
He commended the work done in the Uintah Stake in taking up a personal labor with the youth, with excellent results. His labors there had been attended with success in bringing many of the youth back into the fold. In his opinion but few such would be lost if the leaders in the various localities would do their duty; taking account of all who had not entered into the Church of God, and laboring with them in love and kindness. Marriages with those not of our faith were deprecated, because of the evil consequences which commonly followed such unions. The speaker's experiences in some of the outlying districts were related, and his testimony of the manifestations of the Spirit was earnestly borne. He urged obedience to the principles of the Gospel as the proper way to gain a testimony of its truth. The example and teachings of Christ were cited in support of this course. the mountain of the Lord's house had been established in the tops of the mountains, and the will of God was being revealed to men through His servants, who had received and were enjoying the authority to act in His name.
He was sorry to see the tendency of many to complain against he pure principles of the Gospel, as proclaimed by the Prophets of God, for such a habit would have a tendency to poison the minds of all in contact with such complainers. Generally speaking, such individuals had lost the faith through neglect of duty and a failure to perform the commandments of God.
The speaker testified that perfect freedom of opinion and expression was allowed in the presiding quorums of the church, though when a decision had been arrived at all were expected to sink their personal views and submit to the will of the majority. The necessity of the presiding officers refraining from pursuits which would interfere with the full performance had been granted to all denominations by the Latter-day saints, for the sake of establishing the principle of free agency.
He testified to the truths of the Gospel, its saving power, and the authority of the leaders of the Church, and urged all to diligence in the observance of its doctrines, that they might escape the judgments now so prevalent upon the face of the earth.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL
of the Council of the Apostles, was the next speaker. All that had been said during Conference was in harmony with his views. He said he knew that there was an evil power as well as one which was good abroad among the people, and related some experiences of his boyhood, which had demonstrated the existence of such influences. He had been visited by evil spirits and felt their power. He concluded at that time that he would find out whether there was a God. He appealed to the Deity in prayer and told the Lord of his affliction. His prayer was heard, yet he had not at the time heard about the Gospel as revealed through the Prophet Joseph. He was given an evidence and testimony, although a mere child, that the Lord would come to his rescue, and he had peace after that time. He recovered from an illness which had been caused by the spiritual influences to which he referred. Subsequently, before he heard the Gospel, he had evidence of its existence. He continued to pray for years and the Lord revealed the Gospel to him, in an open vision in the day time. He saw the Church, the Prophet Joseph, the Elders of Israel, the trials of the Saints and their gathering in these valleys. He saw that some of his youthful companions would become identified with the Church, and they had, and were now residing in this State. He knew this to be the work of God, and that no man to whom God revealed this work and then lifted his hand against it could stand. He would assuredly fall. It made him sorrowful when men took a position against their brethren, because the consequences were inevitable. He was in harmony with the expressions made yesterday in reference to a matter that was spoken of. They were true according to his knowledge. The speaker exhorted the Saints to faithfulness in the work, in the payment of their tithes and offerings promptly and full, promising them relief from the financial embarrassment under which many were laboring. This would work on natural principles, for the earth had been given of the Lord to his children, and He would reward them for a wise use of their stewardships. If the officers of the Church would sustain each his superior officer, they would also receive the support of those under them, whereas support would be withdrawn from those who failed to do this, and complained against those in authority.
ELDER ANTHON H. LUND,
also of the Quorum of Apostles, expressed the pleasure of meeting with the Saints in Conference after an absence in Europe of three and a half years. He and the other Elders in that part of the world had rejoiced in the accounts of past conferences, but this joy was not nearly so great as that of active participation. He testified to the faithfulness of the Elders now laboring in the European mission over three hundred in number, scattered over all of that continent. Their labors were of a varied character, on account of the varying laws of the different countries with reference to the preaching of the Gospel. Out-door gatherings were frequent, and had been the means of reaching many who would not otherwise have heard the word of God. The vitality of the Gospel seed had been illustrated in the case of a woman who heard the Gospel preached by President Woodruff fifty years ago, and upon seeing the Elders again after so long a time, embraced the Gospel, and rejoiced in a standing in the Church. Many thousands had been reached through the means of tracts, etc., in some instances whole families being thus converted. Instances of remarkable conversion to the Gospel were related, as occurring in various portions of Europe, through the scattering of these tracts, many more of which no doubt would ultimately do a great deal of good in spreading a knowledge of the principles of the Gospel. The strictness of prohibitory laws of Germany was gradually melting away, greater liberty being extended to religious ministers. Some brethren had been exiled from Denmark, because in the opinion of certain judges they were obnoxious to the government. These interferences had resulted chiefly through the misrepresentation of the clergymen. Much work of a successful character was being performed in Belgium and Holland, as also in Scotland. The speaker had enjoyed meeting with the Elders in their conferences, who, like the first seventy sent out by Christ, had received remarkable manifestations of the power of God. The restoring of speech to a child dumb form birth was related as one of the signs following the believers, as also the opening of the eyes of a blind woman. Another remarkable manifestation was the seeing in dreams of the Elders by those who were ready for their testimony, perfect recognition being possible at first sight.
The speaker urged the young men to prepare themselves for missionary work abroad; and also the people of Zion to furnish work and encouragement to immigrants, to prevent their becoming dissatisfied and returning to spread ill-reports among their neighbors. He advised the immigrants to try to be contented, even if unable to get at first the kind of work they desired.
He rejoiced in the testimony of Christ and the unity of the people;, and stated that he was in perfect harmony with the Presidency of the Church and with his quorum.
The choir sang the anthem;
Jerusalem, my glorious home.
Benediction by Elder George Reynolds.
_____
[6 Oct, 2 pm*]
[DNW 53:328, 10/10/96, p 16]
Afternoon
Session.
The choir sang the hymn which commences,
Earth with her ten thousand
flowers, Air, with all its beams and showers,
Heaven's infinite expanse, Sea's resplendent countenance,
All around and all above, Bear this record, God is love.
Prayer by Elder Rudger Clawson.
The hymn which begins,
Though deep'ning trials
throng your way, Press on, press on, ye Saints of God!
Ere long the resurrection day Will spread its light and truth abroad.
was sung by the choir.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
presented the general authorities of the Church to the Conference as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith, as Second Counselor in the First presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anthon H. Lund.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
` Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Edward Stevenson.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his First and John R. Winder as his second counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church historian and general Church recorder, with John Jaques and Charles W. Penrose as his assistants.
As the General Church Board of Education -- Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, George W. thatcher, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp and Joseph F. Smith.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General Conference.
All the voting to sustain the authorities as presented was unanimous.
The following communication from Elder Edward Stevenson, who is detained from attending Conference by illness, was read by Elder Heber J. Grant:
SALT
LAKE CITY, Oct 5, 1896
President Wilford Woodruff:
I
want my name and testimony spread upon the minutes of this Conference as a
witness for God and for His Son Jesus Christ, as a witness for Joseph Smith as
a Prophet of God, and for all his successors down to President Woodruff.
In
the early days of this Church I received the Gospel, the Holy Ghost and the
holy Priesthood under the hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and by his
teachings and instructions we were to move to these mountains where the work
could more fully be developed.
I
testify in the name of the Lord that the building of temples, endowments for
the living and the dead, gathering of Israel, preparing this people for the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is going forward according to the wishes and
instructions of Joseph Smith in his lifetime.
EDWARD
STEVENSON,
President George Q. Cannon explained that the prediction of Joseph Smith alluded to in Elder Stevenson's communication was to the effect that the Saints would come to the Rocky Mountains; though the name "Utah" was not then known.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
addressed the Conference. by way of introduction he stated that he did not recollect ever having heard the Apostles speak with greater power than during the present great gathering of the Saints. This had been conspicuously the case with President Wilford Woodruff and President Lorenzo Snow. He then entered into an explanation of the reasons why President Woodruff and other brethren had expressed themselves upon an important case of difference between one of the leading brethren and the general authorities as a body, and the causes of the subject not having been ventilated earlier. President Cannon then admonished the Saints against speaking evil concerning the Lord's anointed, and depicted the disastrous consequences of a course contrary to this advice. Those who indulged in this practice would subject themselves to evil spirits; they would lose the Spirit of God and, unless they repented, inevitably apostatize. President Cannon then dwelt for some time upon the right of the Lord to say to His children that He wished them to obey His counsel as given through His servants whom He designated, and showed that the Saints had, in their whole history, been abundantly blessed in following that line of conduct.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 53:609, 10/31/96, p 1; CD 5:221-226]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of [the] Church,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Tuesday, October 6th, 1896, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
Our
Conference thus far has been one of exceeding interest to me, and I presume it
has been to all who have shared in its proceedings. I do not know that I ever
heard our brethren of the Twelve Apostles speak with greater power than they
have during this Conference; I do not know that I ever felt more edified myself
by the remarks which have been made; and I have felt very thankful for the
measure of the Spirit of God that has rested down upon President Wilford
Woodruff. He has been greatly favored of the Lord in speaking to us. And so
with President Lorenzo Snow. I have no doubt that the Latter-day Saints will go
from this Conference instructed upon many points, and with their minds
enlightened concerning many things that perhaps have been, to some extent,
hidden from them. From that which I have heard, it is evident that a great many
surmises have been indulged in, and perhaps ill-natured and unjust remarks made
concerning the authorities of the Church over some of their recent actions. I
was, therefore, exceedingly thankful that the Spirit of God moved upon
President Woodruff and the other brethren to address the Conference upon the
subject that they spoke upon. I believe it is the duty of the authorities of
this Church to explain as far as possible the motives for their actions and for
their expressions; for we are a united body, and that which interests those who
are called to lead the Church interests all the members of the Church.
Moreover, to have perfect harmony, and to prevent the adversary from taking
advantage, it is necessary that sometimes explanations be made which men
naturally shrink from making, especially in public. This has been the case with
the authorities of the Church; it has been so with President Woodruff and also
with the rest of the brethren. Then again, the situation of affairs has been
very peculiar, especially because of politics having received so much
attention, and causing feelings among the people, and in some instances among
the leading men. In consequence of this, the brethren have felt to hold their
peace, and to say nothing about affairs that really needed ventilating. We have
been reticent, because we felt that we were likely to be misunderstood, and to
have misconceptions of our motives. For this reason we have permitted ourselves
to be exposed to animadversion and censure, and, in some instances,
condemnation. Of course, you can understand why the brethren should feel
delicate. Anxiety to save was the dominant feeling in their breasts.
But that
which has transpired and the explanations that were made yesterday ought to be
a solemn warning to Latter-day Saints to not be hasty in their conclusions, nor
in their animadversions and censures, not to say their condemnation of the men
whom God has placed to preside over the Church. I believe that a great amount
of sin has been committed on this point; that the Spirit of God has been
grieved, and that darkness has come to many minds, because men and women have
indulged in condemnation without understanding all the circumstances
surrounding the case which was mentioned here yesterday. Only a few days ago a
letter came to hand containing the most severe strictures concerning our
conduct. It was written by a man who was formerly a President of a Seventy and
a Sunday school superintendent. He expressed himself in a manner to lead us who
read the letter to conclude that he gave voice to the feelings of a great many
others also. This man said we stood self-convicted of having violated a law of
the Church, and he called upon us to repent and make amends for our conduct.
Now, when a man who professes to love the cause of Zion and to respect the
authorities of the Church will put his thoughts on paper in this form, and send
them to us, it furnishes an index of how others may feel who may not have as
good opportunity even as he had to know the truth. It is very significant that
such a letter should be written and sent. While it is only a little thing of
itself it is an indication of how hundreds of others may feel.
In the
remarks that I make here I would like to bring this home to the minds of the
members of this Church. There is one thing that the Lord has warned us about
from the beginning, and that is, not to speak evil of the Lord's anointed. He
has told us that any member of the Church who indulged in this is liable to
lose the Spirit of God and go into darkness. The Prophet Joseph said time and
again that it was one of the first and strongest symptoms of apostasy. Have we
not proved this? Have not his words upon this subject been fulfilled to the
very letter? No man can do this without incurring the displeasure of the Lord.
It may seem strange, in this age of irreverence and iconoclasm, to talk in this
way. Nevertheless, this is the truth. God has chosen His servants. He claims it
as His prerogative to condemn them, if they need condemnation. He has not given
it to us individually to censure and condemn them. No man, however strong he
may be in the faith, however high in the priesthood, can speak evil of the
Lord's anointed and find fault with God's authority on the earth without
incurring His displeasure. The Holy Spirit will withdraw itself from such a
man, and he will go into darkness. This being the case, do you not see how
important it is that we should be careful? However difficult it may be for us
to understand the reasons for any action of the authorities of the Church, we
should not too hastily call their acts in question and pronounce them wrong.
Perhaps never since the days of the great apostasy in Kirtland has there been
such a spirit to do this that I am speaking of as there has been of late years.
Why, some of us have felt as though we scarcely dare go to conference in some
places, we have heard such an arraignment of our motives and such a condemnation
of our actions. This is a strange thing to say, yet it is true, and many
persons here know it is true.
Yesterday's
explanations ought to have the effect to make those persons who have indulged
in these censorious remarks and in this condemnation feel so ashamed of
themselves as to cause them, if they have any love for the truth and any desire
to keep the commandments of God, to clothe themselves in sackcloth and ashes
and beseech the Lord to forgive them for the sin they have committed. For they
have condemned innocent men. They have said that which is not true about the
servants of God, and no man has the right to do this about anybody, much less
about men who are striving to do all they can for the work of God. If these men
and women do not repent, they are likely to apostatize.
I had a
daughter in this congregation yesterday, and she overheard one sister remark to
another, "Why, I thought it was only one or two in the First Presidency
that had these feelings, and that this was some personal difficulty with one of
them. Why, it is the whole of the Twelve as well. It is not confined to one or
two of the First Presidency, or to the three; but it is also the Twelve."
This
shows the ignorance that has prevailed concerning the situation of affairs, and
it shows how we have been exposed to these unjust and cruel remarks. It has
seemed as though many of our people have taken their inspiration and their
ideas concerning the transactions of the authorities of the Church from
articles in the newspapers, the writers of which knew no more about that which
was going on than an entire stranger.
I speak
in this strain to impress upon you, if possible, the folly of indulging in a
spirit of that kind, and drinking it in as though it was something delightful.
God has spoken so plainly to us concerning the many influences that are abroad
that we ought by this time to have understanding concerning them. President
Woodruff yesterday dwelt upon the many evil influences that have gone abroad in
the world. I have known good men and women, sincerely desirous of doing right,
who have been brought into subjection to these evil influences, and they have
not known it themselves, because they had not discernment enough to distinguish
between the true and the false. It is the case with a great many Latter-day
Saints. Yet there is this about the Latter-day Saints: they do know the voice
of the true shepherd; they are able to distinguish between him that serveth God
and him that serveth him not. There is a great deal of the spirit of discernment
among this people, and they are a hard people to deceive; but they do get
deceived occasionally. Cunning men mislead and deceive them, and wrong spirits
get possession of them. The spirit of falsehood is abroad, and it frequently
attributes to the best of men conduct that is vile and low. It did it to the
Lord Jesus Christ; it did it to the Prophet Joseph Smith; it did it to all the
prophets that have lived. The aim is to destroy them, and what better way can
you get an influence into operation that will destroy a man than to blacken his
character and tell lies enough to make him appear as a devil incarnate? That is
what Satan tries to do. Those have been his tactics from the very beginning. He
would make out the servants of God to be devils incarnate. And he will deceive,
if possible, the very elect by his lies and misrepresentations. The only thing
for men of God to do is to trust in Him. You cannot meet these falsehoods. They
are manufactured faster than they can be exposed. No man can defend himself
against lies. His protestations amount to nothing, because they are not
believed.
In my
early life, in publishing, I was always on hand to combat every lie that made
its appearance. I thought it my duty to do it, and I do not know but it was. My
mission was to publish the truth and to oppose falsehood. But as I grew older,
there was such a volume of lies that I found it hopeless to reply to them. I
have not done so for years, except in one instance, and then I did it at the
solicitation of my brethren. If Satan lets loose a stream of falsehood, it is
useless for a man to attempt to stem it; you may as well let it flow on, and
leave the vindication to the Lord. And so with us as a people. We have been
lied about until there is no crime in the calendar that we have not been
accused of. But we are outliving them, and we will leave them behind. The
adversary, however, still lives. He still manufactures falsehood, and finds
agents who are willing to propagate them, and he finds them among the
Latter-day Saints, too. I have heard the most abominable falsehoods told about
the First Presidency of the Church by those who call themselves Latter-day
Saints. What will be the result of this? If those people do not repent, they
will lose the Spirit of God, if they have not lost it already; they will go
into darkness, and will lose their standing in the Church. When a man loses the
Spirit of God, the tie that binds him to the Church is severed; and he wonders
after a while how he could have thought as he once did concerning it.
My
brethren and sisters, I would like to impress you this afternoon with the
importance of retaining the Spirit of God, and not allowing other spirits to
take possession of you. You should live so that the Spirit of God will reign
within you, and that when an evil spirit seeks to take possession of you, you
will feel it as sensibly and it will make such an impression upon you as the
disturbing of a smooth pond of water. Our minds should be in such an unruffled
condition and so free from any disturbing influence that when anything contrary
to the mind of the Lord seeks to enter into us we will realize it as quickly as
does the pond of water when it is disturbed. When anything comes along that is
not right, we should stop to question ourselves. We should not admit a wrong
spirit into our hearts, nor think evil of anyone. There is too much of it in
the world-telling tales about men and women, and when you examine them, in nine
cases out of ten you find they are not true. There may be some element of truth
in them; but truth can be distorted into a falsehood. We as a people should
seek, above all people, to love the truth.
The
authorities of the Church have known concerning this that was spoken of
yesterday, and we have been satisfied as to the course that would have to be
taken unless there was a change. But we did not want to expose this matter to
the public, and to weaken the confidence of the Saints; for we wanted them to
exercise their faith. But it is necessary that something should be said to the
Church, that the people may not go on yielding to wrong influences and
indulging in remarks and feelings contrary to the Spirit of the Lord.
Now, I
ask you, if any of you have indulged in this spirit of condemnation and
censure, to repent with all your heart, and ask the Lord to forgive you. Where
you have said wrong things publicly, go and correct them. If you have spoken
evil about your neighbors, go and confess it to them and ask their forgiveness.
Apply the principles of the Gospel to our every day lives. Let us not think
that we can cover up these things. The Lord will expose them. If there is
something that we do not understand, suspend our judgment and the expression of
our views until we can understand it.
I rejoice
exceedingly in the testimonies that have been borne during this conference. I
know that this is the work of God. I know that God lives. I know that Jesus
lives; for I have seen Him. I know that this is the Church of God, and that it
is founded on Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. I testify to you of these things as
one that knows-as one of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ that can bear
witness to you today in the presence of the Lord that He lives and that He will
live, and will come to reign on the earth, to sway an undisputed sceptre. I say
that it is our duty to keep the commandments of God, and to be faithful in all
things. The world may say that you are submitting to men; but it is not so; you
are submitting to God. This is God's work, and He only asks from you and from
me that obedience which every child should render to its father. We do not owe
any obedience to the rebel Satan. He would fill us with all sorts of ideas
against God, and he would bind us in chains of darkness and lead us down to
destruction, if we would listen to him. That would be all right in the
estimation of those who have his spirit; but it is wrong. It is right to listen
to the Lord, and to obey Him. He is our Father, our Creator; He is the source
of all our blessing and power, and we should submit to Him. If He says to a
certain man, "You are my servant, and I want all my children to do as you
say," it is our duty to respect that appointment. I frequently ask my boys
to listen to one of their brothers, and if he does not do right they can tell
me and I will attend to it. I teach my children to respect their brothers who
are their seniors in age, and to respect one another; and I caution the older
boys not to trespass upon their younger brethren, but to respect them. I do
that in my small family-small compared with the family of God. Has not God the
right to choose one of His children, as He has done Joseph Smith, and Brigham
Young, and John Taylor, and Wilford Woodruff, and ask the rest of us to obey
His counsel as He gives it through the one whom He chooses? "Well,
but," says one, "how do we know that He has given him this
authority?" You can know it, if you will do the things that He requires at
your hands. If God chooses the weakest among His children, and says to the
rest, "obey him, and I will sustain and bless you in doing it," He
has a perfect right to do so. He has done this with this people from the days
of Joseph Smith down to the present, and we have been prospered, blessed and
delivered in listening to the counsel of the men whom the Lord has chosen. We were
blessed and prospered in listening to the Prophet Joseph during his lifetime.
After his death, how wonderfully were we blessed and prospered in listening to
the counsels of President Brigham Young. He led us across these dreary plains
to this inhospitable land (for it was inhospitable then) and laid the
foundation of all that has been done here, until today the State of Utah is the
admiration, it may be said, of the whole nation, and men wonder at the wisdom
and shrewdness that President Young exhibited. Therefore, we not only have our
own experience to testify how prospered and blessed we have been in listening
to counsel, but we have the testimony of many others. God blessed us also in
listening to President John Taylor during his lifetime; and He has blessed us
and borne testimony to us by the outpouring of His Spirit since it has been the
privilege of President Woodruff to stand in this exalted station. I repeat, the
Lord has a right to exact this from us. We are His children, and when we have
called upon Him He has listened to us and has answered our prayers. That is the
way I view it. Satan tempts me, as I suppose he does you all; but I tell Satan
that I have nothing to do with him. I tell him that he is a rebel, that he has
tried to ruin the purposes of our Father, and I want nothing to do with him; I
will try and not listen to any of his blandishments, nor let him whisper
anything into my ear or my heart that would weaken my attachment and my
devotion to my Father and to His Kingdom. That is the way I feel. I want
nothing to do with Satan in any form. I believe it is the duty of all of us, as
the children of God, to be in this condition, and then, as far as we are
concerned, Satan will be bound.
My
brethren and sisters, I beseech the Lord to bless you all. I ask Him to open
all our eyes, that we may see; open all our hearts, that we may comprehend, and
that we may profit by the experience He gives to us, and grow and increase in
faith and power until the heavens themselves will draw near unto us, and we
will draw near unto them, and they will be open to us to behold the things of
our Father and God in their true light. This is my prayer for the entire Zion
of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER ELIAS S. KIMBALL,
President of the Southern States mission, was called upon to address the congregation. He said that his heart was in his missionary work, and he had labored earnestly with his 366 Elders to advance the work of God in the Southern States, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. New fields were being opened up and large cities visited; here the Elders labored without purse and scrip and were abundantly blessed in their ministry. The thirteen conferences were yielding large returns to the systematic and organized labors of the Elders under the direction of the conference presidents and clerks. In many of these places were many people formerly of a hostile disposition, who now extended a welcome to the Elders. The speaker stated his determination to do all in his power to advance the missionary labor in the Southern States, under the influence of the Spirit, now so abundantly poured out upon the Elders. The health of the Elders had been better during the past few months than for many years past.
ELDER WILLIAM GARDNER,
recently president of the Australasian mission was the next speaker. He had labored among the Maoris, of whom there was about 3,600 in the Church. There were seventy-seven branches in the mission. Sixty Elders from Utah were laboring there, all these among the aboriginal inhabitants. The Gospel was spreading and the work prospering. The Elders were as a rule, in good health and had the spirit of their work. there was not a sufficient number of Elders. About sixty more were needed. Besides the Maori members there were about 200 Europeans among the members of the Church. Some new branches had been recently organized. The gifts and graces of the Gospel abounded among the Saints.
The choir sang the anthem:
Hark!Hark! my soul.
Benediction was pronounced by President George Q. Cannon.
Conference adjourned until April, 1897.
_____
4-6 Apr 1897, 67th
Annual General Conference, SLC Tabernacle.
[Deseret News Weekly 54:526, 4/10/97, p 14; Millennial Star 59:241, 257, 273]
[4 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 54:526-527, 4/10/97, p 14-15]
GENERAL
CONFERENCE.
_____
The Sixty-seventh Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Sunday, April 4, 1897. President George Q. Cannon presiding, President Wilford Woodruff being absent on account of sickness. Elder Brigham Young of the Quorum of the Twelve was not present for the same reason.
Of the general authorities present on the stand there were of the First Presidency -- George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith; of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Mariner W. Merrill and Anton H. Lund; Patriarch John smith; of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjelsted, B. H. Roberts and George Reynolds; of the Presiding Bishopric -- Wm. B. Preston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder.
The first meeting of Conference was largely attended, many of the people being compelled to stand during the services.
conference was called to order by President George Q. Cannon.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn which begins:
Our God we raise to Thee Thanks for thy blessings free, We here enjoy.
Opening prayer by Elder John D. T. McAllister.
The choir sang:
Softly beams the Sacred dawning Of the great millennial morn.
PRESIDENT GEO. Q. CANNON
said, "President Woodruff desired me to bear his love to the Conference. He has been indisposed for a few days, but is much better, though scarcely strong enough to come to meeting this morning. He hopes, however, to be with us at some time during the conference. i order that there may be no concern relating to his health, I wish to say that he is much better than he has been. He is somewhat weak, but feeling very well otherwise. He has been troubled for some little time back, with insomnia, that is, sleeplessness, and this has worn on him, but he has been sleeping very well for the last two or three days and nights. I thought that this announcement to the Conference would satisfy the inquiries of a good many who have heard that he was not well.
The Speaker then directed the attention of the general assembly to the prosperous condition of the work of the Lord, indicating that he was looking upon His people with favor. Reports from all parts of the world showed unusual success resulting from the efforts of the Elders abroad. Eleven hundred souls had been added to the Church in the Southern States alone. In that field it was expected that by the end of the present year the number of Sunday schools organized would reach 150. Elder Elias S. Kimball presides there. In the Eastern and Middle States prospects were flattering, this being the report brought by Elder Samuel W. Richards, who had presided there for over two years. He had been succeeded in that position by Elder Alonzo Kesler. Brother Kelob presided in the Northwestern States. He was located and laboring in Chicago. Much good was being done, and new openings being made for the spread of the Gospel in that section. Elder Nye had charge of the Californian mission. A most encouraging feature of present missionary labors was the increase of faith among the Elders, indicated by many of them travelling without purse and scrip. They had been greatly blessed in complying with this requirement; their wants had been supplied, the Lord having operated upon the people, opening their hearts to receive the servants of God. Even in Great Britain, and on the continent of Europe numbers of Elders were trying to travel in this way, although it was difficult to do this completely on account of the fear existing in relation to nihilism and socialism; men without money were liable to be arrested and imprisoned. In Europe the work was prospering, especially in northern Sweden, and in Holland, Elder Spencer who recently returned form the latter country gave a most flattering account of the results following the preaching of the Gospel there. In Germany the missionaries were being given larger liberty than heretofore, and some men of prominence were inclined to investigate the Gospel. For the present the Elders had, owing to the Armenian difficulties, been withdrawn from Turkey, and the work there left to the management of local saints. An encouraging aspect was presented by the Polynesian islands, and indeed the whole situation of the work abroad was prosperous. God had wrought a wonderful change upon the minds of the peoples of the earth. the deadly hatred toward the Saints which had existed at times had disappeared. Thirteen hundred Elders were in the field and calls for more laborers were coming from every direction. Altogether the work of the Lord was never more prosperous than now. President Cannon directed attention to the fact that a mighty field had scarcely been touched -- the peoples of the southern portion of this continent, where there were millions of Lamanites to whom the gospel had yet to be carried. The speaker then mentioned the fact that operations were in progress in fields nearer home. Elders Edward Stevenson and Mathias F. Cowley had visited the north, Idaho and Montana, where they had been warmly received, and their efforts attended with success. The same could be said in relation to recent labors in Idaho by Elders Jonathan G. Kimball and Henry W. Nasbitt, while Elder John W. Taylor of the quorum of the Twelve had opened up a mission in Colorado.
Reference was made by the speaker to a recent probability of division in the Church at home, on account of erroneous doctrine having been promulgated and false statements made. A reaction had set in, however. Reports from all the Stakes were to the effect that those who had been misled were having their minds enlightened. All signs indicated that the Saints were growing in an understanding of the duties of the Priesthood. God had sustained his servants and people in every dark hour and would continue to do so.
President Cannon briefly reviewed the condition of the various auxiliary organizations of the Church -- notably the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement associations. He mentioned that the Sunday school membership had increased nearly 6,000 during the past year, and the total of officers and members was now about 105,000. There had been a considerable increase in the membership of the children's Primary associations, the report showing an enrollment of 33,600, besides 2,770 officers, and if every Stake had reported the probable aggregate would be shown to be about 38,000. There had also been a gratifying increase of religion classes, the object of which was to provide religious instructions for children of the Saints who attended the public schools.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 54:577, 4/24/97, p 1; CD 5:268-272]
REMARKS
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, April 4th, 1897, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
In
commencing the sixty-seventh annual conference of the Church, we have great
reason to be thankful to the Lord for the favor that He has shown unto us, and
for the prospects that we have concerning the growth of His work. There is
every reason to encourage us as a people. There is every reason to believe that
the Lord is with us, and that He looks with favor upon Zion. I think it is
scarcely too much to say that the work of God was never in a more prosperous
condition in many respects, than it is at present. From all parts of the world,
where the Elders are laboring, good reports come of their success. From the
imperfect statistics that we have (and we are trying to improve these all the
time), we learn that upwards of ten thousand souls have been added to the
Church during the year. In the United States the work has gone forward with
considerable rapidity. It is claimed that in the Southern States alone there
have been more souls added to the Church than in all the European missions. But
Elder Anthon H. Lund, who has recently returned from presiding over the
European mission, will not admit that the Elders have been more successful in
the Southern States than they have in Europe; for, in proportion to the number
of Elders engaged in the ministry, they have baptized more to the Elder in
Europe than in the United States. I mention this because it is worthy of
mention, and shows that the Elders in Europe are industrious and successful
also. Before the close of the present year it is expected that in the Southern
States 150 Sunday schools will be organized; there are nearly 100 already in
operation, and by means of these a great work is being done, and many are being
indoctrinated with the principles of the Gospel.
The
Eastern States mission, as reported by Elder Samuel W. Richards, who has just
returned, is a very promising mission, and the probability is that many souls
will be added to the Church there during this coming season. A disposition is
manifested on the part of a great many to investigate, and the cry from that
mission, as from all the missions, is "We want more help. Send us more
Elders. We cannot fill the call that we have for Elders." Brother Richards
has been laboring in that mission now for upwards of two years, and has been
quite successful in gaining access to the public prints, getting our views
published in newspapers, and in removing prejudice from the minds of public
men. Brother Alonzo P. Kesler has been sent to take the place of Brother
Richards.
Brother
Lewis A. Kelsch is laboring as president of the Northern States mission.
Brother Elias S. Kimball is still laboring in the Southern States mission. Brother
Ephraim Nye is laboring in California; and all these Elders and their
co-laborers are performing their duties with great success.
Elder
Andrew Kimball is about to be succeeded by Elder William T. Jack in the
presidency of the Indian Territory mission, which is also rapidly increasing.
In Colorado, Elder John W. Taylor and his associates have, within the last few
months, opened the Gospel in a number of towns and cities in that state with
gratifying prospects for success. Elder B. H. Roberts and a few other Elders
have been visiting many of the large cities of the East and holding meetings
therein that have attracted widespread attention. Nearer home, Elders J. Golden
Kimball, Henry W. Naisbitt and others have been laboring in Idaho. Still other
brethren have been ministering in Montana. In both of these and the neighboring
states there appears to be a bright prospect for doing good, many scattered
Saints, who at different times have wandered off from the main body of the
Church, being found in these regions, many of whom are anxious to renew their
fellowship with God's people.
There is
this noticeable feature at the present time in the preaching of the Gospel all
through the various missions: it is the faith of the Elders to travel without
purse and scrip. There has been a time when the faith of the Elders did not
appear to be sufficient to enable them to travel in this manner, and some have
said that missionary labors would have to cease in some parts if the Elders had
to depend upon the people to sustain them; but from all the missions where the
Elders have pursued this plan of traveling without purse and scrip, they have
reported that the Lord has blessed them as never before, and there is a
disposition on the part of the people to entertain them and to supply their
wants. The letters that come from the Elders are exceedingly encouraging. They
show the faith of the Elders, and also the power of God moving upon the hearts
of the people. In Great Britain and on the continent of Europe the Elders are
struggling to do this. Of course, in some countries it is an exceedingly
difficult thing, because of the fear there is of socialism, anarchism and
nihilism; and if a man be found in some places without money in his pocket he
is in danger of being put in prison as a vagabond. Hence, in those countries
great care has to be taken that the Elders do not expose themselves to
imprisonment. Still the spirit in the Elders is to carry out the word of the
Lord in regard to traveling without purse and scrip.
In Europe
the work is progressing, particularly in northern Sweden, where a great many
converts are being made, and also in Holland. The Saints who live in this city,
no doubt, heard the report of Elder G.S. Spencer, who returned a few weeks ago
from presiding over the Netherlands mission. I suppose that in that mission
there are more people being added to the Church than in any of the European
countries, and the Elders feel exceedingly encouraged in their labors and
believe there is a great work to be done in that land.
In
Germany the Elders are laboring with zeal and with a large degree of success,
and leading men are more disposed to investigate the principles of the Gospel
than they have heretofore been inclined to do. There is also a disposition in
Berlin and other cities to grant larger liberty. The police are not so rigid
and so disposed to interfere with the meetings; in fact, where they have
attended the meetings, as they have done in some instances to get an idea of
the nature of our teachings, they have been almost converted,-at least, their
prejudices have been, to a great extent, removed. At the city of Breslau, the
police commissioner has granted to the Elders perfect liberty to preach. So it
may be said wherever the Elders have gone the Lord has opened their way and has
raised up friends to them and has blessed them in their labors.
From Turkey we have deemed it wise to withdraw the Elders for the time being,
in consequence of the Armenian troubles, it being thought that it was dangerous
for our brethren to be there when there was rioting and so many collisions
between the Turks and the Armenians.
Looking,
therefore, at all the field-the Polynesian Islands, the United States and
Europe-there is reason to be thankful to God for the blessings that He has vouchsafed
to us, for the softening of the hearts of the people, and for the pouring out
of His Holy Spirit upon them to prompt them to seek to understand the
principles of the Gospel. Everyone who is at all acquainted with our history
for the past few years can see the great change that has been wrought out in
this direction, how wonderfully the Lord has operated, the large liberty He has
brought to His people, the removal of prejudice and of that deadly animosity
that was so severely directed against us a few years ago. God can do a
wonderful work when He pours out His Spirit upon the people. He can soften the
hearts of the hardest hearted men and women, and He can remove blindness from
their eyes and cause them to see the truth. The Elders are feeling the benefit
of this. When we think that there are 1,300 Elders sent out from this land to
these various countries, laboring indefatigably, without purse and scrip, and
testing the world, we can form some idea of how great the work of God is and
how it is spreading. And we have scarcely touched the Indian races. There is an
immense field spreading out before the Elders of this Church in the redemption
of these poor remnants of the house of Israel. The Elders now are laboring
among nations of our own blood, excepting in the Polynesian Islands. But here
stretches out before us this immense continent on the south, peopled with
descendants of the house of Israel, and there is scarcely an Elder among them.
When we think of these millions of people who are awaiting the glad tidings of
salvation, and concerning whom so many precious promises have been made, we can
imagine what an immense labor devolves upon us as the servants of God. This
should incite us to renewed diligence. It should fill the hearts of our young
men with burning zeal and a determination to qualify themselves for the great
work of redeeming the human family which rests upon us as the people of God.
So far as
our own surroundings are concerned, we have every reason to be thankful for
that which the Lord has done and is doing. There was a probability that we
should have division in the Church at home, in consequence of false doctrine
that was taught and false statements that were made. It looked for a while as
though a great many of our people would be misled and come to wrong conclusions
concerning the authority and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. But
from all parts of the Church in these mountains the intelligence comes that the
members of the Church are having their minds enlightened, and error is being
removed, and misconceptions which have been industriously propagated are now
being understood in their true light. This is the representation that comes
from all the Stakes of Zion, and it is most gratifying, because the Church of
Christ cannot prosper on the earth unless there is union. If there be
divisions, or schisms, if error prevail, if false doctrine be believed, they
will inevitably retard the progress of the work of God. I am thankful myself
that the issue has been raised among us. Some have found fault with the
Declaration that was made here a year ago. Some have thought it unnecessary,
and that it was framed for the purpose of entrapping somebody. Now I wish to
say to this Conference that no such purpose ever entered into the hearts of the
men who signed it. There was no snare, nor no trap prepared; but it was felt
that there should be a declaration of principles made at that time in
consequence of the statements which had been made concerning these matters, and
the misconceptions and divisions of sentiment which had arisen therefrom-so
that our views concerning the Church of Christ and its government might be
thoroughly understood. Every man that signed that paper felt that it was
opportune, and that it was needed. The very fact that there should be
differences of views on such important questions furnishes all the proof
necessary that it was an appropriate and necessary document to issue to the
Church, and all Latter-day Saints will see how appropriate it is if they will
read it in the light of the Spirit of God. It was not issued for the purpose of
encroaching upon the privileges or liberty of the Latter-day Saints. I have
said it, and I repeat it here, that there is no freer people upon the face of
the earth than the Latter-day Saints. There is no people that enjoys fuller
liberty than we do. There is no people who are interfered with less by their
religious teachers than are the Latter-day Saints. I am willing to risk that
statement and have it examined in the light of that which has been and is being
done among us. There has been no interference with human rights. In fact, we
have refrained from saying and doing that which I have sometimes thought we
ought to do; but in our anxiety to avoid giving the least color to the charges
that have been made against us, we have refrained from expressing ourselves
when it was really needed. The leading men of this Church-and I speak this
without boasting-are the men who have helped lay the foundation of this
commonwealth. All there is that is looked upon as admirable in our State is
due, in part at least, to them.
But I
need not dwell on this. I need only announce to you that to-day all the signs
are favorable to a correct comprehension of the duties of the Priesthood and of
the members of the Church in all parts of the land. I am happy to be able to
say this. I know that God our Eternal Father will enlighten the minds of this
people; I know He will pour out His Spirit upon us, when we seek for it. He
will dissipate darkness, and will show us the truth. He will give us strength
in temptation and trial, and He will deliver us from snares. If we are true to
Him, and put our trust in Him, He will not suffer us to be led astray by false
and delusive spirits. I look back to the years of trial through which we have
passed, and I recall with great satisfaction and pleasure how the Lord assisted
and sustained His servants and people. When everything was dark, and it looked
as though the powers of darkness would prevail over the Church of Christ, He
sustained His servants and His people. Through the blessing of the Lord our
sisters were filled with a strength that was almost superhuman, and the whole
people felt the sustaining hand of our God. And He will continue to do this for
us if we will put our trust in Him. When we pass through the deep waters, He
will be there to guide and sustain us; when we go through the fiery furnace, He
will be with us as He was with the three Hebrew children.
The Young
Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations have received quite an
impetus of late, and increased interest is being manifested in them. The
prospect is that they will do a great amount of good among the people. We have
not the statistics at hand concerning them as we have of other institutions.
I find that the Sunday Schools are growing. There has been an increase of
nearly six thousand during the past year. We number now in our Sunday schools
about one hundred and five thousand officers, teachers and pupils. This is an
exceedingly gratifying showing. In the missions abroad, where there is
opportunity, Sunday Schools are established, and many people who are not
members of the Church send their children to them, because they see that they
are taught the word of God and the principles of righteousness and true
morality. It is very encouraging to know that through this humble
instrumentality so much good is being done. We ought to be diligent in like
manner at home, and seek after the souls of our own offspring, who certainly
ought to be as dear to us and as worthy of sacrifice on our part as the
offspring of strangers.
There has also been a great increase in the Primary Associations. They show a
membership of 33,600. Besides these, there are 2,770 officers. No doubt, if
every Stake reported with care, there would be found to be a much larger
number. It is estimated that there are at least 38,000.
Then
there are the religion classes. You are aware, no doubt, that it was deemed
proper to have religion classes established in some settlements, so that if
there should be any tendency on the part of some of the pupils of the district
schools to drift into unbelief, these classes would have the effect to check
that tendency. We do no want to say one word disrespectful to the district
schools. We have excellent schools in our State. But there appears to be a
natural tendency in the human heart towards unbelief. I remember when I was
chancellor of the Deseret University, the charge was made several times that
the teachers of that institution were disposed to implant skeptical thoughts
and suggestions in the minds of the students. We investigated the matter, and
we found that this was not correct. We learned, however, that the text books
and the general drift in such an institution, where not counteracted by
religious teaching, was in favor of unbelief. The text books in all our
universities and colleges have a tendency to unsettle faith in the Bible. To
counteract this tendency in our district schools, it was deemed wise to
establish religion classes. The statement is made that there are at least
seventy classes now in operation, with over three hundred instructors, and an
estimated attendance of nearly four thousand pupils. These classes should
increase. There are places, no doubt, where they are needed, and they should receive
attention, because it is when the children are young, and when their minds are
plastic, that lasting impressions can be made upon them.
I pray
God to bless us in our Conference, and that His Holy Spirit may be poured out
in power upon all who shall speak. That this may be the case, we all should
pray in our hearts for the Elders who shall address this Conference, that they
may be inspired, and that each of us may be filled with the Spirit to receive
their instructions and to be profited by attending this Conference. God bless
you. Amen.
At the close of President Cannon's discourse Sister Mabel Cooper sang: "Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I Lift my Soul."
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
was the next speaker. He referred with gratification to the preaching of the Gospel without purse or scrip, credit for this condition being due in great measure, to Elder Elias S. Kimball, president of the Southern States mission. He advised all parents whose sons were on missions, to exhort them to trust in the Lord, instead of furnishing them with an abundance of means. He showed that the excellent qualities of faith and trustingness were developed by adherence to these and other principles of self-sacrifice. Men and women thus grounded in the faith were seldom moved by trial or difficulty.
Referring to a letter he had received, complaining of the existence of the First Presidency of the Church, President Smith read from Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants, where the quorums and duties of the two great divisions of the Priesthood are defined. One who had been high in authority had even advocated that the First Presidency should not have been organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, but the presiding authority should have been left with the Apostles, with an executive committee appointed from that body to take the active management of affairs. That this idea was contrary to the order of the Priesthood was proved by the further reading of the section above referred to.
Reading concerning the conferring of the power of presiding over the whole Church upon the First Presidency, who were named in the revelation perused, he said the law of God, therefore, was to the effect that the Church should not exist for any great length of time without the three presiding officers, to represent God in the earth. The further description of the Church organization was read, to show how exact the pattern was, and how literally it must be adhered to, in order that the Church might be perfect in its organization and its workings.
[Joseph F. Smith]
[DNW 54:609, 5/1/97, p 1; CD 5:282-290]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
I have
been invited by President George Q. Cannon to occupy a portion of the time this
morning. There are many things which deserve the attention of the Elders, and
which might be spoken upon during the Conference and will be probably, to the
edification of the Saints and in the interest of the advancement of the work of
the Lord. It is very gratifying to hear the report which has been given this
morning by President Cannon concerning the labor of the Elders that are preaching
the Gospel in the nations of the earth, and especially to notice the one
leading feature to which reference has been made, namely, the mode of preaching
the Gospel by the Elders in the United States and in some other parts of the
world without purse and scrip.
The idea
has prevailed for some time past, to a certain extent, until a little while
ago, that it was necessary that the Elders should, in going out to preach the
Gospel, provide themselves with money, in order that they might not suffer for
the necessaries of life. In consequence of the prevalence of this idea, for
many years past the Elders generally have provided themselves with means as far
as they could, and then their kindred and friends and the various quorums of
the Seventies have furnished them means, to enable them to prosecute their
missionary labors. To Brother Elias S. Kimball, now presiding over the Southern
States Mission, is due the credit perhaps, as much or more than to any of the
Elders who are presiding over missionary fields, for reinaugurating the former
practice of preaching the Gospel among the people without purse or scrip. It is
gratifying to know that in the Southern States, in the Northern States, in the
Eastern States, and in the California Missions, and upon the islands of the
sea-in fact, wherever this practice is observed, the work of the Lord is more
prosperous, if possible, than it is anywhere else. The hearts of the people are
reached, their sympathy is aroused, and they receive the Elders with greater
kindness, and administer to them more liberally than they were wont to do when
the Elders were depending for their support upon the means in their own
pockets. I have always advocated the principle of preaching the Gospel
"without purse or scrip." I recollect making some remarks on this
subject several years ago in this house, when my words seemed to recoil on my
own head, for they did not meet with favor. In the course of my remarks at that
time I advanced the idea that those men who possessed wealth whose sons were called
out into the missionary field, and who were furnishing them abundance of means,
were doing their sons irreparable wrong. We have evidences that the young men
whose parents furnished them all the means they needed while they were out
attempting to preach the Gospel are to-day without the testimony of the truth,
and some of them have fallen away; whereas those who have gone out depending
upon the Lord, having faith in the providences of the Almighty, have had
developed within them a testimony of the truth and a knowledge of the
principles of the Gospel which will enable them to stand firm and faithful in
the Gospel so long as they continue to do their duty as members of the Church.
I have a son on a mission, and I have advised him to put his trust in the Lord,
and as far as possible exert an influence with his associates to do the same,
and not to depend upon me for means, but to depend upon the Lord and the people
among whom he labors. I would advise all those who have sons out in the world
preaching the Gospel to exhort them not to put their trust in money, but rather
in the Lord, and thereby prove the world, and labor wholly and solely for the
salvation of men, having that thought uppermost in their minds, and not the
thought that they have been sent out into the world to see the sights. I have
labored in England on missions, and my experience while abroad proved to me
that among the most useless missionaries sent out into the field were those who
depended upon the means in their pockets for their support. They did not feel
humble; they did not seem to put their trust in the Lord; they did not seek
unto Him earnestly and diligently to obtain His Spirit; they did not feel in
their hearts that burning desire for the salvation of the children of men that those
did who were wholly dependent upon the Lord. I attribute the improvement that
is observed in the various missionary fields to the spirit that has been
awakened in the minds of the Elders to put their trust in the Lord, and to rely
upon His kindness and providence while they are in the world. I have heard
words of criticism, amounting almost to censure, of the rigid way in which
Brother Elias S. Kimball had required Elders to put their money away and to put
their trust in the Lord, and I have not felt to endorse that sentiment, for I
have believed it was right. I do not believe there is any great blessing
without some sacrifice-not the sacrifice of principle, but the sacrifice of our
own desires. It is a comparatively easy thing for a man with his pockets full
of money to travel in the world. It requires no sacrifice to do this, no
exercise of thought, no faith, no earnestness of purpose, no ardent desire in
the soul for the salvation of mankind. But to go out among strangers, without
means, dependent only upon the Lord, requires faith, humility, perseverance,
and earnest desire in man, and it has a tendency to develop in them all these
noble and excellent qualities which are essential to stability in the kingdom
of God.
In
conversation last evening with some brethren, some remarks were made respecting
those who came in early days to this country pulling and pushing the handcart,
and a comparison was drawn between that mode of immigration to Zion and the
manner in which our people are gathered today. Did you ever hear of a man or a
woman apostatizing that pushed or pulled a handcart across the plains? Did you
ever hear of them becoming dissatisfied soon after they got here, and at once
expressing their desire and intention to go back to the old country? If you
have, it has been a rare exception to the rule. As a rule, and almost the
universal rule, those who tramped the plains with the handcarts, and next those
who came with the ox-teams, have been rooted and grounded in the faith. They
had occasion to put their trust in God, and their faith was developed, their
love for the truth was brought out, and they have been, as a rule, stable and
steadfast in the Gospel of Christ. While today many who come from distant lands
by steamship and by railroad, soon after they get to Zion become dissatisfied
and discontented and they long for the leeks and the onions and the flesh-pots
of Egypt; and frequently people who have emigrated here in that way have within
a week from the time they landed in this city, or in other places, wanted to
return, and some of them have returned. They came too easy; they did not gain
experience in coming; their faith was not tried; they had nothing to develop
within them the principle of integrity to the truth, and they were discouraged
and wanted to go back at the least difficulty. Now, the Lord has said that he
would have a tried people; and it is stated in the scriptures that the Lord
chasteneth every son and daughter whom he receiveth. It is also said, in the
Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that God will try His people unto death, to see
if they are worthy of the blessings of the Gospel of the Son of God (D&C
98:14). I contend that a man is in a poor condition to endure the trials and
temptations in the world who is not tried in his feelings and proven to the
uttermost, to see if he loves the truth more than he loves himself or the
world; and I believe that it will be most difficult for any man to stand firm
in the Gospel who is not thus put to the test. My prayer has been constantly,
not that I might be spared trials, but that I might have wisdom and judgment,
patience and endurance given unto me, to bear the trials that I might be called
to pass through. While I cannot say truthfully that I have been tried in my
faith in the Gospel of Christ, yet I can say truthfully that I have been tried
in many ways. My patience has been tried, my love has been tried, my integrity
has been tried; but my faith in the Gospel, in the divine mission of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, in the organization of the Church of Christ in these
latter days, has never yet been sorely tried. I have never experienced anything
calculated to try my faith seriously in regard to these matters; for I have
grown up, I believe, in them. I have been taught from my childhood that Mormonism
was true, that Joseph was a prophet, that Brigham Young was his lawful
successor, that John Taylor was the lawful successor of President Young, and
that President Woodruff is the lawful successor of John Taylor in the
Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and what
intelligence I possess convinces me that these things are not only essential,
but that they are true. So that, however much men may have tried me, or however
much I may have been tried by circumstances in which I have been placed,
wherein my love for my brethren and my integrity to them has been tested, I
have never yet had a doubt cross my mind that Mormonism was true, or that the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was properly organized and
recognized of God. These things seem to have been made clear to my
understanding, and they have been engrafted into my heart, until my whole being
is saturated with them. I know that God will no more leave His work unto
another people, and that it shall continue until His purposes shall be
completed in the earth.
This
brings me to a thought awakened in my mind by a letter which I received
yesterday, complaining of me because I occupied the position that I hold in the
Presidency of the Church; not simply because I occupied that position, but the
writer found fault with the existence of the First Presidency of the Church,
and claimed that it should not exist; that there never had been a successor
appointed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that therefore my presence in that
quorum was a wrong to him and to the whole Church. Now I wish to read a few
words from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord, in a revelation, says:
There are, in the church, two Priesthoods, namely, the
Melchisedek, and-Aaronic, including the Levitical priesthood.
Why the first is called the
Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great High Priest.
Before his day it was called the
Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God;
But out of respect or reverence to
the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his
name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.
All other authorities or offices
in the church are appendages to this Priesthood.
But there are two divisions or
grand heads-one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic, or
Levitical priesthood.
The office of an Elder comes under
the Priesthood of Melchisedek.
The Melchisedek Priesthood holds
the right of Presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in
the Church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things (D&C
107:1-8).
The Lord
further says:
Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices
growing out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the
several offices in these two Priesthoods.
Of the Melchisedek Priesthood,
three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to
that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church,
from a quorum of the Presidency of the Church (D&C 108:21,22
This is
the law, and, do what we will, we cannot set it aside, nor can we adopt any
other plan or method and still be in harmony with the glorious and perfect
order of this Holy Priesthood which God has revealed from the heavens in the
dispensation of the fullness of times.
The Lord
continues:
The twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve
Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; thus
differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling.
And they form a quorum, equal in
authority and power to the three Presidents previously mentioned (D&C
107:23,24
Let me
call your attention to this principle. The Lord has not established in the
Church two heads, two presiding quorums to run parallel with each other. He has
established an order in this Priesthood, which is absolutely indestructible so
long as there is a single man holding this Priesthood and exercising the rights
and functions thereof in righteousness. The meaning of this passage is simply
this: When, from death or any cause, there is no First Presidency, then the
authority of presidency rests upon the Twelve Apostles. It does not mean that
their authority is equal to the authority of the First Presidency while there
is a First Presidency. Such would breed confusion and disorder. There could be
no presidency under circumstances of this kind.
Therefore,
the equality of the authority of the Twelve Apostles with that of the First
Presidency manifests itself when they are called to exercise that authority in
the absence of the First Presidency. Yet it has been contended, so we have been
credibly informed, that it was wrong to organize the First Presidency after the
death of the Prophet Joseph; that the Twelve Apostles should have been the
presiding council of the Church, and that there should have been an executive
committee appointed out of the Twelve to conduct the affairs of the Church. I
suppose it is upon this idea that this brother-whom I have known from
childhood-claims he is injured and wronged, and that the whole Church is
wronged, because of the existence of the First Presidency, which, nevertheless,
must exist in order to complete the pattern which God has given for the
guidance and government of His Church.
The
revelation goes on:
The seventy are also called to preach the Gospel, and to be
especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from
other offices in the Church in the duties of their calling;
And they form a quorum equal in
authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named
(D&C 107:25-26).
Would
anybody think for a moment of contending that, because the authority of the
First Presidency, the authority of the Twelve Apostles, and the authority of
the Seventy was equal, therefore there was a triple-headed presidency of the
Church, and that it was necessary that all three of these councils of the
Priesthood should exercise in equal power and authority the presidency at one
and the same time? Why, that would be nonsense, and would absolutely destroy
the principle of government. It would be only in case of the destruction of the
Presidency of the Church and of the Twelve Apostles that the Seventy could come
forth and exercise authority equal with that of the Twelve in the absence of
the First Presidency, and of the First Presidency when the church is fully
organized.
And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be
by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must
be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power
or validity one with the other.
(A majority may form a quorum,
when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.)
Unless this is the case, their
decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a
quorum of three Presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of
Melchisedek, and were righteous and holy men (D&C 107:27-29).
What does
this mean? Simply this: When the decision of three presidents, who are called
to the presiding position in the Church, is a united decision, each president
agreeing with the other, it is valid, and equal to any decision that was ever
rendered by any presiding authority in the Church of God. It means that in the
absence of the First Presidency, and the Twelve Apostles being called upon to
exercise the functions of presidency in the Church, a decision on their part
must be a unanimous decision to make it equal with a decision of the three
Presidents of the Church. It further means, that in the event of the
non-existence of the First Presidency and the Twelve, then the Seventy being
called upon to exercise the presiding function, a decision rendered by them
must be a unanimous decision, in order to make it equal with a decision of the
Twelve or of the First Presidency. It cannot mean anything else. It cannot mean
that when the First Presidency render a decision, on which they are agreed, the
Twelve Apostles can rise up and render another decision on which they are
united, and their decision be equal with that of the First Presidency. That
would result in confusion, and would be destructive of the organization of the
Church. Nor can the Seventies rise up, while the Presidency and Twelve live,
and render a decision which would be equal before the Church with that of the
First Presidency, or with that of the Twelve, in case they were presiding.
The Lord
further says:
The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to
be made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and
long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience,
godliness, brotherly kindness and charity;
Because the promise is, if these
things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the
Lord.
And in case that any decision of
these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general
assembly of the several quorums, which constitute the spiritual authorities of
the church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decision (D&C
107:30-32).
In other
words, there can be no appeal from the decision of the First Presidency of the
Church, except their decision be rendered in unrighteousness, and without love,
and charity, etc., and in that case the appeal would have to be taken to the
assembled bodies of the Priesthood. It means that when the Twelve Apostles are
acting as Presidents of the Church, and they render a decision affecting the
welfare of the Church, or on doctrine, there is absolutely no appeal from their
decision, excepting it is rendered in unrighteousness. And the same would
apply, of necessity, to a decision rendered by the Seventy in the absence of
the First Presidency and Twelve,-if such a thing could be thought of at all.
Thus how glorious and how perfect is the organization of the Priesthood which
God Almighty has established in the earth for the last time. And it is the duty
of men who bear this Priesthood to study it, and to learn the principle of
government, and each to understand his duty and his place, and keep himself in
his place and in the line of his duty. Then there will be no clashing, no
contention, and no disorder in the house of God; for the house of God is a
house of order. There is much more that might be said on this subject; but I
want to refer to just one other passage of Scripture. Speaking to the whole
Church, the Lord, in a revelation given in 1841, says:
Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the officers belonging
to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the keys thereof, even the Priesthood which
is after the order of Melchisedek, which is after the order of my Only Begotten
Son.
First, I give unto you Hyrum
Smith, to be a Patriarch unto you, to hold the sealing blessings of my church,
even the Holy Spirit of promise, whereby ye are sealed up unto the day of
redemption, that ye may not fall, notwithstanding the hour of temptation that
may come upon you.
I give unto you my servant Joseph,
to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a
seer, and prophet.
I give unto him for counselors, my
servant Sidney Rigdon, and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a
quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church
(D&C 124:123-126).
This is
the pattern; this is the law; this is the way the Church is organized; this is
the way the Priesthood is to be governed. The Lord has not only commanded it,
but has set the example by naming the three Presidents of the Church. And I
tell you that this order of the Priesthood cannot be done away. It is not
lawful or right for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to exist
any great length of time without an organization of three First Presidents of
the Church; for that is the order of the Priesthood. It is their right to
receive the gifts of revelation and inspiration, and of blessing upon all the
Church; and the First President is the mouthpiece of God, the revelator, the
translator, the seer, and the Prophet of God to the whole Church. It is he who
holds the keys of this Holy Priesthood-the keys which unlock the doors of the
Temples of God and of the ordinances of His house for the salvation of the
living and the redemption of the dead. It is he who holds the sealing power, by
which man may bind on earth and it shall be bound in heaven, and by which men
duly authorized and appointed of him who holds the keys may loose on earth and
it will be loosed in heaven. This is the order of the Holy Priesthood, and any
departure from it is a crime against the law of God, a crime against the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those men who would do away with the
Presidency of the Church, would commit a crime against God, and would do a
grievous and irreparable wrong to the Church and to all those who were seeking
life eternal through the preaching of the Gospel. They would shut up the doors
of the Temples, and shut up the heavens, that there should be no power among
men. They would stop the carrying out of the pattern that God has given, by
which His work is to be perpetuated in the earth and the Gospel carried to
every creature.
The Lord
goes on with this pattern:
I give unto you my servant Brigham Young, to be a President
over the Twelve traveling Council, which Twelve hold the keys to open up the
authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to
send my word to every creature;
They are-Heber C. Kimball, Parley
P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page,
Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, George A. Smith;
David Patten I have taken unto
myself; behold, his Priesthood no man taketh from him, but, verily I say unto
you, another may be appointed unto the same calling.
And again, I say unto you, I give
unto you a High Council, for the corner stone of Zion (D&C 124:127-131).
And so
the Lord gives to the Church, not only the pattern, but He names the officers
who were chosen of Him to fill these various quorums of the Priesthood at that
time. There is not one iota of the plan which He instituted that can be
dispensed with. Every quorum must be kept in existence, and be kept alive. They
must be entrusted with the responsibility of their various callings and duties
in the Church, in order that the Church may be blameless in the sight of God,
perfect in its organization, and full of light, and inspiration, and power from
the Almighty. When these things are not done, there is a blemish, there is
something lacking. So, when there is a vacancy in a council of the Priesthood,
we should hasten, with wisdom and prudence, and with prayerfulness of
heart,-not in too much haste,-to fill the vacancy, that every quorum of the
Priesthood may be perfect in its organization, and the Church be properly
organized. No man can put too much stress upon these things. Without them there
is no government. Without obedience to these rules and patterns that God has
given, the Church is not perfect; but, with these quorums organized and this
authority diffused among the body, down to the very teachers that visit you in
your homes, then the Church is organized after the pattern and plan that God
has instituted, and it is perfect in itself, like a perfect man, even like
Christ Jesus, who was perfect,-with head, with eyes, and ears, and mouth, arms,
legs and trunk, and with every part perfect in itself, performing the duties
belonging to it, so that there may be no inefficiency in the work of the
ministry or in the edifying of the body of Christ. You lop off one of these
quorums, and you lop off the head, perhaps, or the legs, or the arms, or the
feet, or you put out the eyes, or you shut the mouth. In this way you maim the
Priesthood of God, and you bring confusion and discord into its ranks, followed
by disorganization and disintegration. I want to say to this congregation that
while we live to whom God has entrusted the watch-care of this people, there
shall be no defect in these organizations, so long as He shall give us power to
maintain them in their perfect condition and order. We will see to it, by the
help of God, and we will not shrink from our duties. Though men get into the
dark, and accuse and upbraid us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely,
we care not for that; for the work of God is resting upon us, and upon all the
people. Every man and woman who is a member bears, and legitimately should
bear, a portion of the responsibility of carrying on this great and glorious latter-day
work.
May God
bless you, and may He bless all those who bless Zion, and all those who sustain
in their hearts and faith, the constituted authorities of the Church, and hold
them up before the Lord in righteousness, and pray for them. Pray for the remission
of their sins, if they have sinned. Pray that God will not suffer them to be
led into temptation. Pray that they may be strong in their callings. Pray that
God may not withdraw His hand from them to leave them to themselves, but that
He may have His hand stretched over them day by day, and hour by hour, for
their guidance, prosperity, and success in administering the ordinances of the
Gospel, and the word of the Lord, and the principles and rights of government
in the midst of the Saints, that the Church may be kept intact, and that the
people of God may grow and advance until the perfect day. This is our work and
our mission, and we are doing the best we can, with our imperfections. For we
are weak men. We have not the honor, nor the glory. It is God's. He has chosen
the weak, in order that the glory may be His, to whom it rightfully belongs. It
is God's work, and not man's. I want to say to this body of Priesthood here,
learn your duty, learn to sustain the authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. And if one of the Twelve Apostles, or one of the First
Presidency, or anybody claiming authority to guide or direct the people comes
out in opposition to the united counsel of the Priesthood of God, set him down
as a deceiver and a fraud, and one that you cannot afford to follow; for if you
do follow him, you will go astray. God's work is established; it is built upon
a solid foundation-the foundation of the Gospel and the eternal Priesthood,
which is without beginning of days or end of years, without father or mother,
and without descent, from everlasting to everlasting. It is the power of God
delegated to men; and they that exercise it in righteousness will stand, while
they that exercise it in unrighteousness will fall, no matter who they may be.
God bless
Israel. God bless our venerable and venerated President, Wilford Woodruff; keep
him from sickness, pain and suffering; give to him brightness of mind and power
of intellect; give to him strength of body and of mind, and inspiration from
God, that he may be a prophet, a seer, and a revelator in very deed to the body
of the Church and to all the Priesthood of the Son of God upon the earth; that
his days may be prolonged; that he may live until he shall finish his work. It
is impossible for the Saints to become weary or dissatisfied with him, so long
as God approves and sustains him, and manifests His power and wisdom through
him. And when men set themselves up to judge him, and to judge his associates,
and the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, upon whom rests the responsibility of
bearing witness of Jesus Christ unto all the world-when men set themselves up
in judgment against these men, and condemn them, they that condemn will be
condemned. The measure they mete out will be measured back unto them, heaped
up, shaken together, pressed down and running over, until they shall be
destroyed, root and branch, unless they repent. This is my testimony to you,
and I bear it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. I have told you
but the truth. It is here recorded in the word of God, and we cannot depart
from it. I am a stickler for the word of God; I am a stickler for the law of
Christ. I believe in it, and I do not believe we can depart from it and be
safe. Here is the temporal guide for us-the means of instruction, counsel and
admonition; but the spiritual guide is the Holy Ghost. Men must have the Holy
Spirit, that they may understand the truth, and that they may withstand the
temptations of the adversary when they come upon them. Therefore, let us be
humble; let us sustain the organization of the Church as God has established
it, and not depart from it in the least degree. Pray for those that need your
prayers, that they may be sustained; that Zion may prosper, this Gospel be
carried to the ends of the earth, and every honest soul under heaven have the
privilege of hearing the sound thereof and being gathered into the fold of
Christ, and of being saved eventually with everlasting salvation and exaltation
in the kingdom of God, which is my prayer. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem:
How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings.
the solo of which was rendered by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edward.
Benediction by Elder David H. Cannon.
_____
[4 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 54:527-528, 4/10/97, p 15-16]
Afternoon
Session.
Singing by the choir and congregation of
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Prayer by Elder B. H. Roberts.
The choir sang the anthem:
When thou comest to judgment.
The solo being rendered by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edward.
ELDER LORENZO SNOW
addressed the conference. He read from a revelation (section 110 of the Doctrine and Covenants) given to Joseph smith and Oliver Cowdery, with whom the speaker was acquainted. It was given in the Kirtland Temple, and described the visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ to those to whom it was communicated, and told of the great promises made by the Savior on the condition of faithfulness. He advised the Saints to read the whole of the section at their homes. The acquaintance of the speaker with Joseph the prophet was quite extensive and he had opportunities of becoming aware of his sterling uprightness and honesty.
Elder Snow then treated upon the necessity of the Saints building upon the foundation of truth. Ordinary wisdom of God was not sufficient for that purpose. The possession of wisdom direct from God was essential. This was conveyed by the principle of revelation, of which every honest man might become possessed. He then showed the process by which revelation could be secured, and delineated the operation of faith and its confirmation upon the human mind. With the Latter-day Saints there was a spirit which enabled them to understand what they read about until the truths they thus imbibed became a part of their beings. The speaker related some of his early experiences under the operation of this power, which opened up his mind to a clearer comprehension of the scriptures and enabled him to take a wider range than ever before concerning the things of God. He had received, by revelation, a complete understanding of the divinity of the principles he had espoused. We ought to congratulate ourselves, as Latter-day saints, on the glorious prospect which had opened up to us. While in ignorance of the Gospel, when we received our wives and children we looked forward to a permanent separation at death. Now, however, we anticipated with a perfect hope, an eternal union with them in the world to come. The speaker then treated the subject of laboring in the Temples in behalf of our dear kindred, that they might, with us, be redeemed and saved. He exhorted the Saints to give this department of the work of God special attention. Thee was nothing we could do that afforded more happiness and satisfaction.
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS
of the quorum of Apostles, followed. He said in substance: Much gratification could be felt at the progress of the work of God in the world, which was a continuation of the work done by the ancient Apostles. Men holding the Priesthood should bear in mind that they were fulfilling the prophetic assurances of the prophets of old. It was a wonderful thing that of the reformers, who had succeeded so well in introducing true principles into the world, it should remain for the Prophet Joseph Smith to receive the authority of the Priesthood by which the ordinances of the Gospel could be performed and its promises fulfilled. John the baptist introduced the authority the method, and the law pertaining to baptism, which, according to the law announced to Nicodemus by Jesus, must be administered to or for all, living and dead, before they could be received into the kingdom of heaven. The Melchizedek Priesthood, with its power of preaching the Gospel to the living and the dead, and the ministration of the Holy Ghost, was given by Peter, James and John, by which all things could be gathered into one, whether in heaven or on earth. All these gifts and blessings were introduced through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his associates, who were now engaged in the administration of those blessings to the spirits of the dead. In the temples of the Saints work was being done, under the approval of Christ, to bring into proper effect the preaching to the spirits in prison. Thus was being fulfilled the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 28, regarding the gathering of scattered Israel under the law of God, looking forward to the personal reign of Christ upon the earth.
The Saints should keep these great principles in mind, and leave petty contentions and strife, turning their attention to the confirmation of the blessings promised to the seed of Abraham. Excessive worldly-mindedness was deplored, especially in the direction of speculation; but good advice was given with reference to extracting strength from the soil for the sustenance of man. Elder Richards rejoiced in the work of God, so promisingly instituted, and bore his testimony to its truth, declaring that in the mouths of two or three witnesses these words of testimony were established. Strangers and Saints were advised to investigate in full the principles of the Gospel, in order to find justification for them. Unity and fellowship were commended for the enlargement of the understanding and of faithfulness in the performance of the work of God. It should progress in the world, the bonds and prohibitions now checking its spread, being removed to admit of its spread. Apparent sacrifices would be found like the sowing of the seed, producing a hundred fold to the glory of God and the salvation of man. Prayer, diligence and increased faithfulness were strongly urged, for the bringing about of immortality and eternal life.
Brother Richards stated that the call for missionaries was increasing, and great faithfulness was being manifested in the performance of the labors of the ministry, in the development of strength in the ministers and of joy in the hearts of those to whom the message of salvation was being carried.
[Franklin D. Richards]
[DNW 54:737, 5/29/97, p 1; CD 5:277-282]
REMARKS
Made at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 4th, 1897, by
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS.
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
Beloved
hearers, I have great joy in being in the midst of the congregation of God's
people. We were greatly comforted and encouraged by the report given unto us
this morning of the work which has been going on and which is in progress, I
may say, throughout the world, as far as the Gospel has been carried to the
various nations. Everyone who understands the Scriptures and who has studied
the Gospel according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and His prophets
Joseph, Brigham, John, and Wilford, knows and understands that the ancient
prophets and apostles all concurred with us, or, rather, we concur with them,
in their views of the great works which they did in their day, and of the
vastly greater work that remains to be performed in the last days. We should
keep in mind, as heads of families, as men of Israel, as Apostles, High
Priests, Seventies, Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, that we are but
carrying out that which has been revealed unto them, which their faith rested
upon, and which they beheld by the spirit of prophecy in the great future. We,
looking back upon their words, their promises and prophecies, have continually
increasing, most wonderful assurances of the work in which we are engaged. I
speak conscious of the fact that the truths which we have embraced, and which
we are teaching to the inhabitants of the earth, are truths concerning which
the most of this congregation are not only conversant with, but have had
testimonies of the Holy Ghost. This is a great and grand feature in our work.
We have been commanded to teach the people to repent of their sins, and to
promise them the Holy Ghost, to guide them into truth, to witness unto them the
forgiveness of their sins, and to lead them on in the way of life and
salvation.
It is
indeed a wonderful thing, that in the age in which our great reformers lived,
such as Luther, Calvin, Knox, and others who have lived since them, none of
them were able to restore to the people the original and true principles of
faith. Mr. Alexander Campbell got the nearest to it of any of them that we know
of. He came to believe in faith, repentance, and in baptism for the remission
of sins; but he had not authority even to administer baptism for the remission
of sins, and, knowing he had not authority, he had not the audacity to promise
the human family that they should receive the Holy Ghost. No man ever had the
authority to do that, except he bore some portion of that Holy Priesthood which
President Smith was speaking of this morning. But when the Gospel came to us in
these latter times through the Prophet Joseph Smith, it came to us, not only in
word, but in Spirit and in power. Think of the man, John the Baptist, who,
nearly two thousand years ago, baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, and the people
of Judea and Jerusalem by the hundreds and thousands in Jordan-think of this
same man coming and ordaining Joseph and Oliver to be priests after the order
of Aaron! Think you he did not know how to baptize correctly? He knew whether
they were to be sprinkled, or poured upon, or baptized face downward or face
upward. He had learned how. He had administered to the Son of God, who
instituted this plan of salvation for the whole human family. He could teach
this correctly, and he taught Joseph and Oliver, after he had conferred upon
them the authority, how to baptize. Hence we have the most implicit confidence
that our mode of baptism is the only true mode of baptism ever instituted by
the Savior, or else He would not have had it practiced upon Himself. This
principle has come down to us with a confidence and an assurance, and with a
Priesthood that is continuous and eternal. The work that is upon us to-day is
in continuation of that principle upon which the Savior said to Nicodemus:
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God." This is a fixed rule, not only for people while they
dwell in the flesh, to be baptized for themselves, but it is just as fixed a principle
for all those that are dead. Hence it is that Paul says concerning the great
work of the Lord: "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will,
according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the
dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all
things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in
him." Our Gospel, our mission and our ministry is not only to the living,
but it is to the dead also. Our Savior, the apostle says, died and rose again,
that He might become the Lord of the dead as well as of the living.
For
Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison;
Which
sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the
days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing.
He went
and preached to those spirits in prison, broke off their bonds and proclaimed
deliverance to the captives, who had suffered the wrath of God from the days of
the flood. Now, inasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ went and opened the prison
doors in His day and gave to the prisoners the blessings of life and salvation,
and as His apostles and those who labored with Him went yonder and taught these
principles to their kindred dead, (Peter said, "for this cause was the
Gospel preached also to them that are dead,") so then in these latter days
our Prophet Joseph, who held such sweet converse and received such mighty power
from men like John the Baptist, also Peter, James and John, when he finished up
his work, gave his life-not manacled and fettered, but of his own volition-and
sealed his testimony, by which he proclaimed to the world that he was willing
to give all there was of him as testimony to the truth of the things which he
taught; and he has gone yonder, having given his life that he may be the
Prophet of this last dispensation, not only to the living, but to those that
are dead-to our fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and
aunts, cousins and kindred, back as far as we can get any records of them here
in the flesh, and then back as far as they had an earthly existence. This is
what is meant by in the last days gathering together all things which are in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are upon the earth; that they who
have not had the Gospel preached to them in the flesh, must have it preached to
them in the spirit.
The great
Prophet Joseph-a greater than whom has not lived, except the Lord Jesus, on the
earth-has gone there to labor, with his brother Hyrum, and he has with him a
council of Twelve Apostles that have been ordained to the apostleship here in
the flesh, besides the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, and the
multitude of the faithful that have died within the past sixty-seven years,
since the Church was organized, the authority of the Priesthood restored, and
the blessings of the kingdom multiplied upon God's people. They are gone there
and are busy at work ministering the Gospel to the spirits that have passed
beyond mortality, who, as well as we who live in the flesh, can in no wise
enter into the kingdom of God and the blessings of the holy resurrection
without being baptized-not baptized themselves, but by proxy of their kindred
or friends. This need not be an astonishing feature in our Gospel, since our
Savior did for all of us that which none of us could do for ourselves, by the
shedding of His blood for the sins of the whole world. The Lord has blessed us
through this knowledge and inspiration by the Prophet Joseph. Think what a work
he did while here. He, with his brethren, built a Temple and dedicated it, and
received the personal approval of the Lord within its walls, and the promise
that His name should be there, and that the Gospel should go from that house to
the people in foreign lands. That is the work that is upon us, and it has come
to us with a responsibility and power beyond that of any former dispensation of
the Gospel, to labor for the gathering together of all things which are in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth. This is also
according to the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses. Away back in his day, he
had a glimpse of this. Read in the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy, where he read
to Israel the law, and got their vote that they would keep it; he then went on
to tell them that if they would keep it, so and so would be their blessed
future; and if they transgressed the laws, he told them of the terrible
affliction that should come upon them. He says:
And it
shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and
the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among
all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
And shalt return unto the Lord thy
God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day,
thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
That then the Lord thy God will
turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather
thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee,
If any of thine be driven out unto
the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and
from thence will he fetch thee.
That is
the promise; that is what this work of the last days is adapted to, what is
being carried on, and what it will accomplish. While the Church on the earth
outwardly numbers only about three hundred thousand, there have been already
nearly one million of baptisms performed in the Temples for the deliverance of
those that are dead. Thus the work is going on; and by and by, when the Kingdom
of God is established in the earth, and the Savior reigns here upon the earth
in person, and when His great work is such that He will have a multitude of
those that sleep in Jesus to come with Him, as well as the righteous on the
earth that are prepared for Him, then will come to pass that glorious saying,
that "if any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from
thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch
thee." This is the purpose of that work of which the Apostle Paul also
spoke when he said "that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he
might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth."
Latter-day
Saints, this is the glorious work in which you are engaged in these latter
days. Do not forget it. Keep these great and glorious truths before your minds;
let your attention be absorbed by these things, instead of going into
contention and strife, envying and jealousy, folly and nonsense, with
distraction, discord and unbelief. Remember that this is the work of the Lord entrusted
to you, and that you are called to perform it. The Priesthood that is put upon
you is not for to curse, nor to create discord, contention or strife; it is put
upon you to bless the people, to bless each other, to bless the human family,
to bless the dead, and to labor for them, seeing "that they without us can
not be made perfect," that by and by we and they may together enter into
the fulfillment of the promises made to the fathers, even the blessings of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We want to live so as to inherit and receive them in
their fullness; so that when the time comes that Abraham, our father, shall
come upon the earth to receive that inheritance that has been promised him,
they who are the children of Abraham will be blessed with faithful Abraham.
We are
only just getting this vast labor started, the work of those in the heavens and
the work of those on the earth; and while we seem already to be considerable of
a people, we are but infantile compared with what we shall become. I testify that
these principles of the Gospel are true. If there are any in our midst this day
who do not believe the Gospel, I want to tell them that in the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word shall be established, and you are having it
established here. You may think perhaps there is not much significance to the
testimony of two or three, but you will see the time when it will be very
important to you. The Lord established that rule under the Mosaic law, and it
is a rule that has come down in the jurisprudence of the ages, that in the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. They who hear
these things taught by those who have experienced and know them to be true,
will have to answer for the fact that they heard and might have received a knowledge
of these things themselves if they would. When a man is brought into court and
convicted of a crime by the mouth of two or three witnesses, he finds that the
testimonies of those witnesses are very powerful. Many a man has been made to
swing on the gallows, or has been shot, on the testimony of two or three
witnesses, whose testimonies were unimpeachable. So when we come into the court
of heaven, they who are hearing the word of the Lord and living among us in the
daylight of the Gospel, and hearken not unto its ways, but rather persecute
God's people, by and by they will be liable to feel the force of two or three
witnesses in their case. You had better look into it yourselves, and all of us
had better find the means of self-justification and live so that we can be
above conviction of the law in any sense. It is one thing to live so that we
can be justified individually, or before our families. It is comparatively an
easy matter to preserve union and fellowship with those of our household and
those who are of kindred faith with us; but when we come as members of a ward,
or of a stake, there is where we are required to carry the union and fellowship
of the Holy Spirit in our labors, that will unite, cement, bind together and
make strong, instead of taking a course that will divide and render discordant,
impotent and unprofitable. We ought to study these principles, and seek to
enlarge our understandings and views of the things of God and of His character,
that we may be able to take a more comprehensive view of His work, the nature
and extent of our acts and the consequences thereof, so that we may be more
useful and more influential for good in the earth, as we have opportunity, both
for the living and for the dead.
It is the
duty of the Apostles to see to it that the Gospel is sent into all the world.
We have not been able yet to send the Gospel into all the nations. Some nations
are so bound up that they will not admit the preaching of this Gospel among
them. They cannot believe it, because they entertain their old and venerated
faiths. But the time is coming when they will. The Lord will open the way by
and by that they who are worthy shall have their bonds loosened till they can
be gathered out. It was very much so in Germany not many years ago. I recollect
when I went over into Dresden, the capital of Saxony, and hunted out a few of
the faithful there, among whom was our beloved brother, Doctor Karl G. Maeser,
who has made himself known to all Israel by his faithful labors. We had to go
by night to baptize him, lest we should be taken up by the officers of the law;
and he soon after had to make his escape from the country. So the work is
moving and gradually finding its way, like darkness gradually dispelled by the
rising light of the sun. The Lord will bring these things to pass as fast as He
shall see fit. We want to be continually increasing, growing in grace and in
the knowledge of the truth, and to live our religion at home righteously and
faithfully, so that we may be able to administer in all things as we may have
occasion hereafter.
This is a
wonderfully great and glorious Gospel. It holds up before us grand inviting
conditions and rewards, which will make us rejoice in all that we have
suffered; and instead of our calling it sacrifice as we now do, we shall feel
that it is only like the sowing of the seed of the husbandman. He might call
sowing his seed a sacrifice; but it is not, because he gets thirty, forty,
sixty, and a hundred fold in return for it. So we, in all that we are called to
deny ourselves of in these latter times, shall realize by and by a reward for
it all, and more than all, and we shall rejoice and thank God we had the
opportunity to pass through this experience. Everyone of us ought to treasure
up these experiences with the greatest interest, and realize that it is more to
us than all the gold of Ophir to know the truth and to abide in it and be
sanctified by it unto eternal life.
Brethren
and sisters, I did not expect to speak but a few minutes, but these things have
come to mind, and I have spoken impromptu, having nothing premeditated. I
rejoice with you in the work of the Lord. The more I see of it, the more
thankful and gladsome I feel concerning it. I beseech you, read the Scriptures
more. There are a great many things hidden up that if we would take time to
read and hunt out would make us to feel our own insignificance and unworthiness
in the sight of God, except for Him to work within us by His Spirit, to will
and to do His good pleasure. We should pray much, that we may not be overcome
by temptation, and that we may have power to contend against every principle in
the earth that is not ordained of God. We ought to seek for strength and
ability to live and to prevail against every evil, in order that the truth may
triumph, and salvation, immortality and eternal life be brought to light
through our efforts and labors, as they were through the efforts and labors of
the Savior and His early disciples.
I pray
the Lord to bless each and all of the interests of Zion, at home and abroad;
that the Elders in distant parts of the earth may be strengthened and refreshed
as with wine, when they shall read, hear, and feel, the spirit of this
conference, and they may be blessed of the Lord to find access to the honest in
heart-the elect of God; that they may realize that the Lord has sent His angels
before them, and given dreams, and manifestations, to prepare them to know the
Elders when they see them. I remember well when I first went to England.
Wherever I went almost we were told by the people that they had seen us in
their dreams, and knew us as soon as we arrived; knew our names as well. If the
Lord goes with us in this way, and labors with us to bring to pass His
purposes, there is a potency in it, there is a testimony in it, there is a
witness to it that it is the work of the Lord. We ought to be glad and praise
Him, if He will make us His instruments in bringing to pass His purposes and
doing His holy will. The great demand for missionaries has not diminished; but
it is increasing continually. I want to have the brethren and sisters realize
that where they are sustaining the affairs of each other and assisting so many
brethren go into the ministry, though seemingly your interests may be affected
here, there is wherein you are sowing to reap an excellent and a precious
harvest. When the Elders come back, with redoubled spirit and power in the
Gospel, let them continue to labor in your wards and your associations, and
keep that gift that is within them by the laying on of the hands, stirred up,
that they may be active members, and grow and increase, and your wards will be
benefitted and strengthened thereby, your families will be refreshed, the work
of the Lord will be increased, and Zion will be purified. Then the more of you
that can go to the Temple, in fulfillment of the suggestions of President Snow,
will carry home the rich fragrance of heaven, and you will increase in faith
and humility, and rejoice greatly in the things of God continually. We want to
get this more and more, that we may get nearer to the Lord, and sanctify
ourselves before Him by the workings of the Spirit and the belief of the truth.
I pray the Lord that He will send forth laborers until His word has gone to the
uttermost parts of the earth, and until the great work of the Lord is brought
to pass here in our midst with the living and the dead. So, as Paul has said,
shall all Israel be saved. The Lord help us to contribute, each and all of us,
our mite in this great work, to help to bring to pass the will of God and
establish righteousness in the earth, is my prayer in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER FRANCIS M. LYMAN,
of the quorum of the Apostles, said in substance: He desired the spirit of the Lord to assist him, as had been the case with the previous speakers. When he listened to the report made by President Cannon in relation to the missionary work abroad, the field seemed greater to him than it had heretofore. Every man who had a desire to labor in the vineyard was called of God. Those who went to the nations in that spirit were blessed. We should be grateful that we were associated with the work of God, which had been revealed to us through the Prophet Joseph. It was, as shown by President Smith his morning, indestructible. Its organization was beautiful, and no power arrayed against it, whether the attack came from without or within, could hinder its growth. The Eternal Father maintained the Church in completeness. Vacancies were not filled by the will of man, but of God. In the selection of Elders to go abroad to preach the Gospel, the will of the spirit of the Lord was sought after. So with the filling of positions in any of the quorums. Whenever it was requisite for any man to be the mouthpiece of God, it was not brought about by the scheming of men, but by the direction of the Almighty. During the three years immediately succeeding the death of the Prophet Joseph, the Twelve presided over the Church and when the First Presidency was organized it was done because God directed that it be done. So was it when thee was a vacancy in the quorum of the Twelve or of the Seven Presidents of Seventies. God announced it. There was always a class who rejoiced when they saw a prospect of a disruption of the Church, but they were invariably disappointed and always would be, and the work would go forward. Where there were 1,300 Elders in the missionary field now there would come a time when there would be 13,000. Those who created and rejoiced to see disunion among the people were built on the sand and not on the rock of truth. When anything was announced to the people to guide them, it came at the right time, because it emanated from the Lord. If there were any who had failed to recognize the voice of the true shepherd they had need to repent. There was a reaction outside the Church as well as within, and a new interest in the things of God had been awakened. Men were readily deceived, and it seemed that in the past this deception was more easily imbibed on religion than any other subject, but light had come into the world and was attracting the honest in heart. The Kingdom of God was worth everything, and he who would finally possess all things else must be willing to sacrifice all for the sake of that which would ultimately bring them into his permanent possession. Our first attention should be given to God, and other matters could be attended to as subsidiary considerations. He spoke of the magnitude of the field abroad; there was another of equal importance at home among our children, and all should labor for the development of Zion. Our neighbors here should be instructed and warned. The responsibility of this labor was upon us. It was an important duty and ought to be discharged.
Why was it that our prayers were not always answered? Because we had not done our full duty and had not prayed aright. Some of the young Elders who had gone abroad were receiving abundant answers to their prayers. This had not been the case as a rule when they were at home. This was because they were now energetically in the line of their duty in full activity to the work of the Lord, who responds to their faith and efforts combined.
Elder Lyman then dwelt upon the harmony of the operations of the order of the Priesthood, with special reference to the functions of the First Presidency to preside over the Twelve who labored under the direction of the three. He invoked the blessing of God upon the people.
[Francis M. Lyman]
[MS 59:337; CD 5:272-277]
DISCOURSE
Delivered by Elder Francis M. Lyman at the General
Conference of the Church,
held in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, April 4, 1897.
My
brethren and sisters, I desire the Spirit of the Lord to assist me, so that we
may be edified. I know that all who were present this morning would feel a
testimony in their hearts in regard to the truths that were uttered by
President George Q. Cannon and President Joseph F. Smith, and those present this
afternoon will no doubt have the same testimony concerning the remarks of
President Snow and President Richards; for the Spirit of the Lord bears
testimony to the hearts of all Latter-day Saints that we have listened to the
truth. When I listened to the report of President Cannon in regard to the work
throughout the earth, although I have had in my mind vividly what is being
accomplished, it seemed to me that it was much more important than I had
thought. The field is wide, and the harvest is great and ready for the
gathering. The great call that is made for missionaries reminds me of the
suggestion in the revelations, that he that hath a desire in his heart for that
labor is called of God; and every man who has that desire in his heart, who is
thus called and goes into the field, will find that the Lord will work with
him, and that He is working with those who are in the field to-day, and is
ready to labor with thousands that must yet be called into the field. How
grateful we ought to be who have received the truth, who have been blessed of
the Lord with faith, with repentance, and with the spirit of humility and
obedience! How grateful the Latter-day Saints ought to be to know that we are
associated with the work of God which He has established in the earth, and
which brings to our understanding a knowledge of the plan of life and
salvation! For this has been revealed to us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
through the Prophet Joseph. We are entitled to have a knowledge; to not be left
in doubt, but to have a knowledge of the principles of life, and to appreciate
the privilege that is given to us in this last dispensation.
This
great and important work that the Lord has established, as we were shown so
beautifully this morning by President Cannon, is indestructible. It is not to
be left to other people, but is to remain with us, and with our posterity and
successors. It is to endure in the earth, and no power is to prevail against
it. What blessed information for the Latter-day Saints to possess, that they are
thus connected with the work which the Great Father of all has established in
the earth! The beauty of its organization, the certainty of its
perpetuity,-that it is to endure, and that there is no power that can prevail
against it, whether on the inside or the outside, are things that fill us with
joy. Of course, dangers always seem to be greater from the troubles we
experience on the inside than from those that attack us from without. But this
work is kept in perfect condition. The quorums of Priesthood, as we learned
this morning, from the First Presidency down, are kept intact. And they are so
kept by the Lord, not by any quorum, nor by the people of the Church. When
vacancies occur in the Presidency, or in the Twelve, or among the Seventies, or
in the Stakes of Zion, or in the missions abroad, the Lord arranges for the
filling of those vacancies. The principle upon which this Church was
established and is perpetuated is not the same principle that operates among
men. These vacancies are not filled according to the will and choice of men.
They are filled by our Heavenly Father. He has direct control and care over the
various departments of this important work. In the preaching of the Gospel
abroad, in the establishment of missions abroad, and in supplying the demand
for Elders, these are all sought out by the inspiration of the Lord, and they
are called of God. The Presidency of the Church and the Twelve, who are
entrusted with the care of the Church, do not officiate by the spirit of man;
they do not exercise their own judgment alone, and select according to their
preferences; but the Lord manifests His care for this work. Whenever a man
comes to be the President of the Church, the representative of God, and His
mouthpiece to His children on the earth, it comes about by order of the Father.
It is not by caucusing, and scheming, and the planning of men; it is not by the
judgment and wisdom of the Twelve Apostles as men. President Smith referred
this morning to some person who contended that the Presidency of the Church
ought not to have been organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph. The
presidency was organized after the death of the Prophet Joseph, by the
direction of God. The Twelve Apostles presided over the Church during the three
years that followed the death of the Prophet Joseph, under the direction of God
the Eternal Father; and if the Father had not designated and appointed that the
First Presidency should be formed, it would never have been formed. But it is
in harmony with the will of God and the order of His great work in the last
days, that the Presidency of this Church should be perpetuated; and the interim
between the death of one President and the formation of a new Presidency, is
just in accordance with the mind and will of God. It has been in the past, and
will be in the future. Whenever the Presidency is to be organized hereafter, it
will be done by the announcement of the mind and will of God; and whenever the
vacancy which now exists in the Twelve Apostles is to be filled, or in the First
Seven Presidents of Seventies, it will be done when God announces it, and not
before. We wait, we listen for the counsels of the Lord. We do in regard to the
organization of Stakes, in the organization of quorums, and in all the various
details of organization in this Church-we listen to the counsels and
inspiration of the Lord. The Lord doeth it. When He speaks and gives direction
to His servants, they have always the courage to perform that duty. We labor
faithfully; we give careful attention to the responsibilities that rest upon us
as prominent Elders in the Church; we try to live squarely up to our duties,
and the Lord is always ready to come to the rescue and to support and sustain
us.
This work
is most secure and most thoroughly established, and is never to be broken down.
There is not any power inside or outside of the Church, and there never will
be, to disrupt this Church and to break it in pieces. The enemies of this
Church have always watched, and when there has been a riffle on the surface
that would indicated there was trouble within, they have grasped at it with
avidity, and they have enjoyed the prospect of the breaking to pieces of this
work. They thought, when the Prophet Joseph's life was taken, that that was the
end. Why, if there were a thousand prophets to die, it would not interrupt this
work; for the Lord has established His Church upon the earth and will maintain
it. Has it not grown steadily from the beginning? Has it ever been interrupted
for one moment? We have had all kinds of experience; we have been attacked by
those who have turned away from us, as well as those who have opposed us from
the outside; but the work has moved steadily and regularly forward; and where
there are now 1300 Elders in the field, there will be 13,000 in the field yet,
preaching the Gospel. We are only just beginning the work; for it is a work
that is to spread throughout the earth. The whole world is to be embraced in
this missionary labor. The experience of the world to-day, in their religious
and other organizations, is indicative of unrest. They begin to find that they
are not built upon the rock, but that their foundations are sandy. That is the
beauty of this work: when a man embraces it, he finds that he is built upon the
rock and cannot be shaken if he is faithful. The reason that there are those
among us who are shaken from time to time, when troubles come upon us, is
because men are faulty. There are reasons in the heart of every man who is
shaken and disturbed. As was intimated this morning by President Cannon, when
there is put forth a Church order or rule, it is announced when God would have
it announced; it is published and given to the people at the proper time, just
when it should be. The Lord is the judge. We would not do unless He directed
us; we would not speak and give counsel unless the Lord directed. And when He
speaks through His servants, all who are in harmony and have the proper spirit,
having done the mind and will of God, know the voice of the true Shepherd. If
any of you have mistaken the voice of the true Shepherd, you want to repent.
Let all Israel know that if they have not understood the voice of the true
Shepherd when it has been uttered, they have occasion for repentance, and they
ought to repent. It is necessary that we should live as close and as careful to
the line as possible, and to exert every power within us for the accomplishment
of the purposes of the Lord. There is a reaction setting in in Israel to-day,
as there is throughout the world in regard to this important work. We are now
finding, and we will more abundantly in the future, that our kindred are
enquiring after us. They want to know something about this work; they are
enquiring after the Gospel; for they begin to feel that there is a religious
body in the earth that has some light that is superior to the light which they
possess. The world wants something that they can rely upon, that will satisfy
their souls, and this is not to be found outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is God's work, and He has found a few honest in heart, who have gathered
together, and He would have found more if they had not been blinded by the
deceptions of men. You know how easily men are deceived in this world. They are
cheated in regard to religion as well as in regard to other matters, and I have
thought they were more easily gulled in regard to religion than anything else.
It is quite a difficult matter for people to be Saints of God. It is not
something that is offered to you as easy to accomplish; but it is a difficult, trying
matter for human nature. It requires the very first and the whole attention of
every human being. Has not Jesus said: "If any man come to me, and forsake
not his father, and mother, and wife, and children and brethren, and sisters,
yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple"? I believe this is
true doctrine. This being the work of God, it is worth everything.
If a man
would have all things else, he must first seek the kingdom of God and His
righteousness. This work is more valuable and precious to us than all other
things; for it embraces life eternal, happiness here and hereafter; it embraces
the riches of this world, and everything that we can desire that is proper. We
must prize the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, above
all things else. A man must not so love his father, or his mother, his wife,
his children, his brothers, his sisters, or his own life-he must not love these
so well that he would forsake God for them. But if we love God and keep His
commandments, our fathers, our mothers, our brothers and sisters, and our own
lives, shall then be made secure to us. This is the philosophy of it. We are
engaged in this labor, and it will be profitable to us to give it our first
attention. At the same time it is not necessary that we should neglect
everything else; but the very first attention should be given to God and to His
cause. We may engage in all other righteous things, and bring to pass what the
Lord designs for us to do in the earth.
In the
order of the Priesthood, the filling of vacancies, and the keeping of our
quorums completely organized, how perfect is the design of the Lord! You cannot
find an imperfection in the design of our Heavenly Father and the work that He
has established among us. He has provided for every emergency. If every
individual would only perform his duty faithfully, as all ought to do, what a
blessed condition we would be in! I thought this morning, when the field abroad
was spoken of, what an immense field there is here at home! All our own
children, all our neighbors' children, and all the strangers that are within
our gates (for we are quite mixed now) -- what a field of labor there is for
every man who bears the Priesthood! Do you not feel that the Lord has bestowed
this Priesthood upon the male members of the Church in order that every one
should be a teacher, a laborer, a faithful advocate of the doctrines of the
Gospel, a defender of the faith? I believe that was the design. I believe the
Lord understood thoroughly that it would be necessary for every man among us to
bear the Priesthood and to be a laborer; not waiting to be called abroad, but
having experience right here at home in the preaching of the Gospel; for it is
a reproach to us to have people around us so plentifully and they not being
taught the Gospel. I hold that within the radius of our movements every family
should be advised in regard to the doctrines of the Gospel. If they will not
come to meetings, they ought to be taught in private, and thoroughly warned at
home, as the people are being warned in the world. The Elders are going out
without purse and scrip. They did that in the day of the Savior; they did it in
the days of the Prophet Joseph, of the Prophet Brigham, and the early days. In
that way mankind are proven and tried. It is laid down as a rule that those who
feed and clothe you, and furnish you lodgings and places in which to preach the
Gospel, are the disciples of Christ and are of Israel. The labors of the Elders
abroad are very successful. Go into the families of the people who have
representatives in the field, and they receive remarkable letters concerning
the labors of these Elders-how they are being received and made welcome, and
how they cannot accomplish all that is required of them in the preaching of the
Gospel, the calls are so numerous. These words are coming from abroad all the
time; and yet a great many of the 1300 Elders are men who no doubt had very
little experience at home, who had not been schooled very thoroughly in the
doctrines of the Gospel, and had not understood the operations of the Spirit of
the Lord upon them, nor had they learned the efficacy of prayer. Why is it that
our prayers are not more fully and perfectly answered than they are? This is a
subject that has been brought to mind latterly in a remarkable degree. Because
we have not prayed properly. We have not been in the proper spirit for praying.
We have not been in the proper condition to obtain answers from the Lord,
because we have not done our duty. God has announced that every one is endowed
with power to accomplish great good and to bring to pass much righteousness,
and that men ought to be anxiously engaged in a good cause. We ought to be
anxiously engaged in this good cause in which we have enlisted. And when we
have worked up to the point of all that we can possibly do, God always comes to
the rescue and helps us out. The reason our young Elders' prayers are heard in
the field is because they are working for and waiting upon the Lord, and
laboring faithfully every moment of their lives, and the Lord knows it. They
scarcely ask for anything but it is granted them. Now, if we would be just as
faithful and devoted at home in the performance of our duties as we are when we
go abroad, the Lord would be at our service in a moment, for He is bound, when
we do our duty, to come to our assistance. When the Presidency of this Church
have need of counsel from the Lord, He is always ready to give them His word;
for they are attending upon His labor and the responsibilities that He has placed
upon them. So with the Twelve. Hence their prayers are answered upon their
heads and they receive the necessary counsel. The Presidents of Stakes, the
High Councilors, the Bishops and their Counselors, the presidents of quorums,
and all those who preside over the various associations of the Latter-day
Saints, are entitled to the mind and will of God. So that every department is
well provided for, and thus the work is to be perpetuated from this time
henceforth. The remarks of President Smith upon the First Presidency, the
Twelve Apostles, and the Seventies, beautifully illustrated the harmony which
exists with these three quorums, though apparently equal. He explained that in
the absence of the Presidency the Twelve presided over the Church. That is made
a part of their mission and responsibility by the Father. But they are not the
Presidency of the Church; for is it not definitely laid down in that same
revelation from which Brother Smith quoted, that the Twelve labor always under
the direction of the Presidency? We are directed and counseled by them; we do
not direct the Presidency. The Seventy do not direct the Twelve; the Twelve
direct the Seventy. Yet it is declared that they are quorums of like authority
one with the other. When the emergency arises, they are equal, and have the
power and authority to meet the emergency; but that power is in abeyance and is
not exercised while the Presidency endure. The Twelve are not to rise up
against the Presidency. There are twelve against three; but the three are
authorized to preside over the twelve, as well as over the rest of the Church,
and to direct the Twelve and the whole church. We cannot reject the Presidency.
The Twelve cannot do it; for God would reject them. He controls the Presidency;
He chooses them; He determines who they shall be, and the time of their office,
in life or in death, and He maintains them. He also determines the position of
every Apostle. There never has been an Apostle in this Church that has not been
chosen by the direct inspiration of God the Eternal Father. There may not have
been a written revelation in every instance; but I say that every Apostle and
every man chosen to preside over the Seventies has been selected by the power
and inspiration of the Almighty. They are men chosen of God, and trusted with
His authority, and He will arrange in regard to their term of office. He has
done it from the day of the Prophet Joseph to the present, and He will do it to
the end.
God bless
Israel. May the Lord bless our President, and Elder Brigham Young also, that
they may be healed. I humbly ask this, with all the blessings that we require
as the Israel of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The anthem
Grant us peace, O Lord.
was sung by the choir, the duet part being rendered by Brother Thomas Ashworth and Sister Mabel Cooper.
_____
[4 Apr 2 pm (o)]
[DNW 54:528, 4/10/97, p 16]
OVERFLOW
MEETING.
_____
Sunday
Afternoon, April 4.
Elder George Teasdale presiding.
Opening hymn by the Temple choir:
Come, come ye Saints, No toil nor labor fear.
Prayer by Elder Abraham Hatch:
Singing:
Hark the song of Jubilee.
ELDER ANTHON H. LUND
of the quorum of Apostles was the first speaker. He began by referring to the remarks made at the morning session of the conference and stated that it was gratifying to hear how the work of the Lord was progressing in the earth. He touched upon the observance of Fast Day and showed the blessings to be derived from obedience to that law. In closing the speaker expressed his pleasure at being privileged to meet with the Saints in annual conference and asked God to bless all.
ELDER M. W. MERRILL
made a few remarks. He spoke of the great importance of all of the Saints having a testimony of the truth of the work in which they were engaged. It was something that all who did not have should strive for in order that their faith might be strong. In this connection prayer was an essential feature, for without it the Saints could not remain in communion with Deity. Concluding Elder Fjelsted bore his testimony to the truthfulness of the latter-day work, at the same time urging all to get the spirit of their respective callings, referring particularly to the calling of a teacher.
Solo and chorus, Come all ye sons of Zion, by William Parcoe and choir.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
of the Council of Apostles addressed the congregation. His remarks dealt with the blessings bestowed upon the Saints from time to time, and the appreciation that should be felt by the recipients of those blessings. Scriptural evidence was cited to show the second coming of Christ and also that many would shut themselves out of his presence, because of their wicked acts. The neglect of the people to reverence Deity as they should was referred to, the speaker showing the disaster which would follow such a course.
ELDER SEYMOUR B. YOUNG
was the closing speaker. He referred to President Woodruff's favorite hymn, "God moves in a mysterious way," and cited in support of the words thereof, the condition in which the Elders of the Church went out to preach the Gospel, and the success attending their labors. A few incidents connected with the life of President Woodruff were read by the speaker, the same having been written on the occasion of the celebration of the subject's ninetieth birthday. It showed the success attending President Woodruff's labors in the ministry, he at the time traveling without purse and scrip. The Verses recited upon the presentation of a bouquet of ninety roses to President Woodruff, were also read to the congregation, the speaker concluding by bearing his testimony and urging all to be faithful as the leaders of the Church were faithful.
The choir sang:
I know that my Redeemer lives.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Alonzo H. Raleigh.
_____
[5 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 54:528-529, 4/10/97, p 16-17]
AT
THE TABERNACLE!
_____
Second
day, April 5th -- Morning Session.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
Hark! listen to the trumpeters? They sound for volunteers.
Prayer by Elder Seymour B. Young
Singing by the choir of the hymn which begins:
Glorious things are sung of
Zion, Enoch's city seen of old,
Where the righteous, being perfect, Walked with God on streets of gold.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH,
of the Council of the Apostles, was the first speaker. He hoped that the feeling prevalent at the close of each conference, that it had been the best ever held, would prevail at the close of the present one, and that the people could carry with them to their homes the true spirit of the latter-day work. He referred to the honor felt and shown toward President Woodruff, by all classes of people, on account of sturdy integrity for the cause he had espoused, and said that this was the just mind of all who had manifested such noble characteristics. Many great characters were in existence at the present time, some of whom were past the time of great activity, but who had won for themselves a fame which would increase with the lapse of time. Justice was rarely done such persons by their contemporaries, on account of their failings being so manifest during their lives, and no doubt such would be the case with the venerable leader of the Church. His life had been an example of earnest, humble self-devotion, every energy being directed to the advancement of the cause of truth; an inspiration to the youth in all laudable efforts. Patient industry, determination, indeterminable will, simple habits, and many other noble elements had characterized his life. Called from the humble pursuits of life to his great and exalted labor, he had cheerfully assumed its responsibilities and earnestly borne them to the present, building solidly and well. In the opinion of the speaker no man can be found who had excelled President Woodruff in the sturdy qualities above referred to.
He deprecated the tendency so manifest at present, to show a lack of proper regard for the aged and faithful, but thought that this would be partially overcome by the life and example of President Woodruff, which could scarcely fail to inspire proper respect. The schools also should inculcate such reference, the absence of which boded no good. There was a danger that the peculiarities of age would be allowed to prevent the manifestation of respect for the aged in the home circle, and such a condition should be carefully avoided, in order that the unity of the home circle might not be broken. The completion of the chain of relationship from generation to generation, cold be accomplished only through the feelings of love and veneration of the children for the fathers, of which every faithful parent was worthy. Instruction of the children in this direction would bear proper fruit, in the turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers, and of the fathers to the children, to the unification of all the families of men. the speaker paid a glowing tribute to president Wilford Woodruff for his loyalty and generous justice, commending his example to the Saints. He closed with a strong testimony of the gospel and saving power.
ELDER GEORGE TEASDALE
of the quorum of the Twelve was the next speaker. He advocated the study of the Scriptures and fidelity in prayer as a means of exercising a righteous influence over our children. all our disasters were attributable to our disobedience. This disposition was common in the world. The speaker here read from the 5th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Hebrews. I specially referred to the way in which men are called by God in positions in the Priesthood. The first requirement made of the child was to honor its father and mother. How necessary was compliance with this commandment. Witness the anxiety, labor and toil of the parents for their offspring. How natural it as that their affection and care should be rewarded by the love of their children. This reciprocal affection was indispensable to peace in the family relation. The speaker then treated upon some of the higher precepts of the Gospel taught by the Savior; also upon the relationship that existed between humanity and God, who was the Father of the spirits of all. When this connection was comprehended it ought to attract our love toward our Eternal Parent, and render us firm in our loyalty to Him. He also made reference to the atonement of Christ, through which the resurrection was brought about. A consideration of these principles, he said, superinduced to an appreciation of what God had done for His children, and led to obedience and noble humility. To place ourselves in such a position was the only means by which we could learn of God, receiving from Him light and truth. In this way we received a living testimony for ourselves. The speaker delineated the first principles of the Gospel --faith, repentance, baptism (immersion) in water for the remission of sins, and the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of men called of God to the ministry. The discourse throughout was devoted to showing the necessity of obedience to God and loyalty in all the relations of life, and exhorting the people to righteousness. He concluded by bearing testimony that the Gospel in its fulness had been revealed anew through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT,
of the same quorum, followed. Gratification was expressed with the encouraging reports received from various departments of the work of God, these being a fulfilment of President Woodruff's prediction at the dedication of the Temple, that the hearts of the people of the world would be softened toward the Latter-day Saints. Each faithful Saint was entitled to a testimony to the truth of the work of God, every faculty of the mind being convinced of this truth. All knowledge was obtained through the exercise of the faculties of the mind, and the knowledge of the Gospel was to be gained through obedience to its laws, according to the promise of Christ. If men would investigate this work as earnestly as they studied the sciences, they could not fail to discover the truth. On August 6, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith said that the Saints would be driven to the Rocky Mountains, where they would become a mighty people, notwithstanding the forbidding nature of the country characterized by Daniel Webster as useless on account of its barrenness. The Saints today were living witnesses of the fulfilment of this remarkable prophecy. While not depreciating secular instruction, the speaker felt that a larger proportion of attention should be paid to the acquirement of a more complete knowledge of the principles of the Gospel. Worthy children of worthy sires were wanted today, men and women willing to obey in righteousness, and not inclined to condemn the Priesthood for their devotion to the work entrusted to them, for such a spirit would tend to the condemnation of those encouraging it.
An extract from a revelation contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, was read to prove that the exercise of the Priesthood must be according to the principles of righteousness and long-suffering. This disproved the assertion of the enemies of the work, to the effect that the people were priest-ridden. Another extract was read, pronouncing woes upon those who, through their own unrighteousness, were led to lift up the heel against the Priesthood of God. He closed with a testimony to the power of God resting with those who exercised their Priesthood on the principles of righteousness, and in exhortation to renewed faithfulness and diligence on the part of the Saints.
The choir sang:
From whence come all these people whom I see?
Benediction by Elder David H. Cannon.
_____
[5 Apr, 2 pm]
[DNW 54:529, 4/10/97, p 17]
Afternoon
Session.
The choir sang the hymn which begins:
We're not ashamed to own our Lord And worship Him on earth.
Prayer by Elder Reed Smoot.
Singing by the choir of the hymn commencing:
Though deep'ning trials
throng your way Press on, press on, ye Saints of God.
Ere long he resurrection day Will spread its light and truth abroad.
ELDER JOHN W. TAYLOR
of the council of Apostles, addressed the Conference. Speaking of the gathered Saints, he said that Isaiah had predicted, in his second chapter, the establishment of the Lord's house in the tops of the mountains, and the flowing of people of all nations toward it; the fulfilment of this prophecy constituting one of the most remarkable signs of the times. These people had been gathered in accordance with the prophecy of Jeremiah, that hunters and fishers should be sent forth to gather the honest in heart from all nations. The speaker had done a little in this direction during the last few months. He urged the people to consider the signs of the times, in order to understand their significance. One of these was the preaching of the Gospel to all nations, preparatory to the coming of Christ in clouds of heaven and the end of the world. This message included the call to repentance and the forsaking of evil, and the proclamation of the establishment of the church of Christ with all its officers and ordinances. the unity of the faith predicted by Paul was being departed from by the various sects of the world, in that they rejected certain officers and principles which Jesus declared were necessary. The messengers of the Church proclaimed to these people the fulness of the Gospel, and the complete organization of the Church with all its officers intact, and with all the gifts of the Holy Ghost, including the spirit of prophecy, by which spirit all the great predictions of the past were made. The sealing power and the other blessings promised by Christ to Peter and other apostles, were in the Church today, and were offered freely to the world for their belief and practice. He bore a strong testimony to the power of God as manifested through his Prophet Wilford Woodruff for the advancement of God's purposes.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
delivered a discourse upon the proper training of our children, and the great importance of the faithful being represented in the future generations of the people of God by a righteous posterity bearing the everlasting Priesthood. In connection with this theme he spoke at some length upon the gathering of the Saints, characterizing it as a most marvelous movement, which had no parallel in history, and the development of the purposes of the Lord in our day. He also spoke with great power upon the stability of the Priesthood of the Son of God and the utter folly of those who imagined it would go wrong.
[George Q. Cannon]
[DNW 54:673, 5/15/97, p 1; CD 5:290-298]
DISCOURSE
Delivered at the General Conference of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints,
in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Monday, April 5th, 1897, by
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
_____
[REPORTED BY ARTHUR WINTER.]
_____
During
our Conference there have been a number of allusions to our rising generation
and the importance of training them. Probably there can be no subject mentioned
to us that possesses greater interest, because our future as a Church and as
families depends upon our children being trained in righteousness. It is one of
the saddest things to contemplate, in connection with the history of our
people, that families which have been prominent in the Church, or whose head
has been a prominent man in the Church, have now no representative among us.
Among the highest and most glorious promises that the Lord has made to His
faithful servants is that their posterity shall be numbered among His people,
and that they shall be blessed of Him. All the records that have come to us
from righteous men convey with plainness the great importance of having a
faithful posterity. You remember the case of Rechab that is recorded by
Jeremiah. Because of the faithfulness of this man's posterity, the Lord told
Jeremiah that he should never be without a man to stand before him. We find
that men of God have always endeavored to exercise faith in behalf of their
posterity. The Lord made covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and with the
sons of Jacob, concerning their posterity, and these covenants the Lord holds
in great esteem, and has promised that in the last days they shall be
fulfilled. It is the same in our day, the posterity of faithful men may stray
from the Church, but the Lord will feel after some branch of their family and
bring it back in days to come to the covenant people.
At times
it has been a matter of surprise to some individuals that they have been
enabled to join the Church and receive the truth while so many around them have
turned deaf ears to it. But if we understood the past as we do the present, we
would doubtless see that there are reasons for this, which have existed long
before we were born. There is no doubt in my mind that the gathering together
of this people from the various nations of the earth, and the manner in which
they have received the Gospel, is due to the promises made to their fathers.
It is our
duty now, enjoined upon us by the Lord, to bring up our children properly, and
to see that everything is done to preserve them in the faith. Every sort of
appeal is being resorted to in order to captivate and lead astray the rising
generation of this people. And as modern education spreads, and the theories of
men and the sciences are taught in their present form, so the danger of the
loss of faith on the part of our children increases, because in all the
teachings of the educational institutions of the day there are conveyed doubts
and unbelief concerning principles contained in the records that have come down
to us from the Lord through His servants. We have seen this proved, from the
fact that many of our young men who have gone away to institutions of learning
have lost their faith in the Gospel. It seems to be dangerous for young men and
young women to go east to graduate at some university or college, because of
this tendency to unbelief. Then there are the sinful influences that surround
them there, and here also, and the constant danger they are in of doing
something that will grieve the Spirit of the Lord and cause it to be withdrawn
from them. I believe there is a great responsibility resting upon us in this
respect, and concerning which we are too forgetful. It is pleasing, however, to
see the care that is being taken by the Mutual Improvement Associations, by the
Sunday schools, by the Primaries, and by the quorums of the Priesthood, in
behalf of the young people. These influences are having a good effect, and no
doubt the sending of missionaries abroad as we do has a good effect also, to
arouse faith in the hearts of those who go, giving them a testimony concerning
the work of God. They come back having a knowledge, proved by experience; and
if they continue to labor diligently at home in their callings, the Lord
blesses them and increases their faith. On this account we have great cause to
rejoice.
But,
brethren and sisters, it is of the highest importance that we, as parents and
as members of the Church, should comprehend the purposes of our God concerning
us as a people. On this point I think there is not the light and the
comprehension in the minds of the people that there should be. It seems to me
that we all need instruction in this direction. In our eagerness to make a
living, and especially in view of the new conditions that surround us
politically, our minds are, to some extent, diverted from the great purpose
that God has had in view in founding Zion. We have a grand mission entrusted to
us. The Lord has assigned to us a wonderful amount of important work to
perform; and in order to prepare us for this, He has poured out His Spirit upon
this people in their scattered condition, and has impressed them with the
necessity of gathering together as we are in these valleys at the present time.
Allusion was made by Brother John W. Taylor of the gathering of the people and
to the fulfillment of the prediction of Isaiah and other prophets concerning
their gathering. The gathering of this people from the nations of the earth
appears to be the most miraculous work that has ever been performed. There is
nothing in history, sacred or profane, that comes anywhere near being so
wonderful in all its details as this gathering. God has poured out His Spirit
upon us, and upon our fathers and mothers, and has impelled them to leave the
lands of their birth and come together as we are today.
Now,
there is a great end to be accomplished by this mighty work of gathering. It is
the power of God manifesting itself among men. A new era is dawning upon
mankind. It is true that the Latter-day Saints are but a small people
numerically; but when we are united and obedient to the voice of God, there is
no people, no matter how numerous they may be, that attract attention to their
movements and operations as the Latter-day Saints do. It is astonishing the interest
there is felt in the movements of this people. We have been opposed all the
time; we have had difficulties of an almost insuperable character to contend
with; and yet there has been a power accompanying this people and impelling
them forward and sustaining them that has been miraculous in its operations. We
have only to review the history of the Church during the past few years to be
conscious of this. We need not go back to the days of New York, nor to the days
of Kirtland, of Jackson County, Clay County or Caldwell County, or Nauvoo, nor
to the beginning of our settlement here; we have only to go back a few years to
see how wonderfully God has wrought in behalf of His people. We have had almost
every kind of opposition to contend with, yet that opposition has been
overcome. The Lord's providence has been over this people, and they have been
delivered in the most unexpected manner. It can be said of us that which was
said of Mordecai, as recorded in the book of Esther. When Haman's friends found
that Mordecai and Haman were opposed, they said:
If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou
hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall
before him.
So it is
with the Latter-day Saints. There is no power on earth, no matter how
formidable and threatening it may be, that can stand in opposition to this
work, and every plan that is framed for its overthrow will fall to the ground.
Nothing will ever succeed against this Church so long as the Latter-day Saints
are united. We shall triumph. Our trials will probably be severe, and we will
have to pass through ordeals that will test us to the very centre; but we shall
emerge from them victorious in every instance, if we are faithful to the truth
which God has revealed to us. The Lord will have a tried people. We shall have
dark hours; we shall have times when it will seem as though the Lord had
apparently forsaken us; when the whole heavens will be covered with clouds, and
it will seem as though we cannot escape; but if we are faithful to the Lord He
will bring us through, and after testing our faith He will crown us with
success and triumph. He has done it in the past; He will do it in the future.
But if any Latter-day Saint thinks he can get through without being tested,
then he makes a sad mistake.
We have
had tests here of late. As I said in my remarks yesterday morning, we have been
threatened with division. Men have become unsettled in their views; darkness
has taken possession of many minds, and they have doubt about that concerning
which there ought never to be any doubt, namely, the Priesthood of the Son of
God. When you doubt that, where are you? What are you to rely upon? Why we had
better distrust the solid earth itself on which we stand and think it trembling
and unreliable, than to think that the Priesthood cannot be relied upon-that
Priesthood which God Himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus, came to earth to
prepare the way for its restoration. I would just as soon think of the starry
heavens falling in to chaos; I would just as soon think that the throne of our
Father in heaven was in danger of being shaken to its foundations, as I would
think that the Priesthood of God, through which all this wealth of blessing
which God has bestowed upon us has come, would be permitted by the Lord to
mislead this people. Never! Never! The Father did not come down from heaven
Himself, accompanied by His Son Jesus, for any such purpose as this. The Lord
did not pour out His Spirit as He has done upon the honest in heart wherever
the Elders have gone, to leave this work alone, to be mismanaged, and the
people to be led astray. The Lord has not led us to these mountains and blessed
us as He has done for this purpose. No, no! Though impenetrable darkness should
surround us, we ought, as a people and as individuals, to cling to that truth
which the Lord has revealed concerning this work; cling to the Priesthood;
cling to the "rod of iron," which is the word of God, and the word of
God comes through the Priesthood. Let each one say: "I will serve God, no
matter what happens; I will cling to His Priesthood, which God has put in His
Church to govern it, no matter what the consequences may be." That is the
integrity we should cherish, and which we should teach to our children. Unless
we do, we will never accomplish that which God designs for us.
I feel,
to some extent, keenly upon this point, because I love the Latter-day Saints.
No heaven would be heaven to me unless the Latter-day Saints were there. I
would rather die anytime than to see this people turned away from the truth. I
love the Latter-day Saints better than I can express, and I desire exceedingly
to see them do right. I have, therefore, felt grieved to the bottom of my soul
when I have seen them wavering, and I have asked myself, Has it come to this,
that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a prophet of God will
not be listened to? that a prophet of God shall be limited in his authority,
and shall not counsel the Latter-day Saints as God shall inspire him? To me the
thought of this has been terrible. And yet men who bear the Priesthood have
manifested that spirit in Zion. They did not want to listen to the voice of God
through His prophets. They did not want the First Presidency, nor the Twelve,
to counsel them. In effect, they said: "Keep off. There is a limit to your
authority. We do not want you to exercise it beyond certain limits." It is
awful to think of, but that has been the condition. Would you have believed it
if you had not seen it? Why, things have come to our ears of the most shocking
character concerning the exercise of the authority of the Priesthood. It has
been plainly and publicly stated that the men who lead the people were
exceeding their powers and were putting fetters on the people; and one man has
risen up and denounced the servants of God, untruthfully, and there have been
those who have felt to sustain him and to justify him in it. I say that unless
they repent in the name of the Lord Jesus, God will withdraw His Spirit from
them, and they will go down into darkness. It is a serious thing to fight
against the Priesthood of the Son of God, no matter who holds it. The men who
do bear it are fallible men, and when they bear it properly, are conscious of
their own weaknesses and infirmities. They feel not only as if they were
utterly unworthy of the authority the Lord has placed upon them, but incapable
of exercising it. But they have been chosen by the Lord, and He will sustain
them and bear them off triumphant always, as He has done thus far. And no man
can lift his heel against the Priesthood of the Son of God without the curse of
Almighty God coming upon him, unless he repents. Why, ye Latter-day Saints,
what blessing is it that you enjoy of a spiritual nature, aye, and of a
temporal nature, too, I may say, that has not come to you through the
Priesthood. Can you think of any? I am sure you cannot. Its fruits comprise the
whole of our lives, our interests, our prosperity, individually, and as a
people.
I feel to
say to the Latter-day Saints who have been guilty of indulging in this spirit,
that they must repent, if they want to regain the favor of God; for I tell you
it is a dreadful sin to fight against or in any manner oppose the Priesthood of
the Son of God, and everyone of us should repent of such opposition with all
our hearts.
Some men
imagine, that God having restored His authority to the earth, there is danger
of it being exercised in an improper manner. That is the charge which our
enemies frame against us. They say we are a pretty good people, but there is
danger in men having the authority which we claim to have-danger of it being
exercised in some manner to injure the community. Now, I say, and say it
boldly, that no such instance can be found in our history. When men have
attempted to exercise the authority of the Priesthood in an improper manner,
the Lord has withdrawn His Spirit from them, as Brother Grant read this morning
from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that the Lord would do. He will have a
pure people, and He will have a people who will be led by His servants. When a
man ceases to be a true servant of the Lord, the Lord withdraws His Spirit from
him, and leaves him to himself. Happy would that man be if he should die before
he did this. But men have seen priestcraft in the world, and they confound that
with Priesthood; but I want you to understand that there is a wide distinction
between Priesthood and priestcraft. Men who exercise priestcraft become
wrong-doers and oppressors, and commit great sins under the guise of religion,
while trying to appear in the eyes of the world as being in the service of God.
But the Priesthood is not of that character. It is beneficent in its
operations. It blesses, it upholds, it strengthens, it diffuses love, union,
peace, and every godlike quality among mankind. Has not that been its operation
among us? I leave it to you to say. Has not the influence and labor of the
Priesthood among the Latter-day Saints been of a beneficent character? (Cries
of "Yes.") Undoubtedly it has. I have no doubt that this whole
congregation would say with one voice, "Yes, we know its operations have
been beneficial." You never heard the Prophet Joseph Smith say a thing
that would in the least degree be oppressive to any human being. He was a
friend of liberty. Of all men, I think, that ever lived, Joseph Smith was the
strongest advocate of human liberty and giving every human being his full
rights. He contended for this continually. He believed in the exercise of man's
agency. President Brigham Young had the same spirit. His labors are before us
in these mountains to show the spirit that he was of. No man could love his
fellow man seemingly more than he did, or be more willing to have the people
exercise their agency to the fullest extent. So it has been with President
Taylor and President Woodruff, and throughout the Church in all its
ramifications. Of course, there have been men who have abused their privileges
and their power; but they have not lasted long; they have lost their influence
and their positions in the Church of Christ. But, take it as a whole, the
influence of the Priesthood has been most beneficent in behalf of the children
of men. Any attempt to show anything contrary to this must fail. Of course, we
are, as I have said, fallible men. We are yet in a state of probation, subject
to the fall. We have not overcome the consequences of this yet. But, taking
this into consideration, the exercise of the Priesthood has been kindly,
loving, diffusing peace, encouraging union, and making the people better all the
time.
There
are, of course, as you can well understand, very great reasons why Satan should
seek to curtail the influence of the Priesthood. Satan does not want this power
and authority perpetuated, because it is a menace to his kingdom and dominion.
It was this that prompted him to seek the life of the Son of God, and the lives
of His apostles and inspired servants in ancient days. He did not want the
Priesthood to be on the earth. He stirred up men to hate it, and to hate the
men that exercised it, and the bearers of this power were slain. It has been
the same ever since this Church was organized. The men that bear the Priesthood
are hated by Satan. They are hated by those who are under his influence. They
would have destroyed this Church long ago if it had not been for the promises
of God concerning it. I do not believe that the men bearing the Priesthood
could have escaped the snares and plots of the evil one if it had not been for
the promise that God has made concerning this dispensation, that it should not
be given into the hands of another people, and that Satan should not prevail
over it. Had it not been for this, I say, the bearers of the Priesthood in this
day would have been destroyed as their predecessors were in ancient days. But
God has made this promise; and notwithstanding the hatred, notwithstanding the
blood that has been and may yet be shed, the work will roll forth and will
accomplish the end that the Father has in view. At the same time you can see
why Satan should be angry. He has had undisputed sway, it may be said, in the
earth until of late years. Now when he sees his work being undone; when he sees
the spread of truth, the increase of righteousness, is it any wonder that he
hates it and all people who are seeking to practice righteousness? Is it any
wonder that he seeks to decoy and lead astray our children? No, it is not. That
is part of his plan. If he can be successful in this, then he will triumph.
But the
duty and the mission is entrusted to us to seek to make a better condition. And
it will have to be done by the influence of the Priesthood. We cannot get away
from that. Now, I do not mean by this that the Church will interfere with the
State. That is the constant cry, you know, that is being raised to frighten us
and to make us afraid to do things, lest we shall be open to the charge of
interfering with the State. It is a stale cry. There is nothing in it, and it
should not intimidate a people like the Latter-day Saints. We have not
interfered with the State. We have built the State. The influence of the
Priesthood in the Church of Christ has made this country what it is. It has
transformed it from a desert into its present fruitfulness. Do you think that
if the men who bear the Priesthood could have their way they would oppress
anybody in this country? They would not. It is a truth that we may as well
recognize, that because a man bears the Priesthood it does not necessarily
follow that he must abstain from all participation in state affairs. This would
be a terrible condition for this people, because every reputable man in our
Church is a bearer of the Priesthood; and if this rule were to operate, it
would exclude the entire Mormon male population from all participation in the
affairs of the State. But, we have endeavored to concede everything that we
could to meet these attacks; we have done everything in our power, without
sacrificing our rights and liberties. At the same time there is no reason why a
man that bears the Priesthood should not act in any capacity in the State. His
bearing the Priesthood should not preclude him in the least degree from that.
He can be as true to the State and to all its obligations as if he were a
private citizen. One does not interfere with the other.
We have
been taught from the beginning this important principle, that the Church of God
is distinct from the kingdom of God. Joseph gave us the pattern before he died.
He gave his brethren an example that has not been forgotten up to this day. He
impressed it upon them, that men, not members of the Church, could be members
of the kingdom that the Lord will set up when He reigns. He picked out the
youngest among them, and told them to be sure and remember this. In the minds
of all of us who understand this matter there is a clear distinction between the
Church in its ecclesiastical capacity and that which may be termed the
government of God in its political capacity. No people are less open to the
charge of mingling the two and seeking to destroy the distinctions between
church and state than the Latter-day Saints, and especially the leading men of
this Church; and any attempt on the part of anyone to say that we have any such
designs, is the attack of an enemy and is untrue. But no matter how
scrupulously we walk, or how many declarations we may make of our intentions,
or how many pledges we give, there is a class of men, and probably will be for
years, who are always ready to misinterpret and to make false charges against
us concerning these things. And many of our own people have been as much to
blame for this as those not of us; they have drunk into the same spirit, and
they have yielded to the influence of it, thus strengthening the hands of those
who have attacked us from this standpoint. Many of our people have helped them,
and yet they have called themselves Latter-day Saints! They have been untrue to
the people, untrue to their fellowship, and to the covenants which we make with
one another. We have never made a covenant that will not bear exposure, that we
would not be willing that the whole world should know. We have made no secret
covenants and oaths to prevent us from loving mankind and treating them as our
brothers and sisters. But we do covenant to love one another and to love the
Lord; we do covenant to build up righteousness in the earth, to be the children
of God, the servants of Jesus Christ. We make covenants of that kind when we go
into the waters of baptism. But men have broken those covenants, and
unwittingly, perhaps, in many instances, they have injured the work of God.
Therefore, I say that they must repent, no matter who they are, and turn away
from these things, or the Lord will withdraw His Spirit from them, as well as
His gifts and blessings. We may as well understand this first as last. I cannot
lift my hand against this people and be prospered in it, nor can any other man.
No man can join with the enemies of this people and hope to succeed; for God
will desert him, no matter how high his standing may be, and all who follow in
his footsteps will find themselves dreadfully deceived. We may as well warn you
of this, and tell you the truth, whatever may be said about it. We do not want
any of your blood clinging to our garments. We do not want to stand in the
positions we do and hold our peace and see the people misled and going astray.
God has placed us as shepherds over His flock, and if we do not look out for
the flock He will smite us and remove us. We are placed as watchmen upon the
walls of Zion, and if we do not give warning when we see danger, then we are
culpable and will be condemned of God. Now, if you want to know why we talk
this way, understand that this is the reason: We are responsible to the Lord
for you, and we cannot shirk that responsibility. Our opponents may be offended
at these remarks, and misquote them; but that does not make a particle of
difference. Must we stand and let the people go astray, and not lift up our
voices in warning? Why, we might as well die today and be done with it, and let
somebody else come and take our places and do the work. What is the use of our
being in this position unless we are men and have the willingness to declare
the whole counsel of God as it comes to us?
I have
been delighted at seeing the gathering of the people at this conference and the
spirit of union that prevails. My brethren and sisters, let us seek more and
more for this spirit. If you are in doubt concerning anything, go to the Lord.
Oh! if the people would only go to the Lord, how easy it would be to govern
them. Go to the Lord, humble yourselves before Him, and ask Him, in the name of
Jesus, to give His Holy Spirit to you. We pray constantly that it may be poured
out upon you; that your hearts may be softened, and that the scales of darkness
may fall from all our eyes-priest and people; for we are all blind to a certain
extent; but we want to see and understand the purposes of God and that which He
is striving to accomplish in the earth. He is building a place of refuge in
these mountains. He wants us to be a united people, and to make this a place of
refuge, so that the eyes of mankind will turn to these mountains, that they may
say: "Why, there I see a people living at peace and in harmony, undivided,
loving one another, and seeking the welfare of their fellow men." This is
the object for which we gathered. When you divide and split up, and join
factions, and seek to destroy the influence of the Priesthood of God, you
defeat, so far as your action is concerned, the design of God. God wants us to
be a united people. I do not mean by this that we must all vote one ticket. But
we can vote without quarreling and getting into a bad spirit. We should love
the Lord, and be willing to be guided by Him, and we should listen to the voice
of the Lord. What a power then the people would be! The Lord would come in a
very little while; for the earth would be prepared for His coming. This is what
we want; not for Latter-day Saints alone, but for this whole nation, which God
loves, and which He established and made a free nation-the best, the strongest,
and the most liberty-loving nation upon the face of the earth. And we love it
because God has founded it. He raised up men to found it, and He gave it those
forms of liberty which permitted this Church to be organized. This Church could
not have been organized in any other land, or under any other form of
government. Therefore, we love this land, we love this government, and we love
the Constitution and the institutions of the land. We believe in the
Constitution more than any other people, because we know it has been inspired
of the Lord. Let not our people, therefore, divide, or go hither and thither
after every will-o'-the-wisp there is in the land. The Lord wants us to be
united, and wants the influence of this Church to be increased by the union of
the people. He wants the influence of the Priesthood of the Son of God elevated
and strengthened in these mountains and among the nations. I tell it in great
plainness, for it is the truth of heaven. And the possibilities that will
result from this you cannot conceive of. God has chosen us expressly for this
purpose and to do this work, and we cannot get out of it. Personally I tried to
get out of this responsibility. The Lord revealed to me in my youth that I was
to be an Apostle. In after years I besought Him that He would not choose me to
hold this office, for I had seen what I would have to go through, and I shrunk
from it. But we are chosen, and we cannot get out of it honorably. No matter
what the consequences may be, we have to magnify this Priesthood in the midst
of His people and in the earth. Every one of us have had a charge of this kind
given to us.
Brethren
and sisters, ask the Lord about these things. Go to Him and beseech Him, in the
name of Jesus, to enlighten your minds and to fill you with His Holy Spirit,
that you may see and understand, and soften your hearts, and then strive to
live the principles of the Gospel that Jesus taught, and that we in our humble
capacity have been endeavoring to teach to you, so that when men come into our
midst they will see a people who will excite their admiration; for just as sure
as we live and as the Lord has spoken, this people will at some time-and the
distance of that time depends upon our faithfulness-be sought after, their
counsels will be sought for, and men will say: "Those Latter-day Saints
are capable of governing themselves, and of maintaining good government; they
love their fellow men, and respect their rights, and we want to live among
them, or we want to have their influence among us." The time will come in
this land-I tell you now, ye faint-hearted ones, the time will come when the
counsels of the servants of God will be sought for in our own land and in all
the states where our people live, because our conduct and our management will
stand out in such bold relief in comparison with the management and conduct of
others, that they will want to get our counsel and our help in their extremity.
This will be the case, not only right here, but elsewhere. And today, let me
say to you, if our people were united, we would hold the key. We occupy a
position where our influence, if we were united as we should be, would be more
potent than that of any other state or community in these United States. I do
not overstate this in the least. I know what I am talking about, and it is the
truth. But our divisions, our partisanship, our loss of the Spirit, our
quarreling one with another, our upbraiding one of another, weakens us and
takes away the strength and the power that God has placed within our reach.
I pray
God to bless us during the remainder of this conference; to pour out His Spirit
in power upon His servants and upon all, that our hearts may be filled with the
light of truth, and with the joy and peace of the Holy Ghost. Oh! that we could
understand how willing the Lord is to bless us; how his arms are stretched out
filled with blessings for this people if we will prepare to receive them. He
will save us; He will deliver us from our enemies; He will make our path plain;
and if we die-why, what is death? It is only a change from this condition into
a better one. We of all people should be the least afraid of death, because God
has made the greatest of promises to us. If we are valiant in His cause, He
will reward us and crown us with glory; for He loves valor. The Lord loves a
people of integrity, a people who will not betray one another, or fight against
one another. He loves men and women of this kind. And He loves the women of
this Church, because of their integrity. No women have ever shown greater
heroism and more integrity than the women of this Church have done. They have
been superior to the men in many respects. Fewer of them have shown cowardice
or unwillingness to face and bear all the consequences of their acts. I know
the Lord loves the women of this Church, and He loves the men, too, who are
humble. There are thousands of them who are humble and obscure men; their names
do not appear prominently; we do not hear their sermons; they are not famous
among us; but the Lord looks upon them and loves them, because of the integrity
of their hearts and their valor in His cause. There are thousands of men and
women in this Church who would gladly, if it were necessary, lay down their
lives for the truth.
Well, the
Lord bless us all; bless His servant, our President, and grant that he may be
strengthened and made able to perform the duties that devolve upon him. The
Lord has wonderfully blessed him, and we feel that He will continue His
blessing-in fact, we know He will, whether in life or in death; but we want him
to live. Our prayers are for that, and your prayers, too. I know that President
Woodruff feels that your prayers have prolonged his life, and that he would
have gone away from us four year ago, if it had not been for the prayers of the
Saints and the administration of the servants of God. He knows now that the
people are praying for him, and it gives him confidence, comfort and strength.
The Lord bless us in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The anthem, The Nations Bow to Satan's Thrall, was sung by the choir, solo part by Sister Lizzie Thomas-Edwards.
Benediction by Elder Chas. W. Penrose.
_____
[6 Apr, 10 am]
[DNW 54:529-531, 4/10/97, p 17-19]
Third
Day, April 6th.
This morning President Wilford Woodruff appeared on the stand. Immediately he was recognized by the people in the immense audience arose and greeted him by the waving of handkerchiefs. The President responded to the salutation by saying, "God bless you all."
We thank Thee, O God, for a
Prophet, To guide us in these latter days.
We thank Thee for sending the Gospel, To lighten our minds with its rays.
was sung by the choir and congregation.
Prayer by Elder John Nicholson.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
High on the mountain top A
banner is unfurled.
Ye nations now look up, It waves to all the world.
PRESIDENT WOODRUFF
was the first speaker. His remarks were as follows:
I want to say to my brethren and sisters and friends that through your prayers and faith I am here this morning. I have been considerably under the weather, as the saying is, for a little time past, but I am glad to meet with you and feel to say a few words to you this morning. I know it would not be wisdom for me to attempt to occupy a great deal of time or say a great deal. First, I will say that I have followed the reports and sayings [of] the Apostles and Elders from the commencement of this Conference until this morning; what I have not read myself has been read to me, and it has been a great deal of consolation to me. I want to say to the Latter-day Saints, the God of heaven is at work carrying out His purposes in fulfilment of revelation and prophecy and inspiration, which He has given through His Prophets and Apostles and Patriarchs from the creation of the world until this hour. And the Lord is not going to fail on His part in any of these things. It is for us as a people to do our duty, to labor for ourselves and for our fellowmen; to occupy the time that we have here, to the best advantage we can, in trying to honor the Priesthood and people, to build up the kingdom of God, to set a good example, and to establish righteousness. And I want to say to the young men and maidens, my young brethren and sisters, who may be present here this morning, I want you to make your aim high and realize that you have your times granted in connection with your fathers and mothers in the building up of the kingdom of God. Do not spend your time in the follies and frivolities of this world, but try to improve your time. You occupy one of the most important dispensations and generations God has ever given to men, and I have a great interest for the rising generation. I know for myself, and not for another, that the Lord has raised up our children, our sons and our daughters, to stand in the footsteps of their fathers in the winding-up scene of the great work of the Zion of our God. I realize that they do not comprehend, in fact there are very few who comprehend today the position we occupy, and the responsibility we are under to God and the Holy Priesthood, who have raised us up and placed us here in the midst of a generation of men and women, children of men, upon whose heads are going to rest great responsibilities, in the great events which are to follow each other in quick succession in the day in which we live.
As far as I am concerned, I do not know, it has never been revealed to me, why my life has been preserved, while the Lord has taken away Prophets and Apostles and other men of God, who have spent three or four, ten or twelve, fourteen or fifteen years in the capacity of the building up of the kingdom of God. Our Savior Himself was only three years and a half in passing through His experiences of teaching the people, the organization of the kingdom of God, the choosing of the Twelve Apostles, His crucifixion, His death and His resurrection. The Prophet Joseph spent about fourteen years in translating the Book of Mormon, the history of the Jews, the House of Israel on this continent, and the dealings of God with that people. He performed that work, and brought forth the book of Doctrine and Covenants, a code of revelations as great in language and principles, and the account of as great and important events as have ever occurred on the earth. He performed all this work in about fourteen years and a half. My brethren, the Apostles, two or three quorums, have passed away since my ordination; nearly all but myself up to a certain period, have passed. I am not speaking these things boastfully, but I am here, and it is my duty while I remain here, to try to say something that will be of interest to the Latter-day Saints. I am interested in your welfare, in the welfare of Zion. It is the Zion of God, planted here by the hand of God, and the Lord has guided and directed it, and will continue to do so.
You have Apostles with you, you have High Priests, and Seventies, and the other bodies of Priesthood, and they have a great responsibility resting upon them , in the capacity in which they labor. I have a great desire, what time I do live, to see the people progress, to become united, to comprehend and to understand the spirit and power of God and their calling; you should do this, and you have got to do something of this kind, in order to carry out the purposes of the Lord. You stand here in the mountains of Israel, raised up by the Lord. You have done a great work here, and there is a great deal more to do. You are red3eeming the dead and the living, and sending abroad thousands of the Elders to warn the nations of the earth of those events which are to come upon them and upon us. Therefore, the Elders should try to be faithful, and we should watch over our sons and daughters, give them good advice, and set them a good example that we may have no regrets of their falling into principles and practices which are not right and righteous before God, on account of our example.
I say, God bless you; labor for the Holy Spirit, labor for light and truth, for revelation and inspiration, learn the mind and will of God concerning yourselves and the truth of the work of God on the earth. Keep your eyes open to see, your ears to hear, and your hearts to understand the truth, and that you may see the hand of God visible throughout this land and throughout this nation, and throughout the world, which will be more and more visible from this time to the winding-up scene. God bless you, amen.
ELDER MARRINER W. MERRILL
of the quorum of the Twelve, was the next speaker this morning. following is a brief summary of his remarks. He said we had great joy in having President Woodruff with us. Our prayers that he might be permitted to be present have been answered. He had been led to reflect upon the instructions already given by the brethren, especially where they read the scriptures, ancient and modern, and commented upon them. These books were very valuable, but not so much so as the living oracles. The two, however, made a complete guide. We could get along better without the Bible and Book of Mormon than e deprived of the living Priesthood, God's oracles associated with us. There had been evidences of a lack of appreciation of the leading officials of the Church. No one of the latter could be designated who had ever sought for office. They had never asked the people to vote for them, and when they were sustained by the Church the voting was done voluntarily. The address which was presented to the general Conference one year ago was scripture for the government of the Church. It was sustained by the great body of the people, both in a general and local capacity.Numbers, however, had absented themselves from meetings where it was presented, because they were opposed to it. Every one of such would sooner or later apostatize from the Church unless they repented. God would not fellowship those who would not draw near unto Him and be in harmony with the authorities and councils of the Church unless they repented. The overwhelming majority did, however, sustain the servants of God. there was no half-way position, no central zone. God knew the secrets of our hearts and would in time manifest them. All those not in harmony with the Church should speedily repent. Some men who held positions of importance were under this need, yet they wished to retain their offices as teachers of the people. All should examine their hearts and pronounce judgment that was just upon themselves.
Elder Merrill now devoted attention to financial matters. He drew attention to the public indebtedness that existed in consequence of a tendency to bonding. This was, in his opinion, a disastrous policy, as the people were thus placed under bondage, and had to pay tribute to foreign capital. How many of the Saints were under the bondage of mortgages upon their homes, and how many had, from this cause, already lost their homes? Speaking again of public indebtedness, he remarked that some took the ground that our children would be benefitted by the expenditure of borrowed funds, and that they would redeem the bonds. It was the opinion of the speaker that our posterity would have enough to do without being placed under these huge obligations.
Some had been prudent and had accumulated means by a wise financial course. When this was the case why not hand some of their surplus over to the Church to invest it. It would be perfectly safe, and would aid in increasing the material welfare of the people. It need not necessarily be given as a gift, but as a loan. It would be a good thing, however, to make gifts to the Church, to aid in the building up of Zion. Elder Merrill also spoke of the fund for the erection of a statue to Brigham Young, contributions to which had dragged somewhat slowly, and this should not be the case. He was of opinion that the memento of a great man ought to be completed at an early date and the necessary funds for the purpose be forthcoming.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
delivered a brief discourse upon the rights of the Priesthood. He explained that there could not be two parallel heads of the Church. The President of the organization was its head, and his oversight included its temporal as well as its spiritual affairs. Hence when any of the Saints aided the work of God by voluntary loans or gifts the should be tendered the trustee-in-trust. President Smith likewise advised the people against incurring indebtedness, especially of that character that would jeopardize their retaining possession of their homes.
ELDER ANTHON H. LUND.
of the quorum of the Twelve, was the next speaker. His opening remarks were devoted to the necessity of religion classes, which had already been spoken upon by President Cannon. He read from a revelation on page 250 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which treats upon the obligation of parents to teach their children the principles of the Gospel and to pray and walk uprightly before the Lord. This revelation was given as early as 1831. He characterized as fallacious the idea that some men had on this subject. They considered it better not to teach their children religion but to allow them to grow up without such instruction and at a later stage let them choose for themselves. No child could grow up without being impressed in some direction, and if they were not inclined to God by proper training they were likely to be godless in later life. If parents did not do their duty, according to the law laid down by the Lord, and their children drifted away from the moorings of the Gospel, the responsibility for their condition would lie at the door of their parents -- the sin would rest upon their heads. The training obtained by the children in the Sunday schools and Primary associations was not sufficient; the fundamental part of it must be laid in the home. continuing in this line of thought, the speaker stated that the young men who had been educated in Church schools were prepared when they went on missions abroad to enter immediately upon their ministerial duties. We were not able at present, however, to maintain an extensive Church school system, and this made the religion classes all the more necessary. The closing portion of the discourse was devoted to showing that education, in order to be full and well balanced, must include moral, physical and theological as well as the usual intellectual training.
The choir sang the anthem,
Let the mountains shout for joy.
Benediction by Elder Angus M. Cannon.
_____
[6 Apr, 2 pm*]
[DNW 54:531, 4/10/97, p 19]
Afternoon
Session.
Singing by the choir of the hymn which commences,
What was witnessed in the
heavens? Why, an angel, earthward bound.
Had he something with him bringing? Yes -- the Gospel -- joyful sound.
Opening prayer by Elder John W. Hess.
The choir sang the hymn which begins,
O my Father, Thou that
dwellest In the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain Thy presence And again behold Thy face?
President Joseph F. Smith read the following reports for 1896, which made the following exhibit:
Relief societies, membership, 24,473; meetings held, 5,119; in crease, 3,700.
Y. L. M. I. A., membership, 15,567; associations, 423; increase, 683; meetings held, 15,200.
Primary Associations. Number of associations 484.
Officers and members, 36,500.
Meetings held, 14,500.
Brigham Young Academy board:
Geo. Q. Cannon, Salt Lake City
David John, Provo.
Reed Smoot, Provo.
W. H. Dusenberry, Provo.
Brigham Young, Salt Lake City.
Don Carlos Young, Salt lake City.
Susa Y. Gates, Provo.
Stephen L Chipman, American Fork.
Wm. H. Seegmiller, Richfield.
Karl G. Maeser, Salt Lake City.
Thos. R. Cutler, Lehi.
Edwin Partridge, Provo.
These members of the Brigham Young Academy board were sustained by unanimous vote of the Conference, a provision of the new charter of the institution requiring that the names of the members be presented to the General Conference.
THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES
were presented to the Conference by President Joseph F. Smith, as follows:
Wilford Woodruff, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world.
George Q. Cannon as First Counselor in the First Presidency.
Joseph F. Smith as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Lorenzo Snow as President of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles -- Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill and Anthon H. Lund.
The Counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
Patriarch to the Church -- John Smith.
First Seven Presidents of the Seventies -- Seymour B. Young, C. D. Fjeldsted, B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball and Rulon S. Wells.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton as his first and John R. Winder as his second counselor.
Franklin D. Richards as Church historian and General Church recorder, with John Jaques and Charles W. Penrose as his assistants.
As the General Church Board of Education -- Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Karl G. Maeser, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, James Sharp, Joseph F. Smith and John Nicholson.
As Trustee-in-Trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Wilford Woodruff.
John Nicholson as Clerk of the General conference.
All of the voting to sustain the authorities was unanimous.
ELDER B. H. ROBERTS.
of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, addressed the Conference. He said he did not recollect having attended a general assembly of the Saints when his joy was as full as it was now. He rejoiced that he was a Latter-day Saint. Such a privilege as that now enjoyed was intensified by a sojourn in the world, in the midst of conflicting opinions, religious and otherwise. It had been his privilege to travel and preach the gospel in some of the leading cities of the United States. He had been accompanied by Elders Geo. D. Pyper, Melvin Ballard and Edward J. Midgley. He wished to bear testimony to the statements made regarding the Lord softening the hearts of the people causing them to receive the servants of God and ministering to their wants. The almighty was doing this to a great extent, the opposition so manifest in the past being removed from the hearts of men. In times past the speaker had witnessed the vain efforts of faithful and efficient Elders to impress the truth of the Gospel upon the minds of the people; now equally efficient labors were meeting with success and approbation, not only among the people, but also in the commendation of the press. The change manifested in the attitude of the press toward the work was most striking, reporters being sent to the meetings during Elder Roberts' recent missionary work, and fairly accurate reports of meetings, articles of faith, etc., being published. This situation was referred to as an occasion for joy, not only on account of the new opportunities offered, but also because of the hand of God being so manifest in it. While in many respects this lull in opposition to the Church was promising, the speaker thought that fresh opposition might arise in the future attempts being made to overthrow the doctrines of the Gospel by arguments. But the present widening of opportunities showed the necessity of sending more laborers into the fields now opened.
Brother Roberts spoke with reference to the mission in the cities he had visited, stating that while conditions in the Southern States were improving, in comparison with the violence shown to the Elders there in years past, this improved condition being due to the faithful labors of the Elders who accompanied and succeeded that father of the Southern States mission, Elder John Morgan, yet the labor in other portions of the United States was opening up just as faithfully. Elders Samuel Spencer and Samuel W. Richards had done much, under God, to bring about this improved condition. The speaker believed there was no better mission than the ones referred to. The speaker closed with an expression of gratitude for these improved conditions and a prayer for a continuance of advancement.
ELDER SAMUEL W. RICHARDS,
lately president of the Eastern States mission, was the next speaker. He was called from his labors in the Temple two years and four months ago to fill the appointment to the Eastern States, and though he arrived there a stranger to the people, he soon found friends, their hearts being opened to the acceptance of the truth. Much was done through the papers and by personal visits to the people. By the various jubilee journals, his labors had been spread in many languages throughout the world, even Jewish and Greek editors manifesting interest in the work. The liberality of the Brooklyn press was spoken of in terms of praise, and Brother Richards expressed gratitude for the inspiration and success that had attended him in his missionary labors. He anticipated a great harvest in that mission in the early spring, and hoped a greater number of Elders would be sent to assist in gathering it. Elder Richards had done much also in the way of correspondence, etc., in answering questions and expounding doctrine, a work which he expected to continue.
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON
made some remarks in relation to the Brigham Young statue. Additional funds were needed to forward it as far as practicable by the time of the approaching semi-centennial Pioneer jubilee. The statue association was anxious upon this subject, and it was desirable that contributions be forthcoming to carry out this project. The leading officers of the Church in every locality were requested to bring this subject to the attention of the people.
President Cannon then spoke upon the numerous delusive influences that were being multiplied by Satan for the purpose of deceiving he Saints and drawing them away from the Gospel of the Son of God. He warned the people as they valued the salvation of their souls, to avoid them. He classed among these false doctrines, those of what is called Christian science; also the fallacious theory of reincarnation.
PRESIDENT WOODRUFF
spoke briefly on the subject treated by President Cannon regarding seducing spirits and delusive doctrines and characterized them as false, deceptive and of a nature to lead those who imbibed them to destruction.
The choir sang the anthem,
Glory be to the Lord, our Deliverer.
Conference adjourned for six months.
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
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[From this time forward Conference Reports were published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those Conference Reports from October 1897 through 1926 were photo-reproduced by John D. Hawkes, Hawkes Publishing Inc., Salt Lake City, 1975.]