Remarks Opening the Conference Business: Willard Richards' Death, California Emigration, and Gathering Points

Conference was called to order by President Brigham Young, and after the choir had sung, President Heber C. Kimball offered the opening prayer. After President Kimball had opened the meeting by prayer, President Brigham Young presented the business of the Conference in the following words: ¶

I will lay before the Congregation a few items of business that may probably be presented before this Conference, if the state of my lungs will permit me to speak. ¶

In the first place, I ask the privilege of wearing my hat. You may think I am beginning to feel the infirmities of age; I am older than many would suppose me to be; in a short time I shall be fifty-three years of age. More than half a century is a long time to live, and endure as much as I have each year of my life. ¶

The business of the Conference, as it regards the organization and regulations pertaining to the leading officers of the Church, etc., will be the same as heretofore. We have other things which we shall lay before the assembly; but the business parts will probably be omitted today, and perhaps tomorrow. ¶

If it should continue weather to oblige us to occupy the Tabernacle, we shall not be able to accommodate as many of the people as we should like; but if the weather should be warm and pleasant, the people will continue to gather in from the country settlements, and many will come to Conference from the city that otherwise would not; in this case, we are prepared to accommodate the whole congregation on the north side of the Tabernacle. We did not prepare the seats you see outside, expecting the congregation to sit out of doors when it is possible to accommodate them inside. When the assembly swells so large that not one half of them can get into this hall, we will then retire to the outside, if the weather will permit, that whatever business is transacted, may be done before all the people. You will recollect that we have had meetings both outside and inside of this house, on Conference occasions, which caused more or less confusion. ¶

It may be expected by a portion of the congregation, that during this Conference, there will be a discourse delivered on the occasion of the death of Bro. Willard Richards. Whether there will or not I am unable at present to say. I can give you my thoughts upon that matter in a few words, and they will apply to all matters of a similar nature. Were I to preach a discourse to please Bro. Willards' surviving friends, and the Church at large, all that I might say can be summed up in these few words: ¶

Bro. Willard Richards I have known from before he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived at my house many years,--boarded with me. From our first acquaintance to his death, in the gospel and out of it, as far as I knew him, in his integrity and friendship, he was as true and unwavering in his course as the sun is to the earth, or as the earth is in revolving upon its axes. There was not a shade of deviation upon his mind, or wavering in his actions, in his feelings, or in his faith from the principles of righteousness. He was true to his God, to his religion, and to his brethren, and in administering blessings to all, to whom he had power to administer. He was careful not to injure any person, and lived and died a Latter-day Saint. He is gone to rest, and is prepared to receive his body again in the resurrection, and then he will be prepared to take his seat in the Celestial kingdom of our God. All that can be said of Bro. Willard's whole life is summed up in these few remarks. ¶

Many that are personally acquainted with him, will no doubt have something to say touching the manner of his private life; but I can say to every person who was intimately acquainted with his private character, and to those who were not, but only knew him in a public capacity, that he was just as faithful, true, good, and lived as well as any man can do who is subject to mortality,--who is of the earth, earthy. No man can do any better than he has done in similar circumstances. ¶

There may be some things pertaining to his private character that an ignorant, selfish sectarian would find fault with, and raise objections to; but it is through ignorance they would do it. But if they knew him—knew his constitution—the weakness of his body; if they knew his mind, his faith, his feelings, and his desires to live, they would know at once, that he has actually fought with death, and overcome it for many years. And the very course he had to pursue to keep life in him, he knew himself, would eventually sink him into the grave; but he would have been there years ago, had he not taken the course he did. ¶

Now, if I do not say anything more concerning him, it will all be well. Let not any of the Church, or his family, think that Bro. Willard is neglected, or is not honored and reverenced sufficiently because I have not preached a long funeral sermon, which is the fashion of the world. I will do as much, think, speak, and pray as much for him, as I wish my brethren and friends, to speak, think, and pray over me when I drop into the grave. When I die, bury me decently, and let me wait till the morning of the resurrection to receive my glorified body, is all I ask my brethren to do for me when I am dead. ¶

Custom becomes a strong law; it is almost one of the most powerful laws there is among the nations of the earth. It is customary with them to extol the dead. Let the most miserable and corrupt wretch on the earth die, if he has friends enough to speak in his favor, he is made to appear one of the most angelic beings that ever lived. A man may live and die like a brute, and in his life behave like a demon; but if he has plenty of money, and a circle of influential friends, they will extol him to the skies when he is dead, and adorn his moral character with the virtues of a heavenly being, and commit his body to the grave, saying, "we commit this our brother to the grave; dust to dust, ashes to ashes with a sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection."—They have no doubt in their minds, apparently, but that he is gone to Abraham's bosom. That is what custom does. That is a specimen of the habits, customs, and traditions of the world. These things I wish to leave behind, and attend to things that will promote life, salvation, peace, and the best interests of the kingdom of God on the earth. Let us attend to that which will redeem Israel, place life and salvation before the inhabitants of the earth, that will do good to the living, and tend to save those who are in the broad road to destruction, both in a national and individual capacity; let us snatch them as brands from the burning. If I weep for anybody, let it be for those who live, and do not live their religion, but set at naught the counsels of God, and will have none of his reproof. Never let me weep for a man or a woman who has been prepared in life for a glorious resurrection after death, and are gone in peace.—When their bodies sleep in the grave under those circumstances they are all right; I have no mourning, no tears, or grieving for them; if I mourn for any it is for the living; and there is much more cause for weeping over many of this people, because of their guiltiness of heart, and corruptness of affections towards God, and our holy religion, than there is for those who have died in the faith and gone to rest. ¶

I hope the brethren and sisters will be satisfied with these remarks. If there are any of the brethren who wish to take up the subject, and speak on the occasion of Bro. Willard's death, and on the death of sister Smith, Geo. A. Smith's mother, and preach a funeral sermon, I am perfectly willing they should. But if they do not feel to do it, I do not wish it required at my hands. ¶

Now to the business that will probably be laid before the Conference. ¶

First of all brethren and sisters, I wish to inquire distinctly of your feelings, to know if each individual who professes to be a Latter-day Saint, does know for a certainty this morning, that their peace is made with God—that their peace is like an ever-flowing river—that the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is in them like a fountain of living water. If the Spirit of God is in you like this, springing up to everlasting life, it is known to you. This is the most important part of our Conference business. Business of more essential import could not be presented before our Conference, if it were to continue in session for years. It is 24 years today since this Church was organized. ¶

Suppose millions of people belonged to it; or suppose there were only a few, and they had forsaken the spirit of the holy gospel—had back-slidden in their affections, faith, and in the spirit of revelation; had forsaken the Lord their God, ceased to have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministering of angels, and the gift and blessings of the Holy Ghost, and they assemble merely out of form, in compliance to an established custom, and they exercise themselves in the ordinances of the kingdom of God, follow the rules and regulations in the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is nothing more than a dead form to them; they could not derive one particle of real benefit by meeting together in a capacity like the present one. Then, first of all, I ask the brethren who have been in the kingdom for twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three years, (as there are those here who have been in the Church from the beginning) how they feel this morning. What is the state of your minds? How is your faith? Do you feel as well as you did when you first embraced the gospel? Is the spirit of revelation in you as much now as then? ¶

This is the first item of the Conference. I also ask those brethren and sisters who have lately come into the Church and within a few years crossed the plains to this place, how they feel; is the Spirit of the Lord now resting upon you? Is the vision of your minds opened to see and understand the things that pertain to life and salvation? Do you love the scriptures, the word of life, also the Lord and his people, and his righteousness, as you did the day you first embraced this gospel? ¶

Again, let me appeal to those who have done wrong, (if any there are,) and follow it. Did you come to this Conference from your homes before you first repented of your sins, and obtained forgiveness? If you did I want you to leave in the intermission, and go home again, and there I want you to stay, until your sins are remitted; or get an elder to immerse you in City Creek, and wash away your sins, so that you may not hinder those who are pure, that every individual's heart in this Conference may be pure before God, and have a mite to contribute to the faith of the whole body, that every heart may be lighted up by the power of God, and receive the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and increase from this time in all righteousness. ¶

Let every man and woman humble themselves before the Lord, and exercise mighty faith. Did you come here for the First Presidency and the Twelve to bless you?—It is out of our power to bless you unless you are prepared to receive a blessing from your Father in heaven. We can stand before you here, and talk to you; but we cannot give you the Spirit of the Lord, unless you are prepared to receive it through our administration, but it must come from the Lord. ¶

I contemplate this people with great anxiety, and with feelings of deep interest. I look upon their conduct, and am sorry to see many of them wandering in their feelings from the ways of truth and righteousness. It is frequently asked me if it is right for men who have come to the valley, and been blessed and re-blessed, and finally receive their endowments, and then want to go to California; and if they ought not to be cut off from the Church. They should be cut off were it not for one thing. The Lord wishes to give them ample opportunity to take a course to save themselves. It is not the mind of the Lord they should be cut off the Church as a general thing, consequently I think we had better not do it. ¶

I am often asked if they will be saved who go to California in search of worldly riches. I answer, yes, some of them, so as by fire. They have not wisdom, discretion, and natural ability enough, and I suppose their spirits, before they came into this world, were not endowed with the same amount of rationality and reflection as others, so that they cannot be saved without passing through the fire. Let them go to California who wish; and if any of the Saints owe them anything, pay them honorably, and if they owe you anything, I will give you liberty to make them pay you. I have as a general thing made such brethren pay me that they owe, and I calculate on their paying their debts, and also that they shall not steal anything from this people; but they may go down into their sufferings as quick as they please, for the quicker they go there, the quicker they will get through them. Will they be saved? Yes. What! and be prepared to go into the celestial kingdom of God? Yes, if they repent of their sins and turn unto the Lord. And this—what will they do there? They have been told years ago, not to do anything that would aid and build up the Gentiles; but they will do it, and they must needs go through the suffering that awaits them, to prepare them to go into the celestial kingdom. Will they be crowned with crowns of glory, immortality and eternal lives? No, but they will be prepared to enter there to serve others that are prepared to receive kingdoms, thrones, principalities and powers. That may perhaps appear a strange idea to some of you. If you want to know it, I will tell you the truth, and you may call it revelation or anything else you please.—When you go into the celestial kingdom, you will have your near-related bodies, and you will gather around you your families, and friends, and be associated with them there, as here. We are now married, there we shall be immortal; this difference will exist, and it is all the difference. Mortality is a perfect similitude, pattern, or emblem of the celestial kingdom, only the one is mortal life, and the other is life in immortality. Can you who own extensive farms work them with your own hands? No, but you have to hire help. Ask the woman who has thirty or forty of a family under her care, if she will hire her own hands, can do the work necessary to be done in such a family. She cannot do it without procuring help; the extensive farmer has around him his associates who are not capable of themselves of gathering around them property so as to be independent, so they are dependent on the man who knows how to direct, and increase from the elements the riches of this life, and he hires them and pays them their wages to help him, to do the work necessary to improve every foot of his farm or inheritance. You will find the same thing in the celestial world, among the kingdoms of our Father in heaven. ¶

You will find millions of the inhabitants of the earth who are not capable of being crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives. Those who are faithful in putting out their talents to usury, will receive an increase according to their diligence. But shall we say that all are capable of becoming lords and kings, and of being crowned with crowns of glory, and receive kingdoms, and powers, and exaltations, and thrones? No, we do not; for they will be no more capable of it, than they are of enjoying the riches of eternity here, and of properly applying them in their mortality, were they put in their possession, which would be the sure means of their destruction. They would not know what to do with such extensive riches. You may put that down as revelation, and here, Bro. George, write it. ¶

Let the brethren go to California that wish to go, and I request them to be honest. I have another request to make of them, viz: that they take with them all the thieves; for we cannot get rid of them. However, it is an acknowledged fact, that the wheat and the tares must grow together until harvest; and the sheep and the goats will be in the same fold until the time of separation. Is there any sheep going to California as well as goats? Yes. And will any goats stay home? Yes, and some of the poorest, miserable devils in the whole pack of them. What can we do with it? Why we must do the best we can. All I ask of those who are going, and of those who are staying, is to be honest if they can. ¶

This leads me to what I am now going to lay before the Conference: and it will be an excellent text for the brethren to preach upon. I will lay a proposition before this Conference for them to decide upon. That is for us to select a man, and send him to upper California, say for instance to Bro. Horner's ranch, to lay out a place for the gathering of the Saints in that vicinity of the world. Bro. Amasa and Bro. Rich have got a standard reared in southern California already. We will also send men to Oregon, from those places to preach the gospel, for many of those who have been chasing the gilded butterfly, until they have run into the fire, and got pretty well scorched, will be glad of the chance, to forsake their follies and gather again unto the Saints.—We will also establish a place of gathering there. We also wish to send men to the United States to establish two or three locations there, for the gathering of the Saints. Then the English, Scotch, Welsh, and German Saints, as well as Saints from other nations of the old world, whose greatest difficulty is to get wagons, teams, and provisions to cross the plains, when they have saved a few shillings, can cross over the waters to one of these gathering places, where they will be placed under the protection of a good elder sent to take care of them. We have just as good a right to go back to the United States to live, as any man has that lives there. This is what I have to lay before the Conference, to be a text for a few short discourses. We contemplate establishing a post in Ohio, and another in Missouri, as gathering points, to gather the brethren to, who are scattered abroad in those districts, and who may in the future come into them. ¶

This portion of the business will be new to you, I have no doubt. When the time come to present before you the quorums, we shall probably supply the vacancy made by the death of Bro. Willard Richards.—Who will supply his place in the First Presidency, is a question that has not yet been answered, though many have talked to me about it. I have asked the Twelve to dictate this part of the business, but they have thrown it back; they said it was not their place to dictate the affair, but to confirm the conclusions of the President. If the Conference will show the best method of knowing who is the best man to be my second Counselor, I will readily listen to their wisdom. The Twelve would have nothing to do with it, but said it was the privilege of the President to choose his own Councilor, and for them to run the risk of its being right or wrong. ¶

I believe I have answered the desire of my mind for the present, with regard to laying out the business of this Conference. I will now resign the stand to Bro. Kimball. ¶