Our Talents—How to Use Them

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, and 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 been 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 payed 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 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 happed 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 unto the children of men. ¶

Behold, I am God; give heed unto 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 words. ¶

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 day 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 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 with 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 in 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 not 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 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. ¶