Remarks

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 the 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 foundations 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 blessing 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 principles 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 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, and 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 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 statues 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 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 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 words. 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 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 probations 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 your 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 out 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 the 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. ¶