Remarks

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 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 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. ¶