Discourse

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 the 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 Stake, 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 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 hear 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."—Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 128 par. 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 than 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 some one 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 silk bandanna 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 a 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 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 write 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 then number were several of the Twelve. On his arrival, the first house he visited was that occupied by Elder Brigham Young, the present 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 be 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 of the Prophet Joseph, soon after the dedication of the temple in Kirtland, revelations 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 says, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 110: ¶

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. ¶

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; Malachi 4th chapter 45th verse. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." ¶

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 circumstances 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 to 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 out 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 months 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 in 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. ¶