Character of the Saints

My brothers, sisters and friends, I wish I could express the blissful consciousness I feel thrilling and pulsating through my soul in being surrounded by thousands of my brothers and sisters. One can hardly realize this feeling unless he has been out separated from the love that one feels in Zion— cast upon the ocean, as it were, like a cork amidst the waves, a stranger in the community in which he sojourns, and after a few years to return to be surrounded by thousands of people whose faces are lit up by the same spirit, and to clasp the hands and feel the throb of that pulse which beats in harmony with his own. I am grateful unto God for the blessings of the Gospel and for this spirit which makes us kindred with those in heaven, and causes us to feel we are really and truly brothers and sisters. ¶

I preside, act as a kind of bishop, over that portion of territory lying north of Virginia and east of Ohio. It includes about one-third of the population of the United States. There are a great many people there who have not yet learned I am their "bishop," and I expect it will be a long while before they find it out. When I was first asked to preside over that district I felt the responsibility, in that vast throng of God's children, to see that they were warned of the fact that the Gospel has been restored and that it is now being preached to the world as a witness. When I stood upon Brooklyn bridge. ¶

one of the great thoroughfares of the city of New York, and watched the throngs of people passing (three hundred thousand every day), and when I realized that this was only one of many thoroughfares in that great city, and that city was only one of many in the district; and when I thought of the thousands of cultured, eloquent ministers in the district, it seemed impossible for a few western boys, many of whom, like myself, come from the sands, rocks, and the cactus fields of the south, to make ourselves heard, or known in that great mass of humanity. When we first hired halls no one entered them, and when we tried to get into their homes and experienced their exclusiveness, I again thought how impossible the task would be. Had I not known that this work was from above, I would have given up in discouragement. One had to possess a sublime faith in God, knowing that it was His work, and that he could make possible what He had called him to accomplish. With this faith we turned our faces to the task, carrying on the good work that had been started by those who preceded us. I feel today I can say we have at least accomplished one part of our task. I believe that every soul in the district has heard that the kingdom of God has been established, that God has spoken again from the heavens, that His servants are traveling as they did anciently, and that this Gospel is being preached as a witness unto the people. God has done His part. Among other things He has used the powerful agency of the press. The press with its ten thousand tongues has sent this Gospel into the homes of the rich and proud as well as the poor and humble. And this, not because of our ability, but as a result of our faithfulness. Scarcely a week passes but there is something in the papers concerning the work in which we are engaged. Portraits of the Elders, views of their homes, the places where we hold our meetings, and our articles of faith, are published so often that we cannot help but acknowledge that God is assisting us to accomplish His purpose. This strengthens our faith, even as Nephi's faith was strengthened when he returned after accomplishing his mission, obtaining the plates of brass "that a nation should not dwindle in unbelief." I mention this to strengthen the faith of some who may feel unable to accomplish the task that God has assigned to them. While many things are said in opposition to us it is only bearing out the prophecy that the name of Joseph Smith should be known for good and for evil in all the nations of the earth. If you wanted to make your name known for good and evil in all the nations of the earth, how could you do it? Think of how few men have made their names known in all the earth, either for good or evil. The name of Jesus Christ has been eighteen hundred years reaching the limits, and yet today, nearly every one who has heard the name of Jesus Christ has also heard the name of Joseph Smith; and while they say many things that are evil concerning him there is generally something said that is good. ¶

During the last year we have had greater success in our district than ever before. We have succeeded in establishing ourselves quite firmly. We hold Sunday schools and regular meetings in good halls and in good districts; and we have congregations in Boston Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Albany, and Alleghany! Reporters come to our meetings and interview the elders, and when they come in contact with them, and meet a pleasant congregation of representative People, they get a good impression of us, and this preaches the Gospel more effectually than we proclaim it. I remember when the greatest storm of abuse we ever experienced broke over us, when there was a very bitter feeling, reporters came to meet the elders' and they remarked that we looked like college graduates, that we had that clear look in our countenances which indicated virtuous living. We cannot help but show in our faces the Spirit of God if we keep His commandments. When we assume to be representatives of the Church and kingdom of God. when we go out of private life and assume public life, something more is expected of us. When our boys and girls are called from the various avocations of life, and go into public life as missionaries of the gospel, they themselves seem to realize this fact. They know they are expected to represent the character of Latter-day-Saints. They know that their mothers, fathers, and friends are praying for their success. They know they are expected to reflect credit upon the Church. They feel that, in a way, they are representatives of Jesus Christ, and that they should reflect His character in their lives and His principles in their teachings. I believe the Latter-day-Saints can be justly proud of their boys and girls, so far as their conduct in the mission field is concerned. When I have seen boys come into the mission field unsophisticated, perhaps uneducated, some who have never spoken in public places, some who never were called upon to defend their belief, but who possessed that living faith deep down in their hearts which, when the call for duty came, prompted them to respond to it, when I have seen this class of boys become in a very short time able defenders of the faith, and competent to meet any man in the world in support of the principles of the gospel, it has been to me a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have noticed, too, that members of the Church who are indifferent, and who visit us occasionally look with pride upon these Elders. If they should see an Elder with a cigar in his mouth, or entering a saloon, they would be indignant and say he should be recalled, they would assert he was not worthy to represent them, even though they did the same things themselves. Those who are neglectful in keeping the commandments themselves are often most severe in their censure of an Elder who makes a mistake. We have a right, my brethren and sisters, to expect this of our representatives. On the other hand, what has an Elder the right to expect, from you who live in Zion? We are pointing people to Zion, we are telling them that it is established in the tops of the mountains that God's house and God's people are here, and when those people come they expect to find Zion. We have a right to ask of every Latter-day Saint that he or she shall reflect the glory of the Gospel light, just as much as you have a right to expect it of your representatives in the world. Christ has a right to expect it from that "peculiar people," that "royal generation," that "holy priesthood," which Peter spoke of. When we name His name we should keep His commandments. When saints gather up to Zion and they see those who, perhaps, were once Elders among them going into saloons, or other men who bear the holy priesthood breaking the commandments of God, what is the effect? You shatter their faith. I know that the blood moves quicker about our hearts when we sing of these snow-capped mountains, these fertile valleys, and of the crystal streams flowing down from the mountains and running off into a shimmering sea. It is a beautiful picture, my brothers and sisters; but snow-capped mountains, beautiful valleys, crystal streams, and shimmering seas, do not make Zion. Zion is where the pure in heart dwell, and if we are going to live worthy of the light we have received we must be pure in heart. If we live up to the light and knowledge we have received and reflect it in our lives in these mountains, I know that the Gospel can and will revolutionize the world. ¶

We feel encouraged in our missionary work, my brethren and sisters. Your sons in the mission field are doing a glorious work, and they are meeting successfully all the opposition that is brought to bear against them. They do not flinch from the storms that arise; they do not fear when threats are made. I hope that everyone who is here, will appreciate the power of the priesthood, knowing that this is God's work, and that none will feel to waver or falter. God bless you, my brothers and sisters, and bless Zion, that she may grow and prosper, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶