Testimony and Warning Against Apostasy

I feel a good deal, at this time, as the chaplain did in one of the Utah Legislative assemblies when my father put him on oath. Father was a little acquainted with him. They had crossed the plains together, and father knew what a long and tedious prayer he usually offered, so father said, "Will you pray briefly and to the point." Well now, I feel that I will have to talk briefly and to the point. I trust that, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I may make myself clear, for sometimes on these occasions we go down on record, that is, what we say is placed in print. Now I am not fearful to open my mouth, and endeavor to use the time profitably which the Lord has given me. I have lived in this Church long enough to know something about it, and I don't have to go to strangers to ask them anything about this work, and I don't propose to accept their statements, unless they are harmonious with my views. ¶

I was born in this Church, and I thank God for it. It comprises everything that is good, everything that is pure, everything that is elevating, notwithstanding all that is said against it. ¶

I can tell my history in a few minutes; if I stood before the bar of God tomorrow, and the Lord asked me what I had been doing, I could tell him in a very few words. For 15 years of my life, I was disciplined and instructed by my father, which has been an anchor to my soul. The things I was taught in my childhood (father died when I was 15 years old.) have been the savor of life to my soul; and the Holy Ghost has brought it to my remembrance. For 12 years of my life, after his death, I was as free as the birds that fly in the air; there was no restraint further than the counsel from my mother. I took no active part in the Church. I was just as free as non-members of the Church feel that they are free. That is a part of my history I am not making much noise about; I am trying to forget some things that I did. However, I don't want you to be impressed with the idea that I committed anything criminal, anything that would deprive me of the Spirit of God. But I am sorry, O how sorry, that there was no restraint nor responsibility placed upon me, that I was not actively engaged in Church work during those 12 years. But after that, for 24 years past I have been more or less actively engaged in the ministry, and the more I am employed in it the more firmly I believe in the Gospel; and the more I testify that Jesus is the Christ and Joseph Smith is a prophet, the stronger I believe it. ¶

We must have a knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, or we can not stand. Latter-day Saints who have failed are those who have not obtained a knowledge that Jesus is the Christ; all such are liable to apostatize. I am afraid there will be a lot of apostates, and that worries me. ¶

You can't live on borrowed light any longer. This Church has passed through many close places, and, as my father said, it will pass through many other close places before victory and triumph is given to you or given to the Church. I know a good deal more about this Church than the man did, one of those strangers that come in our midst, who went on a hill here recently and stood in an ant bed, and when the ants commenced to bite he commenced to curse ¶

the "Mormons." I suppose he thought they were "Mormon" ants, and he held us responsible for them. ¶

Now there are a lot of people talking about us, and we have a great deal of cheap notoriety, but I am not at all concerned about it. I am not worrying about it; I don't stand with bated breath for fear this Church will be destroyed. This is the work of God; this is the Church of Jesus Christ. There are not devils enough to destroy it, and it can't be destroyed by men. If it could have been destroyed, some who claim to be members in the Church would have destroyed it years ago. I don't care how much harm is committed by pretended members of this Church, they can't destroy it; they will destroy themselves. I care not how many apostates attempt it, they cannot destroy this Church, ¶

Now I want to serve notice on all Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches -- I don't suppose they will take my advice; they never have done up to date, but I would like to continue giving them good advice -- I would advise them never to receive a man into their church that had been a Latter-day Saint and apostatized from the church. Such individuals will never make good Catholics, good Methodists, nor good Presbyterians. They will be agitators, and make a deal of mischief in those churches, because they will be so restless and unsettled that no one near them will have any peace or rest; and they will get to asking a lot of questions. The first thing they will ask is, "Where do you get your authority from?" and that will worry you a little. And they will ask other hard questions, and make trouble and mischief. And then they are no account anyhow, as members of any church. ¶

You never saw an apostate in your life, that was a Latter-day Saint and did right up to a certain time and then apostatised, that has ever settled down and been satisfied in any other church in the world. They are not even satisfied with Spiritualism, notwithstanding they may talk with spirits and get a great amount of information; they wont stay with that sect. ¶

And, by the way, I would like to serve notice on the Republicans and Democrats that the individuals of whom I have been speaking will never be good Democrats or Republicans either; they will not stay with their party. ¶

Now I want to serve notice on apostates. I am willing to carry the olive branch in my hand when I associate with the children of men in the world, I have nothing but the kindliest feelings towards them; but when an apostate lifts up his voice against this people, when he makes dastardly charges against the Latter-day Saints he lies, and I have no patience with him. I have breathed this mountain air so long that I feel inclined to discard a little of the Gospel and knock such men down, and repent afterward. I want to say to an apostate, or to any man that has been born and bred in the Church, he is a coward to lift up his voice against this people. We are a little handful, only about 300,000, with over 100,000 children among the number. If apostates had their way the whole United States would be against us. Persons who have lived in this country and received all that they own from this people, and who lift their voices against us are cowards. Whenever any man or woman wants to leave this Church, they have a right to do so, and it is our duty to treat them right, to extend to them every courtesy and kindness, and be their friend, if they refrain from lying and persecuting us. This is God's work, and just as sure as He lives, and as we breathe and have a being, this work will come off triumphant. There may not be very many of us left, but, let the number be ever so few, it will succeed. ¶

I want to say in conclusion, the only discipline I have had was by my own father, up to 15 years of age. For 12 years after that time I was under no responsibility, but since then I have been actively engaged in this Church. I have been in business of different kinds; I have been a farmer, ¶

a stock raiser, a real estate man, and an implement man, but I never had one of the Apostles, or any one of the Presidency of the Church, interfere or even give me any advice or counsel in all those years of business. The only thing I am sorry for is that I didn't have sense enough to ask advice. I have labored in the ministry for 13 years, and have been one of the First Council of Seventy, and have labored with the Apostles, in close association with them, and none of them have ever offered any suggestions or dictation in any way pertaining to my franchise or political position. I knew Brigham Young almost as well as I knew my father. I knew Daniel H. Wells, a counselor of Brigham Young and associate of my father. I have known all these brethren down to President Smith, and can testify that all the counsel and advice I have received from them has been a savor of life unto life. It has been a Godsend to me, and I am grateful that I have been favored because of my association with men of God, who have given me counsel, such counsel that, if I follow it, will bring me back into the presence of my Eternal Father. ¶

Now, that is my testimony to this congregation. If you have got anything to say in favor of this people, whether you are in the Church or out, say it fearlessly. My father said to one of his grandchildren, who is living in Arizona and didn't take any active part in the Church: "Billy, these are my words to you, don't you ever lift up your voice against this people." Speaking to me about my father's advice to him, he said, "Golden, I never have, and I thank God for it." I repeat the advice; never speak against the work of God, nor against His people. May the Lord bless you. Amen. ¶