A Great and Marvelous Work: The Growth of the Northern States Mission

( President of Northern States Mission.) In facing the Latter-day Saints here this morning, I was reminded of the 14th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, and wondered in my soul what the feelings of the Prophet Joseph Smith would be if he could be in attendance here, or if he had the privilege of living to see, in part, the promises of our Father fulfilled that were made to him and the early Elders of the Church. I would like to read to you the first few verses of a revelation which was given June, 1829: ¶

"A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men. ¶

"Behold, I am God, and give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word. ¶

"Behold, the field is white already to harvest, therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God; "Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God; "Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive, if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. ¶

"Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion. Keep my commandments in all things; "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." ¶

Two weeks ago last Sunday, I stood on the spot where the last time the remains of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were known to rest. I was in the company of two old men. I heard them tell the story of those who lived there after the Saints left the beautiful city of Nauvoo. My mind has rested upon the great work that was done by the Prophet of the last century. How his heart would throb with joy, and what a satisfaction he would feel today, if he could view in life this great body of men and women gathered together as the result of the work the Lord did through him. I can hardly believe that in his early manhood he conceived the extent of the great work that has been done in the last eighty years. How happy the six members who were instrumental in the organization of the Church would be if they could behold the hundreds of thousands of people who have received the same testimony that they received in listening to the word of the Lord through that humble instrument. I have met people in the east who once believed that Mormonism was a thing of a transitory nature. A certain class of them believe that after the death of the Prophet, the Church was left in darkness for many years, in fact until the re-organization received its tardy birth after sixteen years of dissolution. But this is not so, for God's prophet told the truth when he declared that "in the days of, these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom never more to be thrown down nor given to another people." The work that the Prophet Joseph and those who labored with him did, under the direction of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, was the work that was never more to be thrown down nor given to another people. In poverty these people, chosen to lay the foundation of God's work, began to build the city of Kirtland, on a most beautiful spot. Considering their financial condition it is awe-inspiring to visit it. This first temple, which still stands, gives evidence of permanency typical of the great work entrusted to them. Again, the streets of old Nauvoo, together with those old homes bear evidence that all work done by our worthy parents was of a permanent character. While we did not stay and inhabit the cities that our parents struggled hard to build and beautify, yet we learn to build by building, we learn to beautify by doing that kind of work, and all of this has prepared the Saints of the Lord for the work required. The trees are now grown through the curb-stones, and many of the houses that were builded then have tumbled down, but those that remain bear silent testimony, which speaks volumes for the early Latter-day Saints, that everything they did was of a permanent nature and was done to the glory of our Father. The spirit that built Nauvoo was the spirit that carried the Saints across the plains, and the spirit that carried them on that long and weary journey, a pilgrimage that has been unequalled in the history of this world, is the spirit that cleared the sage-brush, dug the canals, planted the trees, and built temples to the most high God. The spirit that built these temples, and these cities, and redeemed the desert, is the spirit that has carried the missionaries to the ends of the earth to bear witness that the kingdom of God has been established in the earth, never more to be thrown down nor given to another people. The man who was selected of God to establish this work in the earth, was called to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and ordained to that office by Peter, James, and John. Others were ordained through him, by command of the Lord, and through the apostleship this work has been carried on. ¶

During the last few weeks I have received about a dozen letters along this line of enquiry. "Is it possible for an Elder to ordain a Seventy? Is it possible for a Seventy to ordain an Apostle ?" We knew the source of the first letter that came of that character, and we answered that it is not a question whether an Elder could ordain a Seventy, or whether a Seventy could ordain an Apostle, the question is, Has it ever been necessary for that to be done, since the Lord ordained the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the holy apostleship, and gave them commandments to call and ordain other men? We bore testimony to those enquirers that, since men were ordained to the apostleship in the earth, and given power to call and ordain other men, and "call and ordain all the other officers in the Church," it had never been necessary,— for this work has been established for the last time under the hands of God, and it has not ceased to roll since it was started by our Father. ¶

I rejoice in this work. I rejoice in the spirit of permanency that has characterized it through all these years that the work has been directed by our Father. I am glad, my brethren and sisters, to mingle with such a body of Latter-day Saints, with men and women who have the same testimony, who come here to worship the Lord, with the same spirit in them that permeates the hearts of our brethren the First Presidency and the Twelve. We have a testimony that this is the work of the Lord ; so has every other man and every other woman who has kept the commandments of our Father; and so will every man and every woman receive this testimony who will hear and obey the voice of the Lord. The people in the world today, who hear the testimony of the Elders of the Church, and yield obedience to it, receive a testimony exactly the same as those who have labored in the Church for years, the same as those who heard the Prophet Joseph Smith declare, "If you will repent and be baptized ye shall know that I am called of God, and know it for yourselves." I am thankful to live in a day when this glorious revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith has been so greatly fulfilled. Surely a great and marvelous work did come forth in the earth. Who can mingle with and know the Latter-day Saints and not be able to declare that it is truly a great and a marvelous work. The Latter-day Saints today are being gathered from every nation, and are being brought to dwell in harmony together to the glory of God. Had it not been for this work, as testified by the former speaker, our parents would never have known each other, neither would their souls be filled with the joy or moved with the same songs or stirred with the same ambitions to do good to their fellow-man that fills their hearts to day. Yet, this work has only begun. Another eighty years will produce greater results; and it is my testimony that it will be even more glorious than it is today. The spirit of the Gospel will fill the hearts of those who are coming hither to be more loyal, true, and loving, more kind to one another, uphold each other, and not be ashamed of those who are called of God to guide and direct His people. I feel proud to honor them. ¶

I tell you, in all my wanderings and associations, I find no men who have the same spirit in their hearts as those of our brethren who preside over this Church. My testimony to the world has been and is that they are men of God. I would rather have one of them put his arms on my shoulders and say, "God bless you," or associate with them a few minutes, than any other men in the world, for they are clean and pure, and God has blest them. In their presence you can feel the spirit of righteousness, because of the righteous lives that they are living in the earth. Recently one of our fellow members of the Church was in Chicago for a very serious operation, and as I visited him, from day to day, I was struck with the testimony of many medical men who came to see him, —a simple testimony yet beautiful, "This man is clean, clean as a babe morally." It was almost a revelation to them to find a man so clean and virtuous. So are thousands of our brethren who have been called of God to bear this great message to the world. To find and convert the clean men in the world is a part of the glorious work that has come forth, and it will become more glorious according to the lives and labors, and earnest work, of the Latter-day Saints. ¶

I feel honored, my brethren and sisters, to labor with the Elders and Saints, and the honest in heart, among the people of the Northern States, the states surrounding the great city of Chicago. It is my testimony that the promises of God to the early Elders of the Church are just as sure of fulfilment today as they were then, when the Elders depend upon Him to the same degree. Our Father gave the promise to the Elders of the Church, in the year 1832, that "whosoever receiveth you there I will be also, for I will go before your face; I will be on your right hand and on your left hand, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about to bear you up." It is my testimony now, my brethren and sisters, that the angels of our Father do go before the face of the Elders to prepare the hearts of the people to receive them ; and the Spirit of God is in the hearts of those who are laboring to establish Zion in the earth. Those who labor honestly as missionaries bear this witness that it is the happiest time of their lives, after a hard day's work, to feel the presence of the Lord, the influence of His holy Spirit, and realize that the angels of our Father have borne witness and prepared the hearts of the people to receive them. I am grateful and thankful that the Spirit of the Lord has thus been with us, and the spirit of this great work has softened the hearts of both great and small in the earth toward the truth and toward God's people. ¶

The spirit of prejudice is fast vanishing away, and tens of thousands of people are convinced that we have the greatest truth that has been delivered to the earth. While their hearts are not converted, their minds are convinced that we have a power back of us that no other people possess. When they are brought to realize what a great work our Elders are doing, they say, "Why can't we get our missionaries to do the same as the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ, or the Mormon Elders, are doing?" The only reason they can't get them to do it is because they have not got the testimony in their hearts that it is the work of God they are performing. They do not know their work is indeed the work of the Lord, but they are engaged in it because they have nothing better. They desire to do good, but know not how best to do it. Thousands would just as gladly do what we are doing if they knew, as we know, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He has restored the Gospel to the earth for the salvation of the children of men. ¶

I bear witness to you, my brethren and sisters, that this is the work of God, that our Father is directing it, that He goes before our face, that His Spirit is in our hearts ; and this marvelous work will continue until the honest in heart have been gathered together from all nations, to the praise and glory of our Father. The prayers of the faithful Latter-day. Saints should continue to ascend to our Father for the speedy gathering of His people. May He bless and inspire, sustain and uphold our worthy brethren who preside over us; and may the revelations of His mind and will be given to them. May His Spirit ever be given to us to receive their counsel, advice, and revelation until our Father's name shall be glorified through the faithful labors of His children in the earth, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶