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TEMPLES, 1853
1853: 30 Jan.: The authority is here.
“This Kingdom is here in the valley of the mountains. It has been esstablished by the hand of God and it embraces all that God has promised, or that is necessary to perfect the great work or all that Jew or Gentile Can look for. It embraces the whole of the New & everlasting Covenant the fulness of the gospel with all the power & Authority of the same the Keys of the Kingdom the Endowments sealing powers the patriarchal Matrimony & the foundation laid for gathering all Israel.” (Parley P. Pratt, in Wilford Woodruff diary, 30 Jan., 1853)
13 Feb.: Temple site to be dedicated tomorrow.
“B Young followed & said if the people will be on the Temple ground to morrow at 11 oclok we will break the ground for the commencement of the foundation of the Temple. I do not believe that Enoch & his people increased in wrighteousness faith & obedience & improved any faster than this people have since the commencement of this kingdom. I said this in the days of Joseph. I have no doubt but God expects us to improve more than any other people that ever lived on the Earth. Then let us double our dilligence & let the parents both men & women never scease untill they govern themselves in all things and if we are tempted to do wrong never scease untill we conquor that spirit & bring it in subection under your feet that you may ere long become rulers kings & Priest unto God.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 13 Feb., 1853)
14 Feb.: Dedication of Salt Lake Temple site.
“Agreeable to previous notice, the people–men, women, and children, began to assemble on the Temple Block, about ten A.M., Monday, February 14th, 1853; as clear and lovely a day as the sun ever shone on in Great Salt Lake City, with from one to three inches of snow on the ground, in some places, and others quite bare; with some six inches of frost in the earth, though the thaw was mild through the day. While the people were assembling, they were cheered with the sweetest strains from the Brass, and Captain Ballo’s bands.
President Young arrived at half-past ten, and with his Council and the Assembly, witnessed the survey of the site of the Temple, by Jesse W. Fox, under the superintendence of Truman O. Angel, Architect, which was completed about eleven o’clock; when the President and Council, the Twelve Apostles, &c., removed to the east line; and Marshal Little, assisted by the police, pointed out the various lines to the great multitude, consisting of several thousands; who formed around it a hollow square, and retained that position while the President addressed them, in a most thrilling speech of about thirty minutes, so as to be heard distinctly in all parts of the vast assembly.
The President briefly recounted many vicissitudes through which the Church had passed, the difficulties they had had to encounter in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, and how they had been led by an overruling Providence to this consecrated spot; that seven years to-morrow he left Nauvoo, not knowing which track he should go, only as he had learned by dreams, and visions, and revelations, that there was a good place for the Saints in the mountains; and that when he arrived on the spot where he then was, he declared that the place for a Temple, though the Valley had not then been explored. Messengers had gone to the north, to the west, and to the south, to find a better place, but they had not then returned. {There were many witnesses present who would have testified to this truth, had they been called on.–Ed. News.}
No one need be discouraged because they had not had all the privileges that many of the older members had had, of being robbed, and driven, and mobbed, and plundered of everything they had on earth, for he would promise all who would remain faithful, that they should have as much as they wanted, in some form or other, for they should be proved in all things. Neither was it required of the Saints now, to sacrifice all they possessed, and deprive themselves of the comforts and necessaries of life, to build a Temple, as it was in Kirtland, if the Saints would pay their tithing, for that would be an abundance, and all that would be needed.
Neither did he want any one to pay tithing who did not wish to, who did not do it cheerfully, for the Lord had no need of it. He wanted no endowments himself, and many of his brethren needed no endowments, they had received all the endowments they could have, from the hands of the Prophet Joseph, before the Temple in Nauvoo was completed, even all the keys and tokens necessary to admit them into the celestial kingdom; that the blessings for Saints to gain by paying tithing, and helping to build a house unto the Lord, were their own endowments, and those of their friends, living and dead, and of all the upright.
That it mattered not whether we were permitted to enjoy the Temple we were about to build, or be driven from it the day after it was finished; it was for us to do our duty and leave the event with our Heavenly Father, and let Him do as it seemeth Him good with His own House.
Some might query whether a revelation had been given to build a house to the Lord, but he is a wicked and slothful servant who doeth nothing but what his Lord commandeth, when he knoweth his master’s will. I know a Temple is needed, and so do you; and when we know a thing, why do we need a revelation to compel us to do that thing? If the Lord and all the people want a revelation, I can give one concerning this Temple.
In a few days I shall be able to give a plan of the Temple on paper, and then if all heaven, or any good man on the earth will suggest any improvements, we will receive and adopt them.
The railroad must be completed before we can do much towards laying the foundation of this Temple, which we wish to do on the 6th of April next. Brethren, what say you to this?
Brother Joseph often remarked that a revelation was no more necessary to build a Temple than a dwelling-house; if a man knew he needed a kitchen, a bedroom, a cook room, a wash room, a parlour, a dining room, &c., he needed no revelation to inform him of the fact; and I, and my brethren around me, know what is wanting in a Temple, having received all the ordinances belonging therein, just as well as we do what is wanting in a convenient dwelling-house.
The united bands of music were then invited to the centre, the standard-bearer planted his ensign on the centre stake of the Temple plat, in full view of the whole multitude, the musicians formed a circle around, and gave a soul-cheering strain to ‘Auld Lang Syne.’
President Kimball then offered the consecrating prayer, from a small Buggy, from which the President had addressed the assembly, in which he then sat with Counsellor Richards, calling on his Father in heaven for a blessing on all His Saints, and especially upon brother Brigham, the Prophet and President of His Church, for length of days, and wisdom to see the work completed which was then commenced; that He would store his mind with the riches of Eternity, that he might want for no good thing; that revelations and dreams, and visions might be given in fulness, and that he might be provided for in basket and store; that his wives and children might be blessed with the choicest of heaven’s blessings, and of the blessings of the earth, that he might be blessed in his flocks and his herds, in his gardens and his vineyards, in his fields and in his storehouses, and in everything that pertained unto him; and his associates in the ministry with him, and their families with like blessings; and the Apostles and their families with like blessings; and all who had the holy Priesthood, and that the Priesthood might be sustained on the earth, and no power prevail against it.
He prayed also for the various missions on the earth, the gathering of the Saints, the return of ancient Israel, the upbuilding of Jerusalem, the restoration of the Lamanites, the redemption of Zion, and that the Gospel might speedily go to all nations, the sick be healed, the mourners comforted, the Saints rejoice, and be prospered in all their labours, and that the way might be opened for the coming of the Son of Man.
The ground for the Temple was consecrated to the MOST High God; to be a Holy Place, where no unclean thing should ever approach; calling upon his Heavenly Father to protect it from every thing that was evil; and that He would bless the Architect, the Superintendent, the Foremen, and all the labourers on the Temple, with wisdom, and understanding, and knowledge, and perseverance in the midst of all difficulties; and theri wives, and children; and bless them in basket, in store, in orchards, and vineyards, and everything even as he had prayed for the President; even that they might be faithful to the end, and receive their blessings in the Temple; and that the angels of heaven might descend and visit them in that house, and dwell therein, and that God Himself might meet His servants there, and administer to them; and thus he continued praying, and it seemed he knew not when to stop, till his lungs failed him, and he said Amen. And all the people with joyful hearts shouted Amen.
The Presidency soon repaired to the south-east corner of the Temple site, where they soon succeeded in picking around a piece of earth, about one foot square, assisted by the Twelve, J. M. Grant, Mayor of the city, and others, but while doing this, a one-dollar silver piece fell on the square foot no one knowing from whence it came. President Kimball prophesied that it was a good token, and means would not be wanted to build the Temple.
After the earth was loosed around, about six inches deep, President Young said it was his privilege to remove that, and took the lump about one foot square upon his spade, and lifted it high up, and said ‘get out of my way, for I am going to throw this,’ and there he held it, about one minute, before he could get room to lay it down, from off the Temple site, so dense were the multitude around.
The President then addressed the multitude, and declared the ground broken for the Temple, blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and dismissed the assembly, and all said Amen. Some went home and some went to work, to prepare for laying the foundation of the House, and much earth was removed that afternoon, for it was a general turn out of the Saints; and those who could, had their tools ready.
Immediately after the adjournment, the Presidency and many others repaired to the machine and old blacksmith shop, now occupied by the Sugar Company, and saw one advance in the hydraulic press towards making sugar, which was very satisfactory, and some boiling, but the day was too cool within doors to wash the beets perfectly, or perhaps grind them; but we have no reason to doubt that we have the materials in our midst, from this time forth, to make all the sweet we need.
Thus we give the history of this day from our recollection, having had reason to anticipate, till an hour that men should rest, that we should have a full report from an experienced reporter.” (From the Deseret News, reprinted in MS 15(25):391-393, 18 Jun., 1853)
“On the 14th of February the Saints assembled On the Temple Block agreeable to previous notice to witness the breaking and consecrating of the Temple ground. There was from one to three inches of snow on the ground, but it was a clear and lovely day the sun soon scattered the snow, and in some places the ground was left quite bare; with some six inches of frost in the earth. while the people–men, women, and children, were assembling, they were cheered with the sweet strains of music, from the Nauvoo and Ballo Bands.
President Young arrived at half-past ten, and with his council,–Presidents Kimball and Richards, and the Assembly, witnessed the survey of the site of the Temple, by Jesse W. Fox, under the superintendence of Truman O. Angel, Architect, which was completed about eleven o’clock; when the President and council, the Twelve Apostles and others moved to the east line; and Marshal Jesse C. Little, assisted by the police, pointed out the various lines to the great multitude, consisting of several thousands, who formed around these lines a hollow square, and retained that position while the President Brigham addressed them in a most thrilling speech of about thirty minutes, so as to be heard distinctly in all parts of the vast assembly. The President briefly recounted many vicissitudes through which the church had passed, the difficulties they had had to encounter in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, and how they had been led by an overruling Providence to this consecrated Spot; that seven years to morrow he left Nauvoo, not knowing which track he should go, only as he had learned by dreams, and visions and revelations, that there was a good place for the Saints in the Mountains; and that when he arrived on the spot where he then was, he declared that the place for a Temple, though the Valley had not then been explored.
He said no one need be discouraged because they had not had all the privileges that many of the older members had had, of being robbed, and driven and mobbed and plundered of everything they had on earth, for he would promise all who would remain faithful, that they should have as much as they wanted, in some form or other, for they should be proved in all things, and also said we wish to lay the foundation of this Temple, on the 8th of April next. after he concluded his remarks, the united bands of music were then invited to the center, the standard-bearer planted his ensign on the centre stake of the Temple plat, in full view of the whole multitude, the musicians formed a circle around, and gave a soul-cheering Strain to ‘Auld Lang Syne.’
President Kimball then offered the consecrating prayer from a small Buggy, (from which the President had addressed the assembly, in which he then sat with counsellor Richards) calling on his Father in Heaven (for further particulars see Millennial Star, Vol. 15th page 392) After the prayer, the Presidency soon repaired to the south-east corner of the Temple site, where they soon succeeded in picking around a piece of earth, about one foot square, assisted by the Twelve, J. M. Grant, Mayor of the city, and others, and while doing this a one-dollar silver piece fell on the square foot no one knowing from whence it came. President Kimball Prophesied that it was a good token, and means would not be wanted to build the temple.
After the earth was loosed around about six inches deep, President Young Said it was his previlege to remove that, and took the lump about one foot square upon his spade, and lifted it high up, and said ‘get out of my way, for I am going to throw this,’ and then he held it about one minute, before he could get room to lay it down, from off the Temple site, so dense were the Multitude around. he then addressed them, (the Multitude) and declared the ground broken for the Temple, blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and dismissed the assembly, and all said AMEN.” (John D. T. McAllister diary, 14 Feb., 1853, pp. 3-6)
“This was an important and interesting day to the saints in the valley & even in all the world. The saints met upon the Temple block in a vast body to break the ground for another Temple. The people commenced gathering at an early hour & at 11 oclok there were thousands upon the ground. President Young & Counsel the quorum of the Twelve with many of the quorums of the church were on the ground. All the bands of music in the city were present.
At 11 oclok President Brigham Young Heber C Kimball & Willard Richards got into a Buggy inside the square surrounded by the quorum of the Twelve. President Young arose and addressed the people and said our history is to well known for me to speak of it now. We shall now again attempt to build another Temple. We have tried it many times but have not been able to finish them so as to occupy them for any length of time. We may not now but we will try it. We may Just as well build a Temple that will cost a Mission of dollars as well as not & we would be just as well off & better to than before. And I would just as well build a Temple that would Cost a million of Dollars if I knew we should be driven from it in a month by our enemies as though we should occupy it a Thousand years. It is all the same with me for when the Lord Commands us to do any thing we should do it just as freely without asking the whys & wharefore whether we have the privilege of enjoying it or not.
If you ask if it is the will of God for us to build a Temple I answer yes it is the will of God we should build a Temple. We cannot attend to the ordinances of the House of the Lord without it. If you ask if I have received a revelation or vision upon the subject I would answer yes I have been in vision much of the time upon the subject. I knew it was the will of God that we should build a Temple on this same ground when I first came into the valley and while the brethren were exploring out I said all the time this is the place for the City & Temple & it is the will of God that we should do all we Can in this valley & surrounding Country for the benefit of the people. If the peole needed it I would give them a written Revelation upon this subject but do you not know that it is your duty to build up Houses for your own benefit? You want a buttery Bedrooms & other convenient rooms in your dwelling house. Well we want a Temple more than we want dwelling houses.
I will relate some of the sayings of Joseph while in Kirtland He said conserning the building of that Temple that it grieved him & also the spirit of God to think that the saints were not willing to build a Temple by the counsel of the priesthood without a written revelation & commandment from God. That was it not for the penurious feelings of the people the Lord would not give revelations & commandments as he does. Whenever the Lord finds the people willing to do good build up his Kingdom & do good without being commanded He will be more pleased with them.
I will bring forth my art & plan for a Temple. Then if any man can present any better plan or get faith enough to call to his aid any of the old Nephites or any of the Ancients & will present a better plan than mine will be we will receive it.
A word to the people. I wish to ask if you want a commandment evry year to require you to pay your Tithing when it is a standing law unto Israel & has been from the days of Abraham. You all know this well. If you dont want to pay your tithing or any portion of you I dont want you should. It is for your good not mine. I dont want a Temple to get my endowments in For I got my Endowments and all the blessings appertaining thereto under the hands of Joseph before his death & before the Temple was ubilt in Nauvoo & so did my counsellors and a part of the Twelve get theirs before the Temple was built. Brother Joseph seemed urged by the spirit of God to perform this work. Had he not have done it he might have died without conferring the Keys upon others.
If this people pay their tithing we shall have an abundance in the Store house to build a Temple with without giving all you have got. Yet all you have should be upon the Altar ready to be offered if necessary. I shall ask the people to come & work out their Tithing by labour for that is what we want. I believe we shall have your help.
7 Years ago to morrow at 7 oclok I crossed the Missippi River. I believed then that God had a good place in the mountains for us & would lead us to it and He has done it for which I feel thankful, if some feel quite sorry for not having the privilege of suffering with us. But I will promise you all if you will be faithful that you shall have the privilege of suffering & being tried as much as you will wish. Let all men be satisfied faithful & Humble and God will bless you.
Heber C Kimball then arose & with uplifted hands to heaven offered up a fervent Heart felt prayer to God imploring his blessing upon President Young & Councellors & all the Authorities of the Church with the whole house of Israel. He then dedicated the ground unto God & prayed for the blessings of the Lord to attend them in building the Temple & all the public works in Zion.
At the Close of the prayer the presidency & Twelve walked to the South East Cornor of the ground laid out for the Temple. The ground being frozen President Heber C Kimball comm[ence?]d breaking the ground with a pick then President Richards then Orson Hyde Parley Pratt, W Woodruff, J Taylor A. Lyman C. C. Rich E. T. Benson L. Snow E Snow & F D. Richards. Then the ground was broke & President Young took out the first turf. While taking it out [a] silver Dollar was flung from some one in the congregation which struk in the hole. Brother Kimball said that was an Omen that we should have a plenty of mony to build the temple with. (Orson Pratt was at washington & G A Smith at Provo. All the rest of the Twelve were present.) As soon as the turf was taken out the congregation [was dismissed?] & the people rushed to the hole to get a chance to throw a little dirt out. My Father Aphek Woodruff Aged 78 years, myself Wilford Woodruff Aged 46 years and My Son Wilford Woodruff jr Aged 12 years, all flung out dirt out of the foundation for this important Temple.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 14 Feb., 1853)
“We should be as cheerful in building this temple, if we knew beforehand that we should never enter into it when it was finished, as we would though we knew we were to live here a thousand years to enjoy it. . . .
If you should ask, ‘Brother Brigham, have you any knowledge concerning this? have you ever had a revelation from heaven upon it?’ I can answer truly, it is before me all the time, not only to-day, but it was almost five years ago, when we were on this ground, looking for locations, sending our scouting parties through the country, to the right and to the left, to the north and the south; to the east and the west; before we had any returns from any of them, I knew, just as well as I now know, that this was the ground on which to erect a temple–it was before me.
The Lord wished us to gather to this place, He wished us to cultivate the earth, and make these valleys like the Garden of Eden, and make all the improvements in our power, and build a temple as soon as circumstances would permit. And further, if the people and the Lord required it, I would give a written revelation, but let the people do the things they know to be right. Permit me to ask the question–do you not know that it is your duty to accumulate your daily bread, to cease your wickedness? Are not these duties required at your hands? Do you not know this of yourselves? There is not an individual in this assembly, that does not understand this, that is not as well convinced of it as I am.
Concerning revelations pertaining to building temples, I will give you the words of our beloved Prophet while he was yet living upon the earth. Many of us that are here to-day, were with him from the commencement of the Church. He was frequently speaking upon the building of temples in Kirtland, Missouri, and Illinois. When the people refused in Kirtland to build a temple, unless by special revelation, it grieved his heart that they should be so penurious in their feelings as to require the Lord to command them to build a house to His name. It was not only grievous to him, but to the Holy Spirit also. He frequently said, that if it were not for the covetousness of the people, the Lord would not give revelations concerning the building of temples, for we already knew all about them; the revelations giving us the order of the Priesthood make known to us what is wanting in that respect at our hands. If you should go to work to build a dwelling house, you know you would want a kitchen, a buttery, sitting rooms, bedrooms, halls, passages, and alleys. He said, you might as well ask the Lord to give revelation upon the dimensions and constructions of the various apartments of your dwelling houses, as upon the erection of temples, for we know before hand what is necessary.
Concerning this house, I wish to say, if we are prospered we will soon show you the likeness of it, at least upon paper, and then if any man can make any improvement in it, or if he has faith enough to bring one of the old Nephites along, or an angel from heaven, and he can introduce improvements, he is at liberty so to do. But wait until I dictate, and construct it to the best of my ability, and according to the knowledge I possess, with the wisdom God shall give me, and with the assistance of my brethren; when these are exhausted, if any improvement can be made, all good men uopn the earth are at liberty to introduce their improvements. But I trust this people do not require commanding every day of their lives, to pray, to do unto others as they would that others should do unto them: I trust they do not want a special command for this; if not, upon the same principle, they will not want any commandment upon the subject of building a temple, more than what is before them.
A few words to this people, upon the principles which were laid before them yesterday, in the Tabernacle. One thing is required at the hands of this people, and to understand which there is no necessity for receiving a commandment every year, viz.–to pay their tithing. I do not suppose for a moment, that there is a person in this Church, who is unacquainted with the duty of paying tithing, neither is it necessary to have a revelation every year upon the subject. There is the law–pay one tenth. I wish to say to you, and I wish you to tell your neighbours, if there is any man or woman who do not want to pay their tithing, we do not want they should. It is for your particular benefit, and that of every individual upon the face of the earth. To me, as an individual, it is no matter whether you build a temple or not; I and my brethren have received our endowments, keys, blessings–all the tokens, signs, and every preparatory ordinance, that can be given to man, for his entrance into the celestial gate.
The Prophet’s feelings were often wounded because he was under the necessity of giving commandments concerning duties that were already before the people, until the temple was completed; but had he not done so, the temple would not have been built; had he waited until the minds of the people were opened, and they were led to see and do their duty, without commandment, he would have been slain before the keys of the Priesthood could have been committed to others, but the Lord put it into his heart to give this power to his brethren before his martyrdom.
If the people will pay their tithing, we have all the means we could ask or wish for. If the tithing is paid, we do not want the brethren and sisters to give up their surplus property, for there will be a great surplus in the storehouse of the Lord. This is what is required of this people, not to give all they have, though it should be constantly upon the altar, but to be ready, if required; but if the people will pay their tithing punctually, there will be an abundance, yes, and a surplus. For me to ask the people if they will give their surplus property, would be useless. I shall not ask any such question, but I shall now ask the people to pay their labour tithing, that we may excavate this foundation and prepare for the stone work by the 1st of April. I expect to see a great turn out, no doubt we shall have all the help we can require.
While the brethren are before me, let me say, that we cannot commence to lay rock hwere without time, and we cannot get the stone for the foundation with the railroad from this place to the quarry is completed; these two items must be attended to. This is sufficient to say upon that matter.
Let us revert for a moment to the past, to the years we have spent in toil and labour, though very agreeably. Seven years ago to-morrow, about eleven o’clock, I crossed the Mississippi river, with my brethren, for this place, not knowing, at that time, whether we were going, but firmly believing that the Lord had in reserve for us a good place in the mountains, and that He would lead us directly to it. It is but seven years since we left Nauvoo, and we are now ready to build another temple. I look back upon our labours with pleasure. Here are hundreds and thousands of people that have not had the privileges that some of us have had. Do you ask, what privileges? Why, of running the gauntlet, of passing through the narrows. They have not had the privilege of being robbed and plundered of their property, of being in the midst of mobs and death, as many of us have.
Only be faithful, brethren and sisters, and I promise that you shall have all such privileges as shall be for your good. You need not be discouraged, or mourn, because you were not in Jackson County persecutions, or were not driven from Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, and stripped, robbed, and plundered of all your property. Do not mourn and feel bad, because you were not in Nauvoo; have no fears, for if the word of the Lord is true, you shall yet be tried in all things, so rejoice, and pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks, even if it is in the spoiling of your goods, for it is the hand of God that leads us, and will continue so to do. Let every man and woman sanctify themselves before the Lord, and every providence of the Almighty shall be sanctified for good to them. I will now close my remarks.” (Brigham Young, 14 Feb., 1853; MS 16(16):241-243, 22 Apr., 1854; see also JD 1:277)
“Some might query whether a revelation had been given to build a house to the Lord, but he is a wicked and slothful servant who doeth nothing but what his Lord commandeth, when he knoweth his Master’s will. I know a temple is needed, and so do you; and when we know a thing, why do we need a revelation to compel us to do that thing? If the Lord and all the people want a revelation, I can give one concerning this temple.” (Brigham Young at dedication of Salt Lake Temple site, 14 Feb., 1853. Quoted in “Pioneer Temple Building in Utah,” RS Magazine 7:660, 1920)
14 Feb.: I have received every necessary ordinance.
“To me, as an individual, it is no matter whether you build a temple or not; I and my brethren have received our endowments, keys, blessings–all the tokens, signs, and every preparatory ordinance, that can be given to man, for his entrance into the celestial gate.” (Brigham Young, 14 Feb., 1853; JD 1:278)
19 Feb.: Plea to construct Salt Lake Temple.
“assist in the construction of a Holy Temple, which is to be built in the tops of the mountains, to the name of the mighty God of Jacob; in which you can learn those ordinances necessary for the salvation of your dead; and can obtain your endowment, and the blessings which shall secure your exaltation in the kingdom of our God, even to a place among the Gods of Eternity.” (First Presidency, “A Word to the Saints,” 19 Feb., 1853, Deseret News 3:1[19 Feb., 1853])
20 Feb.: To become Gods, you must be independent.
“Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another’s sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold sceptres of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course.” (Brigham Young, 20 Feb., 1853; JD 1:312)
27 Feb.: Unrighteous kings and priests.
“He [Brigham] said again some men had a desire to stick to the work because it made them kings & priest so they Could sway a great septer & rule with a rod of Iron & damn men here & curse them there &c and had not in view the principles of Justice Jud[ge]ment mercy truth &c but they can not arise upon such principle. Even God himself should He act upon this principle He would scease to be God for the principles that Sustain him & his Throne would forsake him & he would scease to be God. For light & truth & evry other good principle cleaves unto itself And these all sustain the throne of God & He sustains them. He & all righteous men love the truth for the truth sake & embrace it & maintain it because it is just & true not because it gives them power to rule with a rod of Iron.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 27 Feb., 1853)
Feb.: Text of plural marriage ceremony.
“When the day set apart for the solemnization of the marriage ceremony has arrived, the bridegroom, and his wife, and also the bride, together with their relatives, and such other guests as may be invited, assemble at the place which they have appointed. The scribe then proceeds to take the names, ages, native towns, counties, States, and countries of the parties to be married, which he carefully enters on record. The President, who is the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator over the whole church throughout the world, and who alone holds the keys of authority in this solemn ordinance, (as recorded in the 2d and 5th paragraphs of the Revelation on Marriage,)–calls upon the bridegroom, and his wife, and the bride to arise, which they do, fronting the President. The wife stands on the left hand of her husband, while the bride stands on her left. The President, then, puts this question to the wife: ‘Are you willing to give this woman to your husband to be his lawful and wedded wife for time and for all eternity? If you are, you will manifest it by placing her right hand within the right hand of your husband.’ The right hands of the bridegroom and bride, being thus joined, the wife takes her husband by the left arm, as if in the attitude of walking: the President, then, proceeds to ask the following question of the man: [‘]Do you brother, (calling him by name,) take sister, (calling the bride by her name,) by the right hand to receive her unto yourself to be your lawful and wedded wife, and you to be her lawful and wedded husband for time and for all eternity, with a covenant and promise, on your part, that you will fulfil all the laws, rites, and ordinancs, pertaining to this holy matrimony, in the new and everlasting covenant, doing this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?’ The bridegroom answers, yes. The President, then, puts the question to the bride: ‘Do you, sister, (calling her by name,) take brother, (calling him by name,) by the right hand, and give yourself to him, to be his lawful and wedded wife for time and for all eternity with a covenant and promise, on your part, that you will fulfil all the laws, rites, and ordinances, pertaining to this holy matrimony, in the new and everlasting covenant, doing this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?’ The bride answers, yes. The President then says, ‘In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I pronounce you legally ald lawfully husband and wife for time and for all eternity; and I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection, with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives; and I seal upon you the blessings of thrones, and dominions, and principalities, and powers, and exaltations, together with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and say unto you be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity in the day of the Lord Jesus. All these blessings, together with all other blessings pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, I seal upon your heads, through your faithfulness unto the end, by the authority of the Holy Priesthood, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.’ The scribe, then, enters on the general record, the date and place of the marriage, together with the names of two or three witnesses who were present.” (Orson Pratt, The Seer, 1(2):31-32, Feb., 1853)
13 Mar.: Repeat of sealing which had not been recorded.
“Wilford Woodruff and Phebe Whitemore Carter was Sealed for time & Eternity By President Hiram Smith in Nauvoo at 0 oclok P.M. Nov 11th 1843. It was not Recorded.
Wilford Woodruff and Phebe Whitmore Carter was sealed at the Counsel House in Great Salt Lake City for time & Eternity by President Brigham Young at 7 oclok March 13th 1853.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 13 Mar., 1853)
26 Mar.: British saints urged to receive endowments.
“There are many Elders now labouring in these lands who have been blessed with ordinances and privileges belonging to the Lord’s House, and to a goodly extent can appreciate not only their worth, but the actual necessity of them, and to all such especially it will be a pleasing duty to inspire the upright with a just sense of the blessings reserved for the faithful, only to be revealed in the sanctuary of the Lord.
In the Sixth General Epistle of the First Presidency, published in Star No. 2, Vol. XIV, the Saints throughout the earth are informed that ‘from henceforth the living may not expect the blessings of the Temple, unless they help to build it. Your tithing we value not, only as it affects your salvation and the salvation of the dead.’ Now, every faithful Saint who desires to go up unto Zion and inherit her blessings, is interested in this matter; that when he appears there, he may have a legal claim, and his children after him, to the Keys which shall admit them to all the blessings of their father Abraham, who paid tithes of all he possessed. . . .
Every Saint should feel that their greatest and most durable interests are in Zion; that without the blessings of the Lord’s House they cannot be prepared to enter into His presence to receive of His fulneess. Then will they delight to send their gold and their silver where the purest affections of the heart can fondly linger with blissful assurance of their possessing the unfading riches of eternity.” (Editorial [S. W. Richards, Editor], MS 15(13):200-201, 26 Mar., 1853)
6 Apr.: GENERAL CONFERENCE MINUTES.
[See addendum at the end of this file.]
6 Apr.: Joseph received pattern for Kirtland Temple.
“Soon after, the Church, through our beloved Prophet Joseph, was commanded to build a Temple to the Most High, in Kirtland, Ohio, and this was the next House of the Lord we hear of on the earth, since the days of Solomon’s Temple. Joseph not only received revelation and commandment to build a Temple, but he received a pattern also, as did Moses for the Tabernacle, and Solomon for his Temple; for without a pattern, he could not know what was wanting, having never seen one, and not having experienced its use.” (Brigham Young, 6 Apr., 1853; JD 2:31)
6 Apr.: Brigham’s definition of endowment.
“And those first Elders who helped build it [Kirtland Temple], received a portion of their first endowments, or we might say more clearly, some of the first, or introductory, or initiatory ordinances, preparatory to an endowment.
The preparatory ordinances there administered, though accompanied by the ministration of angels, and the presence of the Lord Jesus, were but a faint similitude of the ordinances of the House of the Lord in their fulness; yet many, through the instigation of the devil, thought they had received all, and knew as much as God; they have apostatized, and gone to hell. But be assured, brethren, there are but few, very few of the Elders of Israel, now on earth, who know the meaning of the word endowment. To know, they must experience; and to experience, a Temple must be built.
Let me give you the definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.
Who has received and understands such an endowment, in this assembly? You need not answer. Your voices would be few and far between, yet the keys to these endowments are among you, and thousands have received them, so that the devil, with all his aids, need not suppose he can again destroy the Holy Priesthood from the earth, by killing a few, for he cannot do it. God has set His hand, for the last time, to redeem His people, the honest in heart, and Lucifer cannot hinder Him.
Before these endowments could be given at Kirtland, the Saints had to flee before mobocracy. And, by toil and daily labor, they found places in Missouri, where they laid the corner stones of Temples, in Zion and her Stakes, and then had to retreat to illinois, to save the lives of those who could get away alive from missouri, where fell the Apostle David W. Patten, with many like associates, and where were imprisoned in loathsome dungeons, and fed on human flesh, Joseph and Hyrum, and many others. Buit before all this had transpired, the Temple at Kirtland had fallen into the hands of wicked men, and by them been polluted, like the Temple at Jerusalem, and consequently it was disowned by the Father and the Son. . . .
But what of the Temple in Nauvoo? By the aid of sword in one hand, and trowel and hammer in the other, with fire arms at hand, and a strong band of police, and the blessings of heaven, the Saints, through hunger, and thirst, and weariness, and watchings, and prayings, so far completed the Temple, despite the devices of the mob, that many received a small portion of their endowment, but we know of no one who received it in its fulness.” (Brigham Young, JD 2:31-32, 1855)
6 Apr.: That Christ may spend a night in the SLC temple.
“When the corner stone of the Salt Lake Temple was laid, April 6th, 1853, President Young said: ‘But what are we here for today? To celebrate the birthday of our religion; to lay the foundation of a temple to the Most High God, so that when His Son, our Elder Brother, shall again appear, He may have a place where He can lay His head, and not only spend a night or a day, but find a place of peace that He may stay till He can say, I am satisfied.'” (John R. Winder, “Temples and Temple Work,” YWJ 14:52, 1903)
6 Apr.: Laying of Cornerstones.
“This I know–there should be a Temple built here. I do know it is the duty of this people to commence to build a Temple. Now, some will want to know what kind of a building it will be. Waith patiently, brethren, until it is done, and put forth your hands willingly to finish it. I know what it will be. I am not a visionary man, neither am I given much to prophesying. When I want any of that done I call on brother Heber–he is my Prophet, he loves to prophesy, and I love to hear him. I scarcely ever say much about revelations, or visions, but suffice it to say, five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Corner Stone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I have never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, however, that it will have six towers, to begin with, instead of one. Now do not any of you apostatize because it will have six towers, and Joseph only built one. It is easier for us to build sixteen, than it was for him to build one. The time will come when there will be one in the centre of Temples we shall build, and, on the top, groves and fish ponds. But we shall not see them here, at present.
The First Presidency proceeded to the south-east corner, to lay the first stone, though it is customary to commence at the north-east corner–that is the beginning point most generally, I believe, in the world. At this side of the equator we commence at the south-east corner. We sometimes look for light, you know, brethren. You old men that have ben through the mill pretty well, have been inquiring after light–which way do you go? You will tell me you go to the east for light? So we commence by laying the stone on the south-east corner, because there is the most light.
Just as quick as the minutes of this day’s proceedings are out, there will be Elders, High Priests, and Seventies, inquiring whether the same order has been carried out to-day, as was observed in laying the Corner Stones of the other Temples. I want to give you a little history of it, that you may know.
When the corner stones were laid in Kirtland, they had to pick up boys of fifteen and sixteen years of age, and ordain them Elders, to get officers enough to lay the Corner Stones. The Quorum of the Twelve, and the High Council, and many other authorities that now exist, were not then in existence.” (Brigham Young, 6 Apr., 1853; JD 1:133)
“The General Conference was held as usual on the 6th of April, and was one of the most important ever held. It was most numerously attended, and was celebrated by the laying of the four corner stones of the Temple, which is to be two hundred feet long, with six towers–three at each end. The excavation for the laying of the corner stones cost from 7.000 to 10.000 days’ labour. the basment story is to be sixteen feet high, eight feet below the surface of the earth, and eight feet above. The corner stones were laid sixteen feet below the surface of the earth. The excavations for the foundation were 20 feet wide. The foundation for the walls was to be sixteen feet thick, for further particulars see ‘Millennial Star’ vol 15th page 449.” (J. D. T. McAllister diary, 6 Apr., 1853, p. 6)
6 Apr.: May we live to see the Temple in Jackson County.
“Brethren & Sisters I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth & pray my father in heaven to encircle you in the Arms of his love & mercy protect us untill we have finished the Temple received the fulness of our endowments therein & then build many more And I pray also that we may live to see the great Temple in Jackson County Missouri. You are now dismissed with the Blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ upon your heads. Amen.” (Brigham Young at cornerstone laying; in Wilford Woodruff diary, 6 Apr., 1853)
6 Apr.: Who revealed temple mysteries to Joseph?
“Who ordained Joseph the Prophet, and his fellow-servant, to the preparatory Priesthood, to baptize for remission of sins? John the Baptist, who had been beheaded! Who ordained our first founders to the Apostleship, to hold the keys of the kingdom of God, in these the times of restoration? Peter, James and John, from the eternal world. Who instructed him in the mysteries of the Kingdom, and in all things pertaining to Priesthood, law, philosophy, sacred architecture, ordinances, sealings, anointings, baptisms for the dead, and in the mysteries of the first, second, and third heavens, many of which are unlawfukl to utter? Angels and spirits from the eternal worlds.
Who revealed to him the plan of redemption, and of exaltation for the dead who had died withoiut the Gospel? and the keys and preparations necessary for holy and perpetual converse with Jesus Christ, and with the spirits of just men made perfect, and with the general assembly and Church of the first-born, in the holy of holies? Those from the dead!
Again–How do the Saints expect the necessary information by which to complete the ministrations for the salvation and exaltation of their friends who have died?
By one holding the keys of the oracles of God, as a medium through which the living can hear from the dead.
Shall we, then, deny the principle, the philosophy, the fact of communication between worlds? No! verily no!” (Parley P. Pratt, 6 Apr., 1853; JD 2:44)
6 Apr.: Learn the ways of the Lord only in the Temples.
“And again–The Lord has ordained that all the most holy things pertaining to the salvation of the dead, and all the most holy conversations and correspondence with God, angels, and spirits, shall be had only in the sanctuary of His holy Temple on the earth, when prepared for that purpose by His Saints; and shall be received and administered by those who are ordained and sealed unto this power, to hold the keys of the sacred oracles of God.
To this same principle the Prophets Isaiah and Micah bear testimony, saying, that in the last days all nations shall go up to the house (or Temple) of the Lord, in order to be taught in His ways, and to walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, &c. Now it is evident that the people of all nations in the las days would be utterly unable to learn the ways of the Lord to perfection, in any other place except in a holy Temple erected among the mountains. For if the oracles, and most holy ordinances, and they keys or the mysteries, could be had elsewhere, or in any and every place, the people would never take the pains to resort to one house amid the mountains in order to learn of His ways, and to walk in His paths.” (Parley P. Pratt, 6 Apr., 1853; JD 2:46)
6 Apr.: That immortal beings may visit the temple . . .
“We pray thee, O Lord, to let thy peace be upon those who labor upon these works; may their hearts be inspired by the Holy Ghost, to realize that they are working to build a House to thy name, that immortal beings may come and administer in the ordinances of salvation, and teach thy servants things that are beyond the vail, to prepare them to enter into that rest which is prepared and promised to thy Saints.” (George B. Wallace, prayer delivered on the North-West Corner Stone of the Temple, after the Presidency of the High Priests’ Quorum, and the Presidency and the High Council of the Stake had laid the Stone, 6 Apr., 1853; JD 2:42)
7 Apr.: Kings and Priests will officiate in Spirit World.
“Who, then, is prepared, among the spirits in the spirit world, to communicate the truth on the subject of salvation, to guide the people, to give advice, to confer consolation, to heal the sick, to administer joy, and gladness, and hope of immortality and eternal life, founded on manifest truth?
All that have been raised from the dead, and clothed with immortality, all that have ascended to yonder heavens, and been crowned as Kings and Priests, all such are our fellow servants, and of our brethren the Prophets, who have the testimony of Jesus; all such are waiting for the work of God among their posterity on the earth.” (Parley P. Pratt, 7 Apr., 1853; JD 1:12)
7 Apr.: Plea for genealogical work.
“Suppose our Temple was ready, and we should enter there to act for the dead. We could only act for those whose names are known to us. And these are few with most of us Americans. And why is this? We have never had time to look to the heavens, or to the past or future, so busy have we been with the things of the earth, we have hardly had time to think of ourselves, to say nothing of our fathers.
It is time that all this stupidity and indifference should come to an end, and that our hearts were opened, and our charities extended, and that our bosoms expanded, to reach forth after who? Those whom we consider dead. God has condescended so far to our capacity, as to speak of our fathers, as if they were dead, although they are all living spirits and will live forever. We have no dead! only think of it! Our fathers are all living, thinking, active agents, we have only been taught that they are dead.” (Parley P. Pratt, 7 Apr., 1853; DN 30 Apr., 1853)
7 Apr.: The importance of genealogy.
“The Saints would like to enter a holy temple, and have their President and his assistants administer for their dead. They love their fathers, although they had once almost forgotten them. Our fathers have forgotten to hand down to us their genealogy. They have not felt sufficient interest to transmit to us their names, and the time and place of birth, and in many instances they have not taught us when and where ourselves were born, or who were our grandparents, and their ancestry. Why is all this? It is because of that veil of blindness which is cast over the earth, because there has been no true Church, Priesthood, or Patriarchal order, no holy place for the deposit or preservation of the sacred archives of antiquity, no knowledge of the eternal kindred ties, relationship, or mutual interests of eternity. The hearts of the children had become estranged from the fathers, and the hearts of the fathers from the children, until one came in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the keys of these things, to open communication between worlds, and to kindle in our bosoms that glow of eternal affection which lay dormant.
Suppose our temple was ready, and we should enter there to act for the dead, we could only act for those whose names are known to us. And these are few with the most of us Americans. And why is this? We have never had time to look to the heavens, or to the past or future, so busy have we been with the things of the earth. We have hardly had time to think of ourselves, to say nothing of our fathers.
It is time that all this stupidity and indifference should come to an end, and that our hearts were opened, and our charities extended, and that our bosoms expanded, to reach forth after whom? Those whom we consider dead! God has condescended so far to our capacity, as to speak of our fathers as if they were dead, althoug they are all living spirits, and will live for ever. We have no dead! Only think of it! Our fathers are all living, thinking, active agents; we have only been taught that they are dead!.” (Parley P. Pratt, 7 Apr., 1853; JD 1:13-14)
7 Apr.: It appeared that Joseph was with us yesterday.
“Shall I speak my feelings, that I had on yesterday, while we were laying those Corner Stones of the Temple? Yes, I wil utter them, if I can.
It was not with my eyes, not with the power of actual vision, but by my intellect, by the natural faculties inherent in man, by the exercise of my reason, upon known principles, or by the power of the Spirit, that it appeared to me that Joseph Smithk, and his associate spirits, the Latter-day Saints, hovered about us on the brink of that foundation, and with them all the angels and spirits from the other world, that might be permitted, or that were not too busy elsewhere.” (Parley P. Pratt, 7 Apr., 1853; JD 1:14)
8 Apr.: Never be sealed to a man unless you wish to be.
“For instance, there are sisters in this Church that have been bereaved of their husbands, who died full of faith in the holy Gospel and full of hope for a glorious resurrection to eternal life. One of them is visited by a High Priest, of whom she seeks information touching her situation and that of her husband. At the same time, the woman as a son twenty-five years of age, who is an Elder in one of the Quorums of Seventies, and faithful in all the duties connected with his calling. She has also other sons and daughters. She asks this High Priest what she shall do for her husband, and he very religiously says to her, ‘You must be sealed to me, and I will bring up your husband, stand as proxy for him, receive his endowments and all the sealing, keys, and blessings, and eternal Priesthood for him, and be the father of your children.’
Hear it, ye mothers! The mother that does that barters away the sacred right of her son. Does she know it? No. This has been done in hundreds of instances, though innocently and in ignorance, which makes it excusable. For my own part, I am willing to wink at the ignorance of the people, and I believe our heavenly Father is.
But you that will hear and be made to understand the true principles that govern this matter, go from this place and do hereafter as has been done in bygone days; and instead of the children being robbed of their jsut rights, the woman shall lose her children, and they shall yet stand in their place and be put in the possession of their rights. What is to be done? Let mothers honour their children. If a woman has a son, let her honour that son.
But a mother may say, ‘My son is only five years old. I never had but one sone among a number of daughters. I am advancing in years, and may die before I can be sealed to my husband.’ Let that son wait uintil he is old enough to officiate for his father; and though you may go into your grave, let your son do his duty, and {you} never hang to the skirts of a man that is avaricious.
You may see a great many miserly persons with regard to dollars and cents. It is just as natural for men to be miserly with regard to their religious blessings. You may see hundreds of Elders who say to the sisters, ‘Come and be sealed to me,’ crawling round to make the holy ordinances of God a matter of speculation to administer to their avaricious dispositions. They will tell you that you will go into eternity and find yourselves without husbands, and cannot get an exaltation,–that you cannot have this, that, or the other, unless you are sealed to them. I am free, and so are you. My advice to the sisters is, Never be sealed to any man unless you wish to be. I say to you High Priests and Elders, Never from this time ask a woman to be sealed to you, unless she wants to be; but let the widows and children alone. . . .
I might notice many more items pertaining to this matter; but the Elders going round telling the sisters they must be sealed to them, or they cannot get an exaltation, particularly has wounded my feelings. How ignorant such men are! This to me is like a shadow. To talk about it is sheer nonsense. Let every man and woman magnify their calling in the kingdom of God, and he will take care that we have our exaltation. . . .
Let me hear no more of this ‘You must be sealed to me, or you cannot get an exaltation.’ If a man gets the widow of a good man, sealed, married to him, with a view to hold control over and rob every child in that family of their birthright, he will be mistaken. It will not be. I say to you, my brethren, young men, you Elders, Rise up and magnify your calling, honour the Priesthood; and if a man has stepped up and married your mother under the influence of such an expectation, TURN HIM OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, AND MAINTAIN YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.” (Brigham Young, 8 Apr., 1853; JD 6:307-308)
13 Apr.: Widows must come to Zion to be sealed.
“To the sisters in Israel, we say, be patient. If your husband has died in the faith, and you wish to be sealed to him for eternity, you must come to Zion to receive that sealing ordinance. And if a High Priest or an Elder, should tell you that you cannot be saved if you are not sealed to him, either as proxy for time, or for eternity to the exclusion of your dead, thrust him from your presence, as Lucifer was thrust from heaven; for that High Priest or Elder will be damned, (unless he speedily repent,) as sure as Lucifer was; and he can neither save you, nor you him. But come to Zion, be patient till you get here, and the Temple is completed, and your oldest son, by the husband to whom you wish to be sealed, may stand as his father’s legal representative by your side, and by him you may be sealed to your dead husband; for it is the legal right, in God’s Kingdom, for the oldest son to minister, and obtain blessings for his father, and act for his father when he is gone into the eternal world.” (Ninth General Epistle of the Presidency of the Church, 13 Apr., 1853, MS 15:436-441[9 Jul., 1853])
18/19 May: We believe in the baptism for the dead.
“We believe in the baptism for the dead, a doctrine spoken of by Paul but not explained. This doctrine when rightly and fully understood, appears one of the most glorious doctrines revealed for the salvation of the human family.” (Jesse Haven, Some of the Principal Doctrines or Belief of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints, {Cape Town, South Africa, 1853}; note by Whitaker: “Elder Haven had written the pamphlet on 18 and 19 May 1853. He had delivered his manuscript to the printer, W. Foelscher, early in June, examined the proofsheets on 7 June, and received the first one hundred copies of the finished work on 8 June. He tried to borrow money to pay for the cost of printing it, but when this failed he solicited donations. With these donations and some money collected from the sale of the pamphlet itself, he was able to meet the cost of having it published. President Haven provided more details on its composition in a letter he wrote to the First Presidency of the Church on 14 January 1856:
I had 1,000 copies printed. Nearly one half of it I took from the belief given by Joseph Smith, found in the ‘Times and Seasons,’ Vol. 3, p. 709 [1 March 1842]; the remainder was my own composition; mostly on principles that have been made public since the death of the Prophet.”
See BYU Studies 20(4):408, 411; Summer, 1980)
27 Jun.: Urim and Thummim to be used in genealogy.
“Yes, even now may the sons of Zion anticipate that but as to-morrow they may begin to build New Jerusalem and her holy Temple, and, while the cloud rests upon their own blest domiciles, as witness of divine approval, enter in and redeem their dead, exalt the living, greet the long absent of Israel’s representatives–Joseph, Hyrum, Jesus, &c., and, with the Urim and Thummim, search out and declare their ancestry, and step forward in their behalf.” (F. D. Richards [SLC] to S. W. Richards [Editor, MS], 27 Jun., 1853; MS 15(36):589, 3 Sep., 1853)
9 Jul.: Tithing and temples.
“TITHING.
The law of Tithing is generally understood by the Saints throughout the earth, as being a standing law unto the people of God. The Kingdom of God is not exempt from having to do with temporal things. Kingdoms regulated by the wisdom of men, adopt plans for raising a revenue and appropriating the same, according to the demands of their own governments. The Lord, in providing for the upbuilding of His Kingdom, claims the same prerogative; and from the revelations given by Him, we find He is just as particular in devising ways and means to secure temporal prosperity to His people, as He is to secure to them their spiritual prosperity.
The Lord always requires His people to build a temple, in which to receive their anointings, their washings, their baptisms for the dead, and the statutes and judgments, all of which are ordinances pertaining to His holy house, which He has said ‘my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name.’–Doc. and Cov., sec. 103, par. 12. The Lord has not made this requirement, without making provision how it shall be done, or by what means the house shall be built. It is for this purpose, together with the laying of the foundation of Zion, and for the Priesthood, and for answering other demands of the Church, that the Lord has said the law of tithing should be a standing law unto His Saints forever. Now here is a law providing the means which are co-equal with the demand. But why does the Lord always command His people to build an holy house? It is because they always need the blessings which can only be obtained in that house. If we personally have received our washings and our anointings, with keys and powers which will admit us into the presence of God, that does not do away with the necessity of the temple, for every other person who is saved will need it just as much as we needed it. So long as the plan of salvation is in operation, or there is a living soul to be saved, a temple will be required. Neither will one temple be sufficient for this great work, but very many temples will be required in the Stakes of Zion, to satisfy the demands of the children of Zion who will be gathered from all nations.
When all the living have had access to the house of the Lord, even then the work will be but just commenced. Our progenitors for many generations past, who have died without the ordinances of eternal life, must be administered for, precisely as the living, in every ordinance which serves to purify and make glorious the tabernacle of man.
The ordinances of baptism, of confirmation, of ordination to the priestly or kingly authority, of washings, of anointings, and of the sealing powers, must all be administered for and in behalf of those who have died without them, that the ways of the Lord may be equal; else how shall the dead be judged according to men in the flesh, if their fleshly tabernacles have never had the privilege of receiving, either by proxy, or in person, those ordinances which purify the body, and tend to immortalize it.
When we consider the condition of the nations of the dead, in connexion with that of the living, the work magnifies before us. And who can conceive of a time while mortality endures, when temples will not be needed? Who cannot see the propriety of God giving unto His people an abiding commandment, that they may never be without a holy house in which His glory can be manifested unto His children?
It was for this same purpose that Moses was commanded to build a tabernacle, and the children of Israel to bear it with them in the wilderness. It was that the people might have access continually to the holy ordinances of God, and that HIs glory might be in their midst. He was even particular to show Moses the pattern after which it was to be built, and to give unto him a strict injunction to see that all things were made according to that pattern.
Now the Lord was very particular in those days to direct after a heavenly order everything which He revealed unto His servants, that the likeness of heavenly things might be among men upon the earth. And can we suppose that God has grown any less particular in these things? Not at all. He will do nothing–not even build a temple, but that He will reveal His secrets concerning it unto His servants the Prophets, that they may give His will unto the people. And if the people obey in all things, with willingness of heart, they are free from condemnation. To be sure the Lord might require something which would appear to many to be very expensive, or even extravagant, as He did anciently of His people Israel; but He requires nothing more than His people are able to perform. The ability of His people to do, is not hid from Him. He knows their circumstances, and adapts His requirements unto them. While Israel were journeying, He only required the tabernacle; but when they came into the land to possess it, He required a magnificent temple.
The Saints in the last days, have the same God to deal with, and they may expect His requirements will be just in proportion to the abilities of the Saints–increasing until they are perfected.
The Saints of God now live in a day when they are commanded to build a temple. The command is not to the few, but to all God’s people. Do the Saints in the British Isles form a part of God’s people? They would not like to be excluded from the number. Then the command is unto them. What are the means the Lord requires this work to be done by? The tithing of His people. Now let us enquire how many of the Saints in the British Isles pay their tithing. Of course, each one must be allowed to answer the question for himself. Were the same question asked of the Saints in the Valleys of the Utah mountains, one man could answer for the whole people, with but few exceptions. If the works of the Saints who are scattered abroad, do not agree with those who are gathered together, how can they expect the same blessings and reward? Have the Saints throughout the earth been driven, robbed and plundered of all they possessed, oftener than the Saints in Zion? Have they been more faithful and diligent in building up the Kingdom of God, than their brethren who have been persecuted from place to place, that they should be released from the common burden? Oh no.
But, says one, the circumstances of many of the Saints are so very poor, that they can scarcely live, without paying tithing, and they should be relieved from that duty. This is very true, but what excuse shall be offered for the many who can pay their tithing quite as conveniently as any other portion of the poeple of God? For them we can offer no plea, they must take the responsibility of answering for themselves.
The call has been made unto the British Saints particularly, to assist in building a temple, and it would be well for them to consider who this temple is for. By so doing they will find it is for themselves, and for their fathers who are dead, that they are called to build it. And the Saints will further find that the blood of their progenitors will be required at their hands, in addition to their own sins, if they do not provide for their redemption as far as lies in their power.
Thousands of the Saints in Zion have already received their endowments, and so far as they are personally concerned, they could do without a temple, better than many who appear less anxious; but the obligations of the Saints in Zion to the dead are as great as other’s; hence the Lord calls upon all to take a part, for all are equally interested, and no one who assists in this glorious work, need think he is labouring or sacrificing for any other than himself.
To respond to the call of tithing, becomes, therefore, an imperative duty to every Saint throughout the British Isles, who is able, for this is the means by which God requires HIs house to be built; and if all the Saints are as willing as they are able, nothing will be lacking, but far more than is required for the work will be gathered into the storehouse of the Lord.
As excuses are never wanting with those who prefer making them, rather than doing their duty, it is possible that the individual well settled down in business, imagines to himself, that it would be much injured by withdrawing one-tenth of his capital to pay his tithing, and concludes he will not do it just now, but, when he has made plenty of money, he will dispose of his business, pay his tithing, and gather up with the Saints. But of all such, after they have taken the liberty to consult their own feelings, and come to this conclusion, we would ask what objections they can urge to paying one-tenth of what they derive from their business! This is what the law requires of men after tithing all their property. If all would do this, they might feel partially justified in the eyes of the law, to which they have subscribed, and much would be done to promote the cause of God.” (“Tithing,” unsigned lead article [S. W. Richards, Editor], MS 15(28):433-435, 9 Jul., 1853)
9 Jul.: Instructions to British Saints on SL Temple.
“The Saints in this country have been very anxious to know when a Temple would be commenced in the vallies of Ephraim. The answer to the query is now before them. The corner-stones of a magnificent Temple are now laid, in fulfilment of the word of the Lord by His servants the ancient Prophets. If the Saints are faithful and diligent (and we fully believe they will be) in respect to the upbuilding of the House of the Lord, many years will not pass over their heads, before the six towers of that House will proudly point their spires to heaven, and win the admiration of all who go up to be taught more perfectly the way of the Lord.
The towers of Zion soon shall rise
Above the clouds, and reach the skies;
Attract the gaze, and wondering eyes,
Of all that worship, gloriously.
When we recollect that the Almighty has no House upon the face of the earth where He can reveal His high glory to the children o fmen, and instruct them in the ordinances of Eternal Life, and where the Saints can receive those keys, powers, and blessings which will qualify them and their dead to associate with the inhabitants of redeemed worlds, and do the works which those beings do–when we recollect these things, we fancy that no exhortation or argument is needed from us to inspire the Saints with a just sense of the necessity that exists for a Temple’s being speedily reared and dedicated to the Lord. Costly and magnificent temples, churches, and palaces abound in the nations, yet the people are so ignorant, so full of cupidity, so blinded by the god of this world, so insensible to their eternal interests, that we might roam Babylon through, and not find in it a single House dedicated and kept holy to the Lord. God may wink at this state of things among the nations, on account of their ignorance, but the Saints have no excuse before Him–they understand the necessity for a Temple, they know that the Lord requires at their hands the erection of a Temple, yea of Temples, until a sufficienty shall adorn the land.
What then shall we say for the Saints in the British Isles? We will say–A Temple shall be built, which shall be holy to the Lord; a Temple to which the upright of many nations shall flow, and receive washings, anointings, and exaltations for themselves and their dead. ” (Editorial [S. W. Richards, Editor], MS 15(28):441-442, 9 Jul., 1853)
Jul.: Wm. Marks on Endowment/Polygamy.
“Having been chosen and ordained chief Evangelical Teacher of the Schools of faith in Jehovah’s Presbytery of Zion, it becomes my duty to say something by way of encouragement, and also by way of instruction to those who are placed under my care, and supervision, and first, by way of encouragement let me state what I know in reference to the work in which we are engaged, in order to do this I must of necessity refer to my experiences in the church. I was a member of the church some ten years before the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I was appointed president of the Stake in Kirtland Ohio in 1837 and continued in that office at Kirtland until the fall of 1838, when I was called by revelation to Far West, Missouri; but before I arrived there, the Saints were ordered to leave the State; and when the Stake was organized at Nauvoo in the fall of 1839, I was appointed president thereof and continued in that office up to the death of Joseph the Prophet. I always believed the work was of divine origin, and that Joseph Smith was called of God to establish the church among the Gentiles.
During my administration in the church I saw and heard of many things that was practiced, and taught that I did not believe to be of God, but I continued to do and teach such principles as were plainly revealed, as the law of the church, for I thought that pure and holy principles only would have a tendency to benefit mankind. Therefore when the doctrine of polygamy was introduced into the church, I took a decided stand against it; which stand endered [?] me quite unpopular, with many of the leading ones of the church. I was also a witness of the introduction (secretly), of a kingly form of government, in which Joseph suffered himself to be ordained a king, to reign over the house of Israel forever; which I could not conceive to be in accordance with the laws of the church, but I did not oppose this move, thinking it none of my business.
Joseph, however, became convinced before his death that he had done wrong, for about three weeks before his death, I met him one morning in the street, and he said to me, Brother Marks, I have something to communicate to you, we retired to a by-place, and sat down together, when he said: ‘We are a ruined people.’ I asked, how so? He said ‘This doctrine of polygamy, or Spiritual-wife system, that has been taught and practiced among us, will prove our destruction and overthrow. I have been deceived,’ said he, ‘in reference to its practice; it is wrong; it is a curse to mankind, and we shall have to leave the United States soon, unless it can be put down, and its practice stopped in the Church. Now,’ he said, ‘Brother Marks you have not received this doctrine, and how glad I am. I want you to go into the high council, and I will have charges preferred against all who practice this doctrine, and I want you to try them by the laws of the church, and cut them off, if they will not repent, and cease the practice of this doctrine, and,’ said he, ‘I will go into the stand and preach against it, with all my might, and in this way we may rid the Church of this damnable heresy.’
But before this plan could be put into execution, the mob began to gather, and our attention, necessarily, was directed to them.
I again met Joseph when he was about to start for Carthage. He said to me, ‘Brother Marks, I have become convinced since I saw you last, that it is my duty to go to Carthage, and deliver myself up as a lamb to the slaughter.’
I mentioned the circumstances of these two conversations with Joseph, to many of the brethren immediately after his death; but the only effect it had was to raise a report that Brother Marks was about to apostatize and my statement of the conversation in reference to the practice of polygamy, was pronounced false by the Twelve, and disbelieved; but I now testify that the above statements are verily true and correct.
When I found there was no chance to rid the church of these abominable sins, as I viewed it, I made my arrangements to leave Nauvoo, and I did so firmly believing that the plans and designs of the Great Jehovah, in inspiring Joseph to bring forth the Book of Mormon would yet be carried out in his own time and in his own way.” (William Marks, Zion’s Harbinger, and Baneemy’s Organ 3(7):52-53, Jul., 1853, typescript; Inez Smith Davis papers, P23 f61, RLDS Archives)
6 Aug.: We must know who our dead are.
“THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.–The time has come when the Saints of God are gathering to Zion, from almost all parts of the earth. They go, in obedience to the heavenly commandment, to assist in building up the Kingdom of God. They go to learn more fully the great scheme of salvation, which is now being developed upon the earth, and which, as did the mission of the Son of God, extends its saving influence to the world of Spirits, as well as the world of Flesh. The plan of salvation was ordained for this very purpose–to seek after and save the dead, no matter whether they inhabit earthly tabernacles, or whether they have laid them down for a little season. The Father of the spirits of all flesh numbers with the dead all who have not received the Gospel; and it is written, that He is not the God of the dead, but of the living–those who are alive in Christ. That portion of the dead who live in this world, possess bodies or tabernacles; those who live in the world of spirits are disembodied, the power of death has dethroned them for a time, but their redemption in this respect is sure, Jesus has purchased it with his own blood. This, however, does not put them in possession of the redemption offered in the Gospel, nor of its blessings, which are of the most exalted character. This is a work yet to be performed by those who are clothed upon with mortality, for by the deeds done in the body shall all men be judged and rewarded.
The Lord has told how and where this work can be done. A Temple is being reared for this very purpose. Saints who have received the power of God, and who live unto Christ, are ever anxious to follow the example of their Lord, and stretch forth the saving hand to others. Some who are in the flesh have been administerd to, and now they gather to minister for the dead in the spirit world.They go to do the works required of mortal beings, for their kindred and their progenitors who are dead, that they may also be judged according to those who, in the flesh, have had the benefits of the Gospel, knowing that God is no respecter of persons. But how can the Saints receive the ordinances for their dead unless they know who the dead are? Here is an important question. Many thousands of Saints in Britain are anxious to go where they can do a work for their dead friends, but have they ever thought that unless they have the names of their dead friends, they can do nothing for them? and that other items of information are very essential to that work?
An important duty devolves upon all Saints who gather in this dispensation, and that is, to take with them all the information they can possibly obtain in relation to their dead friends, as well as their living ones. Before you leave your native land, perhaps never to return to it again, is the time for you to get the information you will require to have. Now you have access to family and parish records, together with your living kindred, by which you can learn of many of your fathers and mothers, when and where they were born, whom they married, their children’s names, and when and where they were born, when and where they died, and many of those particulars concerning them, which you must possess a knowledge of. You also now have a favourable opportunity of getting the names of many of your uncles, and aunts, and cousins, and nephews, and nieces, as well as brothers and sisters, the times of their birth, and every other desired particular concerning them. Though many of your kindred may be still alive, they may not live to be gathered to Zion, even if they should receive the Gospel, therefore do not forget that you may want all their names some day hence. Take them all with you when you go. Could you appreciate the value of such information, which you now have the means of obtaining, you would prize it more than hoarded wealth, or the gain of fine gold. If you neglect the opportunities you now have of securing this information, you will see the time when you will perhaps seek for it, but not be able to find it, until you have so far paid the debt of your neglect, that some kind angel from the spirit world will be justified in bringing to you the necessary intelligence. In the midst of your labours for others, do not forget yourselves. We have seen those gathered with the Saints who could not tell the time or place of their own birth, but such cases might be less, if due inquiry was made, by such parties, of their friends and relatives, before leaving them.
A great work is to be done before all who shall be redeemed in the morning of the resurrection, can be restored to their lot and place in the endless succession of eternal lives. The Father will not receive from the hands of His Son, the great work which he has received power to do, until it is presented in its most perfect order, until every soul who is redeemed occupies his proper place in the chain of relationship, which must be unbroken from Adam to the last one numbered in the lineage of man. Some may step out of their places for a season through transgression, or even commit an unpardonable sin, from which they can never be redeemed, and thereby the branch of their posterity be broken off through the transgression of the fathers. But if the children will honour the Lord, and turn away from all the iniquities of their fathers, they shall be grafted in again, and, by the law of adoption, become children of holy parents, with whom they may enjoy every blessing that belongs to the patriarchal order of Priesthood and Government.
The God of the whole earth has provided laws by which He will accomplish His own work, and neither death nor hell can frustrate His designs; therefore let the Saints engage in the important duty of obtaining all knowledge which can increase their power to save and redeem the lost of Adam’s race, by administering, in the name of Jesus, for and in behalf of the dead.
The Almighty has been pleased to confer His Holy Priesthood once more upon men, and has authorized them to administer in the name of His Son, for their fellow men, that all who will receive the ordinances of that Priesthood may be saved. What an unspeakable blessing! How diligent every Saint should be to aid that power in the accomplishment of its glorious work. It is no less than the power of the Heavens, for it has come down from God. It circumscribes the Earth, for by it all things were made. It fathoms and purifies the affections of the soul, for by it all hearts are searched, all reins are tried, and to its dominion every knee must bow, and every tongue confess. It penetrates the depths of hell, and because of it, even the devils fear and tremble as they behold the doors of the prison world open, and the spirits of those whom they have led captive set free. At its bidding, the vanquished grave no longer dares to enforce her claim, but yields the earthly tenement, ordained eternally to be the habitation of the spirit, immortalized and glorified to enjoy the associations of God, and His Son, through whom it is redeemed.
Once allied to such a Priesthood, as all true Saints are, who should fear! Devils may fear and tremble, it is their province, but Saints should press onward, and never stop to betray that power which alone can redeem and exalt them. ‘The wise shall understand.'” (Editorial, MS 15(32):521-523, 6 Aug., 1853) [Note that S. W. Richards was editor and publisher of the Star at this time.]
29 Aug.: Only Mormons will have Celestial glory.
“Mother says she will leave room for me to write to Grandmother. I want if she still lives and can know what is said to her you should tell this to her. If you do not tell just exactly what I say [or] read it right to her, her sins shall fall on your head. Tell her Irene says If there is any Mormon that has authority to baptize if she will be baptized for the remission of sins while she yet lives if she has to be carried on a bed no matter if she will only obey the gospel thus far be baptized and confirmed a member of the church of latter days saints before she dies which is all she can do in that place, I will pass through all other ordinances for her (and save Grandfather for her in the ressurection) I expect it look[s] strange perhaps folly to you to hear us talk of preparing and passing through various ordinance[s] before we can enter a fulness of Glory. In the presence of the father and the son all will have their just reward, but believe it, yes, be assured of, Mormonism will reign over everything else and the followers of it will have power and dominion over every thing else. None other will enter Celestial but their glory will [be] Teristrial and Celestial as differs the Moon and stars from the Sun. I must preach to you. Everything else seems of so little consequence. What is 70 or 80 years compared with eternity.” (Irene Hascall Pomeroy [Great Salt Lake City] to “Dear Sister,” 29 Aug., 1853; UHQ 25:352, 1957)
11 Sep.: Parley P. Pratt to build temples in Scotland.
“I will venture to say, that brother Parley P. Pratt has got a job on hand infinitely more extensive than the walling in of the whole territory of Utah. His work was given to him sixteen years ago, by the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the Kirtland Temple. Parley P. Pratt has yet to build temples in old Scotland. The Scotch brethren might say, ‘What is the use then of our coming to these distant vallies, so far from our native country?’ Had you not better write to your brethren who are still in Scotland to stay where they are, think you? He has to build temples there of greater magnitude than we have yet contemplated. When he will do it I do not know; it is certain he will do it if he is faithful; but whether he will do it after the earth is glorified, or before that time, I do not know.” (Brigham Young, 11 Sep., 1853; JD 1:77)
Sep.: Orson Pratt on work for the dead.
“We cannot feel justified in closing this article on the subject of marriage without saying a few words to unmarried females in this church. You will clearly perceive from the revelation which God has given that you can never obtain a fulness of glory without being married to a righteous man for time and for all eternity. If you marry a man who receives not the gospel, you lay a foundation for sorrow in this world, besides losing the privilege of enjoying the society of a husband in eternity. You forfeit your right to an endless increase of immortal lives. And even the children which you may be favored with in this life will not be entrusted to your charge in eternity; but you will be left in that world without a husband, without a family, without a kingdom–without any means of enlarging yourselves, being subject to the principalities and powers who are counted worthy of families, and kingdoms, and thrones, and the increase of dominions forever. To them you will be servants and angels–that is, providing that your conduct should be such as to secure this measure of glory. Can it be possible that any females, after knowing these things, will suffer themselves to keep company with a person out of this church? It matters not how great the morality of such persons may be, nor how kind they may be to you, they are not numbered with the people of God; they are not in the way of salvation; they cannot save themselves nor their families; and after what God has revealed upon this subject you cannot be justified, for one moment, in keeping their company. It would be infinitely better for you to suffer poverty and tribulation with the people of God, than to place yourselves under the power of those who will not embrace the great truths of Heaven. By marrying an unbeliever you place yourselves in open disobedience to the command of God requiring His people to gather together. Do you expect to be saved in direct violation of the commands of Heaven? If not, keep yourselves wholly and entirely from the company of unbelievers. Do you wish the fellowship of the Saints? If you do, have no fellowship for unbelievers. For after the great light which our Father in Heaven has given, none of the Saints will have any confidence in your honesty or sincerity, if you will recklessly throw yourselves away and cut off all hopes of your future exaltation. No female that has a respect for the work of God, or a respect for her future character among His people, will associate or keep company with any but Saints.
Many will inquire, What will be the condition of those who have died before this light was revealed? We answer that God has made provisions in the laws, ordinances, and plans, instituted before the foundation of the world, to suit the circumstances of every individual. Those who die without hearing a message sent by authority from Heaven, do not reject it; and God has ordained that in the dispensation of the fulness of times the living shall officiate for the dead. For this cause God has commanded a temple to be built, that those ordinances necessary for the salvation and redemption of the dead may be revealed and administered in the same. The word of the Lord which came unto Joseph, the Seer, shows the importance of these things; it reads as follows:
Verily I say unto you, that your annointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices, by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places, wherein you receive coversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, and honor, and endowment of all her municiples, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name. (D&C 103:12)
We understand by this revelation that God’s people are always commanded to build unto His holy name a house, wherein baptisms, and all other necessary ordinances may be legally administered, not only for the living, but also for, and in the name of, and in behalf of the dead. If the spirits of the dead who are in prison will hearken unto the messages of those holding the priesthood who are sent to their prison houses to open the prison doors and set them free; if they will believe in Jesus Christ and repent of all their sins, and receive the glad tidings of redemption; if they will receive by faith what their friends in the flesh have done for them through the ordinances of God’s holy house, namely: the baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, washings, annointings, signs, tokens, keys, and sealing powers which are administered by the living, and unto the living, for and in the name of the dead; if they will, with sincerity of faith and humble repentance, believe in and receive all that is done in their behalf as the living receive what Christ has done–they shall be redeemed from their prisons, and their names shall be recorded among the sanctified in the Celestial kingdom, and the records in Heaven will be according to the records of God’s holy house upon the earth; and that which is done and sealed on the earth for and in their behalf will be acknowledged, recorded, and sealed in the Heavens, and will be valid and legal in the great day of the resurrection of the righteous; but the remainder of the spirits who will not receive the glad tidings and accept of deliverance shall be kept in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day, and their torment shall be as if suffering in flames of fire, where their worm dieth not.
Do you inquire how we are to obtain the genealogies of our fathers, so as to do this work for them which they, when living, had not the opportunity of doing, and which they, as spirits in prison, cannot do? We answer, that it is the duty of all Saints among all nations to search out, as far as possible, their family records, and their genealogies, and their kindred, both the living and the dead; and when you have been diligent and procured all the information within your reach, and have gone into the holy Temple of the Most High, and done what is required of the living for the dead. Then God will show you by his Prophets and Seers, and by holy messengers and angels, the genealogies of your fathers, back from generation to generation unto the beginning, or unto the time when the powers, and keys, and ordinances of the priesthood were upon the earth. When you obtain these genealogies, it will be your duty to receive in the holy temple, all the ordinances and sealing powers which were instituted in the councils of the Sons of God before the world was for the salvation, redemption, exaltation, glory, and honor of the dead who died without a knowledge of these things; for you, without your fathers, cannot be made perfect, neither can the ancient fathers who held the priesthood be made perfect without the children.
The time is near at hand when the fathers who hold the priesthood in Heaven will be united with the children who hold the priesthood upon the earth; but there are many generations intervening who held not the priesthood but died in their ignorance: the grand chain of patriarchal government, according to the order of generations, will be broken, and the union will not be complete, unless the hearts of the fathers are turned to seek after the redemption of the generations of their children who have laid down in their graves in the days of darkness; and also unless the hearts of the children are turned towards their fathers: thus through the united exertions of the priesthood in Heaven with the priesthood ukpon the earth, the intermediate links of the great chain of generation will be restored, and the union of the fathers with the children will be made perfect, and each successive generation will stand in their own order, exercising their patriarchal authority, and swaying the sceptre of righteousness, according to the holy order of the priesthood forever and ever.
When these holy and sacred institutions are made known to the spirits in prison by holy messengers holding the priesthood, they will be left to their own agency either to receive or reject these glad tidings, and will be judged according to men in the flesh who have the privilege of hearing the same things. By the same law they shall be justified, and by the same law they shall be condemned, according to their works: thus God has ordained the same plan for the salvation of both the living and the dead; for those that die in ignorance as for those who hear it while in the flesh.
Among these sacred and holy things, pertaining to the fulness of the everlasting priesthood, and the eternal exaltation of the male and female, is that of marriage for eternity, which ordinance was instituted for the benefit of the dead as well as the living. The proper places for the celebration of this holy institution are in Zion and in her stakes and in Jerusalem, to be administered under the direction and by the authority of him whom God ordains to hold the keys of the sealing powers among His people upon the earth. This ordinance, like baptisms for the dead, and numerous other ordinances, belongs more properly to the house of the Lord, and should be attended to therein as soon as the same can be built.
If a husband has lost his wife by death before he had the opportunity of attending to this holy ordinance and securing her as his lawful wife for eternity, then it is the duty of the second wife, first, to be sealed or married to the husband for and in the name of the deceased wife for all eternity, and secondly, to be married for time and eternity, herself, to the same man. Thus by this holy ordinance both the dead and the living wife will be his in the eternal worlds.
But if, previously to marriage for eternity, a woman lose her husband by death and marry a second, and if her first husband was a good man, then it is the duty of her second husband to be married to her for all eternity, not for himself, but in the name of her deceased husband, while he, himself, can only be married to her for time; and he is obliged to enter into a covenant to deliver her up with all her children to her deceased husband in the morning of the first resurrection. In this case, the second husband would have no wife only for time, neither could he retain his children in the eternal worlds, for they, according to the law of Heaven, would be given up to the wife and her first husband. Therefore, it would be the duty of the second husband to marry a second wife for time and eternity; for by marrying her for time, he could raise up an offspring which would bear up his name not only on the earth, but, with their mother, the would be legally his in the resurrection. The husband, in this case, must necessarily have two wives living at the same time, or else be deprived of a wife and family in the eternal state.
If a widower marry a widow, and each desires to have his or her former partner in the next world; then it is necessary that there should be three ceremonies of marriage: first, that which secures the widower to his deceased wife, second, that which secures the widow to her deceased husband, and third, that which constitutes the widower and widow husband and wife for time only. In this case, as in all others, the children in the resurrection go into the same family with the mother, the reason of this is, because the woman can only have a limited number of children here in this life, while the man, not being limited by the law of God to one wife, can have many children; therefore, it is not according to the order of Heaven, that the few children which a woman can have, should be taken from her, providing that she has a husband for eternity.
If the husband and wife both die in this church, before they have secured each other for eternity, then it is the duty of their kindred or friends in the church to attend to the holy ordinance of marriage in their behalf, that what is done for them by the living, according to the ordinance and authority of Heaven, may be recorded in the sacred archives in their behalf in the day when the records or books shall be opened; for then it shall be done for them, according to their works, and the works of their friends who have acted for them, and the works of the priesthood whose acts are recorded on earth and in Heaven. God will in that day acknowledge the authority which he has ordained, and the works that have been performed in His name, and according to His word.
If husbands or wives die before they have the opportunity of being baptized into this church, then it is necessary, before the ordinance of marriage can be administered in their behalf, that the living should attend to baptisms, and confirmations, and ordinations, and washings, and annointings, and all other institutions ordained of God, for and in the name of the deceased, and last of all the sealing powers of marriage and the blessings connected therewith, that the dead may in all things be justified, and sanctified, and exalted, and glorified, and made kings, and priests, and Gods, through the same laws and ordinances as the living; they being agents in the world of spirits to receive or to reject that which is done for them, the same as the living.
In like manner, our progenitors, back from generation to generation, will have the privilege of redemption, and of exaltation, and of wives and children through the keys of the everlasting priesthood sent down from Heaven, and conferred upon the living for the salvation of the nations on earth, and of the generations of the dead, that all in time and in eternity both in the flesh and out of the flesh that will hear and receive the same, may be gathered in one and be glorified together and made perfect in one: and thus shall all generations both those in Heaven and those upon the earth, as well as those redeemed from prison, be united and welded together by their appropriate links, under Adam the grand Patriarch of all generations, the Prince of all, and the father of all, under the counsel and direction of the Holy One who is from all eternity, the Father of lights, who is in all, and over all, and through all things, the life and glory of all things, and the power by which all things will be governed, whether they be patriarchs or families, principalities or kingdoms, thrones or dominions; all will bow in humble reverence before Him and give Him glory for ever and ever.
The husband is the head of the family, and it is his duty to govern his wife or wives and children according to the law of righteousness; and it is the duty of his wives to be subject unto him in all things even as the church is subject unto Christ. This is clearly revealed in the declaration of the Lord to Eve immediately after the fall. It was said unto her, ‘Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.’ (Gen. 3:16.) This divine institution in the order of family government was intended as an everlasting order to be continued in all generations. Each wife should seek counsel from her husband, and obey the same with all meekness and patience in all things. This order of things is only applicable in the families of the righteous; for God has nothing to do with the families of the wicked, only to bring them to judgment for all their wicked deeds. But the families of the righteous are under the most sacred obligations to give the most earnest heed to all the counsels of the head of the family: and he is bound by the heaviest responsibilities to counsel with sobriety, meekness, wisdom, and prudence, exercising forbearance, patience, and long-suffering, showing mercy and compassion when it is required, but to be strict and unyielding in the enforcement of all things calculated for the good of the family; he should never suffer himself to be moved to the right hand nor to the left from the principles of righteousness either by the smiles or tears of wives or children. He should be fixed and immovable as the throne of Heaven in every right and holy principle. But when he can in righteousness yield to the desires of his family, let him do so, and by kindness and love nourish and cherish them, as the Lord does the church; and in so doing, they will love and honor him as a husband and a father.
The wife should never follow her own judgment in preference to that of her husband; for if her husband desires to do right, but errs in judgment, the Lord will bless her in endeavoring to carry out his counsels; for God has placed him at the head, and though he may err in judgment, yet God will not justify the wife in disregarding his instructions and counsels; for greater is the sin of rebellion, than the errors which arise for the want of judgment; therefore, she would be condemned for suffering her will to arise against his. Be obedient, and God will cause all things to work for good; and He will correct the errors of the husband in due time by the authorities of the priesthood; and if he govern his family in unrighteousness, and the wife is obedient, the sin will be upon his head, and if he repent not, when he is reproved, he will be disfellowshipped, after which, the woman is not under the same obligations to abide by all his councils, as in the days of his righteousness. As we have already observed, the law of strict obedience on the part of the wife and children is only applicable in families who are in the church of God, and in full fellowship. Rebellion in families is as sinful as rebellion against the authorities ordained in the church; and a wife will lose the spirit of God in refusing to obey the counsel of her husband, just the same as members of the church would in rebelling against the counsels imparted to them by the priesthood.
Family government is the first order of government established on the earth. The different members of a family should seek to be one in all things; for if they are not one, how can it be expected that different families can become one? If the members of the same family will not be subject to the order, ordained of God for their government, they certainly could not be united with other families under the government of the priesthood with any expectation of preserving peace. God designs to make all the families of Heaven one with the families of the righteous upon the earth. In order to accomplish this, the most perfect order of family government must be adopted. Husbands must govern their wives and children in righteousness, and wives and children must learn to honor and respect the counsels of the head of the family. And when every family become one in all things, they will be prepared to unite themselves together under a more general form of government.” (Orson Pratt, “Celestial Marriage,” The Seer 1(9):140-144, Sep., 1853)
6 Oct.: Power to quorums following endowment in Nauvoo.
“You, brethren, who received your blessings and endowments in the temple that was built in Nauvoo, have been made witnesses of the wisdom and power that have gone forth to the nations of the earth from that place, and of the power that was realized in the quorums of the priesthood; no tide of oppression could be raised powerful enough to bear down the authorities of God’s kingdom; [Compare to the rhetoric following the Manifesto.] we see the wicked who came to rule us turned back to their own place, and the Priesthood appears greater than the powers of earth. The powers of the Priesthood must be made manifest before the eyes of all the world, and become transcendently above every other influence.” (Franklin D. Richards, 6 Oct., 1853; JD 1:321; also MS 16(2):37, 14 Jan., 1854)
“You can bear witness, that the Spirit of God has been poured out in richer abundance within the past few years, or since the brethren received their blessings in the temple at Nauvoo, and in this place.” (F. D. Richards, 6 Oct., 1853; General Conference Minutes, MS 16(2):21, 14 Jan., 1854)
9 Oct.: Gentiles to be adopted into Israel.
“Those who are Gentiles in our midst, have numbered themselves with Israel through the ordinances of the gospel and all the Gentiles who will come in the future, can be adopted, and become Israel; for Israel has been scattered among the people, and nationally speaking, all are Gentiles.” (Brigham Young, 9 Oct., 1853; Collier, TPBY 3:191)
26 Oct.: Gunnison massacre: garments on one of the dead.
“[Anson Call account of the Gunnison Massacre] Four soldiers made their escape and returned to Capt. Morrison’s company, a distance of 30 miles. Morrison immediately repaired to the scene of action and found the bodies stripped perfectly naked except Bro. Potter, who had his garments on.” (JH 26 Oct., 1853)
Oct.: Kings and Priests.
“The Kingly authority is not separate and distinct from the Priesthood, but merely a branch or portion of the same. The Priestly authority is universal, having power over all things; the Kingly authority until perfected is limited to the kingdoms placed under its jurisdiction: the former appoints and ordains the latter; but the latter never appoints and ordains the former: the first controls the laws of nature, and exercises jurisdiction over the elements, as well as over men; the last controls men only, and administers just and righteous laws for their government. Where the two are combined and the individual perfected, he has almighty power both as a King and as a Priest; both offices are then merged in one. The distinctions then, will be merely in the name and not in the authority: either as a King or a Priest he will then have power and dominion over all things, and reign over all. Both titles, combined, will then not give him any more power than either one singly. It is evident that the distinctions of title are only expressive of the condition of things prior to the glorification and perfection of the persons who hold the Priesthood; for when they are perfected, they will have power to act in every branch of authority by virtue of the great, and almighty, and eternal Priesthood which they hold: they can then sway their sceptres as Kings; rule as Princes, minister as Apostles; officiate as Teachers; or, act in the humblest or most exalted capacity. There is no branch of the Priesthood so low that they cannot condescend to officiate therein; none so high, that they cannot reach forth the arm of power and control the same.” (Orson Pratt, “Power and Eternity of the Priesthood,” in The Seer 1(10):145, Oct., 1853)
Nov.: Non-tithepayers not to be allowed in temples.
“And let every Saint remember that after he has given one-tenth of all he possesses, he must still continue to give each year one-tenth of his income; whether such income arises from labour, business, increase of stock, or in any other way; one-tenth thereof is the Lord’s, and should be given to him every year. How many of the Saints in our field of labour are delinquents? How many have failed to comply with the word of the Lord in regard to the payment of their tithing? Let them remember also that those whose names are not found on the tithing Books, as having paid up the full amount of their tithing, can in no wise be permitted to enter the holy temple and receive their endowments; those great and holy temple ordinances, instituted from before the foundation of the world, as the only means by which the Saints can be exalted to the fulness of celestial glory, will be withheld from them, until the debt is cancelled: it is a debt which you owe the Lord; and it is for your good to pay it: as for the faithful servants of God, it matters not to them whether you pay your tithing or not; the Church can get along without it: it is only for your own good that you are exhorted to obey the Lord in this thing, knowing that if you fail, you cannot receive the blessing.” (Orson Pratt, “Second Epistle of Orson Pratt, To the Saints scattered throughout the United States and British Provinces,” The Seer 1(11):164, Nov., 1853)
7 Dec.: Sealed to an old maid.
“I forgot to state that while at American Creek I had the satisfaction to witness the triumph of Mormonism over the traditions of our fathers for George A. [Smith] sealed Arza Adams to an old maid aged 48 as withered and forbidding as 4 Doz. years of celibacy might natturally be supposed to indicate. She joyfully took his hand and consented to be part of himself as number two. Thus entering into a respectible state of matrimony under auspicious circumstances when nothing except the privileges of Mormonism would have permitted” (Hosea Stout diary, 7 Dec., 1853)
31 Dec.: Washing of feet by Heber C. Kimball
“I received my washings & Anointings sealings And Endowments under the hand of President Brigham Young. I received the washing of feet under the hand of President Heber C. Kimball.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, summary entry following 31 Dec., 1853)
Endowments to be done in basement.
“Inelegant and ultimately as impractical as it was, the adobe proposal was adopted. Angell’s first drawing, a ground plan of the basement dated 1853 (figure 37), indicates that the exterior wall was to have been constructed of mud, straw, and pebbles. The adobe building was apparently never started, for it was demonstrated that the foundations could not support a high wall. Thereupon granite was substituted. The great value placed upon durability is shown by the Mormons’ selection of granite, the hardest stone, as a substitute, even though it had to be hauled from the mountains nineteen miles away, and by the tremendous thickness of the walls at their base–eight feet of solid rock.
The disposition of the basement rooms as shown on the 1853 plan was similar to Nauvoo, with a large oval font in the center and small rooms at the sides, though the rooms at either end now occupied the entire width of the basement. The rooms north and south of the font were intended for donning the ritual robes and for the preliminary washings and anointings. The larger chambers were to be for the giving of endowments during the dramatic representation of the creation story, thus concentrating the entire ritual in the basement.” (Laurel B. Andrew, The Early Temples of the Mormons, pp. 100-102)
Similarity to Nauvoo Temple.
“The interior of the [Salt Lake] temple has undergone considerable alteration since Angell drew up his plans, but in its original state it would have been very similar to the temple in Illinois. Each hall was to have the required double set of pulpits, and a mezzanine story above each hall was to have eight rooms on either side, presumably to serve as meeting rooms and offices. No information was given in the descriptions about the decoration of the interior, probably because the architect realized that it would be some time before any interior furnishings would be needed.” (Laurel B. Andrew, The Early Temples of the Mormons, p. 105)
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, Held in Great Salt Lake City, April 6th, 1853.
6 Apr.: “Wednesday, April 6, 1853, could not have dawned a more lovely day, or have been more satisfactory to Saints or Angels. The distant vallies sent forth their inhabitants, this valley swarmed forth its thousands, and a more glorious sight has not been seen for generations than at Great Salt Lake City this day.
The Deseret National flag was unfurled to the breeze. The Nauvoo Brass Band, Captain Ballo’s Band, and the Military Band, enlivened the air with their sweetest strains. The Silver Greys made a venerable appearance, and the minute men, true to their duty, were at their posts at an early hour. The police, under the efficient management of Captain Hardy, were at their posts at the time appointed; and the countenances of the Saints were as glad and cheerful as though each had been favoured with the visitation of an angel. So opened the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Great Salt Lake City, which was called to order in the Tabernacle, by President Young, at ten A.M.
PRESENT.–Of the First Presidency. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards.
Presiding Patriarch. John Smith.
Of the Quorum of the Twelve. O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt, John Taylor, W. Woodruff, E. T. Benson, G. A. Smith, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, L. Snow, E. Snow, and Franklin D. Richards.
Of the Presidents of the Seventies. J. Young, L. W. Hancock, Z. Pulsipher, H. Herriman, B. L. Clapp, A. P. Rockwood, and J. M. Grant.
Presidency of the High Priests’ Quorum. John Young, R. Cahoon, and G. B. Wallace.
President of the Stake. David Fullmer.
High Council of Zion, Presidency of the Elders’ Quorum.
Presiding Bishop. Edward Hunter.
Clerk of Conference. Thomas Bullock.
Reporter. G. D. Watt.
PRESIDENT YOUNG made a few introductory remarks to the Saints; said that in a few years ‘we may have a place sufficiently large to accommodate the Saints, although, twenty-three years ago, the Church was organized with only six members.’
Choir sung ‘On mountain tops in latter days,’ &c.
Prayer by John Taylor. Choir sung ‘Come all ye sons of Zion,’ &c.
The ‘order of the day’ was next read by the Clerk.
PRESIDENT YOUNG rejoiced on opening the Conference under such favourable auspices.
The procession then formed at the vestry door in the following order–
1st. Martial music. Colours.
2nd. Nauvoo Brass Band. “
3rd. Ballo’s Band. “
4th. Captain Pettegrew “
with relief guards.
5th. Singers.
6th. First President and Counsellors, and aged
Patriarch.
7th. The Twelve Apostles, first Presidency of the Seventies, and President and Counsellors of the Elders’ Quorum.
8th. President of the High Priests’ Quorum, and Counsellors, in connexion with the President of the Stake, and the High Council.
9th. Presiding Bishops, with his Council, and the Presidents of the lesser Priesthood, and their Council.
10th. Architects and workmen selected for the day, with banner, representing ‘Zion’s Workmen.’
11th. Captain Merrill, with relief guard, in
uniform.
The procession then marched through the lines of guards to the south-east corner of the Temple ground, the singers taking their position in the centre, the Nauvoo Brass Band on the east bank, Captain Ballo’s Band on the west bank, and the Martial Band on the mound south-west. Captains Pettegrew, Hardy, and Merril, with their commands, occupying the front of the bank (which was sixteen feet deep,) and moving from corner to corner with the laying of the several stones, prevented an undue rush of the people, which might, by an excavation, have endangered the lives of many, when Presidents Young, Kimball, and Richards, with Patriarch John Smith, proceeded to lay the south-east Corner Stone, and ascended the top thereof, when the choir sung the following song–
Deep in this holy ground
These corner stones are laid;
Rejoicing thousands round,
O God! implore thine aid,
That Zion now may prospered be,
And rear a Temple unto Thee.
How long before thy throne
Shall holy martyrs bleed?
How long shall spirits groan,
And angels mercy plead?
Full long we’ve toiled, full long have bled,
To bring redemption to our dead.
Here let thy name be known,
Thy blessings manifest,
That men thy truth may own,
And in thy courts be blessed,
All nations feel thy power divine,
And come and worship at thy shrine.
A voice from out the ground
Is heard in accents low,
And spirits, whispering round,
The secret fain would know–
The time! The time! The long sought hour,
The time decreed for Zion’s power.
When heaven’s royal line
Shal rule this lower sphere,
And Priests and Kings divine
In robes of light appear,
And Saints and Angels, throned in might,
Submerge the earth in endless light;
While heights and depths combine
In one harmonious song,
And in full chorus join
The anthem echo long–
‘Tis free! ‘Tis free! The world is free!
The Saints have gained the victory.
From PRESIDENT YOUNG was then read upon the stone, the following
ORATION.
This morning we have assembled on one of the most solemn, interesting, joyful, and glorious occasions, that ever has transpired, or will transpire among the children of men, while the earth continues in its present organization, and is occupied for its present purposes. And I congratulate my brethren and sisters that it is our unspeakable privilege to stand here this day, and minister before the Lord, on an occasion which has caused the tongues and pens of Prophets to speak and write for many scores of centuries which are past.
When the Lord Jesus Christ tabernacled in the flesh–when he had left the most exalted regions of his Father’s glory, to suffer and shed his blood for sinning, fallen creatures, like ourselves, and the people crowded around him, a certain man said unto him, ‘Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay HIS head.’ And we find no record that this man followed him any farther.
Why had not the Son of Man where to lay his head? Because his Father had no house upon the earth–none dedicated to Him, and preserved for his exclusive use, and the benefit of His obedient children.
The Ark containing the covenant–or the Ark of the Covenant in the days of Moses, containing the sacred records, was moved from place to place in a cart. And so sacred was that Ark, if a man stretched forth his hand to steady it, when the cart jostled, he was smitten, and died. And would to God that all who attempt to do the same in this day, figuratively speaking, might share the same fate. And they will share it sooner or later, if they do not keep their hands, and tongues too, in their proper places, and stop dictating the order of the Gods of the Eternal Worlds.
When the Ark of the Covenant rested, or when the children of Israel had an opportunity to rest, (for they were mobbed and harrassed somewhat like the Latter-day Saints,) the Lord, through Moses, commanded a Tabernacle to be built, wherein should rest and be stationed, the Ark of the Covenant. And particular instructions were given by revelation to Moses, how every part of said Tabernacle should be constructed, even to the curtains–the number thereof, and of what they should be made; and the covering, and the wood for the boards, and for the bars, and the court, and the pins, and the vessels, and the furniture, and everything pertaining to the Tabernacle. Why did Moses need such a particular revelation to build a Tabernacle? Because he had never seen one, and did not know how to build it without revelation, without a pattern.
Thus the Ark of the Covenant continued until the days of David, King of Israel, standing or occupying a Tabernacle, or tent. But to David, God gave commandment that he should build Him a house, wherein He, Himself, might dwell, or which He might visit, and in which He might commune with His servants when He pleased.
From the day the children of Israel were led out of Egypt to the days of Solomon, Jehovah had no resting place upon the earth, (and for how long a period before that day, the history is unpublished,) but walked in the tent or Tabernacle, before the Ark, as it seemed Him good, having no place to lay His head.
David was not permitted to build the house which he was commanded to build, because he was a ‘man of blood,’ that is, he was beset by enemies on every hand, and had to spend his days in war and bloodshed to save Israel, (much as the Latter-day Saints have done, only he had the privilege to defend himself and people from mobocrats and murderers, while we have hitherto been denied that privilege,) and, consequently, he had no time to build a house unto the Lord, but commanded his son Solomon, who succeeded him on the throne, to erect the Temple at Jerusalem, which God had required at his hands.
The pattern of this Temple, the length, and breadth, and height of the inner and outer courts, with all the fixtures thereunto appertaining, were given to Solomon by revelation, through the proper source. And why was this revelation-pattern necessary? Because that Solomon had never built a Temple, and did not know what was necessary in the arrangement of the different apartments, any better than Moses did what was needed in the Tabernacle.
This Temple, called Solomon’s Temple, because Solomon was the master workman, was completed sometime previous to the appearance of the Son of Man on the earth, in the form of the babe of Bethlehem, and had been dedicated as the House of the Lord, and accepted as a finished work by the Father, who commanded it to be built, that His Son might have a resting place on the earth, when he should enter on his mission.
Why, then, did Jesus exclaim to the man who volunteered to follow him wheresoever he went, that ‘The Son of Man had not where to lay his head?’ Jesus knew the pretended Saint and follower to be a hypocrite, and that if he told him plainly that he would not fare as well as the birds and foxes, he would leave him at once, and that would save Him much trouble.
But how could Jesus’ saying, that he had ‘not where to lay His head,’ be true? Because the house which his Father had commanded to be built for his reception, although completed, had become polluted, and hence the saying, ‘Mine house is a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves,’ and he made a scourge of cords, and drove the money-changers, and dove-sellers, and faro-gamblers, all out of his house, and overthrew their tables; but that did not purify the house, so that he could sleep in it, for a holy thing dwelleth not in an unholy Temple.
If Jesus could not lay his head in an unholy, polluted temple, how can the Latter-day Saints expect that the Holy Spirit will take and abide its residence with them, in their tabernacles and temples of clay, unless they keep themselves pure, spotless, and undefiled?
It is no wonder that the Son of Man, soon after his resurrection from the tomb, ascended to his Father, for he had no place on earth to lay his head; his house still remaining in the possession of his enemies, so that no one had the privilege of purifying it, if they had the disposition, and otherwise the power, to do it, and the occupants thereof were professors in name, but hypocrits and apostates from whom no good thing could be expected.
Soon after the ascension of Jesus, through mobocracy, martyrdom, and apostacy, the Church of Christ became extinct from the earth, the Man-child–the Holy Priesthood was received up into heaven from whence it came, and we hear no more of it on the earth, until the angels restored it to Joseph Smith, by whose ministry the Church of Jesus Christ was restored, re-organized on earth, twenty-three years ago, this day, with the title of ‘Latter-day Saints,’ to distinguish them from the Former-day Saints.
Soon after, the Church, through our beloved Prophet Joseph, was commanded to build a Temple to the Most High, in Kirtland, Ohio, and this was the next House of the Lord we hear of on the earth, since the days of Solomon’s Temple. Joseph not only received revelation and commandment to build a Temple, but he received a pattern also, as did Moses for the Tabernacle, and Solomon for his Temple; for without a pattern he could not know what was wanting, having never seen one, and not having experienced its use.
Without revelation, Joseph could not know what was wanting, any more than any other man, and, without commandment, the Church were too few in numbers, too weak in faith, and too poor in purse, to attempt such a mighty enterprise. But by means of all these stimulants, a mere handful of men, living on air, and a little hominy and milk, and often salt or no salt when milk could not be had; the great Prophet Joseph, in the stone quarry, quarrying rock with his own hands; and the few then in the Church, following his example of obedience and diligence wherever most needed; with labourers on the walls, holding the sword in one hand to protect themselves from the mob, while they placed the stone and moved the trowel with the other, the Kirtland Temple–the second House of the Lord, that we have any published record of on the earth, was so far completed as to be dedicated. And those first Elders who helped to build it, received a portion of their first endowments, or we might say more clearly, some of the first, or introductory, or initiatory ordinances, preparatory to an endowment.
The preparatory ordinances there administered, though accompanied by the ministration of angels, and the presence of the Lord Jesus, were but a faint similitude of the ordinances of the House of the Lord in their fulness; yet many, through the instigation of the devil, thought they had received all, and knew as much as God; they have apostatized, and gone to hell. But be assured, brethren, there are but few, very few of the Elders of Israel, now on earth, who know the meaning of the word endowment. To know, they must experience; and to experience, a Temple must be built.
Let me give you the definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the keys words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.
Who has received and understands such an endowment, in this assembly? You need not answer. Your voices would be few and far between, yet the keys to these endowments are among you, and thousands have received them, so that the devil, with all his aids, need not suppose he can again destroy the Holy Priesthood from the earth, by killing a few, for he cannot do it. God has set His hand, for the last time, to redeem His people, the honest in heart, and Lucifer cannot hinder Him.
*** Before these endowments could be given at Kirtland, the Saints had to flee before mobocracy. And, by toil, and daily labour, they found places in Missouri, where they laid the corner stones of Temples, in Zion and her Stakes, and then had to retreat to Illinois, to save the lives of those who could get away alive from Missouri, where fell the Apostle David W. Patten, with many like associates, and where were imprisoned in loathsome dungeons, and fed on human flesh, Joseph and Hyrum, and many others. But before all this had transpired, the Temple, at Kirtland, had fallen into the hands of wicked men, and by them been polluted, like the Temple at Jerusalem, and consequently it was disowned by the Father and the Son.
At Nauvoo, Joseph dedicated another Temple, the third on record. He knew what was wanting, for he had previously given most of the prominent individuals then before him their endowment. He needed no revelation, then, of a thing he had long experienced, any more than those now do, who have experienced the same things. It is only where experience fails, that revelation is needed.
Before the Nauvoo Temple was completed, Joseph was murdered–murdered at sun light, under the protection of the most noble government that then existed, and that now exists, on our earth. Has his blood been atoned for? No! And why? A martyr’s blood to true religion was never atoned for on our earth. No man, or nation of men, without the Priesthood, has power to make atonement for such sins. The souls of all such, since the days of Jesus, are ‘under the altar,’ and are crying to God, day and night, for vengeance. And shall they cry in vain? God forbid! He has promised He will hear them in His own due time, and recompense a righteous reward.
But what of the Temple in Nauvoo? By the aid of sword in one hand, and trowel and hammer in the other, with fire arms at hand, and a strong band of police, and the blessings of heaven, the Saints, through hunger, and thirst, and weariness, and watchings, and prayings, so far completed the Temple, despite the devices of the mob, that many received a small portion of their endowment, but we know of no one who received it in its fulness. And then to save the lives of all the Saints from cruel murder, we removed westward, and being led by the all-searching eye of the Great Jehovah, we arrived at this place.
Of our journey hither, we need say nothing, only, God led us. Of the sufferings of those who were compelled to, and did leave Nauvoo in the winter of 1846, we need say nothing. Those who experienced it know it, and those who did not, to tell them of it would be like exhibiting a beautiful painting to a blind man.
We will not stop to tell you of the sufferings of widows and orphans on Omaha lands, while their husbands and fathers were traversing the burning plains of the South, to fight the battles of a country which had banished them from civilization, for they secured the land on which we dwell, from our nation’s foe; exposed the gold of California, and turned the world upside down. All these things are before you–you know them, and we need not repeat them.
While these things were transpiring with the Saints in the wilderness, the Temple at Nauvoo passed into the hands of the enemy, who polluted it to that extent the Lord not only ceased to occupy it, but he loathed to have it called by His name, and permitted the wrath of its possessors to purify it by fire, as a token of what will speedily fall on them and their habitations, unless they repent.
But what are we here for, this day? To celebrate the birth-day of our religion! To lay the foundation of a Temple to the Most High God, so that when His Son, our Elder Brother, shall again appear, he may have a place where he can lay his head, and not only spend a night or a day, but find a place of peace, that he may stay till he can say, I am satisfied.
Brethren, shall the Son of Man be satisfied with our proceedings this day? Shall he have a house on the earth which he can call his own? Shall he have place where he can lay his head, and rest over night, and tarry as long as he pleases, and be satisfied and pleased with his accommodations?
These are questions for you to answer. If you say yes, you have got to do the work, or it will not be done. We do not want any whiners about this Temple. If you cannot commence cheerfully, and go through the labour of the whole building cheerfully, start for California, and the quicker the better. Make you a golden calf, and worship it. If your care for the ordinances of salvation, for yourselves, your living, and dead, is not first and foremost in your hearts, in your actions, and in everything you possess, go! Pay your debts, if you have any, and go in peace, and prove to God and all His Saints that you are what you profess to be, by your acts–a God of Gods, and know more than He that made you.
But if you are what you profess to be, do your duty–stay with the Saints, pay your Tithing, and be prompt in paying, as you are in feeding your family; and the Temple, of which we have now laid the South-east Corner Stone, will arise in beauty and grandeur, in a manner and time which you have not hitherto known or contemplated.
The Saints of these vallies have grown in riches, and abundance of the comforts of life, in a manner hitherto unparalleled on the page of history, and if they will do by their Heavenly Father as He has done by them, soon will this Temple be enclosed. But if you go in for a speculation with passers by, as many have hitherto done, you will not live to see the Topstone of this Temple laid; and your labours and toils for yourselves and friends, dead and alive, will be worse than though you had had no existence.
We dedicate this, the South-east Corner Stone of this Temple, to the Most High God. May it remain in peace till it has done its work, and until He who has inspired our hearts to fulfil the prophecies of His holy Prophets, that the House of the Lord should be reared in the ‘Tops of the Mountains,’ shall be satisfied, and say, It is enough. And may every tongue, pen, and weapon, that may rise against this, or any other Corner Stone of this building, feel the wrath and scourging of an incensed God! May sinners in Zion be afraid, and fearfulness surprise the hypocrite, from this hour. And may all who do not feel to say Amen, go speedily to that long night of rest from which no sleeper will awake, till roused by the trump of the Second Resurrection.
PRESIDENT KIMBALL offered the following
PRAYER.
O God, the Eternal Father, in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we ask thee to look upon us at this time in thy tender mercy. Thou beholdest that thy servants, Brigham and his Council, have laid the Chief Corner Stone of a holy House, which we are about to erect unto thy name. We desire to do it with clean hands and pure hearts before thee, and before thine holy angels.
We thank thee that we are permitted to live in the flesh, and have a place upon thy footstool, and partake daily of the bounties thy hand bestows, for thou are our Father, and Jesus Christ is our elder Brother.
Inasmuch, O Lord, as we desire to erect a House to thy name, that if it seemeth thee good to come and take up thine abode on the earth, thou mayest have a place to lay thy head, we pray thee to assist us to erect it in purity before thee, and the Heavenly hosts.
We ask thee to help us so to conduct ourselves, that all the holy Prophets, the angels of Heaven, with thee and thy Son, may be engaged continually for our welfare, in the work of salvation and Eternal lives. Bless us in this attempt to glorify thee. Bless this portion of the earth we dwell upon–even these vallies of the mountains, which we have consecrated unto thee. Cause them to bring forth the productions of the soil, in rich abundance. Bless the seeds that are placed therein by thy servants and hand-maidens. And inasmuch as they are disposed to do thy work, and erect a Temple to thy name, which is their fixed purpose and determination, let the heavens be gentle over them. May the earth be sanctified for their good, and the seeds they throw into it yield to them a hundred fold in return. We pray thee to bless such men and women–may the blessings of the Almighty richly attend them, and multiply them in their families, in their herds and flocks, in strength and in health, in salvation, and in eternal lives.
We also pray for those who do not feel favourably disposed to thy work–may thy blessings not attend them, but may they go backward and not forward, may they wither and not increase, and may the strength that they might have received, through their faithfulness to thy work, be multiplied and divided amongst these thy servants, who are determined to keep thy commandments, and sanctify their affections unto thee.
Look upon thy servant Brigham, O Lord, and let thy Holy Spirit rest mightily upon him, this day, and from henceforth. May he live to dictate the erection of thy house, see the top-stone brought on with rejoicing, and administer the keys of salvation and eternal life unto his brethren therein. Bless his Council in common with him, may they live to a good old age, and glorify God in all their days; may they never want for food and raiment, for fathers and mothers, for wives and children, and for the power of thy Spirit to inspire them, and those thou hast given them.
Pour out thy Spirit upon thy servants, the Twelve Apostles; may thy power abide uopn them, to qualify them for the responsible calling unto which thou hast called them. Also, in connexion with them, let thy Spirit rest upon the Quorums of the Seventies, the High Priests, the Bishops, the High Council, the Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons; and upon every faithful member of thy Church in these vallies of the mountains, and in all the world.
Now, O God, we dedicate this Stone to thee. May this spot be holy, and all that pertaineth to it. And inasmuch as there shall be an enemy, or a person that is evil disposed towards thy House, and they shall endeavour to lay snares for the feet of thy people, may they be caught in their own net, be overwhelmed in their own dilemma, and have no power, nor influence in the least, to hurt thy Saints from this time henceforth and for ever. May the power of the mighty God of Jacob fortify thy servants, enabling them to execute righteousness before thee the Lord our God.
Hear us, O Lord, for we dedicate this, the South-east Corner Stone, unto thee, praying that it may sleep in peace, be preserved from decay, for it is the Chief Corner Stone of the House we shall rear to thy name. May the same blessings attend the other three Corner Stones, and all the works thy servants shall set their hands to do, for this time henceforth and for ever.
Bless the architect, the superintendent, the forement of the various departments, and all the labourers that shal raise a hand, or move a thing for the erection and perfection of this thine house; and provide for them, their wives, their children, and all that pertains unto them, that they may want for no good or necessary thing, while they are engaged in thy service, and from this time henceforth and for ever.
We dedicate ourselves unto Thee, with our wives, our children, our flocks, and our herds, with all the settlements and possessions that pertain to thy people in these vallies of the mountains. And all the praise, and the glory, we will ascribe to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Choir sung the
TEMPLE.
By Miss E. R. Snow.
Our Era this day numbers three years and twenty,
And lo! a great people inhabit the West;
The Lord God of Abr’am, the great God of battles,
Who leads forth to vict’ry, appointed our rest.
Chorus
The Temple! the Temple! we’ll build up the Temple-A court of salvation, iniquity’s rod,
A glorious beacon, a light on the mountains,
A portal for angels, a threshold for God.
The stones of the corner–The Temple’s foundation!
In peace, in the City of Brigham are laid;
In the chambers of Israel, the ground that is sacred,
Where righteousness triumphs, where truth is obey’d.
The Temple, &c.
Glad tidings of joy to the spirits in prison,
To the Saints of all countries and Isles of the sea,
For a Temple of God in the midst of the mountains,
And joy in the courst of the highest will be.
The Temple &c.
Rejoice, all ye meek, all ye contrite in spirit,
For Zion’s redemption is now drawing near,
And the vail will be rent, and the Saints resurrected,
The Kingdom in heaven will shortly appear.
The Temple &c.
The Lord whom ye seek will soon come to His Temple,
The covenant messenger whom ye desire;
He’ll purify Israel as gold in the furnace,
Consuming the dross with unquenchable fire.
The Temple &c.
Sing aloud hallelujah to God the Eternal,
To him be all excellence, glory, and worth,
And blessed by Brigham, and Heber, and Willard,
His authoriz’d agency here upon earth.
Chorus.
The Temple! the Temple! we’ll build up the Temple-A court of salvation, iniquity’s rod,
A glorious beacon, a light on the mountains,
A portal for angels, a threshold for God.
The procession again formed, and proceeded to the south-west corner, when the Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter, his Council, and the various Presidencies of the lesser Priesthood, with their associates, laid the South-west Corner Stone, when, from its top, Bishop Hunter delivered the following
ORATION.
Brethren and Friends–This, the South-west Corner Stone of this Temple, in Salt Lake Valley, and Utah Territory, has been laid by the Aaronic Priesthood, which is in connection with the Melchisedec Priesthood forever–to connect those two Priesthoods to the building up of the Kingdom of the last days, and exalt mankind on the earth, and in the presence of God, and prepare for the coming of Christ our Redeemer.
The past, the present, and the future–our history, our destiny, recur with redoubled force upon our minds, upon occasions like this. In honour to the great God we are here assembled. To the valleys of the mountains we have been led by His Almighty power and watchful guidance. We have been delivered from our enemies, from our oppressors, by His unerring wisdom, and surpassing kindness.
Never before could the Saints look around, and behold so glorious, so prosperous a prospect before them, for the accomplishment of the enterprise which we this day commence. Although peace may temporarily have smiled around, yet it was like the lone traveller, struggling to make his way through the scarcely incrustated lava, yet warm, amid the craters of the momentarily extinct volcany, which had only ceased to pour forth its liquid fire, to gather renewed and increased energy, and adain send forth its lurid flame, molten fury, and devastation, to all around. Thus has it ever been with this people–in the midst of enemies have they struggled, to build up cities, wherein they might inhabit; erect temples unto the name of the God whom they serve, wherein to worship, and receive their holy anointings and endowments. But no sooner have they commenced, than have also commenced the howlings of the myrmidons of Satan’s kingdom, crying, as they did before Pilate, when they murdered the Saviour of the world, ‘away with him! away with him! crucify him! crucify him!’ And they have poured out their wrath–they have murdered the Saints, driven them from city to city, from land to land, dispossessed them of their inheritances, destroyed their cities, their temples, and slain their Prophets.
As it was in the days of our Saviour and his APostles, so has it been in our day. They have used every stratagem, every exertion, to destroy the Priesthood from the face of the earth. They were successful then–will they be so now? Will the authority of the holy and eternal Priesthood of Almighty God, again be driven from the face of the earth? the Prophets and Apostles all slain, and none left in possession of the living oracles of divine truth? No! no!! The might of Jehovah will preserve us. The Lord God will sustain us, and, if so be we should be scattered as hitherto, He will gather us in greater power, greater numbers, with increased ability to perform His work upon the earth.
Let all people, sinners, mobocrats, and devils, learn from experience, that persecution, plunder, robbery, rapine, murder, and expulsion from home and country, will not win. They have effectually tried this plan, and it has as effectually failed, every time. Please take notice! and devise some new scheme the next time, wherein you can feel some assurance, that you may possible succeed, and we have the pleasure of not being plundered, murdered, and disfranchised, in the same old way. Tax your inventive genius, for some broader scheme to destroy God’s people from the face of the earth.
Suppose you try the suggestion of our much esteemed, though distant, learned, very polite, and unsolicited chronicler, Lieutenant Gunnison, ‘of letting us alone severely.’ But I will not make suggestions for you, having great confidence in your ability of changing your mode of operation. When your plans become so futile, weak, and unavailing, as to become stale and uninteresting, I may suggest for you. In the meantime, let the Saints remember the promise President Young made them, uopn the occasion of his breaking the ground for this temple, on the 14th of February last–‘not one of them, who had not been through the fiery ordeal, should lose the privilege, if he continued faithful; he shall not be a whit behind the most exquisite infliction of torture, that any of the Saints have had to endure.’ If you are faithful, you shall have the promised blessing pertaining to those characters who became partakers of the sufferings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
When we look around us, what do we behold? We see the most unmistakeable tokens of prosperity, peace, and plenty; the self evident fruits of high heaven’s protecting care, industry, sobriety, and faith. What else do we behold? Wickedness–the hydra-headed monster, apostacy, dares to lift his head; thieves dare to prowl in our midst.
It seems, that no sooner can the Lord pour out His blessings upon His people, and Zion be favoured for a season, than it becomes occasion for some to kick, and flounder, turning their heel against that beneficent power, unto whom they owe their being, their existence–who has fed them, and nurtured them, and led them, like as He did the Saints of old, all the day long.
What becomes the duty of the Saints under such circumstances? Do you realize that upon yourselves, in a great measure, depends your future prosperity, the prosperity of Zion’s cause, the extension and advancement of the cause of truth in the world? Do you consider that it is your duty to purify and sanctify your hearts before God, to put evil far from you, to resist the allurements, temptations, and devices of Satan, and thus panoplied in the bright armour of integrity, truth, and righteousness, with pure hearts, and clean hands, and arising in the strength, might, and majesty of the great Jehovah, put down iniquity, yea, with an eagle eye, ferret it out, and with a strong arm, hush in eternal silence every ingrate spirit, who profanes, with his unholy presence, the most holy place; who tramples under his feet, as a thing of naught, those covenants, those most solemn obligations, which he has freely made? So shall Israel put away iniquity from their midst, and obtain and retain the favour of the Lord of Hosts.
Do you remember the history of the Gadiantons, as told in the Book of Mormon? We are surrounded by their descendants. Those loathsome, effeminate specimens of humanity, which we daily see in our midst, are their children, low, degraded, sunken to the lowest depths of human existence. We have our location amid their strongholds, where the ruins of their cities, towns, and fortifications, are yet to be seen–they continue unto this day. Shall we, the Saints of the Most High God, who have been the special recipients of the oracles of life and salvation to this generation, to all generations to come, to even those who have preceded us–shall we, through supineness and neglect, permit a foundation to be laid in our midst, for the ultimate triumph of wickedness, apostacy, and every abomination which maketh desolate? I tell you if we do, we need go no farther in the progress of this work, for we shall most probably share the fate of those Gadiantons and their children. Better, far better, would it be for us to stop, and, in the first place, sweep from our midst and from our borders, every vestige of unmitigated wickedness and sin. If we do not put it down, it will put us down. If we do not, when we have the privilege, the opportunity, magnify our calling, fulfil our covenants, the Lord our God will withdraw His Spirit from our midst, as being unworthy and negligent servants.
I am aware that the devil raves and grows angry when the Saints prepare to build a temple, I am aware that he rummages every nook and corner, to gain the ascendancy, seduce away, stir up strife, contention, and to hinder the progress of the work; he seeks to lull into a false security, the vigilance of the Saints; to cool their ardour, check their efforts, and render them fruitless; to cause them to neglect their duties, grow luke-warm and indifferent towards the cause of God.
Brethren, let me exhort you, against these allurements, against this apathy–it will never do, it does not become the Latter-day Saints, whose work rolls upon them as fast as they are able to accomplish it. The Saints pray their Father in heaven to hasten His work, and roll it forth with mighty power.
Do you not know that the heavens are ready to drop with blessings in store for the faithful Saints, if they were ready and able to receive them? The Almighty God is ready to establish His Kingdom uon the earth, in power and majesty, if His people were ready to receive, were prepared to administer therein in holiness, purity, and wisdom.
But are this people ready? No! they are not–their work is preparatory, and I am happy in believing that their progress is onward, that they are advancing toward that unity, faith, and perfection, those good works, and godlike attainments, which shall witness unto the Lord our God, that they are rapidly approximating towards that eventful period, when the Son of Man will appear in his temple, to cheer the hearts of his people.
The Heavens are propitious, and if we do right, the Lord our God will be our friend, bless and prosper us in our endeavours to bring to pass this our preparatory work. We will build a temple unto the name of the might God of Jacob, here in the wilderness of deserts, amid the forest of mountains, upon the foundation which we this day consecrate unto the Lord of Hosts. We will rear a superstructure wherein we can receive the ministrations of angels and holy beings; wherein we can receive instructions, and perform offices for the redemption of our dead; receive keys for the resurrection of the Saints of God; wherein we can meet the spirits of just men made perfect, and again strike hands with the martyred Prophets, Joseph and Hyrum, and all those who have suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus.
We are far more commodiously situated, far better prepared for this work, than ever before, as a people. We have a house wherein we can hold our councils, a tabernacle wherein to worship, storehouses to contain the tithing of the people, and shops, and machinery in full operation.
The wall around the Temple Block will soon secure these grounds from intrusion. We are comparatively free from debt, everything seems favourable for the rapid progress of this work.
Brethren, it depends upon your efforts, your liberality, your faithfulness, whether its progress be slow or fast. We are now ready to bid the Saints ‘come lend us your aid–bring up to the Tithing House of the Lord, your tithings and your consecrations; pay up what you owe, that our hands may be untied, and freed from our remaining indebtedness; that the hearts of the public workmen may rejoice in the blessings and comforts of life.’ Let your liberality be known by your works, and remember that it is your own work you are called upon to perform, and one in which you have the deepest and most abiding interest.
Bring forth the materials for building–stone, lime, and sand; lumber and timber; the pine, the fir, and the cedar; the iron and steel; the silver, gold, and precious stones; to ornament, make beautiful and glorious the place of His presence, whose excellence surpasses the understanding of the children of men. Amen.
Bishop Cordon offered the following
PRAYER
O God, the Eternal Father, we thank thee that we are assembled here this morning, to lay the foundation of another temple to thy name. We ask thee, in the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, to let thy blessing rest upon this, the South West Corner Stone, which has been laid by the presiding Bishop of thy Church, and his Council. Also let thy power and strength rest upon thy servants who shall endeavour to build upon the same–may that spirit of unanimity and peace that pervades our bosoms this morning, rest upon those who shall labour upon this building; may it also rest upon their wives and children, and extend itself throughout the length and breadth of this territory, and the whole world, that the honest in heart may rejoice, and thy Saints be filled with thanksgiving, with praise and adorations to thy great name, for the mercies thou art continually extending unto them.
Especially let thine Elders abroad, whose hearts are panting this day with joy and satisfaction, feel the force and influence of thy Spirit, that so richly rest upon us, that they may take comfort and consolation. Let their lives be preserved, that they may return, and behold a building reared to thy name, and greatly rejoice and adore thee, O God. May their way be opened, that they may move from nation to nation, from city to city, and from habitation to habitation. Let thine angels go before them, and the secret agency of thy Holy Spirit touch the hearts of the people for their good, that thy purposes may soon be accomplished, that Israel may be gathered from the nations of the earth, that light and truth may spread itself, until all the honest in heart rejoice in the principles of freedom, and every band and yoke of the tyrant is snapped and broken asunder, and the knowledge and power of God shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the face of the great deep.
We pray thee to let the petitions of thy servant, which were offered upon the Chief Corner Stone, be answered upon the heads of this people, and may thy blessing and power rest upon him and his brethren, even the First Presidency of thy Church. May they be filled with the spirit of revelation continually, that thy Saints may flourish, thy Kingdom prosper, and thy work roll forth under their guidance, that the day may soon come when Zion shall be respected among the nations, and the Holy Priesthood be the only authority acknowledged, either at home or abroad, on the land or on the sea.
Direct thy people in thy path, that they may be prepared for the accomplishment of thy purposes. Let the Temple for which we are this day laying the Corner Stones, be reared to thy name, and the Top-stone be brought on with shouts of rejoicing before thee. Let every person that shall put forth his hand to prevent this thing from being accomplished, sink into oblivion, and may his power wither like the gourd of Jonah. Let all those who put forth their hands to rear this House, or in any way assist in doing the same, be blessed abundantly in the blessings of heaven, and the blessings of earth. And may all things work together for the good of thy people in all time to come.
We dedicate this Stone, and resign ourselves to thee to use us according to thy pleasure, praying thee to direct our course, and save us eternally in thy celestial Kingdom, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Eighteen minutes past 12, the choir sung
THE CORNER STONE.
Last Valentine was greatly blest–
A valley sacrifice;
The Israelites, like men of God,
Just broke the ground for bliss.
Chorus–We’ll shout a loud hosannah to
The happy days to come,
We’ll take a cup of wine anew,
When all the Saints get home.
We lay the Corner Stones to-day,
To give the Lord a place,
That we may all be sanctified,
Through union, truth, and grace.
We’ll shout, &c.
We’ll rear a Temple to the Lord,
As we have done before;
For tribulation gives us wealth,
And mobbing makes us more.
We’ll shout, &c.
We’ll tithe ourselves as Abraham did–
Who cares for worldly gain?
The pure in heart will always win,
The just forever reign.
We’ll shout, &c.
The persecution we have had,
Like rain upon the ground,
Has softly mellowed every heart,
And made our fruit abound.
We’ll shout, &c.
We claim the promises of old,
Endowed with holy light,
As Saints and Angels always have
In circles robed in white.
We’ll shout, &c.
The message to the nations now
Is sounding every where;
And every messenger can shout,
Behold the Lord is near.
We’ll shout, &c.
As wisdom is the grace of God,
And faith is nothing less,
We’ll use them both as Enoch did,
And live in righteousness.
We’ll shout, &c.
Where little is, there’s little gain’d;
But much to much is given;
With God to guide, we cope with earth–
‘Tis we that make our heaven.
We’ll shout a loud hosannah to
The happy days to come,
We’ll take a cup of wine anew,
When all the Saints get home.
The procession again formed, and moved to the North West Corner Stone, accompanied with martial music, when John Young, President of the High Priests’ Quorum, with his Council, and the President of the Stake, with the High Council, proceeded to lay the Stone. That being done, they ascended the Stone, and President John Young delivered the following
ORATION.
Brethren and Sisters–I have not a written oration to read before you, but shall content myself with simply expressing the feelings that pervade my breast, on this interesting occasion. What I say, will come at once from the fountain of my heart.
I have one thing to say particularly–that this is the best day I ever saw in all my life. I realize that I am greatly blessed, in connection with my brethren and sisters of this Church, that I am permitted to live to see the present day, and to stand upon this rock, which is the North-west Corner Stone of a Temple that is to be built uopn this ground, which stone we have laid in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I firmly believe that, as we stand upon this rock, so is the Church of Latter-day Saints founded upon the rock of eternal ages. My continual prayer and desire are, that we may live to see a Temple built to the name of the Most High God. I feel myself honoured of God and my brethren, in having the opportunity of standing here to-day, in speaking, and realizing what I have, since I came on the Temple ground.
I hope we shall see the Cap-stone brought on with shouts of joy. I believe we shall, if we remain faithful in the cause of truth.
I very well know that, at the commencement of the Temples that have heretofore been built to the name of the Lord, by this people, the devil has always moved his artillery with greater power and activity at that time. This is the foundation of the fourth Temple, that the Latter-day Saints have laid; and I pray that we shall all feel nerved up with power, to accomplish the great and glorious work which we are called to perform.
For my own part, I am sensible that I have not long to stay upon the earth, but I have a great desire to live in connection with my brethren, to see this Temple completed. I believe we shall.
My chief interest in living on the earth is to see the work of the Lord prosper, and to assist all in my power to roll it forth; and why I say this is the best day I ever saw upon the earth, is because the prospects for the advancement of the Kingdom of God are greater now than ever I saw them before in my days. I have always, in all my life, been desirous to see the cause of the Lord prosper on the earth, but more especially so, since I found a true Church founded by the Prophet of God.
We have Prophets among us–a Seer and Revelator, and also Apostles of Jesus Christ. Do I not know that I am standing this day in the presence of the greatest men that are to be found upon the footstool of God? My voice is now sounding in the ears of the greatest men that are this side of eternity, and I know it. If I wold stand before all the kings, potentates, and princes, of the earth, in one general assembly, the comparison would not begin to bear with the present occasion. They are men chosen by the people alone, and destitute of the power of an eternal Priesthood. These are the mighty chieftains of Israel, called and appointed by the Lord of Hosts, clothed with salvation and eternal lives, and sent for a blessing to the faithful.
I am thankful and happy. I have not language sufficient at my command to express, in full, my feelings. If I did not make a written oration, it has fallen to my lot to make a few verbal remarks. I am proud to stand here with my brethren, and pray that the power of the Spirit of God may rest upon His people, that they may prosper exceedingly, and bud and blossom, like a fruitful bough, upon the mountains. I have felt, while these Stones were being laid, that the angels of God were round about us. And may a convoy of them continually attend this holy spot, until all the things we desire to do for the glory of our Heavenly Father, and the extension of His cause on earth, are accomplished, which is my prayer. Amen.
PRAYER BY ELDER WALLACE.
Righteous and merciful God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, we consecrate and dedicate this Stone unto thee, even the North West Corner Stone which we have laid, as part of the foundation of a Temple to be built unto thy great and holy name. We pray thee, O God, to accept this offering from our hands; and may thy peace and blessing be and abide here, that this spot of ground may be holy unto thee, and never be polluted by those who are unholy, or by any unclean thing.
May this foundation be firm as the foundations of the everlasting hills that cannot be moved, that the superstructure which shall be reared upon it may never be shaken, that the people may receive their blessings therein, to qualify them to pass through the vale, into celestial happiness.
We pray thee, O Lord, to let thy peace be upon those who labour upon these works; may their hearts be inspired by the Holy Ghost, to realize that they are working to build a house to thy name, that immortal beings may come and administer in the ordinances of salvation, and teach thy servants things that are beyond the vail, to prepare them to enter into that rest which is prepared and promised to thy Saints. We pray thee to cement this Corner Stone in a bond of indissoluble union with the other three, that they may stand firm as the eternal Priesthood which has been given unto men, even thy servants, that never can be moved out of its place, but will stand, from this time henceforth and for ever.
Bless the people that are congregated together this day: may it be to them a day long to be remembered; let thy Spirit prevail in their midst, and every heart be filled with unutterable joy. Let the visions of eternity be opened unto them, that they may behold things new and precious, and rejoice in the holy principles of the Gospel of God, that has been brought to light in this dispensation, by the administration of angels to thy servants, even in the latter days.
Let our enemies be taken in their own snare, and fall into the pit they dig for thy people. Let confusion come upon them; may they be turned backward, and have no power from this time, henceforth and forever, to prevail against the Saints, and the Lord’s anointed. Inspire the hearts of thy servants that are scattered abroad among the nations of the earth, and upon the Islands of the sea; may their eyes be inclined towards us this day, and let their hearts be lifted up in joy and rejoicing before thee. Strengthen them, and given them great prosperity in their missions, and return them with honour to see the Cap-stone of this Temple brought on with shouting grace unto it.
We now dedicate ourselves, our wives, our children, our flocks and herds, unto thee, O God the Eternal Father, and pray thee to accept of us, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Fifteen minutes to one, the choir sung the following
SONG.
Come, Saints of Latter days,
Come, sing our Father’s praise
For mercies given–
For truth and righteousness,
Mercy and holiness,
Joy, peace, and blessedness,
That come from heaven.
We thank the Lord that we
This joyful prospect see–
A corner stone
Is laid; and on its base
A glorious Temple raise,
Through God’s assisting grace,
That Saints will own.
Come, O! ye nations, come
To Zion–to your home,
Your hearts prepare,
Be taught the way that’s right,
And, walking in the light,
Serve God with all your might–
His glories share.
The procession again formed, and proceeded to the North East Corner Stone, which was laid by the Twelve Apostles, the First Presidency of the Seventies, and the Presidency of the Elder’s Quorum. The Apostles then ascended the Stone, and Elder P. P. Pratt delivered the following
ORATION.
‘And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to hear from the dead?’
The foregoing text was copied by Nephi, from the Book of Isaiah, about six hundred years before Christ, and is now contained in the second Book of Nephi, chap. ix.
For the last few years the world has been disturbed very much by alleged communications from the world of spirits. ‘Mesmerism,’ ‘Clairvoyance,’ ‘Spiritual Knockings,’ ‘Writing Mediums,’ &c., are said to be channels of communication between the living and the dead. How often one meets with an invitation to seek to some ‘medium’–to some one ‘familiar with spirits,’ in order to hear from a deceased father, mother, husband, wife, or other relative or friend.
On the other hand, these alleged communications from the spirit world are zealously opposed, on the ground that there is no such philosophy in nature; that there can be no medium of communication between the living and those who have passed the vale of death; and that, therefore, all alleged communications from that source must necessarily be false.
It becomes the Saints to be able on this, as on all other subjects, to judge correctly and understandingly, by their knowledge of the principles of true philosophy, and of the laws of God and nature.
If on the one hand we admit the principle of communication between the spirit world and our own, and yield ourselves to the unreserved, or indiscriminate, guidance of every spiritual manifestation, we are liable to be led about by every wind of doctrine, and by every kind of spirit which constitute the varieties of being, and of thought, in the spirit world. Demons, foul or unclean spirits, adulterous or murderous spirits, those who love, or make a lie, can communicate with beings in the flesh, as well as those who are more true and virtuous.
Again–The spirits who are ignorant, uncultivated, and who remain in error, can communicate through the same medium as those better informed.
To illustrate this subject we will consider the telegraphic wire as a medium of communication between New York and Boston.
Through this medium a holy Prophet, or Apostle could communicate the holy and sacred words of truth; while through the same, could be communicated words of truth in relation to news, business transactions, the sciences, &c.; and also every species of lie, error, imposition, fraud, &c. Hence, if the people of New York should submit to the guidance of beings in Boston who communicate with them by telegraph or other mediums, they would be guided by a mixture of intelligence, truth, error, falsehood, &c., in every conceivable variety. So with communications from the spirit world, if we once credit the philosophy, or fact of an existing medium of communication.
If, on the other hand, we deny the philosophy, or the fact of spiritual communication between the living and those who have died, we deny the very fountain from which emanated the great truths or principles which were the foundation of both the ancient and modern Church.
Who communicated with Jesus and his disciples on the holy mount? Moses and Elias, from the invisible world. Who bestowed upon the Apostles the commission to preach the Gospel to every creature in all the world? He that had passed the vale of death, and had dwelt in the spirit world, yea, he that had ascended far on high, above the realms of death, and far beyond all the principalities and powers of the spirit world, and had entered, and been crowned, in the mansions of immortal flesh.
Who communicated with the beloved disciple on the Isle of Patmos, and revealed those sublime truths contained in his prophetic book? He that liveth and was dead, through his angel, who declared to John, ‘Behold, I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the Prophets, that have the testimony of Jesus.’
Who communicated with our great modern Prophet, and revealed through him as a medium, the ancient history of a hemisphere, and the records of the ancient dead? Moroni, who had lived upon the earth fourteen hundred years before. Who ordained Joseph the Prophet, and his fellow servant, to the preparatory Priesthood, to baptize for the remission of sins? John the Baptist, who had been beheaded! Who ordained our first founders to the Apostleship, to hold the keys of the kingdom of God, in these the times of restoration? Peter, James, and John, from the eternal world. Who instructed him in the mysteries of the Kingdom, and in all things pertaining to Priesthood, law, philosophy, sacred architecture, ordinances, sealings, anointings, baptisms for the dead, and in the mysteries of the first, second, and third heavens, many of which are unlawful to utter? Angels and spirits from the eternal worlds.
Who revealed to him the plan of redemption, and of exaltation for the dead who had died without the Gospel? and the keys and preparations necessary for holy and perpetual converse with Jesus Christ, and with the spirits of just men made perfect, and with the general assembly and Church of the first-born, in the holy of holies? Those from the dead!
Again–How do the Saints expect the necessary information by which to complete the ministrations for the salvation and exaltation of their friends who have died?
By one holding the keys of the oracles of God, as a medium through which the living can hear from the dead.
Shall we, then, deny the principle, the philosophy, the fact, of communication between worlds? No! verily, no!
The spiritual philosophy of the present age was introduced to the modern world by Joseph Smith. The people of the United States abandoned him to martyrdom, and his followers to fire and sword, and plunder, and imprisonment, and final banishment to these far off mountains and deserts, simply because a medium of communication with the invisible world had been found, whereby the living could hear from the dead. No sooner had the people and nation, thus guilty of innocent blood, completed the banishment of the Saints from their midst, than they began to adopt some of the same principles of spiritual philosophy, although in a perverted sense of the word.
Editors, statesmen, philosophers, priests, and lawyers, as well as the common people, began to advocate the principle of converse with the dead, by visions, divination, clairvoyance, knocking, and writing mediums, &c., &c. This spiritual philosophy of converse with the dead, once established, by the labours, toils, sufferings, and martyrdom of its modrn founders; and now embraced by a large portion of the learned world, shows a triumph more rapid than has ever been achieved in the same length of time in our world.
A quarter of a century since, and obscure boy and his few associates, in the western wilds of New York, commenced to hold converse with the dead. Now, vision, new revelation, clairvoyance, mediums, oracles, &c., are talked of and advocated as far as the modern press extends its influence, or steam its powers of locomotion.
An important point is gained, a victory won, and a countless host of opposing powers vanquished, on one of the leading or fundamental truths of ‘Mormon’ philosophy, viz.–‘That the living may hear from the dead.’
But, notwithstanding these great victories of truth over error, ignorance, and superstition, in certain points of spiritual philosophy, yet much remains to be done, ere pure, uncontaminated truth will reign triumphant, and darkness and error surrender their last stronghold on the earth.
The fact of spiritual communications being established, by which the living hear from the dead–being no longer a question of controversy with the well informed, we drop that point, and call attention to the means of discriminating, or judging between the lawful and the unlawful mediums or channels of communication–between the holy and impure, the truths, and falsehoods, thus communicated.
The words of the holy Prophet in our text, while they admit the principle of the living hearing from the dead, openly rebuke, and sharply reprove, persons for seeking to those who have familiar spirits, and to wizards that peep and mutter, and remind us that a people should seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead!
By what means, then, can a people seek unto their God, for such an important blessing as to hear from the dead?
And how shall we discriminate between those who seek to Him, and those who seek the same by unlawful means?
In the first place, no persons can successfully seek to God for this privilege, unless they believe in direct revelation in modern times.
Secondly, it is impossible for us to seek Him successfully, and remain in our sins. A thorough repentance and reformation of life is absolutely necessary, if we would seek to Him.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ is the only name given under heaven, as a medium through which to approach God. None, then, can be lawful mediums, who are unbelievers in Jesus Christ, or in modern revelation; or who remain in their sins; or who act in their own name, instead of the name appointed.
And moreover, the Lord has appointed a holy Priesthood on the earth, and in the heavens, and also in the world of spirits; which Priesthood is after the order or similitude of His Son; and has committed to this Priesthood the keys of holy and divine revelation, and of correspondence, or communication between angels, spirits, and men, and between all the holy departments, principalities, and powers, of His government in all worlds.
And again–The Lord has ordained that all the most holy things pertaining to the salvation of the dead, and all the most holy conversations and correspondence with God, angels, and spirits, shall be had only in the sanctuary of His holy Temple on the earth, when prepared for that purpose by His Saints; and shall be received and administered by those who are ordained and sealed unto this power, to hold the keys of the sacred oracles of God.
To this same principle the Prophets Isaiah and Micah bear testimony, sying, that in the last days all nations shall go up to the house (or Temple) of the Lord, in order to be taught in His ways, and to walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, &c. Now it is evident that the people of all nations in the last days would be utterly unable to learn the ways of the Lord to perfection, in any other place except in a holy Temple erected among the mountains. For if the oracles, and most holy ordinances, and the keys or the mysteries, could be had elsewhere, or in any and every place, the people would never take the pains to resort to one house amid the mountains in order to learn of His ways, and to walk in His paths.
It is, then, a matter of certainty, according to the things revealed to the ancient Prophets, and renewed unto us, that all the animal magnetic phenomena, all the trances and visions of clairvoyant states, all the phenomena of spiritual knockings, writing mediums, &c., are from impure, unlawful, and unholy sources; and that those holy and chosen vessels which hold the keys of Priesthood in this world, in the spirit world, or in the world of resurrected beings, stnd as far aloof from all these improper channels, or unholy mediums, of spiritual communication, as the heavens are higher than the earth, or as the mysteries of the third heaven, which are unlawful to utter, differ from the jargon of sectarian ignorance and folly, or the divinations of foul spirits, and abandoned wizards, magic-mongers, jugglers, and fortune tellers.
Ye Latter-day Saints! Ye thousands of the hosts of Israel! Ye are assembled here to-day, and have laid these Corner Stones, for the express purpose that the living might hear from the dead, and that we may prepare a holy sanctuary, where ‘the people may seek unto their God, for the living to hear from the dead,’ and that heaven and earth, and the world of spirits, may commune together–that the kings, nobles, presidents, rulers, judges, priests, councillors, and senators, which compose the general assembly of the Church of the first-born in all these different spheres of temporal and spiritual existence, may sit in grand Council, and hold a Congress or court on the earth, to concert measures for the overthrow of the ‘mystery of iniquity,’ the thrones of tyrants, the sanctuaries of priestcraft and superstition, and the reign of ignorance, sin, and death.
Saints! These victories will be achieved, and Jesus Christ and his Saints will subdue all opposing powers, and attain to universal empire in heaven and on earth, as sure as innocent blood was ever shed on Mount Calvary, or the official seal broken on the door of the tomb of the Son of God. This day’s work, in laying these Corner Stones for a Temple, amid the mountains, is one advancing step in the progress of the necessary preparations for these mighty revolutions.
Let Zion complete this Temple, let it be dedicated to, and accepted by, the Almighty, let it be preserved in holiness according to the laws of the holy Priesthood, and Zion shall not want for a man to stand before the Lord, and to receive the oracles, and administer in His holy sanctuary, and to administer the keys of His government upon the earth,
While sun, or moon, or stars shall shine,
Or principalities endure.
If the Saints accomplish these things, and fail not to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ, and the counsels of his servants, the kingdoms of the world shall never prevail against them from this time forth and for ever.
But remember, O ye Saints of the Most High! remember, that the enemy is on the alert. That old serpent and his angels, who have ruled this lower world, with few exceptions, for so many ages, will not tamely, and without a struggle, submit to have the kingdom, and seat of government, and sanctuary of our God, again erected on our planet, no more to be thrown down or subdued, till every square yard of the vast dominion shall be re-conquered by its rightful owners. No! From the moment the ground was broken for this Temple, those inspired by him {Satan} have commenced to rage; and he will continue to stir up his servants to anger against that which is good, but, if we are faithful, the victory is ours, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer by Elder HYDE.
Almighty Father–Thou who dwellest in the heavens, and who sittest upon the throne of thy glory and power, we beseech thee to behold us, in great mercy, from thy celestial courts, and listen to our prayers which we this day offer to thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, thy Son. Although thou are exalted in temples not made with hands, in the midst of the redeemed and sanctified ones, yet deign thou to meet with us in our humble sphere, and, as we have laid, help thou us to dedicate unto thee, this Corner Stone of Zion’s earthly Temple, that in her courts thy sons and daughters may rejoice to meet their Lord.
Everlasting thanks are due to thee, O God of our salvation, for thy manifold blessings and mercies extended unto us–that since we have been compelled to flee to the vallies and caves of the mountains, and hide ourselves, in thy secret chambers, from the face of the serpent or dragon of persecution, red with the blood of the Saints and martyrs of Jesus, thou hast caused the land to be fruitful–the wilderness and desert to rejoice and blossom as the rose. Known unto thee is the history of our career. our merits and demerits have been open to thy view, and our wisdom and folly have not been hid from thine eyes. Thou hast comprehended our strength and our weakness, our joys and our sorrows, and also our sufferings and persecutions for thy name’s sake; and the martyrdom of thy servants!
Remember us, Oh Lord, and let the radiance of thy favour, like the rainbow of peace, encompass thy people while we sojourn here, and remain tenants, at will, in these frail bodies, the abodes of our spirits. And remember, likewise, our enemies who, through cruel jealousy, and malicious intent, have compelled us to find homes in these distant regions, and in the more lonely grave, or wander as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, without an abiding city or resting place. Reward them according to their works, and let them eat the fruits of their own doings, inasmuch as they repent not.
The Twelve Apostles of the LATTER DAYS, to whom has been committed the pleasing task to lay the North-east Corner Stone of this Temple, even the last Corner Stone of the building, are here convened to discharge their duty before thee, in the midst of the authorities of thy Church, and of the assembled thousands who are come to witness the solemn ceremonies of the occasion.
We, therefore, implore thy blessings upon our heads, on this lovely day, while the sun of heaven, on his annual visit to his northern dominions, is changing the very heart of nature, and lighting up her face with the smiles of welcome. The snows of the everlasting mountains are made to hield at his approach, and to flow down in crystal streams of living waters, spreading life and verdure over all the plain.
From the very hour that the ground was broken to prepare for this foundation, Satan has been more diligently engaged in stirring up the hearts of his children to hate the servants and people of our God. But, O Lord, the work is thine, and thine arm is able to execute and defend it.
We now, in the name of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest and Lawgiver, dedicate and consecrate this Corner Stone unto thee, asking that the walls to be reared upon this foundation may steadily rise, by the persevering industry of thy people, under thy providential care and blessings, and the protecting and fostering arm of the Angel of thy presence.
Whosoever, O Lord, shall bless and aid the building of this Temple, with their faith, goodwill, and means–with their silver and their gold, with their labour and toil, with their horses, their cattle, their sheep, and their grain, or with any or all of their products, necessaries, or availables–may they rise in wealth and influence, and in the confidence and favour of God and His servants; and may the blessings of this Temple be extended unto them, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, male or female. And whosoever shall attempt to hinder, oppose, or obstruct, the progress of this building, or that shall hate or blaspheme the same, or that shall, in any way or manner, knowingly, wilfully, or intentionally destroy, injure, mar, or deface any part or portion of the work, let such not only be powerless, and clothed with shame, disgrace, and condemnation, but receive the very same kind of treatment in their own persons, in the course of they providences, as they may manifest or desire to manifest towards this edifice.
Hasten thou the period, O Lord, when this thine House, in the midst of the mountains, shall receive the Top-stone with the shouts of gladness, and be completed, and nations flow unto it–when many people shall say, ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law,’ making manifest every false and delusive spirit, every true principle, and also the errors that have involved nations in broils and contentions, in strife, in darkness, and in sin; and that will remove the veil of the covering that has been cast over all people, and the Gentiles come to the light of Zion, and kings to the brightness of her rising. Roll on the hour, Eternal Parent, when the intelligence and knowledge obtained by thy sevants, on this consecrated spot, shall prove a beacon light to the nations who are floating on the sea of time in a dark and cloudy day.
O God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, overrule, we pray thee, every act and movement of the power of the world, to further the interests of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and to prepare the way for his triumphant reign on earth. Bless every honest hearted ruler in the governments and kingdoms of men, and, though they may be ignorant of thy purpose and designs, yet make them the agents to bring about and accomplish the very intentions formed in thy bosom, and decreed in thine heart.
Holy Father, bless, we pray thee, the Presidency of this thy Church, and prolong their days, that we may long enjoy their counsels, and avail ourselves of their wisdom. Remember the Twelve Apostles also, with the Presidents of the Seventies, who now call upon thy name with our voices. May none of us ever fall by transgression, or bring dishonour upon thy cause, or a stain upon our reputation. But preserve us in thy fear, in the light of truth, in the favour of our God, in the confidence of one another, in the estimation of our superiors, and in the favour of the just.
As we have laid and dedicated this Corner Stone, with our best wishes, most lovely hopes, and unshaken faith that the building may be speedily erected and finished, we ask thee that we may become pillars in thy spiritual Temple, and go no more out, but sustain and uphold, in connection with all the faithful, the grand superstructure and edifice reared by infinite wisdom, power, and goodness, in which to gather, in thine own due time, every son and daughter of Adam’s fallen race. And to God and the Lamb be ascribed everlasting honours, praise, dominions, and glory, both now and for ever. Amen.
Thirty minutes past one, choir sung, ‘Proclaim to all people we’ve laid the foundation.’
SONG.
Proclaim to all people we’ve laid the foundation
Of a Temple, to which the redeemed shall go;
Each tribe, tongue, and nation, throughout the creation,
With songs of rejoicing unto it shall flow.
CHORUS.
Shout hallelujah, through earth, air, and sea,
Let angels assist us in our jubilee:
Jehovah has spoken, our fetters are broken,
Our bondage is ended, and Zion is free!
Who, who would have thought, through the vista of ages,
The latter day glory the Prophets should see?
But, inspir’d by Jehovah, those reverend sages
Gaz’d full on our blessings, and sung of the free.
Shout hallelujah, &c.
On the tops of the mountains, we’ll drink of truth’s fountains,
That flow from the heavens, both plenteous and free;
The standard erected, by Prophets predicted,
The nations shall gather God’s glory to see.
Shout hallelujah, &c.
President YOUNG then ascended the North-east Corner Stone, and gave his benediction as follows–Brethren and sisters, I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and pray my Father in Heaven to encircle you in the arms of his love and mercy, protect us until we have finished this Temple, received the fulness of our endowments therein, and built many more. And I pray, also, that we may live to see the great Temple in Jackson County, Missouri. You are now dismissed with the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ upon your heads. Amen.
The procession then returned to the Tabernacle, and was dismissed by President Young, until two p.m.
Tabernacle, 3 p.m.
Conference called to order by President Young.
Singing. Prayer by Elder Amasa Lyman. Singing.
President YOUNG delivered the following
SERMON.
We have assembled together this afternoon to continue the business of the Conference, a portion of which I feel should be devoted to instruction, teachings, traversing the experience of the Church, or in any way the Spirit of the Lord shall manifest.
The special business that has to be transacted in a Conference like this, can be done very quickly–perhaps we might do all that is necessary, in half a day, or in a day at the farthest.
We came together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord, and many have come from a distance, who wished to come up here and join with their brethren in contemplating the work of the last days, and in speaking to each other comforting words, for it is a very agreeable exercise, on occasions like this, as well as in other meetings, to rehearse over to each other the scenes of life, the feelings of the heart, the tragedies that have passed among us, the difficulties we have surmounted, and the days, months, and years we have been brought through.
I will say, for one, so far as it concerns my own feelings, my brethren are at liberty to talk about that that is in their hearts. This is my privilege, and I wish it to be understood that it is the privilege of those who shall address this Conference. If they want to preach us a discourse on doctrine–on the gathering of Israel, for instance, they are at liberty so to do. If any one wishes to preach the first principles of the Gospel, repentance and baptism, with the gifts, he is at liberty.
Were it not that our bodies have to be fed and clothed, I would propose that we tarry here a few months, to give all a chance to speak, to exhort, to pray, to prophesy, to sing, to speak in tongues, or to do whatsoever the spirit should manifest unto them. But our work is a work of the present. The salvation we are seeking is for the present, and, sought correctly, it can be obtained, and be continually enjoyed. If it continues to-day, it is upon the same principle that it will continue to-morrow, the next day, the next week, or the next year, and, we might say, the next eternity.
If we are saved, we are happy, we are filled with light, glory, intelligence, and we pursue a course to enjoy the blessings that the Lord has in store for us. If we continue to pursue that course, it produces just the thing we want, that is, to be saved at this present moment. And this will lay the foundation to be saved for ever and for ever, which will amount to eternal salvation.
Brethren, we have accomplished the design of our hearts, that we listed to accomplish. And really, this thought inadvertently rushes upon my mind–Wherein have we not accomlished all we have listed to do? not only in excavating the earty, and laying down the Corner Stones in the centre of the main body of the building we shall rear for the Temple, but wherein have we contemplated doing one thing we have not done, to build up the Kingdom of God? If there has been a failure, it does not occur to my mind at present. I cannot now recall to my mind one circumstance of that kind, with all the mobbing, driving, and afflictions, that this people have passed through.
Though the enemy had power to kill our Prophet, that is, kill his body, did he not accomplish all that was in his heart to accomplish in his day? He did, to my certain knowledge, and I have many witnesses here that heard him declare that he had done everything he could do–he had revealed everything that could be revealed at present, that he had prepared the way for the people to walk in, and no man or woman should be deprived of going into the presence of the Father and the Son, and enjoying an eternal exaltation, if they would walk in the path he had pointed out.
From the day that he fell, until this day, if there is one item of business, if there is one thing that should have been done by this people, that has not been done, I cannot call it to mind, though it looked gloomy for a month or six weeks past, the weather being so unfavourable with regard to being ready to lay those Corner Stones, to-day.
I am happy to say that there has been a great deal of faith manifested by the Saints, and through that faith the Lord has granted unto us the desire of our hearts, or else the devil has been sent on an errand another way, and has forgotten himself. I do not think, however, he need trouble himself much about the world, for he has them secure enough. Perhaps he may have slept a little too long, as he has not been here on this notable day. I attribute it to our Father in heaven, for giving us this beautiful weather to-day.
The congregation was not accommodated as we desired. We should have been pleased if they could have been so situated that all could have heard the orations and prayers that were made upon those four stones; but they will be in print, so you can read them at your leisure.
I don not like to prophesy much, I never do, but I will venture to guess, that this day, and the work we have performed on it, will long be remembered by this people, and be sounded as with a trumpet’s voice throughout the world, as far, as loud, and as long as steam, wind, and the electric current, can carry it. It is a day in which all the faithful will rejoice in all time to come.
Some will inquire, ‘Do you suppose we shall finish this Temple, brother Brigham?’ I have had such questions put to me already. My answer is, I do not know, and I do not care any more about it than I should if my body was dead and in the grave, and my spirit in Paradise. I never have cared but for one thing, and that is, simply to know that I am now right before my Father in heaven. If I am this moment, this day, doing the things God requires of my hands, and precisely where my Father in heaven wants me to be, I care no more about tomorrow than though it never would come. I do not know where I shall be to-morrow, nor when this Temple will be done–I know no more about it than you do. If God reveals anything for you, I will tell you of it as freely as to say, go to City Creek, and drink until you are satisfied.
This I do know–there should be a Temple built here. I do know it is the duty of this people to commence to build a Temple. Now, some will want to know what kind of a building it will be. Wait patiently, brethren, until it is done, and put forth your hands willingly to finish it. I know what it will be. I am not a visionary man, neither am I given much to prophesying. When I want any of that done I call on brother Heber–he is my Prophet, he loves to prophesy, and I love to hear him. I scarcely ever say much about revelations, or visions, but suffice it to say, five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Corner Stone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me. I never looked upon that ground, but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, however, that it will have six towers, to begin with, instead of one. Now do not any of you apostatize because it will have six towers, and Joseph only built one. It is easier for us to build sixteen, than it was for him to build one. The time will come when there will be one in the centre of Temples we shall build, and, on the top, groves and fish ponds. But we shall not see them here, at present.
The First Presidency proceeded to the south-east corner, to lay the first stone, though it is customary to commence at the north-east corner–that is the beginning point most generally, I believe, in the world. At this side of the equator we commence at the south-east corner. We sometimes look for light you know, brethren. You old men that have been through the mill pretty well, have been inquiring after light–which way do you go? You will tell me you go to the east for light? So we commence by laying the stone on the south-east corner, because there is the most light.
Just as quick as the minutes of this day’s proceedings are out, there will be Elders, High Priests, and Seventies, enquiring whether the same order has been carried out to-day, as was observed in laying the Corner Stones of the other Temples. I want to give you a little history of it, that you may know.
When the corner stones were laid in Kirtland, they had to pick up boys of fifteen and sixteen years of age, and ordain them Elders, to get officers enough to lay the Corner Stones. The Quorum of the Twelve, and the High Council, and many other authorities that now exist, were not then in existence. Joseph presided over the Church, by the voice of the Church.
Perhaps it may make some of you stumble, were I to ask you a question–Does a man’s being a Prophet in this Church prove that he shall be the President of it? I answer, no! A man may be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and it may have nothing to do with his being the President of the Church. Suffice it to say, that Joseph was the President of the Church, as long as he lived: the people chose to have it so. He always filled that responsible station, by the voice of the people. Can you find any revelation appointing him the President of the Church? The keys of the Priesthood were committed to Joseph, to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth, and were not to be taken from him in time or in eternity; but when he was called to preside over the Church, it was by the voice of the people; though he held the keys of the Priesthood independent of their voice.
I want the Elders of Israel to reflect upon this subject. I would be glad to teach you something, that you may not get into such snarls as heretofore. You make me think of a child that is trying to make rope of a parcel of old thrums, until he gets the whole into snarls. It is so with the Elders of Israel as touching their ideas of the Priesthood.
Now hear me, and I will try to talk so that you can understand. I will presume to go a little further than i did, with regard to the President of the Church, and say to this people, a man may have visions, the angels of God man administer to him, he may have revelations, and see as many visions as you could count; he may have the heavens opened to him, and see the finger of the Lord, and all this would not make him the President of the Church, or an Elder, a High Priest, an Apostle; neither would it prove that he was even a Saint: something else is wanted to prove it. Why I mention this, is because of the frailty, weakness, and short sightedness of the people. If a man should come and tell you he has had a vision, and can appear to substantiate his testimony that he has had the heavens opened to him, you are ready to bow down and worship him; and he may be, at the same time, perfectly calculated to destroy the people–one of the biggest devcils on earth. He would appear to be one of the finest of men, to be honest and unassuming, and come with all the grace and generalship of the devil, which is so well calculated to deceive the people. Admit this to be the case.
If you ask me what will prove a man or woman to be a Saint, I will answer the question. ‘If you love me,’ says Jesus, ‘you will keep my sayings.’ That is the touchstone. If you love the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father, you will keep the commandments of the Son–you will do his will. If you neglect to do this, you may have all the visions and revelations that could be bestowed upon a mortal being, and yet be nothing but a devil. Why I use this expression, is because when a man’s mind is enlightened, and he turns from that light to darkness, it prepares him to be a devil. A man never knew how to be wicked, until light and truth was first made manifest to him. Then is the time for men to make their decision, and if they turn away from the Lord, it prepares them to become devils.
Now, I want to go back, for I have wandered on a little with regard to laying the Corner Stones, and take up the Apostleship, in connection with this. Let me ask the High Priests’ Quorum a question, in order to bring out the thing I wish to lay before you. I ask the High Priests, from whence does the Apostleship grow? Does it grow out of the High Priesthood? I will venture to sayk, if I was not here to-day, and this question was proposed for debate, you would find the Elders in this congregation, perhaps, nearly equally divided on the point. There would be as many High Priests to say the Apostleship grows out of the High Priesthood, as there would to say it does not. Let me answer the question. Now recollect that the High Priesthood, and the Lesser Priesthood, and all the Priesthood there is, is combined, centered in, composed of, and is circumscribed by the Apostleship. Brethren, did you ever know that before? If you had read that book attentively, (pointing to the Book of Covenants,) it would have told you the story as I am now telling it to you, yet the High Priests did not know it.
I speak thus to show you the order of the Priesthood. We will now commence with the Apostleship, where Joseph commenced. Joseph was ordained an Apostle–that you can read and understand. After he was ordained to this office, then he had the right to organize and build up the Kingdom of God, for he had committed unto him the keys of the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchisedec–the High Priesthood, which is after the order of the Son of God. And this, rememberr, by being ordained an Apostle.
Could he have built up the Kingdom of God, without first being an Apostle? No, he never could. The keys of the eternal Priesthood, which is after the order of the Son of God, is comprehended by being an Apostle. All the Priesthood, all the keys, all the gifts, all the endowments, and everything preparatory to entering back into the presence of the Father and of the Son, is in, composed of, circumscribed by, or I might say incorporated within the circumference of the Apostleship.
Now who do we set, in the first place, to lay the Chief, the South East, Corner Stone–the corner from whence light emanates to illuminate the whole fabric that is to be lighted? We begin with the First Presidency, with the Apostleship, for Joseph commenced, always, with the keys of the Apostleship, and he, by the voice of the people, presiding over the whole community of Latter-day Saints, officiated in the Apostleship, as the first President.
What comes next in the Church? I will now refer you directly to the building up of the Kingdom of God in the last days. What do we see next? Joseph as an Apostle of the Lamb, with the keys of the eternal Priesthood committed unto him by Peter, James, and John. What for? To build up the Kingdom of God on the earth. Next grows out an office pertaining to the temporal affairs of this Kingdom, the keys of which are committed to man on the earth, preparatory to its establishment–preparatory to its spreading, growing, increasing, and prospering, among the nations. The next step we see taken by the Lord, is to provide for the body, therefore some person must be appointed to fill this office, to stand side by side with this Apostle, this first President. Who was it? It was not brother Hunter. Who was it? It was brother Partridge. We see brother Partridge was called to fill that place before there was an Elders’ Quorum, or a High Priests’ Quorum, in existence, yea, before the thing was talked of, and also before the Twelve Apostles were chosen, not, however, before the revelation was given to signify there would be such a quorum.
We see this Apostle with the keys of the Priesthood to build up the Kingdom, to give light to those who were in darkness, to succour those who were feeble, to sustain the trembling, to administer salvation to the penitent, and to be a stay and a staff to those who were ready to fall. We see this gigantic Apostle thus standing forth, clothed with the authority of heaven, to build up His cause on the earth. Him the Lord told to call a Bishop. So the Bishop was the next standing authority in the Kingdom of God; therefore we set the Bishop at the second corner of the building. The Melchisedec Priesthood, with the altar, fixtures, and furniture, belonging thereunto, is situated on the East, and the Aaronic Priesthood belongs in the West; consequently the Presiding Bishop laid the second stone.
Do you ask, was it so in the other buildings? I do not know, neither do I care.
The High Priests’ quorum–do they come next in order, do they next step into the field? No, not particularly, any more than the Elders, nor the Elders any more than the High Council, nor the High Council any more than the Teachers, Deacons, or Priests. The High Priests’ Quorum is a standing quorum, abiding at home. So is the Elders’ Quorum; but the place of the Bishop is in the temporal affairs in the Church: so then what shall we say? Why, out of due respect to the High Priesthood, which is nothing more than what is right and reasonable, that we should honour the Priesthood that God has bequeathed to us, we say to the High Priests, lay the third corner stone.
We started at the South East Corner, with the Apostleship; then the Lesser Priesthood laid the second stone; we bring them in our ranks to the third stone, which the High Priests and Elders laid; we take them under our wing to the North East corner stone, which the Twelve and Seventies laid, and there again join the Apostleship. It circumscribes every other Priesthood, for it is the Priesthood of Melchisedec, which is after the order of the Son of God.
To say a man is an Apostle, is equal to saying that a man is ordained to build up the Kingdom of God from first to last; but it is not so by saying he is ordained a High Priest. The Bishoprick by right belongs to the literal descendants of Aaron, but we shall have to ordain from the other tribes, men who hold the High Priesthood, to act in the Lesser, until we can find a literal descendant of Aaron, who is prepared to receive it.
The Lesser Priesthood then, you perceive, comes within the purview of the Apostleship, because a man that holds it has a right to act or officiate as a High Priest, as one of the High Council, as a Patriarch, as a Bishop, Elder, Priest, Teacher and Deacon, and in every other office and calling that is in the Church, from first to last, when duty demands it.
This is the order of the Priesthood, brethren. I felt as though I wished to make some remarks upon this subject on the Temple ground; but dismissing the congregation hurt me much; I wanted to make some remarks at the same time, but I despaired of making you hear, so I thought I would omit speaking in the open air, and say what I had to say in the Tabernacle.
I know what was done at Nauvoo; it was all right. Everything is right with me. There the Twelve were called to lay the North West Corner Stone, if I mistake not. However, it is no matter, they were just as well there, as anywhere else. But to take up the Priesthood in its perfect order and form, you perceive that the Apostle circumscribes everything in the Church of God on earth. This is the order, and I have endeavoured to carry it out before you, that you all might know hereafter, what is the true order, as far as it can be exhibited in the laying of Corner Stones. So far as simply laying a corner stone is concerned, one corner is just as good to me as another.
I will give you the explanation why we proceeded as we have. It was suggested to me, that perhaps the Twelve would feel better to lay the second stone. When i told them the fourth stone was the stone they should lay, it struck my mind that I was ordained an Apostle: and I still belong to the Apostleship; did you ever cut me off, brethren? (voices in the stand, No.) It struck my mind if you wanted to lay the second stone, you did not feel that you have the Apostleship in you, or you would not feel like I should; for it is the beginning and the end, the height, depth, length and breadth of all that is, that was, and ever can be to all eternity. I have not heard that there were any feelings about the matter, only somebody suggested the thing. It was three of the Twelve then that laid the first stone, and then the Quorum of the Twelve laid the fourth.
Now will it cause some of you to marvel that I was not ordained a High Priest before I was ordained an Apostle? Brother Kimball and myself were never ordained High Priests. How wonderful! I was going to say how little some of the brethren understood the Priesthood, after the Twelve were called. In our early career in this Church, on one occasion, in one of our councils, we were telling about some of the Twelve wanting to ordain us High Priests, and what I said to brother Patten when he wanted to ordain me in York State: said I, brother Patten, wait until I can lift my hand to heaven and say, I have magnified the office of an Elder. After our conversation was over in the council, some of the brethren began to query, and said we ought to be ordained High Priests; at the same time I did not consider that an Apostle needed to be ordained a High Priest, an Elder, or a Teacher. I did not express my views on the subject, at that time, but thought I would hear what brother Joseph would say about it. It was Wm. E. McLellin who told Joseph, that I and Heber were not ordained High Priests, and wanted to know if it should not be done. Said Joseph, ‘will you insult the Priesthood? is that all the knowledge you have of the office of an Apostle? Do you not know that the man who receives the Apostleship, receives all the keys that ever were, or that can be, conferred upon mortal man? What are you talking about? I am astonished!’ Nothing more was said about it.
I know that Joseph received his Apostleship from Peter, James, and John, before a revelation on the subject was printed, and he never had a right to organize a Church before he was an Apostle.
I have tried to show you, brethren, as briefly as possible, the order of the Priesthood. When a man is ordained to be an Apostle, his Priesthood is without beginning of days, or end of life, like the Priesthood of Melchisedec; for it was his Priesthood that was spoken of in this language, and not the man.
When I arose to address you, I wanted to talk to you a little of my experience in practical ‘Mormonism,’ but I have not had time, and have talked long enough already. I have been round about it you know, for it is all inside of what I have been telling you. May the Lord bless you forever, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
President Young was followed by Elder Amasa Lyman, in a long address, bearing testimony, that men have a right to do all the good they can, &c.
Chanting by the Choir, ‘Judge me, O Lord.’
Benediction by E. T. Benson.
April 7th, 1853.
Conference called to order by President Young at a quarter to ten o’clock, A.M. . . .
[Officers sustained, etc.]
April 8. Ten o’clock, A.M.
Conference called to order by President Young.
Singing. Prayer by J. M. Grant. Singing.
President KIMBALL stated, ‘We have a number of Elders who are chosen to go on missions,’ and exhorted them to do their duty; when the following Elders, viz.–Israel Barlow, Philemon Merrill, James D. Ross, William W. Major, Daniel Tyler, Albert P. Tyler, Benjamin Ashby, Henry E. Phelps, Lorenzo D. Rudd, Israel Evans, Jesse B. Martin, James Bond, Loren Roundy, Charles A. Foster, John D. T. McAllister, James Carrigan, Willard G. McMullen, Charles R. Dana, and Joseph France, were voted to go to England, and be under the direction of the Presidency in that country.
Thomas Colborn, to Germany.
Samuel Savary, and Milton Howe, to the United States.
Edward D. Wade, and Cyrus Canfield, to China.
President YOUNG arose, and spoke as follows–
I wish to deliver a short discourse, which may, perhaps, become a lengthy one, before the close of this Conference.
I will now give the text, and probably shall call upon the brethren to fill out the Sermon. I do not know that I can refer you to the Bible, for the particular chapter and verse, to find the text; but the text may be given here, and the book referred to hereafter.
The text is the Right of Heirship. I will, however, make an addition to the Scripture, before I proceed further with my remarks, and say, The right of Heirship in the Priesthood, for unquestionably this will be connected with the text, and brought into the discourse.
In the little that I shall say, I will endeavour to point out the items of doctrine, and the right view to be contemplated and spoken upon by the brethren, for I wish this subject to be properly understood.
Pertaining to the Kingdom of God, to this earth, to the organization of it, to the bringing forth of the children of men upon it, to the preparatory Gospel or law, to fit and prepare them, after receiving their tabernacles, to enter again into the presence of their Father and God, this heirship, this right, did belong, still belongs, and forever will belong, to the first-born son in every family of Adam’s race.
This is understood from the Bible, not only by the Latter-day Saints, but also by the Christian world. Jesus Christ, first-begotten of the Father, of all the rest of the children, and of all they possess, alone is the lawful heir. This is no mystery.
After passing over the ages and generations of the children of men for about six thousand years, we will come to the present congregation, and say, the right of heirship is the same now that it was in the beginning. It is as it was, and as it ever will be, worlds without end. This I wish the Latter-day Saints to understand a little better than they have heretofore. I will give you my reason.
For instance, there are sisters in this Church, that have been bereaved of their husbands, who died full of faith in the holy Gospel, and full of hope for a glorious resurrection to eternal life. One of them is visited by a High Priest, of whom she seeks information touching her situation, and that of her husband. At the same time, the woman has a son twenty-five years of age, who is an Elder in one of the Quorums of Seventies, and faithful in all the duties connected with his calling. She has also other sons and daughters. She asks this High Priest what she shall do for her husband, and he very religiously says to her, ‘You must be sealed to me, and I will bring up your husband, stand as proxy for him, receive his endowments, and all the sealings, keys, and blessings, and eternal Priesthood for him, and be the father of your children.’
He it, ye mothers!! The mother that does that, barters away the sacred right of her son. Does she know it? No! This has been done in hundreds of instances, though innocently and in ignorance, which makes it excusable. For my part, I am willing to wink at the ignorance of the people, and I believe our Heavenly Father is.
But you that will hear and be made to understand the true principles that govern this matter, go from this place, and do hereafter as has been done in by-gone days, and, instead of the children being robbed of their just rights, the woman shall lose her children, and they shall yet stand in their place, and be put in the possession of their rights. What is to be done? Let mothers honour their children. If a woman has a son, let her honour that son.
But a mother may say, ‘My son is only five years old. I never had but one son among a number of daughters; I am advancing in years, and may die before I can be sealed to my husband.’ Let that son wait until he is old enough to officiate for his father, and though you may go into your grave, let your son do his duty, and {you} never hang to the skirts of a man that is avaricious.
You may see a great many miserly persons, with regard to dollars and cents; it is just as natural for men to be miserly with regard to their religious blessings. You may see hundreds of Elders who say to the sisters, ‘come, and be sealed to me,’ crawling round to make the holy ordinances of God a matter of speculation to administer to their avaricious dispositions. They will tell you, that you will go into eternity, and find yourselves without husbands, and cannot get an exaltation, that you cannot have this, that, or the other, unless you are sealed to them. I am free, and so are you. My advice to the sisters is, never be sealed to any man, unless you wish to be. I say to you High Priests and Elders, never, from this time, ask a woman to be sealed to you, unless she wants to be, but let the widows and children alone.
I will refer you to a discourse I delivered here last season, upon the subject of the resurrection and the millenium, setting forth before the people the work to be accomplished in that period of time. We have at least one thousand years, counting three hundred and sixty-five days, five hours, forty-eight minutes, and fifty-seven seconds to the year, if I recollect right, wherein the Elders of Israel will enter holy Temples of the Lord, and officiate for just such persons as you and I, that have done the work we were called to do in our day, whether it was much or little. There will be hundreds of thousands of the sons of Jacob to administer in these Temples for you and me. Joseph, Hyrum, father Smith, and many others will be there to dictate and preside. Joseph will stand at the head of this dispensation, and hold the keys for it, for they are not taken from him, they never were in time, they never will be in eternity. I shall be there if I live, or if I die. If I die, my brethren or my children will officiate for me; I shall lose nothing through death. Magnify your calling in this Church; and I will warrant you an exaltation just as good and as great as you can ask for.
I might notice many more items pertaining to this matter; but the Elders going round telling the sisters they must be sealed to them, or they cannot get an exaltation, particularly, has wounded my feelings. How ignorant such men are!! This to me is like a shadow. To talk about it is sheer nonsense. Let every man and woman magnify their calling in the Kingdom of God, and He will take care that we have our exaltation.
Sisters come to me and inquire what they shall do, saying, brother A or B taught me so and so. They are as wild as the deer on the mountains. Their ideas and calculations are derogatory to every shade of good, sound sense, and to every principle of the Priesthood of heaven.
Brethren, learn to be patient, and submissive to your duty and callings in life, and not be anxious to accumulate to yourselves that which, when you have obtained, you are at a loss to know what to do with. There are scores of men in this house, that if they could pile up an almost unlimited amount of gold, in a short time would not possess one dime of it. There are also scores of Elders here, if they had five hundred women sealed to them, and a thousand children, they would destroy themselves, and those over whom they exercise any influence. They would not know what to do with them. You want to have another wife; but do you use well the one you have got? It is a bad omen to me when a man wants another wife, and the one he has got is ready to leave him. If you cannot keep the jewel you already possess, be cautious how you take more, lest you lose them both.
I did not design to speak long, as it hurts me. I think I have laid out the text before the brethren, plain enough for them to preach upon it; I wish them so to exhibit the subject before the people, that they may carry it away in their understandings.
Let me hear no more of this ‘you must be sealed to me or you cannot get an exaltation.’ If a man gets the widow of a good man, sealed, married to him, with a view to hold control over, and rob every child in that family of their birthright, he will be mistaken. It will not be. I say to you, my brethren, young men, you Elders, rise up and magnify your calling, honour the Priesthood, and if a man has stepped up and married your mother under the influence of such an expectation, TURN HIM OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, AND MAINTAIN YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.
The President sat down in the midst of the liveliest sensations of joy, capable of being manifested by a countless congregation.
Elder E. SNOW followed, on the subject of selfishness and redemption.
Elder P. P. PRATT bore testimony of the truths advanced by President Young and his brethren.
Singing. Benediction by Elder John Taylor.
Two P.M.
Conference called to order by Elder Hyde. Singing. Prayer by Levi W. Hancock. Singing.
Elder TAYLOR gave a sermon on the right of heirship in the Priesthood.
Elder J. M. GRANT remarked–This audience have received as much intelligence as they can well treasure up; this subject of heirship cannot be exhausted, and the legacy bequeathed to the Saints is all the good in heaven and on earth. All Saints should see to cleaning the inside of the vessels, like Moroni of old; and carry out the law of God, &c. &c.
Choir changed ‘Judge me, O Lord,’ &c. Benediction by Levi W. Hancock.
April 9.
Conference called to order by President Kimball at ten A.M.
Singing. Prayer by T. Bullock. Singing.
Elder ZERA PULSIPHER spokn on the mob scenes which he had passed through in Missouri, and of Neil Gillium and his band shooting at prisoners, when they were under guard; also the mob scenes in Illinois, and the killing of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, in Carthage jail, wile they were under the pledge of safety, made by Governor Ford, and the leading of this people to this Valley, &c. &c.
Elder ORSON HYDE spoke on the principle of sanctification, and the blessings of the Almighty granted to us, giving the figure of a flock of sheep, shepherds, and their dogs, &c.
Choir sung a hymn. Benediction by Henry Herriman.
Two P.M.
Conference called to order by President Young.
Singing. Prayer by W. W. Phelps. Singing.
Elder T. BULLOCK read the report of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, (which will be noticed hereafter.)
President YOUNG occupied the time, speaking on various subjects, yet to be reported.
Choir sung ‘The Spirit of God.’ Benediction by O. Hyde.
April 10.
Condference called to order by President Kimball at Ten A.M.
Singing. Prayer by P. P. Pratt. Singing.
Elder P. P. PRATT delivered a sermon on heirship.
Matthias Cowley, was unanimously voted to take a mission to Europe.
President YOUNG taught principle–concerning various matters.
P. P. PRATT again arose and said, I am glad I preached, for now I have received more light, and I am thankful for it.
F. D. RICHARDS–The things which have been spoken to us this day, have been rich and precious; and have been given to us, for a high and holy purpose. And then advocated the claims of the Perpetual Emigrating Fund; for the great work of the last days was to gather Israel to where they may be instructed in the way of salvation.
The choir chanted ‘The Hallelujah Chorus.’ Benediction by John Taylor.
Two o’clock P.M.
Conference called to order by David Fullmer.
Singing. Prayer by Evan M. Green. Singing.
Elder LORENZO SNOW said he had attended Conferences in Nauvoo and many other places, but we never have had such a glorious Conference as this; alluded to the scenes of persecution which the Church had passed through, and the Book of Mormon being printed in the Danish, French, Italian, and German languages, and in most of the nations where that language was spoken. He then asked a blessing on the bread, and continued–We have occasion to feel grateful for this peaceful situation, and that we shall not have to travel as heretofore, nor suffer any more from the effects of apostates. I feel that glorious things are to come, expecially in being sent on missions, to foreign countries, and I feel to say there are hundreds and thousands now living in these vallies, who will live to go and dwell in the beautiful places in Jackson County, which our fathers have paid for.
President H. C. KIMBALL said he had never seen a better clothed congregation in his life, comparing it with the situation of thousands and millions in the old countries. Complained of some persons, who wanted to rob the dead. I am a believer in the words of Jesus, what a man measures to his neighbour, will be measured to him again, either in this life or the next; and when persons do wrong in Utah, they will be punished for it. We mean to cut the tares down, and not disturb the wheat. A man’s damnation will be according to the light and knowledge which he has. In the days of Moses, a man had his head severed from his body, when he had committed adultery, and the woman was stoned to death for it.
L. Snow, asked a blessing on the water.
President H. C. KIMBALL–As soon as the emigration for California comes in, you will see these apostates running to them, to make up some device against our President; but they will be foiled in their endeavours. Be humble and submissive to the authorities that preside over you in the different Branches, and you will be blessed.
President YOUNG–If the world could look upon us in our present capacity, they would surely say, we are a stumbling block. The machinery for making sugar has been turned over to the Church. We propose to put up the machinery on the north line of the Church Farm. Elder O. Hyde will take the supervision of it. There is not the least doubt we can make the sugar from the beet. We shall never give it up, nor cease our operations, until we manufacture everything we can eat, drink, or wear, from the native element, and make the earth itself like the garden of Eden. We never had such a pleasant April Conference as this before: and a beautiful spirit in it. This Church is a stumbling-block, and Joseph himself was a stumbling-block to this generation.
My soul feels all the time, may God bless you. What is the necessity of a man or woman having any trouble? Sisters, if you expect to be happy in your house, you have to make that happiness yourself, but if you calculate some one has to make a heaven for you, you will be mistaken; then live for God, build up Zion, and fill the earth with the knowledge of God. Let every man and woman be a Saint, and then the yoke is easy.
I appoint the second Saturday in August, at Ten A.M., a special Conference, to call some Elders and transact business, but shall adjourn this Conference to 6th October, 1853. And I bless every man and woman in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Singing. Benediction by President Kimball.”
(MS 15(29-30)449-455, 475-496, 16 & 23 Jul., 1853)