A DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG, IN THETABERNACLE, GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, JANUARY 16, 1853.
1:1
The plan of salvation, or in other words, the redemption of fallen beings,is a subject that should occupy the attention of all intelligence that pertainsto fallen beings. I do not like the term fallen beings, but I will say,subjected intelligence, which term suits me better-subjected to law, order,rule, and government. All intelligences are deeply engaged in this grandobject; not, however, having a correct understanding of the true principlethereof, they wander to and fro, some to the right, and some to the left.There is not a person in this world, who is endowed with a common shareof intellect, but is laboring with all his power for salvation. Men varyin their efforts to obtain that object, still their individual conclusionsare, that they will ultimately secure it. The merchant, for instance, seekswith unwearied diligence, by night and by day, facing misfortunes with adetermined and persevering resistance, enduring losses by sea and by land,with an unshaken patience, to amass a sufficient amount of wealth to enablehim to settle calmly down in the midst of plenty in some opulent city, walkin the higher classes of society, and perchance receive a worldly title,or worldly honor, and enjoy a freedom from all anxiety of business, andconstraint by poverty, throughout the remainder of his life. He then supposeshe has obtained salvation.
Descend from the busy, wealth-seeking middle classes, to the humblergrade of society, and follow them in their various occupations and pursuits,and each one of them is seeking earnestly that which he imagines to be salvation.The poor, ragged, trembling mendicant, who is forced by hunger and coldto drag his feeble body from under some temporary shelter, to seek a bitof bread, or coin from his more fortunate fellow-mortal, if he can onlyobtain a few crusts of bread to satisfy the hunger-worm that gnaws his vitals,and a few coppers to pay his lodgings, he has attained to the summit ofhis expectations, to what he sought for salvation, and he is comparativelyhappy, but his happiness vanishes with the shades of night, and his miserycomes with the morning light. From the match-maker up to the tradesman,all have an end in view, which they suppose will bring to them salvation.King, courtier, commanders, officers, and common soldiers, the commodore,and sailor before the mast, the fair-skinned Christian, and the dark-skinnedsavage, all, in their respective grades and spheres of action, have a certainpoint in view, which, if they can obtain, they suppose will put them inpossession of salvation.
The Latter-day Saint, who is far from the bosom of the Church, whosehome is in distant climes, sighs, and earnestly prays each day of his lifefor the Lord to open his way, that he may mingle with his brethren in Zion,for he supposes that his happiness would then be complete, but in this hisexpectations will be in a measure vain, for happiness that is real and lastingin its nature cannot be enjoyed by mortals, for it is altogether out ofkeeping with this transitory state.
If a man's capacity be limited to the things of this world, if he reachno further than he can see with his eyes, feel with his hands, and understandwith the ability of the natural man, still he is as earnestly engaged insecuring his salvation, as others are, who possess a superior intellect,and are also pursuing the path of salvation, in their estimation, thoughit result in nothing more than a good name, or the honors of this world.Each, according to his capacity-to the natural organization of the humansystem, which is liable to be operated upon by the circumstances and influencesby which it is surrounded, is as eager to obtain that which he supposesis salvation, as I am to obtain salvation in the Eternal world.
The object of a true salvation, correctly and minutely understood, changesthe course of mankind. Persons who are taught by their teachers, friends,and acquaintances, are traditionated, from their youth up, into the beliefthat there is no God, or intelligent beings, other than those that theysee with the natural eye, or naturally comprehend; that there is no hereafter;that at death, all life and intelligence are annihilated. Such persons areas firm in their belief, and as strenuous in argument, in support of thosedoctrines, as others are in the belief of the existence of an Eternal God.The early customs and teachings of parents and friends, to a greater orless degree, influence the minds of children, but when they are disposedto inquire at the hands of Him who has eternal intelligence to impart tothem, when their understandings are enlarged, when their minds are enlightenedby the Spirit of truth, so that they can see things that are unseen by thenatural eye, they may then be corrected in their doctrine and belief, andin their manner of life, but not until then.
How difficult it is to teach the natural man, who comprehends nothingmore than that which he sees with the natural eye! How hard it is for himto believe! How difficult would be the task to make the philosopher, who,for many years, has argued himself into the belief that his spirit is nomore after his body sleeps in the grave, believe that his intelligence camefrom eternity, and is as eternal, in its nature, as the elements, or asthe Gods. Such doctrine by him would be considered vanity and foolishness,it would be entirely beyond his comprehension. It is difficult, indeed,to remove an opinion or belief into which he has argued himself from themind of the natural man. Talk to him about angels, heavens, God, immortality,and eternal lives, and it is like sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal tohis ears; it has no music to him; there is nothing in it that charms hissenses, soothes his feelings, attracts his attention, or engages his affections,in the least; to him it is all vanity. To say that the human family arenot seeking salvation, is contrary to my experience, and to the experienceof every other person with whom I have any acquaintance. They are all forsalvation, some in one way, and some in another; but all is darkness andconfusion. If the Lord does not speak from heaven, and touch the eyes oftheir understanding by His Spirit, who can instruct or guide them to good?who can give them words of eternal life? It is not in the power of man todo it; but when the Lord gives His Spirit to a person, or to a people, theycan then hear, believe, and be instructed. An Elder of Israel may preachthe principles of the Gospel, from first to last, as they were taught tohim, to a congregation ignorant of them; but if he does not do it underthe influence of the Spirit of the Lord, he cannot enlighten that congregationon those principles, it is impossible. Job said that "There is a spiritin man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."Unless we enjoy that understanding in this probation, we cannot grow orincrease, we cannot be made acquainted with the principles of truth andrighteousness so as to become exalted. Admit that the Spirit of the Lordshould give us understanding, what would it prove to us? It would proveto me, at least, and what I may safely say to this congregation, that Zionis here. Whenever we are disposed to give ourselves perfectly to righteousness,to yield all the powers and faculties of the soul (which is the spirit andthe body, and it is there where righteousness dwells); when we are swallowedup in the will of Him who has called us; when we enjoy the peace and thesmiles of our Father in Heaven, the things of His Spirit, and all the blessingswe are capacitated to receive and improve upon, then are we in Zion, thatis Zion. What will produce the opposite? Hearkening and giving way to evil,nothing else will.
If a community of people are perfectly devoted to the cause of righteousness,truth, light, virtue, and every principle and attribute of the holy Gospel,we may say of that people, as the ancient Apostle said to his brethren,"Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, exceptye be reprobates;" there is a throne for the Lord Almighty to sit andreign upon, there is a resting place for the Holy Ghost, there is a habitationof the Father and the Son. We are the temples of God, but when ye are overcomeof evil by yielding to temptation, we deprive ourselves of the privilegeof the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, taking up their abode and dwellingwith us. We are the people, by our calling and profession, and ought tobe by our daily works, of whom it should be truly said, "Ye are thetemples of our God." Let me ask, what is there to prevent any personin this congregation from being so blessed, and becoming a holy temple fitfor the in-dwelling of the Holy Ghost? Has any being in heaven or on earthdone aught to prevent you from becoming so blessed? No, but why the peopleare not so privileged I will leave you to judge. I would to God that everysoul who professes to be a Latter-day Saint was of that character, a holytemple for the in-dwelling of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, butit is not so. Is there any individual within the sound of my voice to day,that has received the Holy Ghost through the principles of the Gospel, andat the same time has not received a love for them? I will answer that question.Wait and see who it is that falls out by the way; who it is in whom theseed of truth has been sown, but has not taken root; and then you will knowthe individuals who have received the truth, but have never received a loveof it-they do not love it for itself. What a delightful aspect would thiscommunity present if all men and women, old and young, were disposed toleave off their own sins and follies, and overlook those of their neighbors;if they would cease watching their neighbors for iniquity, and watch thatthey themselves might be free from it! if they were trying with all theirpowers to sanctify the Lord in their hearts, and would prove, by their actions,that they had received the truth and the love of it! if all individualswould watch themselves, that they do not speak against the Father, the Son,the Holy Ghost, nor in short against any being in heaven or on earth. Strangeas this may appear, there have been men in this Church that have done it,and probably will be again! If this people would be careful not to do anythingto displease the spirits of those who have lived on the earth, and havebeen justified, and have gone to rest, and would so conduct themselves,that no reasonable being upon the face of the earth could find fault withthem, what kind of society should we have? Why every man's mouth would befilled with blessings, every man's hand would be put forth to do good, andevery woman and child in all their intercourse would be praising God, andblessing each other. Would not Zion be here? It would. What hinders youfrom doing this? What is the Lord or the people doing to cause this oneand that one to commit sin with a high hand, in secret and in the open streets?
If Elders of Israel use language which is not proper for the lips ofa Saint, such Elders are under condemnation, and the wrath of God abidesupon them, those who do it have not the love of truth in their hearts, theydo not love and honor the truth because it is the truth, but because itis powerful, and they wish to join with the strongest party. Do they lovelight because it is light? virtue because it is virtue? righteousness becauseit is righteousness? No. But these principles are almighty in their influence,and like the tornado in the forest, they sweep all before them, no argumentcan weigh against them, all the philosophy, knowledge, and wisdom of menmay be set in array against them, but they are like chaff before a mightywind, or like the morning dew before the sun in its strength-such Elderembrace truth because it is all-powerful. When a man of God preaches theprinciples of the Gospel, all things give way before it, and some embraceit because it is so mighty. But by and bye those characters will fall outby the way, because the soil has not depth to nourish the seeds of truth.They receive it, but not the love of it; it dies, and they turn away. Ifevery person who has embraced the Gospel would love it as he loves his life,would not society wear a different aspect from that of the present?
I do not intend to enter into a detailed account of the acts of the people,they are themselves acquainted with them; people know how they themselvestalk, and how their neighbors talk; how husband and wife agree in theirown houses, and with their neighbors; and how parents and children dwelltogether. I need not tell these things, but if every heart were set upondoing right, we then should have Zion here. I will give you my reason forthinking so. It is because I have had it with me ever since I was baptizedinto this kingdom. I have not been without it from that day to this. I havetherefore a good reason for the assertion I have made. I live and walk inZion every day, and so do thousands of others in this Church and kingdom,they carry Zion with them, they have one of their own, and it is increasing,growing, and spreading continually. Suppose it spreads from heart to heart,from neighborhood to neighborhood, from city to city, and from nation tonation, how long would it be before the earth would become revolutionized,and the wheat gathered from among the tares. The wheat and tares, however,must grow together until harvest. I am not, therefore, disposed to separatethem yet, for if we pluck up the tares before the harvest, we may destroysome of the seed, therefore let them grow together, and by and bye the harvestwill come.
There is another thing, brethren, which I wish you to keep constantlybefore your minds, that is with regard to your travels in life. You haveread, in the Scriptures, that the children of men will be judged accordingto their works, whether they be good or bad, If a man's days be filled upwith good works, he will be rewarded accordingly. On the other hand, ifhis days be filled up with evil actions, he will receive according to thoseacts. This proves that we are in a state of exaltation, it proves that wecan add to our knowledge, wisdom, and strength, and that we can add powerto every attribute that God has given us. When will the people realize thatthis is the period of time in which they should commence to lay the foundationof their exaltation for time and eternity, that this is the time to conceive,and bring forth from the heart fruit to the honor and glory of God, as Jesusdid-grow as he did from the child, become perfect, and be prepared to beraised to salvation? You will find that this probation is the place to increaseupon every little we receive, for the Lord gives line upon line to the childrenof men. When He reveals the plan of salvation, then is the time to fillup our days with good works.
Let us fill up our days with usefulness, do good to each other, and ceasefrom all evil. Let every evil person forsake his wickedness. If he be wickedin his words, or in his dealings, let him forsake those practices, and pursuea course of righteousness. Let every man and woman do this, and peace andjoy will be the result.
A few words more upon the subject of the eternal existence of the soul.It is hard for mankind to comprehend that principle. The philosophers ofthe world will concede that the elements of which you and I are composedare eternal, yet they believe that there was a time when there was no God.They cannot comprehend how it is that God can be eternal. Let me ask thiscongregation, Can you realise the eternity of your own existence? Can yourealise that the intelligence which you receive is eternal? I can comprehendthis, just as well as I can that I am now in possession of it. It is aseasy for me to comprehend that it will exist eternally, as that anythingelse will. I wish to impress upon your minds the reality that when the bodywhich is organized for intelligence to dwell in, dies, and returns to itsmother earth, all the feelings, sensibilities, faculties, and powers ofthe spirit are still alive, they never die, but in the absence of the bodyare more acute. They are organized for an eternal existence. If this congregationcould comprehend that the intelligence that is in them is eternal in itsnature and existence; if they could realize that when Saints pass throughthe vail, they are not dead, but have been laying the foundation in thesetabernacles for exaltation, laying the foundation to become Gods, even thesons of God, and for crowns which they will yet receive-they would receivethe truth in the love of it, live by it, and continue in it, until theyreceive all knowledge and wisdom, until they grow into eternity, and havethe vail taken from before their eyes, to behold the handiworks of God amongall people, His going forth among the nations of the earth, and to discoverthe rule and law by which He governs. Then could they say of a truth, Weacknowledge the hand of God in all things, all is right, Zion is here, inour own possession.
I have thus summed up, in a broken manner, that which I desired to speak.We are not able to comprehend all things, but we can continue to learn andgrow, until all will be perfectly clear to our minds, which is a great privilegeto enjoy-the blessing of an eternal increase. And the man or woman who livesworthily is now in a state of salvation.
Now, brethren, love the truth, and put a stop to every species of folly.How many there are who come to me to find fault with, and enter complaintsagainst, their brethren, for some trifling thing, when I can see, in a moment,that they have received no intentional injury! They have no compassion ontheir brethren, but, having passed their judgment, insist that the criminalshall be punished. And why? Because he does not exactly come up to theirstandard of right and wrong! They feel to measure him by the "IronBedstead principle"-"if you are too long, you must be cut off;if too short, you must be stretched." Now this is the height of folly.I find that I have enough to do to watch myself. It is as much as I cando to get right, deal right, and act right. If we all should do this, therewould be no difficulty, but in every man's mouth would be "May theLord bless you." I feel happy, as I always told you. Brother Kimballhas known me thirty years, twenty one of which I have been in this Church;others have known me twenty years; and there are some here who knew me inEngland; I had Zion with me then, and I brought it with me to America again,and I now appeal to every man and woman if I have not had Zion with me fromfirst entering into the Church, to the present time! Light cleaves to light,and truth to truth. May God bless you. Amen.