A DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY ELDER P. P. PRATT, AT THE GENERALCONFERENCE, IN THE TABERNACLE, GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, APRIL 10, 1853.
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At the request of my brethren, I rise to occupy a portion of the time.I realize that there are many present who are equally prepared to administerin the things of the Spirit of God. The time is precious, and I desire thatI may have the Spirit of God, with the prayers and confidence of the people,to speak in wisdom that which is necessary, and then give opportunity tomy brethren; for I love to hear them, and so do this people.
I have reflected a little upon the text that was presented to us byour President a few days since, and upon the excellent remarks made by himselfand others upon the subject of heirship, or the inherent rights of the firstborn,and of election. I consider, indeed, that it opens a broad field, and thatthere is no danger of exhausting the subject, whatever may be said of it.
The covenants made with the fathers, and the rights of the childrenby reason of them, are an interesting subject to me.
In the first place, if all men were created alike, if all had the samedegree of intelligence and purity of disposition, all would be equal. But,notwithstanding the declaration of American sages, and of the fathers ofour country, to the contrary, it is a fact that all beings are not equalin their intellectual capacity, in their dispositions, and in the giftsand callings of God. It is a fact that some beings are more intelligentthan others, and some are endowed with abilities or gifts which others donot possess.
In organizing and peopling the worlds, it was found necessary to placeamong the inhabitants some superior intelligences, who were capacitatedto teach, to rule, and preside among other intelligences. In short, a varietyof gifts, and adaptations to the different arts, sciences, and occupations,was as necessary as the uses and benefits arising therefrom have provedto be. Hence one intelligence is peculiarly adapted to one department ofusefulness, and another to another. We read much in the Bible in relationto a choice or election, on the part of Deity, towards intelligences inHis government on earth, whereby some were chosen to fill stations verydifferent from others. And this election not only affected the individualsthus chosen, but their posterity for long generations, or even for ever.
It may be inquired where this election first originated, and upon whatprinciple a just and impartial God exercises the elective franchise. Wewill go back to the earliest knowledge we have of the existence of intelligences.We learn from the writings of Abraham and others, and from modern revelation,that the intelligences that now inhabit these tabernacles of earth wereliving, active intelligences in yonder world, while the particles of matterwhich now compose our outward bodies were yet mingled with their nativeelement; that then out embodied spirits lived, moved, conversed, and exercisedan agency. All intelligences which exist possess a degree of independencein their own sphere. For instance, the bee can go at will in search of honey,or remain in the hive. It can visit one flower or another, as independentin its own sphere as God is in His. We find a degree of independence ineverything which possesses any degree of intelligence; that thinks, moves,or acts: because the very principle of voluntary action implies an independentwill to direct such action.
Among the intelligences which existed in the beginning, some were moreintelligent than others, or, in other words, more noble; and God said toAbraham, "These I will make my rulers!" God said unto Abraham,"Thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born."
NOBLE! Does He use the word noble? Yes; the word noble, or that whichsignified it, was used in conversation between God and Abraham, and appliedto superior intelligences on earth, and which had pre-existed in the heavens.
I am aware that the term is greatly abused, in Europe and elsewhere,being applied to those titled, and to those who inherit certain titles andestates, whether they are wise men or fools, virtuous or vicious. A manmay even be an idiot, drunkard, an adulterer, or a murderer, and still becalled a nobleman by the world. And all this because his ancestor, for someworthy action, or perhaps for being skilled in murder and robbery, underthe false glare of "military glory," obtained a title, and thepossession of a large estate, from which he had helped to drive the rightfuloccupant.
Now the Lord did not predicate His principle of election or nobilityupon such an unequal, unjust, and useless order of things. When He speaksof nobility, He simply means an election made, and an office or a titleconferred, on the principle of superiority of intellect, or nobleness ofaction, or of capacity to act. And when this election, with its titles,dignities, and estates, includes the unborn posterity of a chosen man, asin the case of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it is with a view of the noblespirits of the eternal world coming through their lineage, and being taughtin the commandments of God. Hence the Prophets, Kings, Priests, Patriarchs,Apostles, and even Jesus Christ, were included in the election of Abraham,and of his seed, as manifested to him in an eternal covenant.
Although some eternal intelligences may be superior to others, and althoughsome are more noble, and consequently are elected to fill certain usefuland necessary offices for the good of others, yet the greater and the lessmay both be innocent, and both be justified, and be useful, each in theirown capacity; if each magnify their own calling, and act in their own capacity,it is all right.
It may be inquired, why God made one unequal to another, or inferiorin intellect or capacity. To which I reply, that He did not create theirintelligence at all. It never was created, being an inherent attribute ofthe eternal element called spirit, which element composes each individualspirit, and which element exists in an infinitude of degrees in the scaleof intellect, in all the varieties manifested in the eternal God, and thenceto the lowest agent, which acts by its own will.
It is a fixed law of nature that the higher intelligence presides over,or has more or less influence over, or control of, that which is less.
The Lord, in surveying the eternal intelligences which stood beforeHim, found some more noble or intellectual than others, who were equallyinnocent. This being so, He exercised the elective franchise upon wise principles,and, like a good and kind father among his children, He chose those forrulers who were most capable of benefiting the residue. Among these wasour noble ancestor, Abraham.
I do not take up the subject in the middle of it, like the natural manwho knows little of the past or future, and who judges by the things presentbefore his eyes. Such a one might suppose that it so happened that Abrahamcame along, and was picked up without any particular reference to the past,or to eternal principles, and was elected to office; that it might justas well have been somebody else instead of him. But instead of this, hewas chosen before the world was, and came into the world for the very purposewhich he fulfilled. But, notwithstanding this pre-election in passing theveil, and entering a tabernacle of flesh, he became a little child, forgotall he had once known in the heavens, and commenced anew to receive intelligencein this world, as is the case with all. He therefore was necessitated tocome up by degrees, receive an experience, be tried and proved. And whenhe had been sufficiently proved according to the flesh, the Lord manifestedto him the election before exercised towards him in the eternal world. Hethen renewed that election and covenant, and blessed him, and his seed afterhim. And He said-In multiplying, I will multiply thee; and in blessing Iwill bless thee.
The Sodomites, Canaanites, &c., received the reverse of this blessing.Instead of giving them a multiplicity of wives and children, He cut themoff, root and branch, and blotted their name from under heaven, that theremight be an end of a race so degenerate. Now this severity was a mercy.If we were like the people before the flood, full of violence and oppression;or if we, like the Sodomites or Canaanites, were full of all manner of lawlessabominations, holding promiscuous intercourse with the other sex, and stoopingto a level with the brute creation, and predisposing our children, by everymeans in our power, to be fully given to strange and unnatural lusts, appetites,and passions, would it not be a mercy to cut us off, root and branch, andthus put an end to our increase upon the earth? You will all say it would.The spirits in heaven would thank God for preventing them from being borninto the world under such circumstances. Would not the spirits in heavenrejoice in the covenant and blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in relationto the multiplying of their seed, and in every additional wife which Godgave to them as a means of multiplying? Yes, they would; for they couldsay-"Now there is an opportunity for us to take bodies in the lineageof a noble race, and to be educated in the true science of life, and inthe commandments of God." O what an unspeakable contrast, between beinga child of Sodom, and a child of Abraham!
Now, Abraham, by his former superiority of intelligence and nobility,by his former election before the world was, and by conducting himself inthis world so as to obtain the renewal of the same according to the flesh,brought upon his posterity, as well as upon himself, that which will influencethem more or less to the remotest generations of time, and in eternity.
Paul, the great Apostle of the Gentiles, when speaking upon this subject,testifies that the children of Israel differ much every way from the Gentiles,for to them, says he, pertains the election, the covenants, the promises,the service of God, the adoption, the glory, the giving of the law, andthe coming of Christ in the flesh. He then goes on to trace the peculiarbranches in which the heirship is perpetuated. Abraham had a son Ishmael,and several children by his other wives and concubines which the Lord gaveunto him. They might all be blessed, but the peculiar blessings of heirshipand Priesthood remained and were perpetuated in Isaac.
Again, when Rebecca, the wife of Isaac, had conceived twins, the electionto these peculiar blessings ran in the lineage of Jacob, and not of Esau.True, Esau was the first-born, and was heir to the inheritance, which alwayspertains to the birth-right, but the election to hold and perpetuate thekeys of eternal Priesthood was peculiar to Jacob, and even that which Esaudid inherit was forfeited by transgression, and therefore transferred toJacob.
The Lord blessed Ishmael in many things, because he was Abraham's seed.The Lord blessed Esau in many things, because he was a son of Abraham andIsaac, but the peculiar things of the Priesthood, through which all nationsshould be blessed, pertained exclusively to that peculiar branch of theHebrews which sprang from Jacob.
Now before these two children were born, or had done any good or evilin this life, God, who was acquainted with them in the former life, andwho knew the grades of intelligence or of nobility possessed by each, revealedto Rebecca, their mother, that two nations or manner of people would springfrom these twins, and that one people should be stronger than the other,and that the elder should serve the younger. When these two children hadbeen born, and had died, and when their posterity had become two nations,then the Lord spoke by the Prophet Malachi, that He loved Jacob, becauseof some good he had done, and that He hated Esau, and laid his mountainswaste, because of certain evils specified in the same declaration.
The Apostle Paul, in speaking of Jacob and Esau, quotes the revelationof Rebecca, before they were born, and the revelation to Malachi after theyhad become two nations; and the two quotations, both following in immediateconnexion in Paul's writings, have been mistaken by many, as if God hadrevealed both sayings before the two children were born; and thus the Scripturesare wrested and made to say that God hated a child before he was born, orhad done any good or evil. A more false and erroneous doctrine could hardlybe conceived, or a worse charge sustained against Juggernaut, than the imputationof hating children before they are born.
Here I would inquire, if it is anything inconsistent, or derogatoryto the character of a good or impartial father, who loves all his children,for him to elect or appoint one of them to fulfil a certain purpose or calling,and another to fulfil another useful calling? Is it anything strange forone person to be stronger than another, for one person to serve another,or for one person to have a more numerous posterity than another? Is itanything strange or unrighteous for one person to be a farmer, a wine-dresser,or a builder, and another a teacher, a governor, or a minister of justiceand equity? What is more natural, more useful, or just, than for a fatherwho discovers the several abilities or adaptations of his children, to appointthem their several callings or occupations?
God did not say that Jacob should be saved in the kingdom of God, andEsau be doomed to eternal hell, without any regard to their deeds; but Hesimply said that two distinct nations, widely differing, should spring fromthem, and one should be stronger than the other, and the elder should servethe younger. If one nation is stronger than the other, it can assist todefend the other. If the one nation serves the other, it will have a claimon a just remuneration for services rendered. If one inherits a blessingor Priesthood, through which all nations shall be blessed, surely the nationwhich is composed of his brother's children will have an early claim onsalvation through this ministry. I should esteem it a great privilege if,while I was serving my brother, and we were both partaking of the fruitsof my labors, he should be elected to a Priesthood, through the ministryof which myself and all my posterity, as well as his own, might be taught,exalted, and eternally saved. By our mutual labors, then, we could be mutuallybenefited in time and in eternity. I am administering to him, and I am happy.He is administering to me, and he is happy. It is a kind of mutual service,a classification of labor, wherein each attends to the business most naturalto him, and wherein there is mutual benefit. Why, then, should I find fault,or entertain envy or hatred towards my brother? Dressing a vine, ploughinga field, harvesting, or building, is just as necessary as teaching, or administeringthe ordinances of salvation; one acts in one capacity, and the other inanother, but they are mutually blessed and benefited by their separate callingsand endowments.
On the subject of hatred, I feel much as the Lord did when He hatedEsau, and laid his mountains waste. When the children of Jacob were in troublewith their enemies, Esau's descendants joined with the enemy, and did notstand by their brethren. When Jacob was unpopular, and the nations hatedhim because of the peculiarities of his religion, Esau forsook his brotherand disowned relationship, fellowshipping with his brother's persecutors.I also hate a traitor, who turns against me in a day of adversity, whenI have claim on him as a brother.
But to return to the subject of election, and of heirship. In the lineageof Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, according to the flesh, was held the rightof heirship to the keys of Priesthood for the blessings and for the salvationof all nations. From this lineage sprang the Prophets, John the Baptist,Jesus, and the Apostles; and from this lineage sprang the great Prophetand restorer in modern times, and the Apostles who hold the keys under hishand. It is true, that Melchizedeck and the fathers before him held thesame Priesthood, and that Abraham was ordained and blessed under his hand,but this was an older branch of the chosen seed. I am speaking more fullyof those who have lived since the older branches passed away, and sincethe transfer of the keys to Abraham and his seed. No Ishmaelite, no Edomite,no Gentile, has since then been privileged to hold the presiding keys ofPriesthood, or of the ministry of salvation. In this peculiar lineage, andin no other, should all the nations be blessed. From the days of Abrahamuntil now, is the people of any country, age, or nation, have been blessedwith the blessings peculiar to the everlasting covenant of the Gospel, itssealing powers, Priesthood, and ordinances, it has been through the ministryof that lineage, and the keys of Priesthood held by the lawful heirs accordingto the flesh. Were the twelve Apostles which Christ ordained, Gentiles?Were any of them Ishmaelites, Edomites, Canaanites, Greeks, Egyptians, orRomans by descent? No, verily. One of the Twelve was called a "Canaanite,"but this could not have alluded to his lineage, but rather to the localityof his nativity, for Christ was not commissioned to minister in person tothe Gentiles, much less to ordain any of them to the Priesthood, which pertainedto the children of Abraham. I would risk my soul upon the fact that Simonthe Apostle was not a Canaanite by blood. He was perhaps a Canaanite uponthe same principle that Jesus was a Nazarite, which is expressive of thelocality of his birth or sojourn. But no man can hold the keys of Priesthoodor of Apostleship, to bless or administer salvation to the nations, unlesshe is a literal descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus Christ andhis ancient Apostles of both hemispheres were of that lineage. When theypassed away, and the Saints, their followers, were destroyed from the earth,then the light of truth no longer shone in its fulness.
The world have from that day to this been manufacturing priests, withoutany particular regard to lineage. But what have they accomplished? Theyhave done what man could do; but man could not bestow that which he didnot possess, consequently he could not bestow the eternal keys of powerwhich would constitute the Priesthood. They have manufactured something,and called it Priesthood, and the world has been cursed with it up to thistime.
But God Almighty, in fulfilment of the covenants made with Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, and with the Prophets, Apostles, and Saints of old, raisedup a Joseph, and conferred upon him the ancient records, oracles, and keysof the eternal Priesthood. If he was the impostor the world took him tobe, why did he not happen to state in his book that he was a descendantof the Romans, or that he had come through the loins of Socrates, or sprungfrom some of the Greek philosophers, or Roman generals? Why not a descendantof some noble house of the Gentile kings or nobles? As we were ignorantof the peculiarities of election and heirship to the royal Priesthood, whydid not the Book of Mormon predict that a noble Gentile should be the instrumentto receive and translate it in modern times, that through the Gentiles theJews might obtain mercy? It is true the book was brought forth and publishedamong the Gentiles: it is also true that it comes from the Gentiles to Israel,speaking nationally; but when it predicts the name and lineage of its moderntranslator, "Behold, he is a descendant of Joseph of Egypt," whyshould an imputed impostor be consistent in this as well as in all otheritems? The reason is obvious. It is because the record is true, and itstranslator no impostor.
Knowing of the covenants and promises made to the fathers, as I nowknow them, and the rights of heirship to the Priesthood, as manifested inthe election of God, I would never receive any man as an Apostle or a Priest,holding the keys of restoration, to bless the nations, while he claimedto be of any other lineage than Israel.
The word of the Lord, through our Prophet and founder, to the choseninstruments of the modern Priesthood, was this-"Ye are lawful heirsaccording to the flesh, and your lives have been hid with Christ in God."That is to say, they have been held in reserve during the reign of MysticBabel, to be born in due time, as successors to the Apostles and Prophetsof old, being their children, of the same royal line. They have come forth,at length as heirs to the keys of power, knowledge, glory, and blessing,to minister to all the nations of the Gentiles, and afterwards to restorethe tribes of Israel. They are of the royal blood of Abraham, Isaac, andJacob, and have a right to claim the ordination and endowments of the Priesthood,inasmuch as they repent, and obey the Lord God of their fathers.
Those who are not of this lineage, whether they are Gentiles, Edomitesor Ishmaelites, or of whatever nation, have a right to remission of sinsand the Gift of the Holy Spirit, through their ministry, on conditions offaith, repentance, and baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ. Through thisGospel they are adopted into the same family, and are counted for the seedof Abraham; they can then receive a portion of this ministry under those(literal descendants) who hold the presiding keys of the same.
By obeying the Gospel, or by adoption through the Gospel, we are allmade joint heirs with Abraham, and with his seed, and we shall, by continuancein well doing, all be blessed in Abraham and his seed, no matter whetherwe are descended from Melchizedeck, from Edom, from Ishmael, or whetherwe be Jews or Gentiles. On the principles of Gospel adoption, the blessingis broad enough to gather all good, penitent, obedient people under itswings, and to extend to all nations the principles of salvation. We wouldtherefore more cordially invite all nations to join themselves to this favoredlineage, and come with all humility and penitence to its royal Priesthood,if they wish to be instructed and blessed, for to be blessed in this peculiarsense in any other way, or by any other institutions or government, theycannot, while the promises and covenants of God hold good to the elect seed.
Turn from all your sins, ye Gentiles; turn from all your sins, ye peopleof the house of Israel, ye Edomites, Jews, and Israelites; all ye nationsof the earth, and come to the legal Priesthood, and be ye blessed. The promiseis to each and all of you; do not reject it. The keys of the kingdom, ofgovernment, of Priesthood, of Apostleship; the keys of salvation to buildup, govern, organize, and administer in temporal and spiritual salvationto the ends of the earth, are now restored, and held by the chosen instrumentsof this lineage.
I have spoken in a national capacity and in general principles. In regardto individual heirship and the rights of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives,sons, daughters, &c., I have not the power, if I had the time, to makethe subject any plainer than our President made it the other day. It isfor us to learn more and more from day to day, and continue to learn andpractise those principles and laws that will secure to each individual andfamily its rights, according to the ancient order of the government of God,which is now being restored.
The living oracles or Priesthood in our midst can develop these principlesfrom time to time as we need them, for they minister in holy things, andsoon they will enter with us into the holy temple, where we may learn morefully; and if we are still lacking, they will with us enjoy the great thousandyears in which to teach, qualify, and prepare us for eternity.
We have need to learn more fully the relationship we sustain to ourfamilies, to the community, to the nations of the earth, to the house ofIsrael, to heaven, to earth, to time, and to eternity. We have need to learnmore fully to fulfil the duties of those relationships. We must learn bydegrees. Truth is not all told at once, nor learned in a few days. A littlewas developed by our President the other day, for which we are very glad;we will treasure it up, and as circumstances call for it, we shall receivea little more, until by degrees the law of God is learned from those whohold the keys, even every item which pertains to our own rights, and therights of our children, so that we shall not trespass on another's. In thismanner all the good people on earth, in the spirit world, or in the worldof the resurrection, may become one in love, peace, good-will, purity, andconfidence, and in keeping the laws of Jesus Christ and of the holy Priesthood.If each person has the knowledge and the disposition to do right, and thendoes it continually, even as he would wish others to do to him, this willnot only give to each his right, but create the utmost confidence, love,and good-will, by which a perfect union may be formed between each other,and with all good spirits and angels, and, finally, with Jesus Christ andhis Father in worlds without end. Amen.