A DISCOURSE delivered by president dent brigham young in the tabernacle in great salt lake city ion on the irth day of january 1853 the p plan an of salvation or in other words the r F demp tion of fallen beings is a subject that 1 should hould 8 occupy the attention of all intelligence I 1 that pertains to fallen beings I 1 do ot like the term fallen beings but I 1 will say aay subjected intelligence telli gence which term suits me better I 1 1 all A 11 are deeply engaged in in this grand oba object ct not however having a correct understanding 1 der of the true principles thereof they wander to and fro some to the right and some soni e to the left there is not a person in the world who w ho is endowed with a common share of intellect lin but i t ls is laboring with all their powers for salvation men vary in their efforts to obtain that object still their individual conclusions are that they will ultimately secure it if a mans capacity is limited to the things of this world if he reaches no further than he can see with his eyes feel with his hands and understand with the ability of the natural man mail still he is as earnestly engaged in securing his salvation as others are who possess a superior intellect and are also pursuing the path of sil salvation yati on in their estimation though it result in nothing more than a good name or the honors of t this his world according to their capacity to the natural orga organization hiza tion of the human system which is lible to be operated upon by the circumstances and influences by which they are surrounded they are as eager to obtain that which they suppose is salvation as I 1 am to obtain salvation in the eternal world the man tor for instance who is accumulating wealth and hoarding up gold and silver is as eager its as fervent and as faithful to his calling as any man can be who is striving to obtain a crown of celestial glory in the presence of the gods gads he will pass nights sleepless nights with his hi mind wholly holly absorbed on the object of his kursu pursuit it he spares n no 0 pains i he toils and wears himself out to obtain the 0 object of his pursuit whether it be for money wealth or the honors of the world the object of a true salvation correctly and manuiel understood changes the course of mankind persons who are taught by their parents teachers friends and acquaintances are aradi tiona ted from their youth up into the belief that there is no god or intelligent beings 1 other than those that they see with the natural 1 eye or naturally comprehend no hereafter that at death all life and int intelligence ellig ence is annihilated are as firm in that belief and as strenuous in argument in support of those doctrines as others are in the belief of the existence of an eternal god surrounded with eternal innumerable the early customs and teachings of parents and friends to a greater or less degree ir influence fluence the minds of every individual but when they are disposed to inquire at the hands of him who has eternal intelligence to impart to them when their understandings are afe enlarged when their minds chi are e ji norl hy hv the inirio of truth ruth sn I 1 they can see things that are unseen by the nai natural aral eye they may then be corrected in their doctrine and belief and in the their ir manner of lil life re but not until then how difficult it is to teach the natural man who comprehends nothing more than that which he sees with the natural eye how hard it is for him to believe how difficult would be the task to malie make the philosopher who has argued himself for many year into the belief that his spirit is no more after his body sleeps in the grave believe that his intelligence came from eternity I 1 and is as eternal in its nature as the elements or as the gods such doctrine by him would be considered the essence of vanity and f foolishness oo lishness it would the bp entirely beyond his comprehension it is difficult d t indeed to remove an opinion or belief into which he be has argued himself from t the he 1 mind I d 0 of f the natural man talk to him about angels heaven god immortality and eternal live and it is like a sounding brass or a tinkling ci abal to his ears it has no music for him there is nothing in it that charms his senses 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 are not seeking salvation is contrary to my experience and to t the he experience of every other person with whom I 1 have any acquaintance they are all for salvation some in one way and some in another bit b it all is darkness and confusion if tile the lord does not speak from heaven and touch the eyes of their understanding by his sprit spirit who can instructor guide them to good who can give give them words of eternal lire life it is not in the power of man to do it but when the lord gives his spirit to a person or to a people they can then hear believe and be instructed an elder of israel mry may preach the principles of the gospel from first to last as they were taught to him to a congregation ignorant of them but if he doe spot do it under the influence of the spirit of the lord he be cannot enlighten that congregation on those principles it is impossible job said that there was a spirit in man and the inspiration of the almighty i it t understanding der standing unless we enjoy that understanding in this probation we cannot learn grow or increase we cannot be made acquainted quain ted with the principles of truth and righteousness so as to t become exalted admit that the spirit of the lord should give us understanding and what would it prove to us it w would prove to me at least and I 1 may safely say to this congregation that zion is here whenever we are disposed to give ourselves perfectly to righteousness to yield all the powers and faculties of our souls which is the spirit and the body and it is there where righteousness dwells when en eare e are swallowed swa owe up tip in n the t e will w of 0 him im who has called ux u when we enjoy the peace and the smiles of our father in heaven the things thing of his spirit and all the blessings we are capacitated to receive and improve upon then we are in zion that is zion what will produce the opposite hearkening to and giving way to evil nothing else will if a community of people are perfectly perfect ly 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 bis brethren know ye not that the kingdom of heaven is within you except ye be reprobates there is a throne for the lord almighty to sit and reign upon there is a resting place for the huly holy ghost there is a habitation of the father and son we are the temples of god but when we are overcome of evil by yielding to temptation we deprive ourselves of the privilege of f lie he father the son and the holy ghost taking up their abode and dwelling with us we are tho the people by our calling and profession and ought to be by our daily works of whom it should be truly said ye are the temples of our god let me ask what is there to prevent any person in this I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 2 at lo 10 2 0 tion from being so blessed and becoming a holy temple fit for tile the ind in welling dwelling of the holy ghost 3 host has any being in I 1 heaven I 1 eaven or on earth done OU ought lit to prevent you from becoming so blessed no nol but why the people are not so PO privileged I 1 will leave you to judge I 1 would to god that every soul who professes to be a latter day saint was of that character a holy temple for the in dwelling of the father the son and the holy ghost but it is not so Is there any individual beneath the sound of my voice today to day that has received the holy ghost through the principles of the gospel and at the same time has not received a love for them I 1 will answer that question wait and 1 see who it is that falls out by the way see who it i is s in whom the seed of truth has been sown but has not taken root and then you will know the individuals who have received the truth but have never received a love of it they do not love it for itself what a delightful aspect would this community present if every man and woman old and young were disposed to leave off their own sins sine and follies and look over those of their neighbors I 1 would cease watching their neighbors for iniquity but watch that they themselves may be free from it if they were trying with all their powers to sanctify the lord in their hearts and would prove by their actions that they had received the tf truth uth and the love of it if every individual would watch themselves that they do not speak against the father nor the son in short nor against any being in heaven or on earth or against the holy ghost absurd as I 1 this may appear there have been men in this church who have done it and probably will be again if they would be careful not to do any shinar to displease the spirits of those who have lived on the earth and have been justified and gone to rest and would so conduct themselves that no reasonable being upon the face of the earth could find fault with them the wat kind ol of a society should we have why ery mans mouth would be filled with blessings every mans harld hand would be put forth to do good and every woman and child in bil all their intercourse would be praising god and blessing each other would not zion be here it would what hinders you from doing this what is the lord or the people doing to cause this one and that one to commit sin s m with a high hand in secret and in the open streets if elders of israel use language which is not proper for the lips of a saint such elder are under tinder condemnation and ahe wrath of god abides upon them those who do it have not the love of f the truth in their hearts they do not love and honor the truth because it is the truth but because it is powerful and they wish to join with the strongest party do they love light because it is light virtue because it is virtue righteousness because it is righteousness no but these principles are almighty in their influence and like the tornado in the forest they sweep all before them no argument can weigh against them all the philosophy knowledge and wisdom of men may be set in array against them but it is like chaff before beford a mighty wind or like the morning dew before the sun in its strength they embrace it because it is all il powerful gerful 4 when man of god preaches the principles of the gospel all things give way before it and some embrace it because it is so mighty but by and bye those characters will fall out by the way because the soil has no depth to nourish the seed truth they receive it but not the love of it the seed springs up and grows until the sun withers it or the tares choke it it dies and they turn away it every person who has embraced the gospel would love it as they love their lives would not society wear a different aspect from that of the present I 1 do not intend to enter into a detailed account of the acts 0 of f the people they are themselves conversant with them they know how they themselves talk ano and how their neighbors talk how husband and wife agree in their own houses and with their neighbors and how parents and children dwell together I 1 need not tell these things but if every heart was set on doing right then should we have zion here I 1 w will ill give you m my r reason e ason for thinking so it is because I 1 have lad had it with me ever since I 1 was baptized into this kingdom I 1 have not been without it from that day to this I 1 have therefore a good reason for the assertion I 1 have made with regard to it Ilive I 1 live and walk inzian in zion 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 to nation how long would it be before the earth would become revolutionized and the wheat gathered from among the tares the W wheat heat and tares however must arrow together until harvest I 1 am therefore not disposed to separate them yet for if WP we pluck up the tares before the harvest we may destroy some of the 9 good 00 d seed therefore let them grow together but by and bye the harvest will corn come there is another thing brethren which I 1 wish you to keep constantly before your minds that is with regard to your travels in life you have read in the scriptures that the children of men me shall he judged according cc to their works whether they be good or bad if a man s days be filled up with good works he will be rewarded accordingly on the other hand if his days are filled up with evil actions he will receive according to those acts this proves that we are in a state of exaltation it proves that we can add to our knowledge wisdom strength and pow power er that we can add to every attribute that grid god has given us ua when will the people realize that this is the pe period of ome in which they should commence to lay the foundation of their exaltation for time and eternity that this is the time to conceive and id bring forth from the heart fruit to the honor and glory of god as jesus did grow as be did from the child become perfect and be prepared to he be raised to salvation you will find that this probation is the place to increase upon ever every y little we receive for the lord gives line upon line to the children childr n of men when he reveals the plan of salvation then is the time to fill up our days with good works let us fill up our days with usefulness do good to each other and cease from all evil let ever every evil person forsake his wickedness if lie he is ia wicked in his words or in his dealings let him forsake those practices and pursue a course of righteousness let evey every man and nd woman do this and peace and joy will he be the result A few words more upon the subject of the existence ot soul it is hard for mankind to com comprehend that principle the philosophers of 0 the he world wilt will concede that the elements of which you and I 1 are composed are eternal yet they believe that there was a time when there was no god they therefore cannot comprehend how it is that god can be eternal let me aski askwig blie people can this congregation comprehend the eternity of their own existence can they realize that the intelligence which you receive through the medium of the ear and by the sense of f touch is eternal I 1 can comprehend this just as well as I 1 oan aan that I 1 am now in possession of it it is as easy for me to comprehend that it will exist eternally as aa 0 that anything else will I 1 wish to impress upon your minds the reality that when the body which is organized for intelligence telli gence to dwell in dies and returns to its mother earth all the feelings sensibilities ta callies cul lies ties and powers of the soul are still alive they never die but in tile absence of the body are more acute they are organized for an eternal existence if this congregation could comprehend that the intelligence that is in them is ia eternal in its nature and organization if you could realize that when saints pass through the vail they are not dead but have been laying the foundation in these tabernacles for exaltation laying the foundation to become gods even the sons of god and for crowns which we shall yet receive you would receive the truth in the love of it live by it and continue in it until you receive all knowledge and wisdom until I 1 C 1 I C 0 I 1 ill I 1 I 1 i you grow into eternity and have the vail taken from before your eyes to lo behold the handi handiworks works of god among all people pt his goings forth among the nations of the earth arli and to lo discover