Show IS IEL M EM LK ARKS A at S By President SKIff HAM YOUNG delivered in the new tabernacle salt lake city april ath 1869 REPORTED BY DAVID W EVANS I 1 shall not be under the necessity of talking longas there has been a great deal said to the people this afternoon I 1 will commence by saying to the latter day saints and to all the in habitants of the earth that I 1 am responsible for the doctrine I 1 teach but ant I 1 am not responsible for the obedience of the people to that doctrine my position in the presence of god before the angels and upon the face of the earth is that it is easler easier and more delightful to serve god than to serve ourselves and the devil there has been considerable said this afternoon with regard to redeeming and hulid build ingup zion the order of enoch etc I 1 see men and women in this congregation gre gation only a few of them who were driven from the central stake of zion ask them if they had any sorrow or trouble then let them look sori sorl a at the beautiful land that the lord would have given them if all had been faithful in keeping his commandments and had walked before him as they should and then ask theor with regard to the blessings they would have received if they tell you the sentiments of their minds they will tell you that the yoke of jesus would have been easy and his hig burden would have been light and that it would have been a delightful task to have walked in obedience to his commands and to have been of one heart and of one mind but through the selfishness of some which is idolatry through their covetousness which is the same and the lustful desire of their minds they were cast out and driven from their homes we have been driven many times but each time if they who vrho professed to be the servants of god had haa served him witia an undivided heart they would have had the privilege of living in their houses possessing their lands attending to their meetings and spreading abroad on the right and the left length lengthening ening euing the cords corda of zion and strengthening strengthen ingher her stakes until the land had been behn dedicated to the gospel of the son of god avelli well weli I 1 have been with the rest and I 1 expect I 1 have been covetous like liko them and probably I 1 am now but if I 1 am I 1 wish somebody would fould tell me wherein brother pratt in his discourse had considerable to say with regard to the property of the hia fia Saints ints I 1 would like very much if the time when the lord would say lay down your substance at the feet of the bishops and find out who in this church would be willing to give giva up all this co opera tive movement is only a stepping stopping stone to what is called the order of enoch but which is in reality the order of 0 heaven it was revealed to enoch when he built up kis his city and gathered the people together to ethera aad tid sanctified them so that they became so holy and pure that they could not live among the rest of the people and the lord took them a away W ask asu any christian in the world if he thinks the lord rules and reigns supreme in heaven and he will tell you T yes es Is it right for the lord to reign certainly itis it is ask him if he would delight to live in a place where one character rules and reigns supreme and he will answer yes if I 1 could go to heaven why why the lord reigns there 11 just ask the christian if he knows the lord and he will tell you no did you ever see him no can you tell me anything of his character no only he is something without body parts and passions one of the apostles says that god is love and they who dwell in god dwell in love ask the christian world if they know anything about god and they will tell you they do not ask if he has eyes and they will say no yf ys s he is all eyes has he a head yes he is all head has he ears yes he is all ears he is all mou mouth th he is all body and all limbs and still without body part sor passions why what do they make of him A monster if he is anything that is what they make of him would you like to go to td heaven 0 yes says the christian the lord reigns there how do you know you would like the place and the order when you get there do you will have your farm and your substance by yourself and live in the gratification of your selfish propensities as yoa voa now do 0 no we nye expect to be made pure and holy where will you begin to be pure and holy if you do not begin here I 1 do not know where you will begin 1101 0 11 says the christian if we are going to heaven where god and angels dwell and live where one man power prevails we should all be satisfied I 1 expect we latter day saints say so too we like to see that power manifested by those whom god calls to lead the people in righteousness purity and holiness this opens up a subject that I 1 am not going to tan tam about brother orson has spoken on the word of wisdom the people have done pretty well in keeping it for the last year or two but are they going to continue or will they return to their old habits like the dog to his vomit or like the sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire the sale of tobacco tea anti anil coffee is increasing in the midst of this people at the pre present sent time what does this prove it proves that stealthily or r openly the deop people are eating and drinking that which is not good for them hot drinks tobacco and spirits are not good for them will the people continue to keep the word of wisdom or will they become like the brutes in the parable or like fools return to that which will injure and destroy them the elders of israel have talked a great deal to the people upon the principles of life and about the course they should pursue to lay a foundation for health let a mother stimulate her system with tobacco tea coffee or liquor or suffer herself to hanker after such things at certain times and she lays the foundation for the destruction of her ossi spring offspring do they realize this no and in very many instances they care nothing bout it with all the teachings given to this people I 1 think they are very much like the rest of the world or like the dumb brute beasts that are made fo be token and destroyed and it almost seems that the last comparison is the most appropriate for intelligence is given us to preserve ourselves to preserve our health and prolong our natural lives p preserve re erve our posterity lo preserve reserve and and beautify beamut fy the earth and make it like the garden of eden but what is the disposition posit ibn of the people it is true we are in advance of the world but we are only just commencing to learn the things of god I 1 know that some say the revelations upon these points are not given by way of commandment very well but we iiri a re commanded to observe every word that proceeds from the mouth of god I 1 cannot say that my family is clear in this respect they want a little of this and a little of that that it is not wise to use and I 1 suppose it is the same in other families every man I 1 expect indulges his wife and children and allows them to take this or that when he knows it is not nob the best for them but we in and of ourselves ought to be independent every son and daughter in israel should say we 1 will keep the word of wisdom independent of father mother or any elder in the church we know what is right and we willbo will do it by so doing this people peddle will increase health in their systems and the destroying destroy ing angel when he comes along will pass them by will you take this course I 1 as the leader and dictator of this people feel disgraced when I 1 think they are becoming sloth ful and negligent andare and are returning to i their former foolish and useless habits and refusing to hearken to the least I 1 counsel are turning away to the counsel of the evil one and doing that which leads to death I 1 want to say a few words mii mil further to the people with regard to their i 1 mth fa ith in temporal things jf if the p people e 0 p I e call one in temporal things thing sas ad they are in spiritual things they will not redeem and build up the zion of god upon the earth this operative cooperative co movement is a step stepping pip g stone atone we lye say to the people t aie take advantage of it it is your privilege privilege instead of giving it lonto anto into the ands hands of a few individuals to make their hundreds and thousands let the people generally enjoy the benefit arising from the sale of merchandize merchandise dize I 1 have already told you that this will stop the operations of many little traders but bat it will make ninke them producers as well as consumers you will find that if the people hearken to the counsel that is given them it will not be long before the hat hats scafa scapa caps bon nets boots and anti shoes pants coats vests and underclothing of this entire community will all be made in our midst what next shall we have to run to london paris or new york for the fashions when I 1 see the disposition among the latter day saints to follow the fashions and customs of the world I 1 think why do you stay here you had better go back again I 1 am tired of this everlasting ding dong about fashions if I 1 happen to have a coat bu thatis that is not what is called fashionable some pome of my wives will be sure to say any husband or mr president may I 1 give this away or 1 I wish it was out of 81 sight bight ht it is not fashionable if I 1 were weke atzell bontell the truth I 1 should nay aay who cares for the fashions of the world I 1 do not nt I 1 if I 1 get anything that is comfor comfortable tabi andrits and sits well and suits my system it is all I 1 ask I 1 do not gare care who wears a bonnet that is six feet above the head behind twelve feet in front or thal thai tha fits close to the crown of her head or Nv hether whether it is three straws thrown over the head with ribbons to them but to see ee a people who say we are the teachers of life and salvation and yet are anxious to follow the nasty pernicious fashions of the day I 1 say it is too insipid to talk or thick about it is beneath the character of the latter day saints that they should have no more independence of or feeling than to follow after the grovelling gro velling customs and fashions of a poor miserable wicked world all ail who do not want to sustain operation cooperation co and fall into the ranks of improvement and endeavor to improve themselves by every good book and then by every principle that has been received from heaven had better go back to england ireland pranee prance scandinavia or the eastern states we donot do not care where you go if you will only go I 1 will take up my text again I 1 am responsible for the doctrine I 1 teach I 1 will say to this people as I 1 have said ever since I 1 commenced to lift up my voice to the inhabitants of the earth I 1 will read to them out of the book of life if they will hear it well if they will not I 1 am clear of their blood I 1 read to the latter day saints out of the book of life and I 1 can give them lessons that will lead them back to the presence of god in the ghe celestial kingdom but oh the slothfulness negligence and the low groveling graveling feelings in the midst of this people are a disgrace to them will we improve yes let us redeem the time and commence anew yesterday we explained a tittle fittie with regard to operation cooperation co we can explain just as far as the people hear and know those who rise up against this or any other measure do it because darkness an and d the spirit of the evil one reign within them there thele is not a nian and woman in this church and in possession of the holy ghost but what will lift up their hands to heaven and say stay blessed be god there is somebody to lead and improve the people when they contemplate this movement movements and the results it will work out and the they thes who fight again and feel to murmur murmur are actuated b by y a spirit from beneath I 1 frequently frequent I 1 j think of the difference betwee between nt the ee p power of god and the power of thelded I 1 1 to illustrate here is is a structure in which we can be seated comfortably protected from the heat beat of or summer or the cold of winter now it required labor mechanical skill and ingenuity and faithfulness and diligence to erect this buil bull building din but any poor miserable fool or devil can set fire to it and destroy it that is just what the devil can debut he be never can build anything the difference between god and the devil is that god creates and organizes while the whole study of the devil ia is to destroy every one that follows follos lows los the evil inclinations of his own natural evil heart ia isk going to destruction and sooner or later ho he willbe will be no more I 1 pray you latter day saints to live your religion amen |