Discourse by Elder Lorenzo Snow, delivered in a meeting of the St.
George Stake of Zion, in the Temple, April 5th, 1877; reported by
George F. Gibbs.--Necessity for effort.--What the Lord said to
Oliver Cowdery.--Regulation of temporal affairs.--Consecration and
stewardship.--Preparation for building in Jackson County.--The United
Order.--Plural marriage.--Responsibility of Presidents.--How confidence
is created.--The necessity of its cultivation.--Desires for the future.
In occupying the time this morning, I wish, in the first place, to call
your attention to the fact that we are Latter-day Saints, or at least
ought to be; and that as such we are dependent upon the Lord for our
instruction. This is in accordance with our faith--that we have to look
to Him for assistance under all circumstances, in all places, in all
our affairs in life, and in all matters pertaining to our advancement
in the principles of godliness.
Assembled together as we are this morning, it is very necessary that we
ask the Lord for His Spirit, the spirit of inspiration, to rest upon
us as speakers and as hearers, that we may be enabled to comprehend
what may be spoken, and that it may be adapted to our individual
needs. It is impossible to progress in the principles of truth--to
increase in heavenly knowledge, except we exercise our reasoning
faculties and exert ourselves in a proper manner. We have an instance
recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants of a misunderstanding on the
part of Oliver Cowdery, touching this principle. The Lord promised
him the gift to translate ancient records. Like many of us to-day, he
had misconceptions in regard to the exercise of the gift. He thought
all that was necessary for him to do, inasmuch as this gift had been
promised him of God, was to allow his mind to wait in idleness without
effort, until it should operate spontaneously. But when these records
were placed before him, no knowledge was communicated; they still
continued sealed, as it were, for no power to translate rested upon him.
Although the gift to translate had been conferred, he could not
prosecute the work, simply because he failed to exert himself before
God, with the view of developing the gift within him, and he was
greatly disappointed; and the Lord in His goodness and mercy informed
him of his mistake, using the following language:
"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give
it unto you when you took no thought, save it was to ask me; but,
behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then
you must ask me if it be right; and if it is right I will cause that
your bosom shall burn within you," etc.
So in regard to us respecting the things which we are undertaking. If
we expect to improve and advance in the work immediately before us,
and finally obtain possession of those gifts and glories--coming up to
that condition of exaltation we anticipate, we must take thought and
reflect; we must exert ourselves, and that too to the utmost of our
abilities.
The text given us by President Young yesterday, and to which we, in
our prayer this morning, asked God to direct our remarks, was the work
pertaining to our present wants and necessities, in which we are now
immediately concerned. The question here arises, How shall we regulate
affairs so as to qualify us to perform the duties and obligations
devolving upon us to-day, and secure to ourselves the blessings of
eternal life? On this subject, so far as the Lord will give me His
Holy Spirit, through the exercise of your faith, I wish to speak this
morning. I desire, however, to confine myself more particularly to the
subject relating to our financial union--uniting ourselves together as
brethren who have entered into the everlasting covenant of the Gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ, expecting to dwell together in the presence
of God in the celestial world.
We have been told, through the revelations of God, to which our
attention has often been called, that unless we become one in temporal
as well as spiritual things, it were useless to anticipate the fulness
of celestial glory or a state of oneness in the spiritual things of
God. But what course we are to take in order to arrive at this most
desirable condition seems to remain a difficult, unsolved problem.
Doubtless many have asked themselves, What can we do, and how shall we
do it?
Now let our minds revert for a few minutes to the time when we received
the fulness of the everlasting Gospel, in the countries where it
first reached us. As soon as we became convinced of the truth, and
that the Elders who preached the Gospel were the servants of God, we
offered ourselves as candidates for baptism for the remission of sins,
receiving the Holy Ghost through the laying on of their hands, and
then felt determined to do whatever the Lord should require through
His servants, and continue to follow their counsel in all things,
even to the sacrifice or all that we possessed, if necessary, whether
pertaining to the world's wealth, or that which we held in higher or
dearer esteem.
We learned an important and significant fact, that we were the
offspring of God, inheriting, though only in infantile form, the same
attributes He possessed, and that through probationary experience, by
passing the ordeals of earth, rejecting the evil and accepting the
good, these attributes could be developed until eventually we might
receive a fulness of the Godhead and dwell in the presence of the
Father. We became acquainted with this fact, and were convinced in our
hearts that the object that then appeared before us was well worthy
of all that we could bestow upon it. Hence we resolved that we would
accomplish the undertaking, though at the sacrifice of all we called
our own. We well understood that in order to attain to that position
which would entitle us to this exaltation, it would be necessary to
submit ourselves wholly to the mind and will of God. We felt in our
hearts to consecrate our wives, our children, our property (if we had
any), and our time and abilities to the service of God. Had the law of
consecration been presented at that time, without doubt it would have
been hailed with joy, as it is in exact accordance with the spirit of
our covenants.
According to the order of the celestial world, as revealed to the
Latter-day Saints, respecting the property we might possess, we were
required to consecrate all to the Lord, and then to be made stewards,
as pointed out by revelation in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants,
and were to continue to devote that which might be entrusted to us to
the service of God; and so far as we increased the property of our
stewardship, we were to devote the same to the benefit of the Kingdom
of God, which would be used for the building of temples, emigrating and
sustaining the poor, and for carrying on the great work of redeeming
Israel. This feeling which we entertained at the beginning was to
continue to burn in our bosoms, and we were to be faithful and honest
in our professions.
I know that many of us, when we came to the valleys, conformed to this
law of consecration, which is now published in the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants. We deeded our property, and many were willing, perhaps not
all, that, if necessary, every part and portion of it might have been
used as the servants of God should have directed. This is the kind of
feeling that we _then_ entertained, and just so long as we maintained
this condition of mind, of willing obedience, it was all that was
required. But I fear that this feeling which gave us so much joy--which
tended to increase our faith and confidence in God and in one another,
has not continued to grow correspondingly with our general prosperity,
experience and knowledge of the Gospel. So far as this is the case, my
testimony to you is that we stand this day not wholly approved of God,
although we have the privilege of worshiping in this Temple, reared to
His holy name. But just so far as this willingness exists in our hearts
to appropriate our means which we have accumulated, for the upbuilding
of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, and that too without grudging,
even as the former day Saints laid theirs down at the feet of the
Apostles, so far are we approved and accepted of God. Who, among the
Latter-day Saints within the hearing of my voice this day, could fail
to comprehend this?
In many of our business relations one with another, there does not
exist that spirit of union and brotherly interest which should be
maintained. We need to take a course that will enable us to acquire it,
and this spirit should prevail throughout all our settlements.
Who cannot perceive the hand of God in bringing us from the turmoil and
strife of the business world to these mountain vales, where we have the
opportunity and the privilege of building up cities and villages upon
the principle of unity which has been revealed to us, thus affording
that necessary discipline which we could not have obtained among the
cities of the Gentiles? This training cannot be acquired in one year,
nor in five years, but its acquisition is enhanced in proportion to our
willingness to sacrifice in order to obtain it. By and by the Lord will
prepare the way for some to return to Jackson County, there to build
up the metropolis of Zion. How easily this work can be accomplished,
after we have learned to build up cities and temples here to His divine
acceptance! Our present experience is a very needful one; without it we
should be totally unfitted for the performance of such a work.
We read that the temple which Solomon built was erected without the
sound of a hammer being heard. There had been a previous preparation,
and an experience gained in some distant locality, and a proper
training. The materials were accurately prepared elsewhere, and when
brought together were ready for setting, each piece to its proper place.
As knowledge and efficiency are obtained gradually, we may expect that
the experience we are getting now, in learning how to build up cities
in our present condition--conforming as near as possible to the holy
order of God, is designed to prepare us to return to Missouri, from
whence we were driven, and there build up cities and temples to the
name of the Most High, upon which His glory will descend. A condition
of willingness to conform our will to the Divine will is what we need.
It might not be deemed policy to enter into covenants by deed, in our
property matters, at present, though it may be hereafter. So long as
the emotions of our souls prompt us to exclaim, in the language of
Joshua, that "I and my household will serve the Lord"--so long as this
willingness dwells in our hearts, to give ourselves up entirely to the
service of God, we are in the proper condition to ask the Father to
hasten the day when His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.
And further, when the proper time comes to require the use of our
property in the interests of the great work we are engaged in, the bare
mention of it will be sufficient.
But, we ask, should not the Bishop who operates in our temporal matters
be a very wise and good man? Certainly he should, and a man of honor
and integrity, full of the Holy Ghost, loving his neighbor as himself,
and loving the Lord our God with all his might, mind and strength. On
this, we are told, "hang all the law and the prophets." Blessed is he
in whom these two principles are developed, for such an one is without
condemnation; he stands the peer of him referred to in the Scriptures,
by the Savior, as one "without guile." The people will soon learn to
confide in such a man, as he can establish unmistakable proof before
God and before his brethren that he obeys these commandments in which
are included all that the Prophets ever lived for.
We will suppose further, that such an individual as I have described,
who really had obeyed these commandments, was placed to preside over a
city of a thousand people, all of whom were also living in the advanced
condition referred to; he must bear in mind his important position,
high responsibilities and who appointed him to this position--he or
they in whom God had vested the authority. Why is such a man called to
act as president over a people? Is it in order to acquire an influence
and then to use that influence directly for his own aggrandizement?
No; but, on the contrary, he is called to act in such a position on
the same principle as the Priesthood was given to the Son of God, that
he should make sacrifice. For himself? No; but to become the servant,
not the master, of his brethren, and to work for their interest and
welfare--not to exercise the influence thus obtained to benefit
himself, his family, relatives and personal friends; but esteeming all
as his brethren, and as having rights in common with himself, and,
therefore, seeking to bless and benefit all equally according to the
talents and worthiness they may possess, and thus by so doing develop
in himself that fatherly feeling which always exists in the bosom of
the Father.
At the present time it is too often the case that the men who are
called to act in such positions, instead of thus acting according to
their holy calling, use their influence, their Priesthood, the sacred
powers conferred upon them, for their own benefit and that of their
children and personal friends. This is highly improper; it is wrong
and displeasing in the sight of God; and of this sin we are called to
repent by putting it away from us, and beginning to live the lives of
Latter-day Saints, according the sacred covenants we have entered into.
When you find a man who takes the same interest in those over whom he
presides as he does in himself and family, you will naturally begin to
have confidence in that individual. But as soon as you find that his
feelings by day and by night, and the course of his conduct is such as
tend directly to benefit himself and his family, you will say: "What
interest has he for us? We must look out for ourselves." But where a
man works for the community, he becomes truly a father to that people,
working for them with the same feeling, desire and interest as he
would for himself. It might be said of him, as it should be said of
all men, that he loves his brethren, or in other words, "his neighbor
as himself." Now let the man who acts as the presiding Elder of his
ward manifest by word and action these fatherly feelings towards those
he presides over, and how soon we would begin to perceive perfect
confidence restored.
Possibly such a man might not possess financiering abilities, and
possibly the people might not have confidence in his abilities to
manage or direct temporal affairs. This is quite supposable, for good,
sound principled men are not always endowed with great financiering
capacities. Yet, from the fact of his having established himself in
the hearts of the people, and being known by them for his integrity
and honesty, and a disposition to work for the interests of God and
the people, willing to make any sacrifice that might be required of
him, he possesses their confidence, and when once in possession of a
trust so sacred, what then might he do in order to satisfy the minds
of the people, which are more or less progressive? Let him call to his
aid those of his brethren who are the most capable, letting them share
in his responsibilities. Because, you will find, as a general thing,
that talent is diffused through the many, and rarely combined in single
individuals; and it only needs opportunity in order to be developed.
He might say to one, "Here, Brother B., you are better adapted to fill
this or that position than I am;" and to another, "You are the man
best fitted to this department;" and so on until he gets the talents
of all brought out, and instead of diminishing the public confidence
in himself such a course would add to it. Further, he would be doing
for his brethren that which the United Order designs to do for all,
namely, to afford opportunity to develop the gifts with which nature
has endowed us. Therefore, I say that all these matters can be got
along with, provided we have the sure and safe foundation, which must
be based on honesty and integrity to God and the true interests of His
kingdom and people.
With a people of one heart and mind, possessed of the same feelings and
aspirations as we were when we first embraced the Gospel, in connection
with our present knowledge and experience in the practical workings of
building up the kingdom, how easy it would be to establish our home
industries or mercantile institutions, and carry them on successfully.
Every one would be on hand, like Israel when in the desert, and
journeying to the land of Canaan, they were required to build a
movable tabernacle for certain sacred purposes, and the people brought
their offerings, etc., even more than were sufficient, and Moses had
to cry out to the people to stop. So it could be with us, as far as
willingness on the part of the people was concerned to take an active
part in any general movement that might be projected. Whatever means or
time or property might be devoted by the community for the establishing
of any certain enterprise, would be done in good faith, for every heart
would be inspired with confidence, every one considering his interest
identified with that of the whole.
But it takes time to get the people into this condition. Here, in this
southern country, we understand that the people have been endeavoring
to work together in the United Order, meeting with more or less
disappointment. Because of reverses or failures in our attempts to
successfully operate in our temporal affairs, we should not allow such
disappointment to detract from the principle itself, but rather let us
attribute our misfortunes to human weakness, regarding the principle
as divine, revealed for our special benefit and blessing, and in every
instance of apparent failure, let us be resolved to "try again."
The principles of plural marriage were revealed for the benefit and
exaltation of the children of men; but how much unhappiness has arisen
through failure on the part of some who have contracted this order
of marriage to conform to the laws that govern it. But does it arise
through any defect in the order of the marriage system? O, no; but from
ignorance and the folly and wickedness of those individuals who enter
into it, who abuse rather than righteously obey it. So in regard to the
principles of the United Order. Its principles also are sacred, and I
assure you we will never go back to Jackson County, Missouri, there to
build up the New Jerusalem of the latter days, until there is a perfect
willingness on our part to conform to its rules and principles. Many
years have transpired since we received the revelation of the United
Order, and in one sense, that long period of time bespeaks negligence
on our part in not more fully obeying it. The very principles of that
Order, in my estimation, were given for our temporal and spiritual
salvation. In order to derive the benefit that God designed should flow
from them, they must be established and systematized on the principle
of righteousness, each person learning to love his neighbor as himself.
For us to undertake to deal with them on any other principle, would
virtually open the way to bitter disappointment.
Then allow me to repeat: let me find a community that is willing to
conform to this, bringing to mind the covenants made in the beginning
when we received the fulness of the Gospel, willing to bring to mind
when they dedicated all they possessed--their property, their talents,
their mental and physical powers to the building up of the kingdom of
God; remembering the time when we did this, the blessings of the Most
High were upon us, and His Spirit burned within us. Then let those
who preach in that community of Saints realize what the Priesthood
was placed upon them for; let them know and fully sense why they were
appointed to fill such and such offices, viz.: that they should act in
the spirit of our Master, a servant of all--that they learn to consider
and esteem, in the same affectionate interest, the welfare of all as
they do that of themselves, and be in very deed fathers to the people.
Then will they enter into the spirit of the two great commands, upon
which, said the Savior, "hang all the law and the prophets," namely,
loving the Lord with all our might, mind and strength, and our neighbor
as ourselves. This, in my opinion, is the foundation of our future
success, temporally and spiritually, in this United Order. Until we
come down to the bed-rock of honesty and sincerity in this matter,
dealing with temporal as with spiritual things, whole-heartedly,
holding all and ourselves sacred to the service of God, we may expect
more or less failure.
Let me say to the brethren who are, and who contemplate connecting
themselves actively and entirely with this holy order, that the
Priesthood was bestowed upon you, as upon the Son of God, for no
other purpose than that through sacrifice you might be proven, that,
peradventure, at the last day, you might stand approved before God,
and before perfect and holy beings, and that in order to merit this
divine approval, it may be necessary to forget self and individual
aggrandizement and seek the interest of your brethren. If you are ready
and willing to do this, and if your every-day life and conduct and
the spirit within you testify the fact, you will establish confidence
in the hearts of those who know you, and with whom you are more
immediately associated in temporal matters.
Confidence is ofttimes referred to by our brethren, especially when
speaking on the subject of the United Order. It is spoken of and
written on by the religious, the political and the financial world, and
the present condition of the whole is such as to force itself upon our
serious attention. We may confidently anticipate that, as history shall
chronicle the developments of this, our progressive world, we shall
witness more and more the necessity of it. For as palpable, and what
may be termed legitimate, fraud increases, and the whole world ripens
in iniquity generally, confidence will lessen and become more priceless
and precious. This is quite obvious to all men in whose hearts dwells
a spark of that Spirit by which the Prophets foretold the destiny
of the nations. Confidence can be acquired only on the principle of
righteousness, whether it be applied to the monarch or the peasant, the
religionist or the non-religionist; merit alone commands it.
Then let us live the lives of Latter-day Saints, that we may first
beget confidence in ourselves, then we shall begin to have confidence
in each other--in God and His promises. A people in this condition of
progress would know no failures; everything would prosper that they put
their hands to; they would grow in faith and in good works.
I tell you in the name of the Lord God, that the time is coming when
there will be no safety only in the principles of union, for therein
lies the secret of our temporal and spiritual salvation. We have been
enabled to establish settlements, towns and villages, and we have been
abundantly blessed with the necessaries and conveniences of life,
notwithstanding we have been slow to hearken to and obey the commands
of Jehovah.
I would to God that every Bishop and presiding officer would, this
day, in this holy Temple, covenant and swear before Him, the Lord our
God, that they would turn and serve Him with all their might, mind and
strength, and work for the interest of the people as they would for
themselves; for my greatest desire is to see Zion established according
to the revelations of God--to see her inhabitants industrious and
self-sustaining, filled with wisdom and the power of God, that around
us may be built a wall of defence, a protection against the mighty
powers of Babylon; and while the disobedient of our Father's family are
contending, and filling up their cup of iniquity, even to the brim, and
thus preparing themselves for the burning, we who are the acknowledged
children of the kingdom, being filled with righteousness and knowledge
of God, may be like the wise virgins, clothed in our wedding garments,
and properly prepared for the coming of our Lord and Savior.--_Journal
of Discourses_.