_THE LAST DAYS_
_Confusion of the Last Days_--The time is coming when a good man
will be more precious than fine gold. 10:295.
The sinner will slay the sinner, the wicked will fall upon the wicked,
until: there is an utter overthrow and consumption upon the face of the
whole earth, until God reigns, whose right it is. 2:190.
The world is drunk, but not with wine or strong drink; and our country
is the most drunken of all. They are deluding themselves; they
are drunk with party fanaticism; they are high-minded, heady, and
senseless, and are fast going to destruction.
Thinking men, inquiring minds, ask whether it is really necessary for
the Government of God to be on the earth at the present day; I answer,
most assuredly; there never was a time when it was more needed than it
is now. Why? Because men do not know how to govern themselves without
it. Would it be considered treason of any Christian government in
our day to profess to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the
efficacy of his death and resurrection for the salvation of man, and to
profess and declare that it is his inalienable, indisputable right and
prerogative to reign over men, the earth and all things upon it? 10:320.
If we live, we shall see the nations of the earth arrayed against this
people; for that time must come, in fulfilment of prophecy. Tell about
war commencing! Bitter and relentless war was waged against Joseph
Smith before he had received the plates of the Book of Mormon; and from
that time till now the wicked have only fallen back at times to {171}
gain strength and learn how to attack the Kingdom of God. 5:339.
All we have yet heard and all we have experienced is scarcely a
preface to the sermon that is going to be preached. When the testimony
of the Elders ceases to be given, and the Lord says to them, "Come
home; I will now preach my own sermons to the nations of the earth,"
all you now know can scarcely be called a preface to the sermon that
will be preached with fire and sword, tempests, earthquakes, hail,
rain, thunders and lightnings, and fearful destruction. What matters
the destruction of a few railway cars? You will hear of magnificent
cities, now idolized by the people, sinking in the earth, entombing the
inhabitants. The sea will heave itself beyond its bounds, engulfing
mighty cities. Famine will spread over the nations and nation will rise
up against nation, kingdom against kingdom and states against states,
in our own country and in foreign lands; and they will destroy each
other, caring not for the blood and lives of their neighbors, of their
families, or for their own lives. 8:123.
There never has been a day for ages and ages, not since the true church
was destroyed after the days of the Apostles, that required the faith
and the energy of godly men and godly women, and the skill, wisdom and
power of the Almighty to be with them, so much as this people require
it at the present time. There never was that necessity; there never has
been a time on the face of the earth, from the time that the church
went to destruction, and the Priesthood was taken from the earth,
that the powers of darkness and the powers of earth and hell were so
embittered, and enraged, and incensed against God and Godliness on
the earth, as they are at the present. And when the {172} spirit of
persecution, the spirit of hatred, of wrath, and malice ceases in the
world against this people, it will be the time that this people have
apostatized and joined hands with the wicked, and never until then;
which I pray may never come. 4:326.
The Devil is just as much opposed to Jesus now as he was when the
revolt took place in heaven. And as the Devil increases his numbers by
getting the people to be wicked, so Jesus Christ increases his numbers
and strength by getting the people to be humble and righteous. The
human family are going to the polls by and by, and they wish to know
which party is going to carry the day. 4:38.
_Ultimate Triumph of Righteousness_--I most assuredly expect that
the time will come when every tongue shall confess, and every knee
shall bow to the Savior, though the people may believe what they will
with regard to religion. 2:189.
The Savior will dictate his Kingdom, through his Apostles and Prophets,
until all the heathen nations are virtually redeemed by the ordinances
that effect redemption, that they may inherit the kingdom that is
prepared for them. 8:83.
This is a day of days, and a time of times; this is the fulness of
times, in which all things that are in Christ are to be gathered in
one. This is a momentous period. 10:308.
I expect to see the time when the inhabitants of the earth will pride
themselves in doing good. 8:363.
The time will come when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess
to and acknowledge him, and when they who have lived upon the earth
and have spurned the idea of a Supreme Being and of revelations from
him, will fall with shamefacedness and humble themselves before him,
{173} exclaiming, "There is a God! O God, we once rejected thee and
disbelieved thy word and set at naught thy counsels, but now we bow
down in shame and we do acknowledge that there is a God, and that Jesus
is the Christ." This time will come, most assuredly. We have the faith
of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. 13:306.
What will they do? They will hear of the wisdom of Zion and the kings
and potentates of the nations will come up to Zion to inquire after
the ways of the Lord, and to seek out the great knowledge, wisdom and
understanding manifested through the Saints of the Most High. They will
inform the people of God that they belong to such and such a church,
and do not wish to change their religion.
They will be drawn to Zion by the great wisdom displayed there, and
will attribute it to the cunning and craftiness of men. It will be
asked, "What do you want to do, ye strangers from afar?" "We want to
live our own religion." "Will you bow the knee before God with us?" "O
yes, we would as soon do it as not"; and at that time every knee shall
bow, and every tongue acknowledge that God who is the framer and maker
of all things, the governor and controller of the universe. They will
have to bow the knee and confess that he is God, and that Jesus Christ,
who suffered for the sins of the world, is actually its Redeemer; that
by the shedding of his blood he has redeemed men, women, children,
beasts, birds, fish, the earth itself, and everything that John saw and
heard praising in heaven. 2:316-317.
By and by the world will be overturned according to the words of the
prophet, and we will see the reign of righteousness enter in, and sin
and iniquity will have to walk off. But the power and principles of
evil, if they can {174} be called principles, will never yield one
particle to the righteous march of the Savior, only as they are beaten
back inch by inch, and we have got to take the ground by force. Yes, by
the mental force of faith, and by good works, the march forth of the
Gospel will increase, spread, grow and prosper, until the nations of
the earth will feel that Jesus has the right to rule King of nations as
he does King of Saints. 14:226.
_Return to Jackson County_--When are we going back to Jackson
County? Not until the Lord commands his people; and it is just as much
as you and I can do to get ready to go when he does command us. 6:269.
If that is back to Jackson County, do not be scared, for as the Lord
lives this people will go back and build a great temple there. This
people will surely go back to Jackson County. How soon that may be, or
when it may be, I do not care; but that is not now the gathering place
for this people: 3:278.
Where is the center Stake of Zion? In Jackson County, Missouri. 8:198.
There has been considerable said this afternoon with regard to
redeeming and building up Zion, the Order of Enoch, etc. I see men and
women in this congregation--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 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 them 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 burden would have been {175} light, and that it would have
been a delightful task to have walked in obedience to his commandments
and to have been of one heart and 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 professed to be the servants of God had served him with
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, lengthening the cords of
Zion, and strengthening her stakes until the land had been dedicated
to the Gospel of the Son of God. Well, I have been with the rest and I
expect I have been covetous like them, and probably I am now; but if I
am, I wish somebody would tell me wherein. 13:1.
_Coming of Christ_--Do you know that it is the eleventh hour of
the reign of Satan on the earth? Jesus is coming to reign, and all you
who fear and tremble because of your enemies, cease to fear them, and
learn to fear to offend God, fear to transgress his laws, fear to do
any evil to your brother, or to any being upon the earth, and do not
fear Satan and his power, nor those who have only power to slay the
body, for God will preserve his people. 10:250.
In the progress of the age in which we live, we discern the fulfilment
of prophecy, and the preparation for the second coming of our Lord
and Savior to dwell upon the earth. We expect that the refuge of lies
will be swept away, and that city, nation, government, or kingdom
which serves not God, and gives no heed to the principles of truth and
religion, will be utterly wasted away and destroyed. 2:178. {176}
Jesus has been upon the earth a great many more times than you are
aware of. When Jesus makes his next appearance upon the earth, but few
of this Church will be prepared to receive him and see him face to face
and converse with him; but he will come to his temple. Will he remain
and dwell upon the earth a thousand years, without returning? He will
come here, and return to his mansions where he dwells with his Father,
and come again to the earth, and again return to his Father, according
to my understanding. Then angels will come and begin to resurrect the
dead, and the Savior will also raise the dead, and they will receive
the keys of the resurrection, and will begin to assist in that work.
Will the wicked know of it? They will know just as much about that as
they now know about "Mormonism," and no more. 7:142.
When your eyes are open, you will see that this earth has fallen from
the glory and presence of the Father, to pass through certain ordeals,
together with the people upon it. And by and by, when Jesus reigns and
rules, King of nations, he will say to his Father, "Here is my work!
Here are my brethren! Here is my redemption--the fruit of my labor! I
have ceased not to contend with the Enemy until I have put him under
my feet. I have destroyed death, and him that has the power of death."
8:297.
At times I may to many of the brethren appear to be severe. I sometimes
chasten them; but it is because I wish them to live so that the power
of God, like a flame of fire, will dwell within them and be around
about them. These are my feelings and desires. I wish to see this
people take a course to bring back the days, years, and intelligence
that have been lost through transgression. This cannot be performed in
a day. Zion will not be redeemed and built up {177} in a day. Israel
will not be brought back to the fold of Christ and redeemed in a day.
8:62.
_The Millennium_--The Millennium consists in this--every heart
in the Church and Kingdom of God being united in one; the Kingdom
increasing to the overcoming of everything opposed to the economy of
heaven, and Satan being bound, and having a seal set upon him. All
things else will be as they are now, we shall eat, drink, and wear
clothing. 1:203.
When all nations are so subdued to Jesus that every knee shall bow and
every tongue shall confess, there will still be millions on the earth
who will not believe in him; but they will be obliged to acknowledge
his kingly government. 7:142.
Let the people be holy, and the earth under their feet will be holy.
Let the people be holy, and filled with the Spirit of God, and every
animal and creeping thing will be filled with peace; the soil of the
earth will bring forth in its strength, and the fruits thereof will be
meat for man. The more purity that exists, the less is the strife; the
more kind we are to our animals, the more will peace increase, and the
savage nature of the brute creation vanish away. If the people will not
serve the Devil another moment whilst they live, if this congregation
is possessed of that spirit and resolution, here in this house is the
Millennium. Let the inhabitants of this city be possessed of that
spirit, let the people of the territory be possessed of that spirit,
and here is the Millennium, and so will it spread over all the world.
1:203.
In the Millennium, when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth
in power, glory and perfection, and the reign of wickedness that
has so long prevailed is subdued, {178} the Saints of God will have
the privilege of building their temples, and of entering into them,
becoming, as it were, pillars in the temples of God, and they will
officiate for their dead. Then we will see our friends come up, and
perhaps some that we have been acquainted with here. If we ask who
will stand at the head of the resurrection in this last dispensation,
the answer is--Joseph Smith, Junior, the Prophet of God. He is the man
who will be resurrected and receive the keys of the resurrection, and
he will seal this authority upon others, and they will hunt up their
friends and resurrect them when they shall have been officiated for,
and bring them up. And we will have revelations to know our forefathers
clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the
temples of God and officiate for them. Then man will be sealed to man
until the chain is made perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a
perfect chain of priesthood from Adam to the winding-up scene.
This will be the work of the Latter-day Saints in the Millennium.
15:138.
When Jesus comes to rule and reign, King of nations, as he now does,
King of Saints, the veil of the covering will be taken from all
nations, that all flesh may see his glory together, but that will not
make them all Saints. Seeing the Lord does not make a man a Saint;
seeing an angel does not make a man a Saint by any means. A man may see
the finger of the Lord, and not thereby become a Saint; the veil of the
covering may be taken from before the nations, and all flesh see his
glory together, and at the same time declare they will not serve him.
2:316.
_Rapid Movements in the Last Days_--Do you understand that what
the Lord will perform in the latter days will {179} be done quicker
than in the former days? He suffered Noah to occupy one hundred and
twenty years in building the ark. Were he to command us to build an
ark, he would not allow so long a time for completing it. 8:134.
If I live as long as Enoch lived, who walked with the Lord three
hundred and sixty-five years, can I then see a people prepared to enter
at once in the celestial world? No. Many may think that Enoch and his
whole city were taken from the earth directly into the presence of God.
That is a mistaken idea. If, within three hundred and sixty-five years,
I can see a people capable of surmounting every sin, of overcoming
every evil and effect of sin to such a degree as to be separated in the
flesh from the sinful portion of the world and from all the effects of
the fall--a great people as pure and holy as were the people of Enoch,
I should not complain, and, perhaps, have no cause to. Yet, in the
latter days, God will cut short his work in righteousness. 8:134.
According to my definition of the word, there is not a strictly
and fully civilized community now upon the earth. Is there murder
by wholesale to be found in a strictly civilized community? Will a
community of civilized nations rise up one against another, nation
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, using against each other
every destructive invention that can be brought to bear in their
wars? When will they be civilized? When the Lord shall judge among
the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their
swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; when
nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither learn war any
more. When the world is in a state of true civilization, man will have
ceased to contend against his fellow-man, either as {180} individuals,
parties, communities, sects, or nations. This state of civilization
will be brought about by the holy Priesthood of the Son of God; and
men, with full purpose of heart, will seek unto him who is pure and
holy, even our great Creator--our Father and God; and he will give them
a law that is pure--a government and plan of society possessed by holy
beings in heaven. Then there will be no more war, no more bloodshed,
no more evil speaking and evil doing; but all will be contented to
follow in the path of truth, which alone is calculated to exalt and
dignify the whole man, mentally and physically, in all his operations,
labors, and purposes. Short of this, mankind cannot be said to be truly
civilized. 8:6-7.
Then, do not be too anxious for the Lord to hasten his work. Let our
anxiety be centered upon one thing, the sanctification of our own
hearts, the purifying of our own affections, the preparing of ourselves
for the approach of the events that are hastening upon us. This should
be our concern, this should be our study, this should be our daily
prayer, and not to be in a hurry to see the overthrow of the wicked.
9:3.
Whether the world is going to be burned up within a year, or within
a thousand years, does not matter a groat to you and me. We have the
words of eternal life, we have the privilege of obtaining glory,
immortality, and eternal lives, now will you obtain these blessings?
4:53.
This is the day in which we are to learn-and to increase in our
knowledge. 4:204.
The Lord's time is not for me to know; but he is kind, long-suffering,
and patient, and his wrath endureth silently, and will until mercy is
completely exhausted, and then judgment will take the reins. I do not
know how, neither {181} do I at present wish to know. It is enough for
us to know how to serve our God and live our religion, and thus we will
increase in the favor of God. 4:371.
It is too late in the day for this people ever to be cast off and
disowned by the Lord. The work the Lord promised to do is too nigh
accomplished, and he has promised to make a short work on the earth.
This work has some time since commenced; and if any of the people will
not serve their God and do the work he has given them to do, they will
be removed out of the way, and that speedily. It is too late in the day
for this people to apostatize and the Priesthood to be taken again from
the earth; so there is not much ground for fears even in this respect.
6:267.
_Zion_--Where is Zion? Where the organization of the Church of God
is. And may it dwell spiritually in every heart; and may we so live as
to enjoy the spirit of Zion always! 8:205.
Do we realize that if we enjoy a Zion in time or in eternity we must
make it for ourselves? That all, who have a Zion in the eternities of
the Gods, organized, framed, consolidated, and perfected it themselves,
and consequently are entitled to enjoy it? 9:282.
This is the Gospel; this is the plan of salvation; this is the Kingdom
of God; this is the Zion that has been spoken and written of by all the
Prophets since the world began. This is the work of Zion which the Lord
has promised to bring forth. 12:172.
When we conclude to make a Zion we will make it, and this work
commences in the heart of each person. When the father of a family
wishes to make a Zion in his own house, he must take the lead in this
good work, which it is impossible for him to do unless he himself
possesses the {182} spirit of Zion. Before he can produce the work of
sanctification in his family, he must sanctify himself, and by this
means God can help him to sanctify his family. 9:283.
There is not one thing wanting in all the works of God's hands to make
a Zion upon the earth when the people conclude to make it. We can make
a Zion of God on earth at our pleasure, upon the same principle that
we can raise a field of wheat, or build and inhabit. There has been no
time when the material has not been here from which to produce corn,
wheat, etc., and by the judicious management and arrangement of this
ever-existing material a Zion of God can always be built on the earth.
9:283.
Let me say a few words with regard to Zion. We profess to be Zion. If
we are the pure in heart we are so, for "Zion is the pure in heart."
Now when Zion is built up and reigns, the question may arise with
some, will all be Latter-day Saints? No. Will there be this variety
of classes and faiths that we now behold? I do not know whether there
will be as many, or whether there will be more. But be that as it may,
Jesus has gone to prepare mansions for every creature. Who will go
down as "sons of perdition" and receive the reward of the damned? None
but those who have sinned against the Holy Ghost. All others will be
gathered into kingdoms where there will be a certain amount of peace
and glory. Will the Methodists have their heaven? I will venture to say
that John Wesley, if he never hears the Gospel preached in the world of
spirits, will enjoy all the happiness and glory that he ever thought
of. And so it will be with others; I mention him merely because he is a
noted character. In all those kingdoms the people will be as varied as
they are here. In the Millennium men will have the privilege of their
own belief, but they will not have {183} the privilege of treating the
name and character of Deity as they have done heretofore. No, but every
knee shall bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God the Father
that Jesus is the Christ. 12:274.
My spiritual enjoyment must be obtained by my own life, but it would
add much to the comfort of the community, and to my happiness, as one
with them, if every man and woman would live their religion, and enjoy
the light and glory of the Gospel for themselves, be passive, humble,
and faithful; rejoice continually before the Lord, attend to the
business they are called to do, and be sure never to do anything wrong.
All would then be peace, joy, and tranquility, in our streets and in
our houses. Litigation would cease, there would be no difficulties
before the High Council and Bishops' Courts, and courts, turmoil, and
strife would not be known.
Then we would have Zion, for all would be pure in heart. 3:255.
_The Land of Zion_--This is the land of Zion. West of us is a body
of water that we call the Pacific, and to the east there is another
large body of water which we call the Atlantic, and to the north is
where they have tried to discover a northwest passage; these waters
surround the land of Zion. 4:301.
And what is Zion? In one sense Zion is the pure in heart. But is
there a land that ever will be called Zion? Yes, brethren. What land
is it? It is the land that the Lord gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it
to his son Joseph, and his posterity, and they inhabit it, and that
land is North and South America. That is Zion, as to land, as to {184}
territory, and location. The children of Zion have not yet much in
their possession, but their territory is North and South America to
begin with. As to the spirit of Zion, it is in the hearts of the Saints
of those who love and serve the Lord with all their might, mind and
strength. 2:253.
This American continent will be Zion; for it is so spoken of by the
prophets. Jerusalem will be rebuilt and will be the place of gathering,
and the tribe of Judah will gather there; but this continent of America
is the land of Zion. 5:4.
This is the land of Zion--this is the continent whereon the Lord has
commenced his work for the last time, and whereon Jesus will make his
appearance the second time, when he comes to gather and save the House
of Israel. 8:81-2.
Zion will extend, eventually, all over this earth. There will be no
nook or corner upon the earth but what will be in Zion. It will all be
Zion. 9:138.
_The City of Zion_--We look forward to the day when the Lord will
prepare for the building of the New Jerusalem, preparatory to the
City of Enoch's going to be joined with it when it is built upon this
earth. We are anticipating to enjoy that day, whether we sleep in death
previous to that, or not. We look forward, with all the anticipation
and confidence that children can possess in a parent, that we shall be
there when Jesus comes; and if we are not there, we will come with him:
in either case we shall be there when he comes. 8:342.
We want all the Latter-day Saints to understand how to build up Zion.
The City of Zion, in beauty and magnificence, will outstrip anything
that is now known upon the earth. The curse will be taken from the
earth and sin and {185} corruption will be swept from its face. Who
will do this great work? Is the Lord going to convince the people that
he will redeem the center Stake of Zion, beautify it and then place
them there without an exertion on their part? No. He will not come here
to build a Temple, a Tabernacle, a Bowery, or to set out fruit trees,
make aprons of fig leaves or coats of skins, or work in brass and iron,
for we already know how to do these things. He will not come here to
teach us how to raise and manufacture cotton, how to make hand cards,
how to card, how to make spinning machines, looms, etc., etc. We have
to build up Zion, if we do our duty. 10:172.
I have many times asked the questions, "Where is the man that knows
how to lay the first rock for the wall that is to surround the New
Jerusalem or the Zion of God on the earth? Where is the man who knows
how to construct the first gate of the city? Where is the man who
understands how to build up the Kingdom of God in its purity and to
prepare for Zion to come down to meet it?" "Well," says one, "I thought
the Lord was going to do this." So he is if we will let him. This is
what we want: we want the people to be willing for the Lord to do it.
But he will do it by means. He will not send his angels to gather up
the rock to build up the New Jerusalem. He will not send his angels
from the heavens to go to the mountains to cut the timber and make it
into lumber to adorn the City of Zion. He has called upon us to do this
work; and if we will let him work by, through, and with us, he can
accomplish it; otherwise we shall fall short, and shall never have the
honor of building up Zion on the earth. 13:313.
_Purpose of Gathering_--A remnant of the people of Israel {186}
are to be saved, and they will yet be gathered together. 16:109.
Ephraim has become mixed with all the nations of the earth, and it is
Ephraim that is gathering together. 2:268.
We are gathering the people as fast as we can. We are gathering them to
make Saints of them and of ourselves. 9:137-8.
We have been gathered to the valleys of these mountains for the express
purpose of purifying ourselves, that we may become polished stones
in the temple of God. We are here for the purpose of establishing
the Kingdom of God on the earth. To be prepared for this work it has
been necessary to gather us out from the nations and countries of the
world, for if we had remained in those lands we could not have received
the ordinances of the holy Priesthood of the Son of God, which are
necessary for the perfection of the Saints preparatory to his coming.
12:161.
_The Jews and Jerusalem_--Jerusalem is not to be redeemed by our
going there and preaching to the inhabitants. It will be redeemed by
the high hand of the Almighty. It will be given into the possession of
the ancient Israelites by the power of God, and by the pouring out of
his judgments. 2:141.
Jerusalem is not to be redeemed by the soft, still voice of the
preacher of the Gospel of peace. Why? Because they were once the
blessed of the Lord, the chosen of the Lord, the promised seed.
They were the people from among whom should spring the Messiah; and
salvation could be found only through that people. The Messiah came
through them, and they killed him; and they will be the last of all
the seed of Abraham to have the privilege of receiving the New and
Everlasting Covenant. You may {187} hand out to them gold, you may feed
and clothe them, but it is impossible to convert the Jews, until the
Lord God Almighty does it. 2:142.
By and by the Jews will be gathered to the land of their fathers, and
the ten tribes, who wandered into the north, will be gathered home,
and the blood of Ephraim, the second son of Joseph, who was sold into
Egypt, which is to be found in every kingdom and nation under heaven,
will be gathered from among the Gentiles, and the Gentiles who will
receive and adhere to the principles of the Gospel will be adopted and
initiated into the family of Father Abraham, and Jesus will reign over
his own and Satan will reign over his own. 12:38.
We have a great desire for their welfare, and are looking for the time
soon to come when they will gather at Jerusalem, build up the city and
the land of Palestine, and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. When
he comes again, he will not come as he did when the Jews rejected him;
neither will he appear first at Jerusalem when he makes his second
appearance on the earth; but he will appear first on the land where he
commenced his work in the beginning, and planted the Garden of Eden,
and that was done in the land of America.
When the Savior visits Jerusalem, and the Jews look upon him, and see
the wounds in his hands and in his side and in his feet, they will then
know that they have persecuted and put to death the true Messiah, and
then they will acknowledge him, but not till then. They have confounded
his first and second coming, expecting his first coming to be as a
mighty prince instead of as a servant. They will go back by and by to
Jerusalem and own their Lord and Master. We have no feelings against
them. 11:279. {188}
_The Indians or Lamanites_--The Lamanites or Indians are just as
much the children of our Father and God as we are. So also are the
Africans. But we are also the children of adoption through obedience to
the Gospel of his Son. 11:272.
I spoke a harsh word yesterday with regard to a man who professes to be
a Latter-day Saint who has been guilty of killing an innocent Indian.
I say today that he is just as much a murderer through killing that
Indian, as he would have been had he shot down a white man. To slay an
innocent person is murder according to the law of Moses. 11:263.
We could circumscribe their camps and kill every man, woman and child
of them. This is what others have done, and if we were to do it, what
better are we than the wicked and the ungodly? It is our duty to be
better than they in our administrations of justice and our general
conduct toward the Lamanites. It is not our duty to kill them; but it
is our duty to save their lives and the lives of their children. 11:264.
There is a curse on these aborigines of our country who roam the
plains, and are so wild that you cannot tame them. They are of the
House of Israel; they once had the Gospel delivered to them, they had
the oracles of truth; Jesus came and administered to them after his
resurrection, and they received and delighted in the Gospel until the
fourth generation when they turned away and became so wicked that God
cursed them with this dark and benighted and loathsome condition. 14:86.
As we have here an assemblage of the people from other settlements,
I wish to impress them with the necessity of treating the Indians
with kindness, and to refrain from harboring {189} that revengeful,
vindictive feeling that many indulge in. I am convinced that as long
as we harbor in us such feelings toward them, so long they will be
our enemies, and the Lord will suffer them to afflict us. I certainly
believe that the present affliction, which has come upon us from the
Indians, is a consequence of the wickedness which dwells in the hearts
of some of our brethren. If the Elders of Israel had always treated
the Lamanites as they should, I do not believe that we should have had
any difficulty with them at all. This is my firm conviction, and my
conclusion according to the light that is in me. I believe that the
Lord permits them to chasten us at the present time to convince us that
we have to overcome the vindictive feelings which we have harbored
towards that poor, downtrodden branch of the House of Israel. 11:263.
Do we wish to do right? You answer, yes. Then let the Lamanites come
back to their homes, where they were born and brought up. This is the
land that they and their fathers have walked over and called their
own; and they have just as good a right to call it theirs today as any
people have to call any land their own. They have buried their fathers
and mothers and children here; this is their home, and we have taken
possession of it, and occupy the land where they used to hunt the
rabbit, and, not a great while since, the buffalo, and the antelope
were in these valleys in large herds when we first came here.
When we came here, they could catch fish in great abundance in the
lake in the season thereof, and live upon them pretty much through the
summer. But now their game has gone, and they are left to starve. It
is our duty to feed them. The Lord has given us ability to cultivate
the ground and reap bountiful harvests. We have an {190} abundance of
food for ourselves and for the stranger. It is our duty to feed these
poor ignorant Indians; we are living on their possessions and at their
homes. 11:264. {191}