[Brigham Young Discourse] President Young and Heber C. Kimball arrived, George A. Smith desisted and made a motion that this meeting be turned into a general conference. Second by Elder Kimball and carried by the whole conference. President Young said that it was actually necessary to call the saints together in capacity of conference that we can lay before them certain items of business that immediately concerns the whole camp and tends to their interest, that we may ease their minds on the subjects at this moment a shower of rain came and lasted about ten minutes. The President advised them not to scatter but to remain on the ground as he thought the rain would be light. He again continued the subject and said that a few has brought in a great many strange friends who are entirely unacquainted with order and organization of this stake. They probably have heard that there were three men appointed to preside over this place, we want to know whether those that was recently come in will be united and work for the general good of the cause, and not desire to separate from one another and say why cant a few family cross the river and settle together, or go on we want to roll on the cause. When the order of the priesthood rules no man will ever attempt to teach or take authority more then what is taught him of those that are over him. There are some that are always doing good while there are those who say '"We'll do anything that Brother Brigham or the Twelve says'", and will keep their teams, wagons, provisions, etc. and will never volunteer and come up and say here is all this I possess, take it and dispose for the good of the cause. Instead of saying I see the fence is on fire but I wont put it out unless father tells me to. I see an ox or horse in the mire but I wont pull them out unless father tells me to, but is always ready to do what ever father tells me to do. While another son is always doing good and does not wait to be told every that thing see is wanting to be done, which of the two is preferred? The latter, but if this people will not do what is needful for their own interest without being told I will tell them, and then should they fail to comply, the curse of God will be upon them. I have been told that since this place has been laid out many have turned back some to Missouri while other have gone round to head us for fear that we would strip them of all they have and rule them with an iron hand. Now the brethren may keep all things if they chose and do what they are a mind to with them, but if they keep them back they will not prosper and at last loose all has... President Young said that he would give some instructions in behalf of the President that is appointed to preside here. All those that stop here must submit to their council and be upright and united, and where they want a horse or tools ask for it and never take anything that is not your own without liberty, and be certain when you get done using it to return it again immediately. Brethren should be as prompt and punctual with each other as do the gentiles at least there has been to much freedom and liberty, if such we may call it, taken with one another's property, it is not right. -- Mount Pisgah, Iowa [John D. Lee Journals (LDS Church Reporter, 1845-47), Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.); Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..]
[source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]
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