Mormon History, Feb 28, 1847

[Brigham Young Sermon] President Brigham Young said that he desired to speak on three subjects. The first was in relation to the mill. The mill dam was finished in the fore part of the season. That it broke away just before the water was ready to be put on the wheel. That Brother Miller was here and wanted to do good among his brethren and had under taken to build the dam. He thinks he can make it stand. The brethren had been called on to build the dam without pay. He would not call on them had he not done all that he could do, and that he was not in a situation to pay any more. If he was blessed with health he would visit the dam tomorrow and see if there was any way to prevent men from working in the water and prevent them from being sick. If the bishop cannot, he will furnish those who work in the matter with liquor. Men must not sit down when they are warm and get cool or they will be sick. The work of the mill is perfect it is complete and made good and will do well, though it will be of no particular benefit to me, for I expect to leave before the mill starts. If I could dispose of it '- before I go I would help some who helped me to build it. I want you to feel as I feel. Mills, money family nor anything else shall stop me from doing what the Lord wants me to do. For the salvation of the inhabitants of the earth is of more worth than all this earth. God brings us into close places to try our feelings. Let us be faithful to the requirements of heaven and this mill will be a blessing to this people, who will be here when we are gone. By and by government will want this mill and our houses and give all that it is worth. I have paid out 2500 dollars for the building of it already in silver, gold, goods, groceries, or no worse pay than that. What benefit will it be to me if it does not go before I leave and do not get a bushel ground. I will have the satisfaction to know I have left a good mill for the saints in Winter Quarters. I want the brethren to turn out and fix the dam and if possible grind some for the pioneers before they leave. I have said something before to the council about the situation of the houses and want the bishops to see the people and let them be faithfully warned. Some of the houses have weak cobbing and when the spring rains come the first thing we know they will break and some one be killed. Instruct the brethren to leave their sod houses and eaves and go into their tents and wagons and live in them and they will do well. Another subject which I wanted to speak of is this. On Wednesday morning I was taken ill and it has been asked if I had a vision. I was taken so suddenly sick just as I was getting out of my bed that I could not go out. I tried to return to the bed again but could not even get back. As to how I felt no one can tell how I felt until he dies and goes through the vail and when he does that he can then tell how I felt. All that I know is what my wife said. She said that I said I had been where Joseph and Hyrum is and again I said that it is hard coming to life again. But I know that I went to the world of spirits but what I saw I know not for the vision went away from me as a dream which you loose when you awake. The next day I had a dream. I dreamed that I saw Joseph sitting in a room in the southwest corner near a bright window he sat in a chair with his feet both on the lower round. I took him by the hand and kissed him on both cheeks and wanted to know why we could not be together as we once was. He said that it was all right that we should not be together yet. We must be separated for a season. I said it was hard to be separated from him. He said it was all right and put his feet down on the floor. Now all you who know how he looks when he used to give council knows all about it. I told him that the Latter-Day Saints was very anxious to know about the law of adoption and the sealing power and he desired a word of council from him. Joseph said '- do you be sure and tell the people one thing. Do you be sure and tell the brethren that it is all important from them to keep the spirit of the Lord. To keep the quiet spirit of Jesus and he explained how the spirit of the Lord reflected on the spirit of man and set him to pondering on any subject, and how to know the spirit of the Lord from the spirit of the enemy. The mind of man must be opened to receive all spirits in order to be prepared to receive the spirit of the Lord otherwise it might be barred so as not to receive the spirit of the Lord, which always brings peace and makes one happy, and takes away every other spirit. When the small still voice speaks always receive it and if the people will do these things when they come up to the Father, all will be as in the beginning and every person stand as at the first. He saw how we were organized before we took tabernacles and every man will be restored to what he had then and all will be satisfied. I turned away and saw Joseph was in the edge of the light but where I had to go was as midnight darkness. He said I must go back so I went back in the darkness. I know we ought to be good and honest men and women. Will the brethren let us go and prepare a place that where we are they may be also. I feel very week since I died. I want you to remember my dream, for I know it is a vision of God and was revealed through the spirit of Joseph. -- Winter Quarters, Nebraska [WQ High Council Minutes]

[source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]

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