[Brigham Young Sermon] Brethren of the Seventy as well as other officers - I will speak in regard to your presidency - there are about 36 quorums - each quorum is filled up to seventy men, officers and those who fill them - the First Presidency is a quorum wherever they are - Twelve when separated cant be supplied by any others, neither can the seventy they are permanent standing quorum to the church - in regard to High Councils - one may be here - one at point - one Garden Grove - one Pisgah, one Winter Quarters - and where necessary - these will help and assist them in all the affairs of church - Presidents of Seventy preside over first Seventy - that quorum is all taken up by placing them over another quorum - the First seven presidents when their quorum is gathered together - in case there is not First Presidency or Twelve the responsibility would rest on first quorum - this we read in D & C - the Presidency would call their 63 men and themselves their voice would be same as First Presidency or Twelve - in case we don't locate - the Presidency, the Twelve or First Presidency, they cant fill vacancies - where no quorum we cant organize - we don't calculate to remain here any longer than to remover to a stake of Zion - the standing quorum are not needed here - yet we must have helps governments etc, we select a high council and place a man to preside - in Mt Pisgah we have ordained High Council and Presidency if we are disposed - we can have another on the North of us - in this case there is no man woman or person who is independent of High Council - what is the use then of having seven men to fill vacancies to First Presidency - if men violate law of God, the High Council can punish them every Seventy or High Priest has a right to say come I want to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ - if a man wants to roar war like thunder I don't care how much good you do - if you want presidency you must come to us - we shall leave enough to push people together, the Twelve will soon be scattered again and call to their assistance the Seventy and set in order the things of [the] Kingdom - it is contemplate we shall organize a First Presidency - we have proved to God, Satins and all manner of sinners and devils that we can carry the kingdom off triumphant - if Uncle Sam bows down and is in humility - I hope he will come again - and as to Strang it put me in mind - you are all sheep and don't know the voice of the shepherd - Aye - I say get out of the way - the people want to come here and thicker and faster - we don't wish to keep up an organization only to remove over home - if we are driven again and again it goes faster and faster to the consummation of all things - the Lord will do all things just right - I only want to be faithful to the end and let the Lord do the rest - there are great many things I would like to say to the people - to men women and children that they may have the spirit to expand - and by and by become men and women in the Lord - if you will read what is written on the resurrection and be so humble you can learn - all things are overshadowed to those who have not the spirit - but when the vail is taken off it is simplified to their understanding - so it is with other doctrines - all things are written for our salvation - the doctrine of gathering we have come to, and that is needful for us - on the resurrection Jesus raised before he saw corruption, this was a promise to the Savior because of the importance of the work - you know Mary run to the sepulcher just as a woman ought to - she saw a man in the garden, she ran along and found that an angel who holds the keys of the resurrection, who has received his body - he has passed the resurrection - an angel was sent it is a resurrected body - a minister of life and salvation - angels are set apart with the keys of the resurrection power. he went down same as Jesus went to Lazarus - Jesus knew who would roll away the stone - he knew all about it - that angel opened the graves of the just man - the dead came forth, it was done by men who had the ministry of the resurrection - who had received their bodies - and hold the keys - the Almighty will wake them up in the twinkling of an eye - they may just do as they please - Mary knew his voice - she fell right down at this feet - every woman will come right to her husband's feet same as Mary - Jesus had a work to do before he could be touched - it is made simple and plain - you know it is the price of being baptized - but never realized until the Elders came along and to lay on hand for the sick etc - I have seen some men who were so enthusiastic as to think of concerting their friends - if people will realize what they enjoy they can make heaven - I realize my enjoyments today - my soul is happy and can cry aloud - and shout Hallelujah the privilege of seeing the people of God - it fills be with fire - and my soul with consolation - this is the best day I have seen in my life - this is a heavenly day - a day of Zion - the air is impregnated with peace - and feel as ready to go to heaven if I am wanted - I am at peace with all heaven, all earth, and all hell if they will keep out of my road - but if they wont I have waged war with them right strait'- We must bring our meeting to a close. I think it would be a good plan to right up the captains of 100, 50, 10 - make an appointments on this side the river - What I have heard today is as good doctrine as ever I heard in my life - the Spirit of the Lord is here, joy communion of Holy Spirit with each other and God is here - let us grow in grace until we come to perfection may the consolation of the Lord be with you - that you may not be left to tarnish you glory - grieve not the Holy Spirit of the Lord, do that which is right, administer salvation to your fellow beings - when the enquiry is made is this right never do a thing until you know its right - cease until you find out what is right - pause and get understanding - the Lord has intending to whip, correct, chastise us - it is for us to learn what we could not learn without - Some persons say we were driven from Missouri for our iniquity - its an insult to me - to the Almighty - to truth to innocence to virtue but for being chastised for my iniquity it never touched me my Heavenly Father and Elder Brethren know as much as we do here and if we don't get perfect in the first year - I know how to elude the devil and shun his influence, we have been driven here - the hand of the Lord is in it, its as visible as the shine of the sun, it is visible to my natural eyes - its all right - when we get to be of age we shall should Amen, it is right, we shall make the upper courts ring - but we have something to do before then - I shall see the whole influence and know it has been done by the wisdom of whom who see all things - I don't find much fault with the devil, he is doing his business - the prophecy that was given yesterday - this is one of the happiest days of my life - is not the bliss of heaven - where is brethren who feels hatred malice and wicked things - if they came to door they stand there and here all is paradise - there is nothing more done this day than I knew at the death of Joseph - and shall do the same - I shall stand up and know the old trough. I will do right without being trammeled in my feelings in the least - as the Lords will is my will all the time - as he dictates so I will perform - if he don't guide the ship will go down in the whirlpool - Joseph was squeezed in at the little end of the horn and it has grown to a perfect organization. Joseph told the priesthood there is not one principle or one key to enter in the celestial gate but what I have given you - I have shewed you and talked it to you - the Kingdom is set up and you have the perfect pattern - you can lead the kingdom in at the gate - I am going to rest - the Lord called him - he, as now you stop this organization and say there is a [question/quorum] that ends with death - you would have to dwindle away and go out at the little end of the horn - if your president has not dictated things right in the name of God of Israel come forward and just tell whe
re he has done wrong - but I say he has done just right and knows it all the time - God is always here by his angels or his spirit - Jesus take no though shall say in the very hour it shall be given you, the Comforter will abide with us continually and we calculate to continue to do so - it would be misery to me - a good many will have to do their work over again. I say in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, be you blessed. Amen. -- Winter Quarters, Nebraska [Thomas Bullock Minutes, LJA; Thomas Bullock—LDS Church Reporter, 1844-56.C, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; GCM, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..; 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.) 9-12-4, 78-80, 85-87]
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
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