[Brigham Young Sermon] I'll speak to Orson Hyde, George A. Smith and the High Council and all the Elders who stop here if they have confidence in me. I can point out a way that this people could walk, and not find their feet bound in fetters. That document (referring to something Elder Hyde had written and read) is good for thieves, but it would ensnare the innocent; that instrument would be too strong. I say let your pen and paper alone; you High Council, let your papers alone. If those men who broke out of jail would join a mob against this people, they would be cleared. I say damn such damned rascals, I know by the testimony of the Holy Ghost how to lead this people in a way you don't know if you will be led by me. This document deals with people before they are guilty of anything. If you keep your covenants you will break no laws. If men are found in transgression then deal with them if men are caught here. I would rather see them killed here than send them to Missouri. They took William Bird. We never have had anything against him, they took him by the authority of a mob. If mobs come from Missouri to take me, I'll shoot the damned rascals. Hold your tongues and say nothing. Lay low and watch for [-]. I swear by the Gods of eternity that if a man undertakes to serve a writ on me, I'll kill him that instant, if I have power. Lawyers, I swear by the God I'll never employ you as Joseph did. I told it before lawyers. Priests and lawyers agreed together, came to Joseph and said, '"We are your friends.'" Priest said to lawyer, '"You get $1,000 from Joseph and we'll divide the spoil.'" I'll plead my own case, right on the spot. I'm always prepared. Let your papers alone, you High Council. Do you hear me! (yes). Keep your pens off paper and don't judge men before hand. If the worst enemy I had was to come to my house, I would feed him, and lodge him, if he acted like a gentleman; but if he comes to shed innocent blood, I'll take the first clip. If they come kindly, I would be kind to them, and heal up their wounds. I am a coward, and if they come too near me at night, I'd be afraid my pistol would go off. I never was mobbed by law and as I said last night I was always mobbed contrary to law, don't hand the brethren over to a mob officer. The President then talked about Elder Hyde's grammar. -- Winter Quarters, Nebraska [Journal History of the Church, Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 2 (2002); CA.; General Church Minutes. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 1 (2002)]
[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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