[Brigham Young Sermon] I am thankful for the privilege of meeting with my brethren under as favorable circumstances this morning - we enjoy privileges we have not hitherto - we can assemble and sit in peace - not interfered with out enemies - it has been said to us we are to be tried in all things - it was taught by the Prophet Joseph and this people tried as was Abraham, many of us have been hunted and driven and to many elders and families - the dark curtain of night has been a pleasant shelter - we have sacrificed our farms and houses and carried our friends to the grave - many have endured as good soldiers the burnings and drivings - ready at a moments call to shoulder their rifle and fight until death - whether a spirit of pride courage and rivalry or anger - I leave them to judge - but never has this people been tried more than they are now - and there may be more afflictions to pass through - this people will be tried in a way they have not been accustomed to - if it is our privilege, to cultivate the earth there will be temptations to this people that their feet may be found in forbidden paths satan has controlled in a certain degree the elements of this earth - the gold and silver, the precious metals - and the people in private and public life to a certain extent now mark it the Lord will suffer the riches of the earth to be thrown before this people to see if it will destroy them - it has been told this people, that the Lord will suffer it to be done to try the hearts of man. If this people had a disposition to do right - they could make it profitable to themselves and others - 100s desire to do right and at same time - their footsteps lead them into the path of destruction - if they are honest - it proves they have a lack of knowledge, and grasp and nourish it until truth takes its flight and leave them in darkness here we behold a large population for two years 1000 miles from civilization - where is anything to compare with this in any country - we came here under adverse circumstances - left our all, fled from the wicked and gentiles - this in answer to [-] they have sought it day after day - not as individuals but the whole community were not afraid of poverty and cared not for riches and could feed the hungry - they could eat and share equally and would cry Amen, Hallelujah, only grant us this privilege - What do we see here brethren - the most avaricious covetous spirit is manifested in this valley overreaching, defrauding, pilfering and last of all so much gold dust thrown into their eyes that they can not see light from darkness or truth from error - could this people believe, when they killed Joseph, that these things would be now? No, they would have declared in the name of the Lord God of Israel it never could be so - yet its here - let those who are going to gold mines carry all those Sp. - and instead of getting wood and saw logs from the canyons let them devote every Sabbath to meeting - and instead of feasting - appoint meetings for fasting and prayer - its grievous to see the prevailing influences from among some people - they come there full of saintship - kill your cattle, steal your Iron and then run away to gold mines or the States. I was talking to a man about the eight wagons going to the mines and a man felt in my soul - poor devils going to hell - I feel poor creatures they are perfectly overcome by the love of riches - it is pitiable - and I pray they may never come here again and curse us with their presence again - men who have born the afflictions as this people and then to let the devil throw the dust in their eyes, it pitiable - those who have understood principles day after day - let me tell you the devil is perfectly sure of it - and I told Brother Lathrop when he welters in hell for a time he will find I tell you the truth - will the rest stay here and help to raise grain? those who go and will not come again may in peace - and may the Lord Almighty hear my prayers and edge up their way that they come not here again - you may jaw at them and they will go over - but entreat and you can do nothing with him those who are going to the gold mines let them go there will be another company to go after the crops are in and watered - and I trust they will do good, if you go to destroy the tares be very careful that you don't destroy the tares - but I say and the Lord says - stay every man of you and build up a holy city here - where's the man or woman that is calm composed and has a face like flint towards Zion - nothing could try this people better than the prospect of riches'- Brother Pratt understands as I do - you have to obey the men who holds the keys - this people would believe that Joseph Smith held the keys - be baptized receive ordinances and away they go - is the reason of so many leaving the church - the moment a man is baptized he covenants to obey the council of that man and if its the will of the Lord, I should go to the United States I would as soon do it as stay here, but I know its the will of the Lord that you should stop here in this valley - and so long as your are in the covenant you should never preach any doctrine until you are told - the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is to obey the laws of the kingdom. and gave our next Friday week we shall commence annual conference at 10am. We should build a shade here this summer of boards and cover it with dirt and in fall fall it up with adobies - and make a room for the winter - when that is finished the boards will do for rough boards round the temple - we want the Council House built - there have been some suggestions to build the lower room of stone - the upper one of adobies... I promise you, if you do this - you will build your fence as easy as not do it - and your grain to grow and I know that it is the Lord that gives the increase after you have planted - if he does not, your labor would be in vain. -- SLC Bowery [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.) 9-13-3, 47-49; General Church Minutes. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 1 (2002)]
[source: 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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