Mormon History, Sep 6, 1847

[Brigham Young Sermon] Inasmuch as the 12 regulate the affairs in all the world, and set in order all the concerns and officers in the camp and indistinctly states there is come irregularity and disorder. When Joseph was alive the Presidency was in midst of people, the 12 regulate affairs in all the world, the temple, tithing, temporal and spiritual. Are they return from their mission and find all things going on correct, have they any right to meddle with that machinery if they have no right, why put their hands in the machinery. I did not expect all my division officers would come. I swear that any [-] will get their fingers smashed who put their hands in the [-]. 9 of the 12 labored diligently all winter, who says that 2 of the 12 has a right to overrule the 9. The 6th is promisously destroyed. How easy to say whoever belongs to bro. Brigham's division go there, those who belong to bro. Kimball's division go there. Now select your officers by supplying the place of those who do not come. I have one ox here, another there, a wagon here, a horse there. All is knocked into pieces. When a quorum does a thing, it is not the business of any man to upset it. We join together to carry out a great work. My eye is to keep in order the great machinery that is set in work. The Lord never sent any big man, and he who would let the greatest man as to be a servant of all. We have regulated the affairs over there. The Quorum carry the keys. If we lay our hands on a 70 and confer on them the power to regulate all the affairs in a distant country, they have the power to do it; but if they come back and attempt to do the same at home, they'll be weak. I know the spirit did not rest on those who professed to be the leaders of the camp, or else a wrong spirit was resting on us. We did not organize until we got a good ways up the Platte [River] I never presumed to control the camp until I was appointed to take the command of the camp. Father Morley was appointed the President of my division and out to have appointed captains of 100, 50, 10, and we filled up 100 they go, and then organize another 100'- If a captain of 10 can go ahead so much faster let him take loading from those who are over-laden and that they may be equalized, and if a man does the grunting put on say much more for his team to draw. You officers carry heavier burdens and all will get the same spirit. I have got my shoulders muddied many a time. You can build your houses this fall, and do all your planting before the snow is dissolved in the canyons. Go strong and safe. I recommend bro. Porter Rockwell to carry the mail. There is not a man that I would trust sooner than he is. He will keep it [deliver] it perfectly safe and quick. He will plow those difficulties that other would fail. It's the missionaries that have made the Omahas as they are continually finding the devil in them. They will have to bring those fellows that killed Weatherby or else I'll slay them wherever I can catch them. If the Indians commence killing the cattle I want the brethren to shoot them and they'll make peace. I would rather kill a dozen priests than one Indian. -- Pacific Springs, Wyoming [Quorum of the Twelve Minutes, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..; 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.., 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]
[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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