Mormon History, Oct 14, 1849 (Evening)

[Brigham Young Sermon] We have had good wholesome doctrine and exhortation, and causes my heart to rejoice. We have hardly time to transact the business this evening and will preach a short discourse to all going away - you heard Brother Spencer's testimony this morning, he took the very course he was counseled to take - he varied not from the council - the churches were in unfavorable circumstances - H. P. and T. were in England and mashed up the doing of N. Hadlock - 10,000 were baptized during the time he was there. When 8 or 12 went into England we took same course - we were there one year and sixteen days - we baptized about 8000 persons - it spread from one end to other of England - if they will hearken to council preach faith and repentance and baptism for the remission of sins - laying on hands and give them the promise nothing doubting - they shall receive the Holy Ghost, there is not a man or woman that will obey the gospel with an honest heart but what the Lord will fulfill on his part. I always promised the Holy Ghost he was the Comforter - have no fears or doubting. Go with pure hearts and clean hands and fear not to command devils and if you see them where they should not be bid them depart in the name of Jesus Christ, and be careful not to put yourselves in their power - if you preach the first principles of the gospel for 999 years you will not understand all of it - but you would be [-] still - why did the Lord Almighty sweep off those wicked nations - Father Adam talked with the Lord and he told them all about it - they did not sin ignorantly but with their eyes wide open - the Lord is more merciful now because the people are ignorant - Pharaoh kept a perfect tavern in his body for the devils - he was not ignorant as they are now - Elders let you mysteries alone - I don't look for any of the Elders over reaching their doctrine - any man who feels over anxious to teach - they never can teach to be understood - they besmear themselves - I know when men are full of adultery in England - when they think they are in good standing - preach the gospel and your voice will be like the voice of an angel - Elders of Israel go and teach the first principles and bear testimony, its their sound judgment that has to be hit - what is the difference in the reign of a free government and a monarch - or republicanism and despotism - refer to government of heaven, its an honor to obey the Lord Almighty, there is no difference in reality between a monarchy, despot, and republicanism - you may give them all subjects to rule over - they rule by law - they are all governed by the same principle - the law - the priesthood is a perfect system of code laws - and are the best suited for the country - that government that is best calculated to make all happy - suppress vice that's the government for me the God of heaven rules by law - Queen V. by Lords the U.S. by a President, the Senate sends laws and they are executed - suppose there was a despot in Washington, condemn me to death and know one to execute it - it don't hurt me - in all of our U.S. Governments we acknowledge a head and it acts as the belly dictates that that is best calculated to make people happy is the best law - am I not controlled by law - I want law to shew I can live above the law, laws are made for the disobedient - no man in heaven or earth can condemn you for you are above all law - and after all - it is the laws that control - and the people are all ruled - if I don't dictate this community better than any other man, come of my boys and do it - come along and teach me. I am ready to be taught - I feel where I stand - the brethren pray for me and I feel it - All good men are with my heart and hands - no good man will be against me - live in revelation every day - since I have lived in Mormonism, I have lived in revelation. We must know tomorrow how many the brethren are going east. (Names were cried off by T.B. and all were provided for.) BY then spoke of the ordinance relating to the North Mill Canyon - Brethren if you will sow all the broke ground with wheat this winter and spring, we will have bread - fence up your blocks in big field and in the city. If the Lord Almighty will give me ability, when a Pet n.? comes from a canyon - I will butter the bread for the people - as well as for you - I say this to forewarn others - we will go into wealth, health, and glory hand in hand - let the one receive pay who works, and those who wont work let them beg bread. Spoke on the perpetual fund - the plan now adopted is different to everything else - we raise a capital - place in Brother Hunter's hands, and written instructions - and Brother Hunter will bring in the poor train - I want some person to ride to Weber and send the wagons by the new road made by P. Pratt. -- 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.) 9-12-5, 57-59]

[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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