Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-10
4 Mormon Conference.
ADDRESS by BRIGHAM YOUNG. OFFICIAL
EXPOSITION or HORGONIsH,

contains report OF the Mormon Con-
ference lately held in that city. On Sat
urday, April 7th, Brigham Young de-
llverrd himself in the following oracu-
lar style
1t will give me great pleasure 10
speak few words to the people, and l
shall be happy if | can make myself
heard by this vast assemblage of Saints.
Much has been said by our brethren
since the commencement OF our two
days meeting, and during the Con,
ference with regard to the social life of
the Latter-day Saints; and all that has
been said is in conformity with that
endless variety which we see in all the
works of God; for no two men express
themselves alike in describing CirCum-
stances or teaching doctrine. The doc
trines which we have embraced are eX-
ceedingly dear to the faithful believer,
and nay also say that doctrines, how
erroneous soever they may be, are as sa-
cred to the person who believes them as
our doctrines are to us.
Our faith and our acts are known TO
each other, and also to the world, al
though they are held forth by many in
an unfair light. However, when an I'M
truth is told against the Latter-da
Saints, a conviction that is untrue comes
to every person who hears it, and the
spirit of Christ, that enlighteneth every
man that cometh into the world, teach
eth the children OF men true princi-
pies.
| DIV ~ oh IL,
ion with regard to plural marriage 1t
is of God, and He has revealed it from
the Heavens, and made it obligatory up
on the Saints in the last days. | am as
much believer in plural marriages as
any Of my brethren who have spoken
1t is embraced in the faith Of the Latter
day Saints and pIacticed by many of
them. If | have a wife who wishes to
leave me, let her make it known to me
and she is as free to go from me as she
is to stay with me. Thisis my doctrine
Every wife | may possess is as free a.
the air, if they choose to stay with me
they can stay if they wish to leave me,
| they are equally as free; but they must
| not intrude upon their sacred covenants
nor suffer Others to intrude upon them.
But otherwise from this, they are as free
to go as they are to stay they can go to
the East, or the West, to the North or to
the South. They are as free to go. if
they 50 wish, as they are to drink the
water OF City Creek but if they violate
their covenants, the curse Of GOO will
rest upon them, and if Others intrude
upon our rights in our domestic rela-
tione, we mean them to suffer the pen
atty.
To ask any persoa to be 4 Latter day
Saint. unless he wishes to be, is q thing
| never do. | teach the people the truth:
they that receive 1t in the love of il will
abide in it; they have the same liberty
to reject it that they have to receive it.
1t is required Of me to make people be-
lieve the truth, whether they will or not.
1t is obligatory upon RE to tell them the
truth, to teach them correct doctrine,
and leave them to take their choice.
whether they receive it and live bv it.
and be saved, or reject It and be damned.
will now take the liberty Of making
a statement TO this congregation and to
this commERity-tO those who are
Saints &nd to those who are not Saints
to the Jew and the Greek-to the
Christian and the Gentle, the old, mid
dle-aged, youth and chlldren-in regard
to the circumstance which has occurred
here in this city within few days past
The question is asked by thousands, nc
doubt, "fS this according to Brother
Brighams counsel? Is this done by
counsel, and docs Brother Brigham JUS
Ufy such things ." Whether | Justify
that act or not IS not the property Of
any other person living; it is my own.
Brother Brigham, did yeu counsel
aay such thing as the killing of Mr..
Brassheld 2"
/ did not, [ know no more about it
thSn you do. That which has tFanspired
| have merely heard, and that which in
stigated the killing of that mar is not
known to me.
suppose man should enter your
house and decoy from you a wife of
yours, what would you do under the
circumstance e.
L would lay judgment to the line and
righteousness to the plummet, so help
me God, / say that for myself and not
for another. L SIN for defending the
truth OF God and the ordinances of His
house. / have enlisted to be his GER
want, and a co-worker and co-laborer
with him, and with ny elder brother,
Jesus Christ, and to sustain His laws,
and the liberty to proclaim the doctrine
of salvation to the world; and | am OF
hand to do SO. We say that this is right.
Others say that it is wrong. As was OBJ |
served by Elder Amasa Il. Lyman in his :
remarks here, we dare do great many
things, and leave the result in the hands |
of God; for He rules and oyerrules, |
guides and dictates and controls the |
acts OF the children Of men; and He |
does so in a very different way from
what they wish at many times.
We dare defend ourselves against the |
attacks of thieves and robbers; we dare /
preach the truth we dare baptise PEG !
pie into the Kingdom of God-iuto tn .
of faith; We dare teach them
the principles of life ana salvation. al
though all hell may 2rowl and roar. an
threaten and vomit forth it's dark insin
nations. God will exalt the lust. and
the wicked aud the ungodly will fail 20
maintain themselves in their wicked
No a II oil =