The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-04-13

with the mind and will of the Lord
as have the Latter-day Saints, SO
when the 1sraelites saw the Red
Sea before them and the Egyptians
behind them they were afraid. I&
is not impossible that the saints IN
this day may be placed in a similar
situation; some circumstances OF
comparison are contained in the
history of this people and further
and similar ones may come
to this people. The children
of Israel through their lack of
knowledge, blamed Moses for tax
ing them from their flesh pets In
Egypt, and he murmured also TO
the Lord. If the people could see
the purposes of God, they would
always be content and not murmer.
When the army came against US IN
Missouri, and it seemed that unless
help came from supreme power,
there may have been very lew VINO
trembled, but the saints had faith IN
the promises of God and did not DIS
play the folly of former, days
Israel and banker again after the
flesh pots of of the world, but eS-
pected and obtained the dellverance
of their God. OF course the saints,
as well as the prophets in this day,
like those in former days, have had
their weaknesses; Moses had more
faith than knowledge, and sOmes
times erred. In the circumstances
L have read the prophet told the Is
raelites to fear not, but stand still
and see the salvation of God. The
former part of his words was good
enough, and it is good enough now,
good enough for every one of our
elders and every one of our people;
but the Lord told Moses to tell the
people to move forward and not
Stand still. 1t was not wisdom for
the people Of God ever to stand
still, but keep moving forward and
onward, for the purposes of God do
not stand still. The children Of Is
rael never would have crossed the
Red Sea if they had stood still.
The saints have trials, of course,
and the victory over these trials is
accomplished by overcoming them.
In the days of Jesus, when he was
cruci6ed, the natural views Of men
led them to believe that the work
was over, and some Of the disciples
even returned to their fishing; but
though these agents of the Lord
upon the earth were morbid and
quiet, the work did not stand still;
one of the grandest parts Of Christ's
mission was being accomplished
the doors Of the spirit prison house
were being opened; the servants of
God on the earth and in the spirit
world could work together and
bring about the designs and pur-
poses of the work which was to
reach every son and daugh-
ter of Adam; and there
was no standing still for it.
When the saints were prosecuted,
pillaged and driven in Kirkland in
Jackson, County, in Far West,and in
Missouri, the work did not stand
still, but was moving on all the
time. This should be our motto:
Fear not; keep moving on; keep
to the nations the princi-
pies Of the gospel; keep gathering
in the honest in heart; keep build
ing meeting houses; keep opening
up enterprises and developing the
resources of the territOry-anything
that is just and cOmmendable in tho
eyes of good men. The speaker
brought to the minds of his hearers
the illustration of Shadrdck, Me-
shack and Abednego being thrust
into the fiery furnace, who were de-
livered without even a hair of their
heads being burned; of Daniel be-
ing thrown into the lions den be-
cause he would not bow to a
human or false God, and who was
delivered unhurt and unframed.
An illustration of the outcome of
the present position was given in
the history of this people in ILL
nois. One of the generals Of the ma
litia that was sent against us in
Missouri made the remark that if
one of that poor people should acct
shoot down one Of the mob,
the whole state would swQop down
there upon the MormOnS and de-
Stroy them entirely. We were de-
Spised and driven, and then To-
Gated in Nauvoo, and the Legislators
were influenced to give us charter
rights, and they gave the prophet
Joseph more privileges and rights
in a military capacity than had
been given to any other man in the
same position. When we were
driven from NauYOO, and crossed
the desert plains and settled in these
Congress gave us an or
ganic act for the territory, made a
Mormon elder governor Of the ter
ritory, made a Mormon elder secre-
tary of state, and a Mormon elder
was appointed one of the judges Of
the supreme court of the territory.
Now about the Edmund5 bill. l
shall not talk much about it, for |
do NJ profess to understand il v,r |
well, and congressman do hot under
stand it; NOBODY seems to under |
stand it. But about plural marriage, |
do understand something. l knew |
Joseph Smith well for twelve or
fousteen years, and he told me per-
sonallv that God had revealed to !
him the doctrine Of plural marriage,
and I believed it. l knew Joseph |
Smith to be a man Of truth; could |
give many evidences of it. but did |
Oo+ diamond on TOSeDh'S VeracltV for |