Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-09-26
ELDER FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS.
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and stopped with us q few days In the
English mission. lie was by marriage
relative OF the distinguished states
man. Lord John Russell. aud, Of course,
in going through the country he took
the OPT oftunity TO have an interview
with this distinguished statesman. Lord
John received him kindly and cordially
as relative, but he wondered at so
sensible a man as he Joining 50 unpopu.
lar people as the Lattef.day Saints.
There was one thing. however, that
struck him lie said 1t was the greatest
wonder In his mind how Nc. Young
could gather together people OF such
various notions, such varied habits, such
prejudices OF education, and could
make them to be SO united in accom-.
plishing the work which they seemed
TO be carrying on al that time In Amer.
lea. This thing is standing wonder to
the human family. II Is u wonder TO US
when we stop to think Of II. but Il Is
only accomplished by the power Of God,
by the authoritative administration OF
the ordinances which confer remission
OF aims and baptism by the Holy Ghost
as well MS by water.
About that same time, soon after this
great extent Of territory west OF the
Missouri river had been acquired from
Mexico as a part OF the United States
domain, and then called Upper Caliior.
MIA, some OF you will recollect that
there was a great stir as to which part,
II any, Of this great acquisition should
be allowed to become slave states and
which part OF II should not. There was
also great stir in Congress as to how
TO adjust the slavery question, and
there was appointed in Congress a com.
mitice OF thirteen, representing In NUM-
Der the thirteen original colonies, and
these men were entrusted with the duty
| OF harmonizing, OF compromising and
| Of arranging and submitting TO Con.
/ gTess such a method OF procedure as
should be II possible satisfactory to all
parties, the north and the south, the east
and the west.
Abou, this time | had a dream, and
about this time also our people were
being turned out OF the United States to
seek a resting place where they could
| get the iarthest from their friends Ia
my dream was called upon by gentle
man who said he wanted 10 talk with
me aud to Introduce me TO a committee
OF men. He took me into place
where there were thirteen men. can
! fecollect the countenances OF quite a
number OF them today. When l had
been introduced to them. the chairman
said to me, "Mr. Richards, we want to
ask you a certain question. How is II
that Mr.. Young and you men that labor
with him can get your people to do any
thing you want them to dor II II is Il
| pull up stake and leave their homes aud
| 10 from state to state, or make any kind
| Of sacrifice or perform any labor, you
have no trouble TO do IL. You don't
have to 20 aud preach 1t up, and labor
TO get them willing; all you have to dc
is TO let them know that you think II
would be well for them to do so and so,
and they are in hurry TO get about
and do It," Said he, chow do you dc
~ We would like TO know the secret
OF that operation Il you can tell US, TOT
we have to argue measure before the
people and lay before them all the rea
sons, oil the causes aud all the prob
able consequences. and then Il Is with
the utmost difficulties that we can ac
complish the matter" | will tell you
how In my dream ! answered him.
said TO them, Gentlemen, the way
we are enabled to do this Is because we
make Il iirst appear to the people thai
what we want them to do Is that which
Is Tor their greatest good. We have
been sent from our country TO preach &c
the people OF the world, and we have
conferred upon them the blessings o.
the everlasting Gospel They have
found out that these are the greatest
blessings that mortal man can enjoy; anc
having bestowed upon them In the name
OF our God these blessings, they ieel
| that we have their interest deeply al
heart, and feeling thus they wish Us Il
| continue 10 benefit and bless them
They found that when they rendered
obedience to the Gospel II was theil
| privilege to gather TO America, the best
| OF all countries, and establish homes
and they did so. They found themselvei
| blessed In things Temporal and In thing.
| spiritual. When there are offices to Ill
| they want us to fill those Offices, be,
cause they know that we have labored
| and have benefited them so FAR; and
having found out that we first loved and
, respected them before they loved and
| respected us, they seek unto us Tor thi.
continued benefit and blessing. That /.
how, when we signify anything to them
they know that II Is the best thing that
can be done for them
II was in that way and spifi, that an
swered their question, having Ia remem
brance that scripture which says that we
love God because lie first loved us anc
gave His Only Begollen Son to die ioi
us, and greater love than that hath NJ
man.
That Is the spirit and foundation o.
our work, the principle upon which Il
has been commenced and carried on sc
far. want my brethren and sisters tC
realize that that Is the principle, through
all the Church, that is supposed to DC
employed and should De in every plac,
"a spirit to work and labor for the In
terest OF the people OF God 1t Is IL
view OF this that we are called to sustain
our brethren IN their stations in IN,
Church These principles are iar.Ieach
ing, and as we advance IN building az
and establishing the Church aud king
dom OF God they are more iarreaching
and they are omnlpOtent, and they ar,
not to be triled with. As was presented
TO us so empuatically this morning, Il Il
a time now when they cannot be ignored
with impunily'
In The days of the Kirkland temple
when the Elders had their blessing