President John Taylor (6)

Shall we keep on a little longer, or shall we quit? I think we have a little time. We adjourned the first day of our meeting because it was rather cold, and now it is not quite so cold, and we will stay a little longer. I have felt a desire to hear the testimony of my brethren of the Twelve, and that of our Counselor who is here. All of the Twelve are present except one; he is at his post, attending to the interests of Zion. And we will pray for him, that God may be with him and sustain and preserve him, and through him preserve this people.

There are a few things I want to speak upon, and I realize that while I and my brethren are speaking, we are not only speaking to this congregation, but to others—to the Saints throughout this and adjoining Territories; to the inhabitants of the United States and to the world; because our testimony will go forth to them.

There are many things which I wish to draw the attention of the brethren to, that they may not lose sight of them. One is Co-operation. We have a number of Co-operative institutions; we have one here, which may properly be denominated the parent institution; we have also many others, and we wish to sustain them, and to do it not nominally, but really in our hearts, and with honesty of purpose; and do everything we do on that principle, without hypocrisy of any kind, in truthfulness before God, and operating together for the welfare of Israel. But Co-operation is not a system only for importing goods and selling them; we want to co-operate in home manufactures. We have done considerable of that, and we desire to do more of it. The Co-operative Store here has, I presume, as much as two hundred men at work in all—about 140 to 150 making shoes, and about 50 or 60 making certain kinds of clothing; and we want to see these things increased, until we can make all our own clothing right here at home; and instead of having to employ tailors abroad to make it for us, we want, as quickly as practicable—and I think it is practicable now,—to make it ourselves. I mean the clothing which is imported here; and then, instead of employing comparatively only a few men, use all of our own labor; let our factories be run on double time and use our own wool at home, instead of exporting it, and thus increase the means of employment and be self sustaining. And then if we could get some of the best machinery for the manufacture of hats, that would be another commendable enterprise, because we use a large number. I see there are a great many heads here, and there are a great many more in the Territory, all needing hats—and if we should supply them ourselves it would be much better than to take the other course.

Then there are some that are trying to engage in the United Order, up and down in different parts, especially far off in the South. They have our blessing and our prayers. I say God bless them in all their attempts to approach that order which is instituted of God. We have not got at it yet, by and by we will come to it; but in the meantime we will approach it as near as we can. God is pleased with the action of this people in their liberality towards the poor. Now be liberal one towards another, and help and relieve one another, and God will relieve and bless you.

Speaking again of Co-operation we have what are called Boards of Trade, and it is expected that they will operate and co-operate with our central institution. [p.100] A meeting of that kind will be held this afternoon, therefore I do not wish at this time to say much upon that subject.

There is a subject I wish to speak a little upon to High Councils, to Bishops, to Bishops' Counselors and to the Presidents of Stakes particularly; but as we shall hold a priesthood meeting, what I am about to refer to can be more fully talked of then; but I will allude to it briefly here. Reference was made by one of the speakers to a revelation contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, in which we are given to understand that the priesthood is given unto us, not for our own aggrandizement, nor to advance our own interests, but to build up the Church and Kingdom of God upon the earth, acting upon the principles of justice, equity and righteousness, as you are yourselves willing to be judged—and will be judged, before the Great I AM, when the time comes that we shall have to give an account of our stewardship. We want no favoritism shown to any man, or to any woman, or to any set of men, but in the administration of justice to do it as in the sight of God, with integrity of heart and uprightness; anything different from this cannot receive the approbation of God. And furthermore, this priesthood is not conferred upon men to exercise any degree of unrighteousness or tyranny, or to in any way oppress or injure anybody; but if any man use his priesthood to subserve any such purpose, God will take hold of him, as the Priesthood above him will take hold of him, and he will be removed out of his place except he repent.

Another thing. The Lord has given unto us our various Courts—Bishops' Courts, High Councils, etc., and it is expected that the Saints will adjust any matters of difficulty or dispute that may arise among them, before those courts, and that they do not go to law before the ungodly; and if any do so, I will promise them, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that they will be destroyed by the ungodly. Hear it, you Elders of Israel, and you Saints of Latter days! Let us seek in the first place among ourselves to execute judgment in righteousness, and then let every man and every woman submit to them. That is God's law, and any man that acts contrary to this law cannot go into the temples of the Lord to receive the ordinances of God's house. For if we cannot submit to the law of God on the one hand, we cannot receive the blessings through his ordinances, on the other hand. Is that right? [The congregation answered, Yes.]

Again. I have been very much interested in our Sabbath School operations, and should have been pleased to have been present at the general meeting of the Sunday School Union, last evening, but having so much labor on hand, I thought it better to rest. But I am interested in the cause of our Sunday Schools, and so are my brethren of the Twelve. God has given unto us the most precious of gifts—children, and has placed us over them as the fathers and mothers of lives. They are eternal beings, and it should be our constant care to train them up in the fear of God. And we want the Bishops and the Presidents to sustain them, which I believe they do, and all good brethren and all good sisters should take an interest in the welfare ot the rising generation, and do all they can to train the children in the fear of God. And God will bless you in your labors and desires, and the youth of Zion will rise up and call you blessed. And let no man or woman shirk the responsibility of teaching the children when it is put upon him or her.

And then, our Young Men's and Young Women's Mutual Improvement Associations are very good institutions, and the Lord is blessing them, and he will continue to bless them; and we desire to see them encouraged in their operations throughout the land, that the principles of righteousness, truth and purity may be promulgated and sustained; and that vice, evil, corruption, and infamy may be frowned upon, and the right honored and maintained; and that our youth may grow up as plants of renown and become mighty men and women in Israel, filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost and the power of God.

Again, in regard to the Relief Societies. They are doing a great deal of good, and I say, God bless the sisters, and let all the congregation say Amen. [The vast congregation said, Amen.] Sisters, continue your labors of love, and continue to propagate good, virtuous and holy principles; teach your daughters, and also your sons, principles of holiness and purity; and seek out the poor and distressed and minister to them, and God will bless you in your labors. We thank you, and I thank you in behalf of the Twelve, and in behalf of the people, for the liberal vote you gave us yesterday in regard to supplying the poor and the necessitous with the grain that you have stored—something which we, who profess to be so much more intelligent, have not been able to do. God bless you; continue your good works and adhere to the principles of right and truth, and God will bless you, and he will bless your sons and daughters, and your names will be honored in Israel, and you will be honored by God and the holy angels.

Again, in regard to the building of temples, we are engaged in doing a good work. Our Salt Lake Temple is progressing very nicely, and we expect it will go forward as usual, only a little more so, next season. I would say in regard to this temple—there were some remarks made about no reports having been made. This is true; the people here have been careless and indifferent, at the same time a large amount of means has been used on it, and why the report has been omitted, I do not know. And the building known as the Salt Lake Assembly Hall has been erected within a short time, at a cost, I suppose, of not less than $100,000; besides attending to other things. I have no complaint to make, only we will try and do a little better; and when you are called upon to furnish quarry hands, be a little more prompt about it, and do not be backward; and when you are called upon to furnish men to assist us here, do not be backward about it. And we will try and improve, one and all, upon our past labors in relation to these things. In Logan and Manti we have two temples under construction, and when finished they will be a credit to the people. We are trying at least to carry out the word and will of God in this direction, and he is helping us to do it. We will build our temples and administer in them, and stand forth as the priests of the Most High God, administering salvation to the living and for the dead. And then, we will continue to send forth, as we are doing, our missionaries to the nations of the earth. Although they do not, very frequently, receive us very kindly, but no matter; they did not receive Jesus, nor the prophets in ancient times, very kindly. The laws of God, nor the servants of God, never were received very kindly upon the earth, except for about two hundred years upon this continent; but the time is coming when the Saints of the Most High God will take the kingdom and [p.102]possess it, and reign for ever and ever; and he whose right it is will come and take the possession.

I will speak a little in regard to our government. We complain a good deal about the way we have been treated. Well, we have been treated very scurvily, it is true—everybody will admit that—but we must consider the circumstances: they are not of our faith, they do not believe as we do, they have their ideas, and theories, and notions, and so have other nations as well as this. Well, what shall we do? We will do the very best we can. Do you think you could improve your condition in any other nation or under any other government, or receive any better treatment than you do in this? I tell you no, you could not. We here, at least, have the form and—I was going to say, the guarantee of liberty; that is, the promise of the guarantee. We have the form, but it is like a religion without the power. What shall we do? Consign everybody to damnation and destruction? No. Who are they? They are God's children. Would he like to see them reform? He would; and he has told us to try to do it. If we had children that had gone astray, would we not like to see them reform? Yes, we would, and if our children do anything wrong we tell them of it, and we try to reform them. We will therefore continue to go to this nation as we have done, as saviors, with the message of life and salvation, and we will pray for the honest, the upright and virtuous, and those who love righteousness, and those who are willing to accord to men equal rights, and a great many who are not; and we will do them all the good we can. We will sustain the government in its administration, and be true to it, and maintain this position right along. And when division, strife, trouble and contention arise, we will try to still the troubled waters, and act in all honesty as true friends to the government; and when war shall exist among them, and there is no one found to sustain the remnants of liberty that may be left, the Elders of Israel will rally round the standard of freedom and proclaim liberty to all the world. These things will assuredly take place, and when they do our motto will be as it now is, "Peace on earth and good will to men." These are our sentiments and feelings in relation to these matters. But while we feel liberal, generous and kind to all men of all nations, classes and creeds, we have no fellowship with unrighteousness; we do not believe in the actions of many men, nor in their corruptions and evils; we want to purge ourselves from them and stand forth aloof as servants of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, and try in all fidelity, in the interests of our common humanity, to bear off the government of God triumphantly.

I would also say a little about the P. E. Fund. While we have relieved a great many, to the amount of $800,000, of their indebtedness, which is right before God and all honorable men; there are a great many poor Saints among the nations yet. And we want those who are not forgiven—for we shall not forgive those that are able to pay and do not do it—to come forward and meet their obligations. And then, if there are those that are desirous of assisting any in this direction, who have it in their hearts to do so, and to impart a blessing to their friends in foreign lands, let them come forward and present their means to Brother Cartington, who is President ot the Perpetual Emigration Fund Company, and he will see that the means are properly applied. We do not want to close up this avenue of relief to the scattered poor, [p.103]but we will continue our efforts to gather Israel. And further; we will continue to build temples, and to administer in them, and we will also continue to preach the Gospel, until the word of the Lord be fulfilled pertaining to this and other nations, and then he will say, Turn to the Jews, go to the House of Israel, the cup of the Gentiles is full. This time has not come yet.

Now, in regard to these matters, God is our God in whom we put our trust; we have nothing ourselves to boast of. Have we wealth? Who gave it to us? The Lord. Have we property? Who put us in possession of it? The Lord. Our horses, cattle and sheep, our flocks, herds and possessions, are his gifts. The gold and the silver and the precious things of earth, and also the cattle upon a thousand hills, are his, and we are his, and in his hands, and all nations are in his hands, and he will do with us and with them as seemeth him good. And as a kind, wise Father, he will watch over their interests; and when the time of judgment comes, it will not be withheld. We ought always to remember that our strength is in God; we have nothing to boast of ourselves, we have no intelligence that God has not given unto us; we have nothing in life, or property, but what has been given unto us of the Lord. Everything we possess pertaining to time and eternity has been imparted to us by him. Let us then act as Saints of God in all humility, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. I say God bless you, and God bless my brethren of the Twelve, and God bless my brethren of the Seventies, and God bless my brethren of the High Priesthood, and God bless the Presidents of Stakes and their Counselors, and God bless the Bishops and their Counselors, and the Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, our missionaries laboring in foreign lands, and all the Holy Priesthood, and God bless all the Saints. And let us all seek to do our duty and honor and magnify our calling. Fear God and keep His commandments, and the peace and blessing of God will abide with us from this time henceforth and forever. And I now testify, as my brethren have done, that this is the work of God that has been revealed by the Almighty, and I know it. And God will sustain Israel, and no power can injure us if we will do what is right; and this kingdom will roll on, and the purposes of God will progress, and Zion will arise and shine, and the glory of God will rest upon her. And we will continue to grow and increase until the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Elder L. JOHN NUTALL read the following names of missionaries, who were sustained by unanimous vote:

Great Britain.-Robert R. Irvine, Fourth Ward, Salt Lake City; Mark Beazer, Kaysville; John Cooper, Fillmore; William R. Webb, American

Fork; Edward Stevens, Payson; John Kynaston, East Bountiful. Sandwich Islands.-Orrin D. Allen, Huntsville.

United States.—Peter Lauritzen, Moroni; Erik Bastel Enzeksen, Mt. Pleasant; Samuel G. Bunnell, Spring City; James Sanderson, Fairview; William Clark, Lehi, and Nicholas H. Groesbeck, Springville.

Frank Warher, Willard City, place to be designated hereafter.

Choir and congregation sang:

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Adjourned till October 6, 1880, at 10 A. M., in the same place.

Benediction by Elder WILFORD WOODRUFF.

GEORGE GODDARD. Clerk.

PRIESTHOOD MEETING.

A meeting of the Priesthood was held according to appointment in the Assembly Hall, Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. It was opened by singing, and prayer by President ANGUS M. CANNON. After which the meeting was addressed by Elder GEORGE TEASDALE, who was followed by Elder ERASTUS SNOW, in a discourse on the authority of the Priesthood in its several classes and callings. President JOHN TAYLOR made some closing remarks, full of instruction and inspiration.

Elder L. JOHN NUTTALL then read the following additional names of Elders nominated for missions: Charles Schneitter, First Ward, Salt Lake City, to Switzerland and Germany; Jens Hansen, of Mill Creek, to Scandinavia; James Myler, Clarkston, to the United States.

The doxology was sung, and meeting dismissed with prayer by Elder WILFORD WOODRUFF.

MINUTES

Of the Fourth Semi-Annual General Conference of the Young Men's Mutual

Improvement Associations, held in the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, Tuesday Evening, April 6, 1880.

ON the stand were President John Taylor, Apostles W. Woodruff, C. C. Rich, F. D. Richards, Joseph F. Smith and Moses Thatcher, and Counselor D. H. Wells.

The Presidency of the Salt Lake and Utah County Stakes, Junius F. Wells and Milton H. Hardy, and the Stake Superintendents of Box Elder, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber Counties, and representatives from Beaver, Juab, Sanpete, St. George, Sevier, Summit, Tooele and Wasarch.

Meeting called to order by Junius F. Wells. After singing and prayer, President JOHN TAYLOR addressed the meeting on the subject of mutual improvement, referring more particularly to the young men, and explained the suggestions from the Council of Apostles in relation to a more complete and permanent organization. After which, Apostle Wilford Woodruff was nominated for General Superintendent, with Apostles Joseph F. Smith and Moses Thatcher as his assistants. The nominations were carried unanimously.

Superintendent WOODRUFF then briefly addressed the meeting, expressing his interest in the work of mutual improvement among the young, and called for the statistical report, the totals of which were accordingly read as follows:—

Stake organizations, 20; associations, 239; members, 9,206; average attendance, 5,755; quarterly conferences, 47; weekly meetings, 2,640; conjoint sessions, 551; extra meetings, 156; total meetings, 3,394; visitors sent, 1,326; visitors received, 1,155; visits of county and general officers, 390; members gone on missions, 73; libraries, 95; volumes 3,554; value of books, $3,986.45; manuscript papers, 274; financial exhibit showed cash and other property on hand, $3,794.87; Scripture reading, total chapters read, 77,012; subjective lectures given, 2,904; testimonies borne, 3,295.

After the reading of the report, Superintendent WOODRUFF made a few remarks, and called for a vote of the people to sustain the suggestions of the Apostles in relation to the organization, which was unanimous. A preamble and resolutions respecting cruelty to animals and the killing of birds were presented and read, and the sentiments expressed therein voted upon.

The meeting was dismissed by President JOHN TAYLOR.

CIRCULAR FROM THE TWELVE APOSTLES.

SALT LAKE CITY, U. T., April, 16th, 1880.

To the Presidents of Stakes and Bishops of the several Wards:

Dear Brethren:—During the annual Conference begun in this city on the 6th inst., the Trustee in Trust, with the unanimous approval of the Apostles and Counselors, deemed it a fitting opportunity on the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and at the close of the Year of Jubilee, to propose remitting some $800,000, or one-half of the indebtedness to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, by the worthy poor who are struggling with adversity, unable to pay, and with but little prospect of ever being able. This very liberal proposition was cordially sustained by the unanimous vote of the vast congregation, composed of authorities and members from all regions of our settlements.

That these remissions may be applied in the wisest manner possible, the Bishops of the several wards are hereby respectfully requested to at once proceed to learn who of those indebted to the P. E. Fund Company they may deem entitled to the benefit of the aforenamed remissions, and write down names, ages, year of immigration and post office address, with a few of the principal reasons why they recommend a remission, and forward all such recommends to their several Presidents of Stakes.

The Presidents of Stakes are also respectfully requested to at once carefully examine the aforesaid recommends from the Bishops; endorse thereon their approval or disapproval, with or without remarks, as they may please, and forward to the President or clerk of the P. E. F. Co., Box B, this city, for consideration and final action by the proper authorities here, and their action thereon will be made known to the parties concerned through their bishop as speedily as may be.

In case a bishop shall deem it more proper to recommend remitting only a part of an indebtedness, he will recommend accordingly, as aforenamed, specifying the amount.

DELINQUENT TITHING REMITTED.

At the general Jubilee Conference, April, 1880, President John Taylor [p.107]proposed, and the Conference voted that the deserving poor have their delinquent tithing remitted throughout the whole Church, to the amount of one-half the total of all the delinquencies; under such regulations as shall be approved by the Stake Presidents and the Apostles. The Presidents of Stakes and Bishop's agents are therefore respectfully requested to ascertain from the books in the several wards under their jurisdiction the amount of all such delinquencies, and, at an early day, a list of names and the wards where found, with the amounts recommended for remittal, which should include all delinquencies of persons, generally well disposed, but who, by reason of losses, affliction, helpless families or missionary labors, have been unable to pay, and such amounts of other delinquents as may be deemed right and proper, in accordance with the spirit of the Conference. Should the total amounts so recommended for remission amount to less or more than one-half the total delinquency of your Stakes respectively, it will be adjusted and equalized as far as practicable, and as shall be deemed to be just by the Presiding Bishop, with the approval of the Apostles. The several agents should consult with bishops, and make up lists to be submitted to the Stake Presidency, which, after such modifications as they deem advisable, should be signed by them and the Bishop's agents for the Stake, and forwarded to the Presiding Bishop of the Church.

We need not remind you that neither favoritism nor prejudice should influence any one in these matters, but only an earnest desire to make the yoke easy and the burden light.

DONATION OF COWS AND SHEEP.

On the suggestion of President John Taylor and his brethren of the Council of Apostles, by common consent, as expressed by the unanimous vote of the Saints in Conference assembled, on April 7, 1880, one thousand good young milk cows and five thousand head of healthy sheep were appropriated for the relief of the deserving poor Saints in Zion. Three hundred of the former and two thousand of the latter were subscribed by the Church, and the remainder as a donation by the several Stakes, as expressed by the vote of the Presidencies of the Stakes and Bishops of the wards, who were present at the meeting.

In order that a proper apportionment may be determined, the Presidents of the several Stakes are requested to ascertain and report to the Trustee in Trust as speedily as possible the number of cows and sheep that will be required to relieve the worthy poor in their Stakes.

A prompt report, giving the names and residences in full of such as the Bishops recommend, and whom you can endorse as being worthy and needy, will enable us to determine at once, and inform you of how many head of each it will be necessary for you to furnish. In securing subscriptions, it would be well as far as possible to make, at at the same time, distributions as you may think proper.

Being aware of the object of this charitable measure, you will, we feel assured, perceive the importance of being thorough, prompt and energetic in its accomplishment.

THE LOANING OF RELIEF SOCIETY WHEAT.

To the President of the Central Grain Committee, and Presidents of the Various Branches of the Relief Society in Salt Lake City and throughout the Stakes of Zion, having in charge stored Wheat:

In accordance with a unanimous vote of the sisters present at our late general Conference, we recommend that you loan to your respective bishops so much wheat as they may consider requisite to meet the necessities of the deserving poor.

We also recommend that the bishops receipt to you and take receipts from those to whom they distribute, that the wheat loaned may be faithfully returned when circumstances shall permit.

We realize that our sisters have performed a highly commendable and praiseworthy labor in storing wheat for future emergencies, and we trust that, inasmuch as the wheat is loaned without interest, the bishops, in carrying out the above measures, will see that they receive a full equivalent for their loans, taking into consideration the losses in changing, as well as the difference between old and new wheat as to quality and quantity. The shrinkage is supposed to be about ten per cent. The bishops should be responsible for the return of the wheat, hence they should loan on good security and to such persons as will return the same according to agreement. It should be loaned mainly for seed. The Tithing Office will in no case be responsible for the return of the whole or any part thereof.

THE FORGIVENESS OF DEBTS TO THE WORTHY POOR IN ZION.

At our recent Annual Conference, the Church, by common consent, remitted one-half of the people's entire indebtedness to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company, and one-half the amount due on back tithing account, aggregating about $875,900. This amount to apply to the cancellation of the obligations of the worthy poor on their emigration and tithing accounts, thus freeing them from a burden which they have been unable to honorably cast off. To all such, in this regard, we offer a jubilee. The power of God moving the hearts of the Saints still further, caused them to appropriate, for the relief of the deserving poor of Zion, one thousand head of cows and five thousand head of sheep. In addition to this, the Relief Societies, with a liberal generosity, offer to loan to the needy some thirty-four thousand bushels of wheat until after harvest, without interest.

With these worthy examples, as the fruits of the gospel before us, we wish to extend to all our brethren and sisters the privilege of aiding in this good work of compassion and love. We respectfully remind those who have the riches of this world more abundantly bestowed upon them, that they have a fitting opportunity of remembering the Lord's poor. If you hold their notes and they are unable to pay, forgive the interest and the principle, or so much thereof as you might desire them to forgive were their and your circumstances reversed, thus doing unto others as you would that others should do unto you. For upon this hang the law and the prophets. If you have mortgages upon the homes of your brethren and sisters who are poor, worthy and honest, and who desire to pay you but cannot, free them in whole or in part. Extend to [p.109]them a jubilee, if you can consistently. You will have their faith, prayers and confidence, which may be worth more than money. We invite Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution as the parent; all other co-operative institutions as the children and our brethren who are engaged in profitable railroad, banking, mercantile, manufacturing or other remunerative enterprises, to extend a helping hand. Free the worthy debt-bound brother if you can. Let there be no rich among us from whose tables fall only crumbs to feed a wounded Lazarus. Rather let us each and all do our part honorably, justly, charitably and well. The Church of Christ has given us a worthy example, let us follow it, so that God may forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. By so doing, you will, as Jesus says, "Make unto yourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."

That all these matters may be carried promptly to a successful issue, we advise the Presidencies of the several Stakes and the Bishop's agents, to proceed at once to visit all the wards therein, holding meetings in order to arrange all these matters while making their visits. By this means they will more readily accomplish what is herein required, and have their minds relieved of the responsibilities relating thereto. Those needing wheat for seed must of course have it soon in order that it may be available for that purpose this season; while those needing cows and sheep will appreciate promptness in their delivery.

JOHN TAYLOR, In behalf of the Council of Apostles.

TO ALL PRESIDENTS AND BISHOPS.

In addition to items contained in our Circular, we call attention to persons removed from your wards leaving unsettled tithing accounts. All balances against them should be promptly forwarded to the bishops where they now reside, if known, and if their present residence be unknown to you, send it to the Presiding Bishop, so that such old accounts may be considered and included in the recommendations of bishops for cancellation. An entry should be made in your books showing the transfer of such old accounts, that they may not be longer reported among your delinquencies.

In behalf of the Apostles.

JOHN TAYLOR,
President.

THE YEAR OF JUBILEE.
(April 6, 1880.)

God of our Fathers, we, this day
   Our voices raise in sacred song.
And in it our glad homage pay—
   This tribute cloth to thee belong!
Thine hand has been our staff and stay.
Thy power has lit our darkest day,
And Israel, blind, this day can see
The first glad Year of Jubilee!

In all the past, thy people, thou
   Hast led with more than Father's care,
And every trial, then or now,
   From foes within or foes elsewhere
Hath testimony brought, as rain
Upon the parched and desert plain
Gives life and gladness, fresh and free,
A sure perennial jubilee!

What more could'st thou for us have done?
   What blessing hast thou e'er denied?
In eastern lands thou wert our sun,
   As on Ohio's prairies wide;
And when Missouri's hate was keen,
When from Far West we fled unseen
We hailed afar the yet to be—
This blessed Year of Jubilee!

When by the Mississippi's stream,
   The Temple lifted high in air,
Beauteous as any poet's dream,
   "City of Joseph," wondrous fair;
Thou did'st thy people succor then
When martyred prophets fell, as when
From death thy thousands had to flee
To wait this Year of Jubilee!

Thy people's enemies have met
   The fate which prophets did portray,
Their sun in darkness quickly set
   And with it all their jocund day;
No more to them thy Saints shall bow,
No more receive their ready blow.
This is our triumph, surely we
Enjoy our Year of Jubilee!

Here, 'mid the mountains peace hath dwelt;
   "Rest for the weary" hath been found;
Here many a bursting heart hath felt
   Far from the hated war cry's sound,
As 'twere a heaven already won
'Neath the unclouded western sun.
These had no need to wait for Thee,
In peace they had their Jubilee!

Oh swelling hearts! A cup run o'er,
   With mercies, blessings, is your lot;
And there's "a fulness" yet in store,
   In heaven the Saints are unforgot.
Promise and prophecy entwined,
In sacred record is enshrined,
These every hour fulfilled to thee,
O Israel, is a Jubilee!

Can Zion's children tell, to-day,
   The half of what they now enjoy?
Or can a soul by words portray
   What fifty years more will employ
Of inspiration's force and flame?
Or how far lost a toes great name?
Or what the world will surely see
Before next Year of Jubilee?

The Saints will live, the Kingdom grow,
   Zion unveiled will "rise and shine!"
Nations and tongues will homage pay
   To Truth, of origin divine.
And God will bring to nought each plan
Of false, corrupt, and wicked man.
Who would not wish to live and see
The next glad Year of Jubilee?

"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,"
   Done, on the earth as 'tis above.
Faith that 'tis nearer with each sun,
   Inspired work is a life of love.
Triumph is certain, victory sure;
Blessed are all who will endure.
Time and eternity shall be
To them unending Jubilee!

H.W.N.