DISCOURSE
BY
Elder WILFORD WOODRUFF,

Delivered in the New Tabernacle,
Salt Lake City, Sunday After-
noon, August 13th, 1876.

REPORTED BY GEO. F. GIBBS.

In connection with the young
brother, Elder Joseph Parry, who
has just returned from a preaching
mission to England, I wish to bear
my testimony and to make a few
remarks on the Scripture contained
in the last chapter of St. Mark,
commencing at the 14th verse,
wherein an account is given of the
Saviour's appearing unto the eleven
disciples and of his upbraiding
them for their unbelief and hard-
ness of heart, because they believed
not them that had seen him after
he was risen, etc. At this time
the following commission he gave
unto them—

"Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned. And these
signs shall follow them that believe
In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new
tongues; they shall take up ser-
pents; and if they drink any deadly
thing it shall not hurt them; and
they shall lay hands on the sick
and they shall recover."

It may appear singular to some
why our Elders do not treat on
what is termed "the mysteries of
the kingdom." I know of no great-
er mystery to the inhabitants of
the earth than the gospel of Jesus
Christ. And yet the gospel is so
plain and so easy to be understood
that the unlearned and the youth
can know of it. The Apostle Paul
said, "For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth." [Romans 1:16] He considered it
of so much importance that on
another occasion in writing to the
Galatians he said, "But though we
or an angel from heaven preach
any other gospel unto you than
that we have preached unto you,
let him be accursed." [Galatians 1:8] From the
fact of the gospel being so simple,
of its being adapted to the condi-
tion and circumstances of all peo-
ple, and of its having gone forth by
commandment of the Saviour to all
the world, in the event of its being
rejected condemnation must neces-
sarily follow.

Notwithstanding the simplicity
of the gospel, where during the last
eighteen hundred years has been
the man or the sect that has pre-
sented it to the world as taught by
the Saviour and his apostles, before
it was revealed from heaven, in ful-
filment of ancient prophecies, to
the young man Joseph Smith, and
preached by him? No voice had
ever been heard to proclaim it.
There had never been a church or
an organization upon the earth,
since the days of Christ and his
apostles, directed by the revelations
of heaven and owned of God.

The gospel now being preached
to all the world by commandment
of the Lord to the prophet Joseph
is the same as taught by Adam,
Enoch and the Saviour. It never
changes through lapse of time; its
ordinances and laws are always the
same, worlds without end. The
first principles of the gospel taught
from the dawn of creation are faith,
repentance and baptism, and the
laying on of hands for the reception
of the Holy Ghost; and they are
the same to-day. To certain minds
there might be a mystery connect-
ed with these principles. Why,
say some, is this so? We can only
answer, because it is the law of the
great Jehovah, the plan framed in
the heavens for the salvation and
redemption of man. They are re-
quirements made of the whole hu-
man family, which must be obeyed
in order that the prevailing mystery
may be banished and the fruits and
the blessings of the gospel enjoyed.
The gospel is free to all; it is with-
out money and without price. But
none can officiate in its ordinances
acceptably to God, except those
who have received divine authority
to do so. For, says the apostle, no
man taketh this honor unto him-
self, except he be called of God as
was Aaron. [Hebrews 5:4] But there are a great
many gospels, all claiming to be of
Christ, and all differing more or
less from one another, and from the
one taught by the Saviour when
upon the earth. When he who has
the authority preaches the gospel
he promises, in the name of Jesus
Christ, to all that believe and obey,
that the Holy Ghost will be given
them. By virtue of this promise
all such can know for themselves
whether it is of God or whether it
is of man. If an unauthorized man
goes forth, pretending to proclaim
this same gospel, and it matters not
how able and talented he may be,
his doctrine can be detected, be-
cause the promises which were to
follow the believers in Christ are
not realized, the Holy Ghost which
imparts its gifts unto men are not
received, and hence the fallacy of
the doctrines of men is exposed, so
that none need be deceived. Our
boys are often called from the plow
and the workshop to go abroad to
the nations to disseminate the prin-
ciples of the everlasting gospel. By
what power are our young men sus-
tained, who thus go forth, inexpe-
rienced, without much education,
presenting in meekness to a learned
and intelligent world the gospel of
Christ? God through his angels
attends them; he strengthens their
feeble knees, and gives them utter-
ance.

I was once preaching to a large
assembly in Collinsville, Connecti-
cut; when I got through a young
clergyman came forward and asked
me if I had received my diploma
from college. I answered him,
"No." "Do you know," said he,
"that a man who has not received
a college diploma has no right to
preach?" "No, sir," I said, "I do
not know it." "Well, sir," he said,
"that is the case." I then asked
him to inform me how it was that
Jesus preached without receiving a
college diploma? and if such things
as college diplomas were ever
known or read of in the ministry of
Christ and his apostles?

The Lord chose poor, illiterate
fishermen and sent them forth to
combat and even to confound the
wisdom of the wise. His gospel is
represented to-day by the weak
things of the earth, and has
been new for over forty years.
And what is the result of our
preaching? Let facts speak for
themselves. You can behold for
yourselves a people gathered here
from the different nations, all
prompted by the same motives,
namely, to build up and establish
Zion on the earth in fulfilment of
the words of God through the
mouths of his prophets. Why have
we been so successful thus far in
accomplishing so great a work?
Simply because God has confirmed
our preaching and the testimonies
we have borne by conferring the
Holy Ghost with signs following
the believers. Had not this been
the case Utah would be to-day what
it was on the 24th of July, 1847,
when the pioneers first set foot on
its soil—a barren, desolate land,
unfit for the habitation of man.
The results of our preaching be-
spoke the fulfilment of prophecy.
Zion has arisen, and some of the
prophecies concerning her, recorded
in the Old and New Testament, are
having their fulfilment.

Angels have visited the earth and
delivered the keys of salvation to
the prophet Joseph. He lived long
enough to effect a complete organ-
ization of the church, strictly ac-
cording to the revelations of God to
him. God has in our day given
gifts to men, for the perfecting of
the Saints, for the work of the min-
istry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ. [Ephesians 4:12] The apostle likened the
church unto a perfect body. One
part cannot say to the other, I have
no need of you; but all the parts
are necessary to complete the or-
ganization; which is just as neces-
sary to effect the perfection of the
Saints of this generation as of any
other. [1 Corinthians 12:12-27] Faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, repentance and baptism for
the remission of sin, are absolute
requirements, which must be com-
plied with before the Holy Ghost
can be received. These signs, says
the apostle, shall follow them that
believe: in my name shall they cast
out devils, they shall lay hands on
the sick and they shall recover,
etc. [Mark 16:17-18] These blessings are the right
of every honest believer in Christ.
They were set in the church by
the Saviour and remain with the
church, as a mighty cloud of wit-
nesses throughout this Territory
could testify to; and not only they
of this Territory, but those of every
land and clime wherever the gospel
has been preached and a branch of
the church organized. Says the
apostle John, This gospel is to be
preached to all that dwell on the
earth, to every nation, and kin-
dred, and tongue and people; as a
witness before the second coming
of our Saviour to dwell on the earth,
who will come, not as a lamb to
the slaughter, not riding upon a
colt, the object of the people's
scorn. [Revelation 14:6] But he will come in power
and great glory taking vengeance
upon them that love and fear him
not. We, therefore, are sending
glad tidings of great joy to whom-
soever will receive them, that they
may come up to Zion and escape
the judgments that will most assur-
edly overtake the wicked.

I know that we are engaged in the
great latter-day work, the work of
the living God. And I know that
Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God, chosen and set apart to usher
in this last dispensation of the ful-
ness of times. He has left a record,
published, sealed by his own blood,
confirming the truth of the same.
This testimony is in force to all
the world and it will be in force
until the end of time. This we
declare is the kingdom which the
Prophet Daniel saw in vision,
never more to be thrown down or
give to another people. [Daniel 2:26-47] In these
mountains Zion is to be built up,
in fulfilment of prophecy, and
every jot and tittle that has been
spoken of her must come to pass.
The last is first and the first will be
last. [Matthew 20:16] The gospel was first sent
directly to the Jews; the Saviour
himself was of that lineage,
through the loins of David. He
came to his own, but they received
him not. [John 1:11] He was reproached of
them from the day of his birth un-
til they crucified him on the cross.
Consequently the risen Redeemer
commanded his apostles to turn to
the Gentiles. They received the
work and enjoyed the gifts and
blessings of the gospel, even the
Comforter, the Holy Ghost; and
the priesthood continued with
them until a portion of them be-
came unworthy of it through their
falling away, while the faithful
were harassed and persecuted to
their death. The gospel is now
restored to us Gentiles, for we are
all Gentiles in a national capacity,
and it will continue with us if we
are faithful until the law is bound
and the testimony sealed and the
times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,
when it will again revert to the
Jews, whom the Lord will have
prepared to receive it. They will
gather to their own land, taking
with them their gold and silver,
and will rebuild their city and
temple, according to the prediction
of Moses and the prophets. When
this time arrives, which is nigh,
even at our doors, let the Gentile na-
tions who reject the gospel which
is now sent to them prepare to
meet the judgments of an offended
God! [Matthew 24:33] For when their cup is full
even to the brim, the Lord will
then remember the chastisements
of the Jews, his favored people,
and at whose hands they will have
received double for their iniquities.
Offences must come, said the
Saviour, but woe unto them by
whom they come. [Luke 17:1] Woe unto the
Gentiles who have administered
afflictions to the Jews for these
many years! Woe unto them if
they now reject this only means of
salvation, for the awful calamities
spoken of in these books, the Bible
and Book of Mormon, will certain-
ly befall them.

The principle of gathering has
been preached for the past thirty-
seven years. Before this principle
was preached by the Elders, a great
many of the people had received
the spirit of it; and the consequence
was that no sooner had it been
taught by the presidency of the
church than the people everywhere
were re[a]dy to receive it. It had
been revealed to them by the Holy
Ghost, whose office is to reveal that
which is past, present, and that
which is to come, and no surer,
stronger testimony can be given to
any one than it affords. We have
gathered here for the express pur-
pose of establishing Zion, which,
according to the Scriptures, must
be before the gospel can be
sent to the Jews. Passage
after passage might be found
in the Bible, referring to our
coming here; the casting up of the
highway on which the ransomed of
the Lord might travel; the building
of our city in a low place which
was to be called Sought out, a city
not forsaken [Isaiah 62:10-12} and how the Lord
would cause springs of water to
spring up, and the desert to blossom
like the rose, [Isaiah 35:1, 7] etc., all of which have
had their fulfilment. But how do
the inhabitants of the earth regard
these things? With great indiffer-
ence. In fact it would be a marvel
to me were it otherwise, for accord-
ing to the predictions, the people
in this age were to be like unto the
people of the days of Noah and Lot,
marrying and giving in marriage,
practising all manner of wicked-
ness and abominations, and wholly
unprepared for the coming of the
Son of Man. The Jews were under
no condemnation for rejecting the
Savior, until he appeared amongst
them as the light of the
world, then they had no
longer a cloak for their sins;
and in rejecting him and those who
were sent unto them, they stood
condemned before the Lord, and
consequently his threatened judg-
ments overtook them. The people
who heard not the gospel preached
from the days of the apostles until
its restoration in our day are under
no condemnation for rejecting the
gospel during the time it had been
taken from the earth. But the
light again has dawned upon the
world, and the elders of Israel are
engaged proclaiming it far and
wide, and as it was with the Jews
so it will be with the Gentiles who
reject it, for the predictions of God's
prophets must have their fulfil-
ment, and neither you nor I can
prevent it if we would. We are
charged with being uncharitable
because we proclaim these things.
We are not to blame, we are mere-
ly the creatures used by the Al-
mighty in doing his bidding. The
work is his, the plan of salvation is
the creation of his superior wisdom,
not ours.

Let me say to my brethren and
sisters, our responsibilities are great,
far greater than the outside world
who reject the gospel. We have
received the light, the knowledge
of God; we are under sacred cove-
nants to stand by the truth and by
one another in righteousness. If
we are found traitors to the cause,
crucifying the Son of Man
afresh, great will be our condem-
nation. Our time allotted us to
tarry here below is short; but our
spirits are eternal and will live for
ever, and our future destiny de-
pends on this our earthly career.
The Lord has given his angels
charge concerning us; they are our
friends and their eyes are over us.
They stand in waiting with sharp
sickles in their hands, ready to go
forth and reap down the earth.
Our calling is to perfect ourselves,
to purify Zion and make it a fit
habitation for the Son of God when
he comes, to build temples and in
them perform the rites and ordi-
nances for the living and the dead,
and accomplish all that God de-
signs us to. And that we may be
faithful in the performance thereof
is my prayer in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

DISCOURSE BY Elder WILFORD WOODRUFF, Delivered in the New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, August 13th, 1876.

REPORTED BY GEO. F. GIBBS.

In connection with the young brother, Elder Joseph H. Parry, who has just returned from a preaching mission to England, I wish to bear my testimony and to make a few remarks on the Scripture contained in the last chapter of St. Mark, commencing at the 14th verse, wherein an account is given of the Saviour's appearing unto the eleven disciples and of his upbraiding them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen, etc. At this time the following commission he gave unto them—

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; and they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."

It may appear singular to some why our Elders do not treat on what is termed "the mysteries of the kingdom." I know of no greater mystery to the inhabitants of the earth than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And yet the gospel is so plain, and so easy to be understood that the unlearned and the youth can know of it. The Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." He considered it of so much importance that on another occasion in writing to the Galatians, he said "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." From the fact of the Gospel being so simple, of its being adapted to the condition and circumstances of all people, and of its having gone forth by commandment of the Saviour to all the world, in the event of its being rejected condemnation must necessarily follow.

Notwithstanding the simplicity of the gospel, where during the last eighteen hundred years has been the man or the sect that has presented it to the world as taught by the Saviour and his apostles, before it was revealed from heaven, in fulfillment of ancient prophecies, to the young man Joseph Smith, and preached by him? No voice had ever been heard to proclaim it. There had never been a church or an organization upon the earth, since the days of Christ and his apostles, directed by the revelations of heaven and owned of God.

The gospel now being preached to all the world by commandment of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph is the same as taught by Adam, Enoch and the Saviour. It never changes through lapse of time; its ordinances and laws are always the same, worlds without end. The first principles of the Gospel taught from the dawn of creation are faith, repentance and baptism, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost; and they are the same to-day. To certain minds there might be a mystery connected with these principles. Why, say some, is this so? We can only answer, because it is the law of the great Jehovah, the plan framed in the heavens for the salvation and redemption of man. They are requirements made of the whole human family, which must be obeyed in order that the prevailing mystery may be banished and the fruits and the blessings of the gospel enjoyed. The gospel is free to all; it is without money and without price. But none can officiate in its ordinances acceptably to God, except those who have received divine authority to do so. For, says the apostle, no man taketh this honor unto himself, except he be called of God as was Aaron. But there are a great many gospels, all claiming to be of Christ, and all differing more or less from one another, and from the one taught by the Saviour when upon the earth. When he who has the authority preaches the Gospel he promises, in the name of Jesus Christ, to all that believe and obey, that the Holy Ghost will be given them. By virtue of this promise all such can know for themselves whether it is of God or whether it is of man. If an unauthorized man goes forth, pretending to proclaim this same gospel, and it matters not how able and talented he may be, his doctrine can be detected, because the promises which were to follow the believers in Christ are not realized, the Holy Ghost which imparts its gifts unto men are not received, and hence the fallacy of the doctrines of men is exposed, so that none need be deceived. Our boys are often called from the plow and the workshop to go abroad to the nations to disseminate the principles of the everlasting Gospel. By what power are our young men sustained, who go forth, inexperienced, without much education, presenting in meekness to a learned and intelligent world the gospel of Christ? God through his angels attends them; he strengthens their feeble knees, and gives them utterance.

I was once preaching to a large assembly in Collinsville, Connecticut; when I got through a young clergyman came forward and asked me if I had received my diploma from college. I answered him, "No." "Do you know," said he, "that a man who has not received a college diploma, has no right to preach?" "No, sir," I said, "I do not know it." "Well, sir," he said, "that is the case." I then asked him to inform me how it was that Jesus preached without receiving a college diploma? and if such things as college diplomas were ever known or read of in the ministry of Christ and his Apostles?

The Lord chose poor, illiterate fishermen and sent them forth to combat and even to confound the wisdom of the wise. His gospel is represented to-day by the weak things of the earth, and has been new for over forty years. And what is the result of our preaching? Let facts speak for themselves. You can behold for yourselves, a people gathered here from the different nations, all prompted by the same motives, namely, to build up and establish Zion on the earth in fulfillment of the words of God through the mouths of his prophets. Why have we been so successful, thus far, in accomplishing so great a work? Simply, because God has confirmed our preaching and the testimonies we have borne by conferring the Holy Ghost, with signs following the believers. Had not this been the case Utah would be to-day what it was on the 24th of July, 1847, when the pioneers first set foot on its soil—a barren, desolate land, unfit for the habitation of man. The results of our preaching bespoke the fulfillment of prophecy. Zion has arisen, and some of the prophecies concerning her, recorded in the Old and New Testament, are having their fulfillment.

Angels have visited the earth and delivered the keys of salvation to the prophet Joseph. He lived long enough to effect a complete organization of the church, strictly according to the revelations of God to him. God has in our day given gifts to men, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The apostle likened the church unto a perfect body. One part cannot say to the other, I have no need of you; but all the parts are necessary to complete the organization; which is just as necessary to effect the perfection of the Saints of this generation as of any other. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sin, are absolute requirements, which must be complied with before the Holy Ghost can be received. These signs, says the apostle, shall follow them that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover, etc. These blessings are the right of every honest believer in Christ. They were set in the church by the Saviour, and remain with the Church, as a mighty cloud of witnesses throughout this Territory could testify to; and not only they of this Territory, but those of every land and clime wherever the gospel has been preached and a branch of the church organized. Says the apostle John, This gospel is to be preached to all that dwell on the earth, to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; as a witness before the second coming of our Saviour to dwell on the earth, who will come, not as a lamb to the slaughter, not riding upon a

colt, the object of the people's scorn. But he will come in power and great glory, taking vengeance upon them that love and fear him not. We, therefore, are sending glad tidings of great joy to whomsoever will receive them, that they may come up to Zion and escape the judgments that will most assuredly overtake the wicked.

I know that we are engaged in the great latter-day work, the work of the living God. And I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, chosen and set apart to usher in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. He has left a record, published, sealed by his own blood, confirming the truth of the same. This testimony is in force to all the world, and it will be in force until the end of time. This we declare is the kingdom which the Prophet Daniel saw in vision, never more to be thrown down or give to another people. In these mountains Zion is to be built up, in fulfilment of prophecy, and every jot and tittle that has been spoken of her must come to pass. The last is first, and the first will be last. The Gospel was first sent directly to the Jews; the Saviour himself was of that lineage, through the loins of David. He came to his own, but they received him not. He was reproached of them, from the day of his birth until they crucified him on the cross. Consequently, the risen Redeemer commanded his Apostles to turn to the Gentiles. They received the work and enjoyed the gifts and blessings of the Gospel, even the Comforter, the Holy Ghost; and the Priesthood continued with them until a portion of them became unworthy of it, through their falling away, while the faithful were harassed and persecuted to their death. The Gospel is now restored to us Gentiles, for we are all Gentiles in a national capacity, and it will continue with us if we are faithful, until the law is bound and the testimony sealed and the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, when it will again revert to the Jews, whom the Lord will have prepared to receive it. They will gather to their own land, taking with them their gold and silver, and will re-build their city and temple, according to the prediction of Moses and the Prophets. When this time arrives, which is nigh, even at our doors, let the Gentile nations who reject the Gospel which is now sent to them, prepare to meet the judgments of an offended God! For when their cup is full even to the brim, the Lord will then remember the chastisement of the Jews, his favored people, and at whose hands they will have received double for their iniquities. Offences must come, said the Saviour, but woe unto them by whom they come. Woe unto the Gentiles, who have administered afflictions to the Jews for these many years! Woe unto them if they now reject this only means of salvation, for the awful calamities spoken of in these books, the Bible and Book of Mormon, will certainly befall them.

The principle of gathering has been preached for the past thirtyseven years. Before this principle was preached by the Elders, a great many of the people had received the spirit of it; and the consequence was, that no sooner had it been taught by the Presidency of the church, than the people everywhere were ready to receive it. It had been revealed to them by the Holy Ghost, whose office it is to reveal that which is past, present, and that which is to come, and no surer, stronger testimony can be given to any one than it affords. We have gathered here for the express purpose of establishing Zion, which, according to the Scriptures, must be before the Gospel can be sent to the Jews. Passage after passage might be found in the Bible, referring to our coming here; the casting up of the highway on which the ransomed of the Lord might travel; the building of our city in a low place, which was to be called Sought out, a city not forsaken; and how the Lord would cause springs of water to spring up, and the desert to blossom like the rose, etc., all of which have had their fulfilment. But how do the inhabitants of the earth regard these things? With great indifference. In fact it would be a marvel to me were it otherwise, for according to the predictions, the people in this age were to be like unto the people of the days of Noah and Lot, marrying an giving in marriage, practising all manner of wickedness and abominations, and wholly unprepared for the coming of the Son of Man. The Jews were under no condemnation for rejecting the Savior, until he appeared amongst them as the light of the world, then they had no longer a cloak for their sins; and in rejecting him, and those who were sent unto them, they stood condemned before the Lord, and, consequently, his threatened judgments overtook them. The people who heard not the Gospel preached from the days of the apostles until its restoration in our day, are under no condemnation for rejecting the Gospel during the time it had been taken from the earth. But the light again has dawned upon the world, and the Elders of Israel are engaged proclaiming it far and wide, and as it was with the Jews so it will be with the Gentiles who reject it, for the predictions of God's Prophets must have their fulfilment, and neither you nor I can prevent it if we would. We are charged with being uncharitable because we proclaim these things. We are not to blame, we are merely the creatures used by the Almighty in doing his bidding. The work is his, the plan of salvation is the creation of his superior wisdom, not ours.

Let me say to my brethren and sisters, our responsibilities are great, far greater than the outside world who reject the Gospel. We have received the light, the knowledge of God; we are under sacred covenants to stand by the truth, and by one another in righteousness. If we are found traitors to the cause, crucifying the Son of Man afresh, great will be our condemnation. Our time allotted us to tarry here below is short; but our spirits are eternal, and will live for ever, and our future destiny depends on this our earthly career. The Lord has given his angels charge concerning us; they are our friends, and their eyes are over us. They stand in waiting with sharp sickles in their hands, ready to go forth and reap down the earth. Our calling is to perfect ourselves, to purify Zion and make it a fit habitation for the Son of God when he comes; to build Temples, and in them perform the rites and ordinances for the living and the dead, and accomplish all that God designs us to do. And that we may be faithful in the performance thereof is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.