Jesus Christ to us. It has been
remarked that it costs a great deal
to keep the Lamanites, and who does
not know that everything costs a
a good deal in this kingdom? Have
you not tithed your whole substance,
your flocks and herds and all your
possessions? Have not the Gentiles
robbed you and spoiled you of every
thing you possessed? and have you
not had to make your beds in the
mud upon the banks of the . You have experienced
all this and a great deal more. Does it
require the same to pay your Tithing?
Does it require the same affliction, the
same suffering to keep the command-
ments of God, as it did in those days of
persecution and trial? No, it does
not. Will it cost as much to farm
for them, to feed and clothe them, as
it cost us in those times of trouble
and perplexity? All will acknow-
ledge that it is better to give a part
than to lose the whole, and have to
flee to the rocks and mountains, and
be driven from our homes by the
Gentile world. You will find, brethren
and sisters, that the trials will be
heavier and more severe every time,
and you will also find, that when the
duties of our calling are light upon us,
it will be then that we will require to
be stirred up to diligence and to the
performance of our duty. The people
are always the best when they are
busily engaged. When I have heard
brother declare, that if this
people did not save their wheat and
the necessaries of life they would see
hard times and famine in the land.
I say these things sink like lead into
my feelings, and they always did
from the very first that I heard them.
Whenever I hear things set forth by
the servants of God, I always know
that there is a meaning to them, and
they always weigh heavily upon my
mind. The Lord foreshows us
through his servants what is coming
to pass, and in this way we have
been led by the hand of God; and it
has been by his mercies that we
have been guided until the present
time. The blessings of God have been
multiplied upon our heads year after
year, and we have had more than we
deserve bestowed upon us, and the
counsel and instructions given us have
been good. I hope that we will be
wise, and not let those things pass
away as idle tales, but follow them up
and be on hand for every thing that
is required at our hands. I hope that
brother Snow will lead up in these
matters, respecting your meeting-
house and farming operations for the
natives, and I hope that they will
carry out the instructions given them,
and if the brethren will attend to
these things and do them in faith and
in the name of the Lord, I will tell
you how it will be, all you take in
hand will prosper, the Lord will bless
your crops, and your cattle, and all
that you possess. But if you neglect
your labour this year, why next year
your labours will be double; and so it
will be year after year until all your
blessings will be taken away, and you
will be left to yourselves. Then do
what is required at your hands, and
your yoke will be easy and your
burden light, because you will do each
day that which belongs to that day.
I know that what has been said
here is true, and the Spirit bears
record to you and to every honest
heart—to every man and woman,
that these things are correct. These
Lamanites have a right to the , and it is our duty to carry
the Gospel unto them that they
may attain to all its privileges and
blessings.
We have for the last twenty years
been preaching it in the United States,
in , and distant nations of the
earth, and thousands have embraced
it; but in accomplishing this the
Elders of Israel have had to make all
kinds of sacrifices, and be absent from
PREACHING THE GOSPEL, ETC. 223
Jesus Christ to us. It has been
remarked that it costs a great deal
to keep the Lamanites, and who does
not know that everything costs a
a good deal in this kingdom? Have
you not tithed your whole substance,
your flocks and herds and all your
possessions? Have not the Gentiles
robbed you and spoiled you of every
thing you possessed? and have you
not had to make your beds in the
mud upon the banks of the . You have experienced
all this and a great deal more. Does it
require the same to pay your Tithing?
Does it require the same affliction, the
same suffering to keep the commandments of God, as it did in those days of
persecution and trial? No, it does
not. Will it cost as much to farm
for them, to feed and clothe them, as
it cost us in those times of trouble
and perplexity? All will acknowledge that it is better to give a part
than to lose the whole, and have to
flee to the rocks and mountains, and
be driven from our homes by the
Gentile world. You will find, brethren
and sisters, that the trials will be
heavier and more severe every time,
and you will also find, that when the
duties of our calling are light upon us,
it will be then that we will require to
be stirred up to diligence and to the
performance of our duty. The people
are always the best when they are
busily engaged. When I have heard
brother declare, that if this
people did not save their wheat and
the necessaries of life they would see
hard times and famine in the land.
I say these things sink like lead into
my feelings, and they always did
from the very first that I heard them.
Whenever I hear things set forth by
the servants of God, I always know
that there is a meaning to them, and
they always weigh heavily upon my
mind. The Lord foreshows us
through his servants what is coming
to pass, and in this way we have
been led by the hand of God; and it
has been by his mercies that we
have been guided until the present
time. The blessings of God have been
multiplied upon our heads year after
year, and we have had more than we
deserve bestowed upon us, and the
counsel and instructions given us have
been good. I hope that we will be
wise, and not let those things pass
away as idle tales, but follow them up
and be on hand for every thing that
is required at our hands. I hope that
brother Snow will lead up in these
matters, respecting your meetinghouse and farming operations for the
natives, and I hope that they will
carry out the instructions given them,
and if the brethren will attend to
these things and do them in faith and
in the name of the Lord, I will tell
you how it will be, all you take in
hand will prosper, the Lord will bless
your crops, and your cattle, and all
that you possess. But if you neglect
your labour this year, why next year
your labours will be double; and so it
will be year after year until all your
blessings will be taken away, and you
will be left to yourselves. Then do
what is required at your hands, and
your yoke will be easy and your
burden light, because you will do each
day that which belongs to that day.
I know that what has been said
here is true, and the Spirit bears
record to you and to every honest
heart—to every man and woman,
that these things are correct. These
Lamanites have a right to the holy
Priesthood, and it is our duty to carry
the Gospel unto them that they
may attain to all its privileges and
blessings.
We have for the last twenty years
been preaching it in the United States,
in , and distant nations of the
earth, and thousands have embraced
it; but in accomplishing this the
Elders of Israel have had to make all
kinds of sacrifices, and be absent from