REMARKS
By Elder WILFORD WOODRUFF Tabernacle,
Tuesday Afternoon, .
-[REPORTED BY J. V. LONG.]-
This Church of Jesus Christ has had a vast
amount of teaching, especially of late. We
have had a great deal of good counsel and
instruction this conference; the truth has
been simplified, doctrine elucidated and made
plain to our understandings through the revela-
tions of Jesus Christ, and I really feel that
we have great cause to rejoice. There is one
truth that becomes still more evident to my
mind, and I think to the minds of this people
generally, and that is the importance and
necessity of our being governed and control-
led day by day by the revelations of God.
Now, we may take the Bible, the Book of
Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, and we
may read them through, and every other reve-
lation that has been given to us, and they
would scarcely be sufficient to guide us
twenty-four hours. We have only an out-
line of our duties written; we are to be
guided by the living oracles. The ten com-
mandments are very good, and the great and
glorious principles pertaining to the redemp-
tion of man, the revelations pertaining to
events that are past and to the things of the
mysterious and unborn future, and there are
also many choice and precious things relating
to the redempti[o]n of man, to the present and
future greatness of the saints; but where can
we find one revelation that tells us that we
shou[l]d raise three hundred teams, or twelve
hundred yoke of cattle, to bring up the poor
from the Missouri river. We have been in-
formed by the revelations of the Lord Jesus
Christ that there should be a Temple built in
Jackson county; but has there been a revela-
tion to tell us how long or how high it should
be? No, we have got to be governed by the
mind and will of God, and th[i]s must be appa-
rent to this people; it shows itself more and
more. President Young tells us that the
living oracles should be our guide, that, in
fact, we should have the living oracles within
us always. Every man and woman has the
privilege of being baptized, but it is not the
privilege of every man to lead the church. It
is my privilege to have revelation to know
truth from error, and I should also have
power to cast out devils and to heal the sick,
if I magnify my calling; and not only these
gifts, but tongues, interpretation of tongues
and the spirit of prophecy, and of course that
is revelation.
It is the privilege of every man and woman
in this kingdom to enjoy the spirit of prophe-
cy, which is the Spirit of God; and to the
fa[i]thful it reveals such things as are necessary
for their comfort and consolation, and to guide
them in their daily duties.
I can say that I rejoice before this people
and before the Lord our God, in the great
blessings which he has poured out upon us; I
rejoice that he is carefully watching over his
kingdom and people, and it is manifest unto
us. There has never been a time when a
doctrine has been presented to us by the ser-
vants of God that has appeared new or myste-
rious, but what the Spiri[t] of God has been ready
to bear testimony of the truth of the same.
When there have been cases of contention to
know who was the biggest man, the Spirit of
God has always made known who was in the
wrong, and this is a great blessing unto us,
one of the greatest that ever was given unto
the children of men, to be able to discern the
right from the wrong in all cases that may
come u[n]der our observation. We can perform
this work that is given unto us to do, for we
know how to take the first step, and then we
gradually advance as we are inspired from
one degree to another; and if we have that
portion of the Spirit of God which it is our
privilege to enjoy, and magnify our calling,
we shall have that testimony we ought to
have within us when any new doctrine is
brought forth, or old doctrine more fully ex-
plained. In this way we shall profit by the
preaching of our brethren, and be able to
treasure up the principles of eternal life, and
we should be ready at all times to carry out
the principles that are reveal[e]d to our Presi-
dents and Bishops fr[o]m time to time, as they
receive the word of the Lord from the Presi-
dent of the whole Church. For instance, a
certain number of wagons and teams are
called for, and we should understand that
whenever a Bishop wants anything for the
public good, that we should be on hand to do
what is wanted. President Young requires
nothing but what the Lord requires of him
and manifests unto him; and I know that if
we carry out those principles that are brought
forth by our President and leader, we shall be
blessed in so doing.
This is the way I view our position as a
people upon the earth, in the dispensation of
the fulness of times. We are truly engaged
in a great and mighty work, one that is sus-
tained by the Almighty. It is like the mus-
tard seed which grows from a small particle
to a large tree. The commencement of this
church was very small, but it is now growing
into a mighty kingdom. No matter what our
station and callings are when those who are
over us rise up and call upon us to do any-
thing, we should be ever ready to respon[d];
when, for instance, we are instructed to stop
selling whisky, or drinking it, we ought to
do it, and then our minds will be en[l]ightened
by partaking of the Spirit of God, and the
spirit and power of our high and holy callings
will rest upon us when we listen to that in-
struction that is given, and carry it out. This
kingdom has got to rise up and take i[t]s stand
in majesty, in strength and power among the
nations, and all that the Lord has promised
will be realized.
Our President has frequently told us that
we cannot separate the tempor[a]l from the
spir[i]tual, but they must go hand in hand
together, and so it is, and so must we act in
reference to building up the church and king-
dom of God.
We should foresee the evil, and then fore-
seeing it we should hide ourselves, and pre-
serve o[u]rs[e]lves in purity and holiness. Our
President has tried from the beginning to
instruct us in these things, and we should
listen to the counsel that is given unto us.
You have all hear[d] President Young give
instructions to the Elders from time to time,
and point out the course that we should pur-
sue in order to sustain ourselves. We should
all strive to so manage our grain as to turn it
to the best account. We have had counsel
in regard to this matter, but how slow we are
to carry it out. I have somet[i]mes marveled
at the course that has been pursu[e]d in regard
to the duties that devolve up[o]n us.
Let us lay these things to heart, and profit
by those instructions, and if we do, we will
bring forth fruit abundantly. Let us be of
one heart and one mind, in all things
I rejoice to meet here in this conference
with my brethren and sisters, and I esteem it
as a great privilege. I have been associated
with this church ever since the year 1833,
and I have been looking over the Quorum of the
Twelve, to-day, and reflecting that in our first
acquaintance, we were mere boys together,
while now, most of us are beginning to have
gray locks. The time is passing rapidly
along, and the purposes of the Lord are fast
hastening forward. If we will do our duty, I
know that God will sustain us and bring us
off conquerors; and he will o[p]en the way
whereby we can be delivered from our ene-
mies, and there will be room for us to spread
out. The gospel of Jesus Christ will spread
and do good, and it will prove a blessing to
the children of men. The Almighty requires
his servants to maintain their integrity in
righteous[n]ess and truth. We are called upon
to build a temple to the name of the God of
Israel, and let us try to do our duty; let us lay
these things to heart, and return home from
this conference refreshed with the Spirit of
the Lord, and let us do those things that are
of benefit to us, and the settlements where
we live.
God is merciful to us, and if we do our duty,
we shall be blessed. We have been informed
that the heaven[s] are full of blessings for the
faithful. We have not yet arrived at the fu[l]-
ness, but we are progressing in the great
work of the dispensation of the fulness of
times; and I pray that the Almighty will give
us power to overcome and do his will, which
I ask in the name of the Lo[r]d Jesus Christ:
Amen.