God never bestows His grace upon an individual
without trying it in that person, to see if the compound is good. Men do not
realize this, nor think upon it as they ought; if they did they would be more
careful never to speak against the Father, against the Son, against any
heavenly being, or against any being on the earth. (Brigham Young, "Saints
Subject to Temptation—True Riches, Virtue, and
Sanctification—"Mormonism"—Gladdenites, Apostles, and Saints—Devils
Without Tabernacles," April 17, 1853, Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [Liverpool:
F.D. Richards, 1855] 2:121)
If people would contemplate the stupendous works
of God, and be honest and candid in their investigations, there is much to be
learned that would show them how comparatively worthless are earthly things. We
see the spangled vault of the starry heavens stretched over us; but little is
known of the wonders of the firmament. Astronomers have, by their researches,
discovered some general facts that have proved useful and instructing to the
scientific portion of mankind. The phenomena of the motions of the heavenly
bodies, and their times and seasons are understood pretty accurately. But who
knows what those distant planets are? Who can tell the part they play in the
grand theatre of worlds? Who inhabits them, and who rules over them? Do they
contain intelligent beings, who are capable of the happiness, light, glory,
power, and enjoyments that would satisfy the mind of an angel of God? Who can
tell these things? Can they be discovered by the light of science? They cannot.
Let every intelligent person seriously contemplate this subject, and let the
true light of reason illuminate the understanding, and a sound judgment
inspired by the Spirit of Christ be your guide, and what will be your
conclusions? They will be what mine are—that the Lord Almighty reigns there;
that His people are there; and that they are, or have been, earths to fulfil a
similar destiny to the one we inhabit; and there is eternity; and as Enoch of
old said—"Thy curtains are stretched out still."
Can any of the astronomers in the world point out
the kingdom or the world where God is not? where He does not reign? Can a
kingdom be found, by worldly wisdom, study, or by any means that can be
employed, over which He does not sway His sceptre? If such a kingdom exists, I
will acknowledge that the doctrine I taught you the other day is incorrect; and
besides that, you will have to blot out some of the writings of the ancient
Scriptures.
I wish to make an application of this, with the
sayings we have heard from brother Amass Lyman to-day.
We talk about true riches—about the eternal
attributes of the Deity—and about that which He has given to the children of
men. I also heard something said the other day about sanctification. This
doctrine I heard taught many years ago, and I perceive that men do not fully
understand these principles; even the best of the Latter-day Saints have but a
faint idea of the attributes of the Deity.
Were the former and Latter-day Saints, with their
Apostles, Prophets, Seers, and Revelators collected together to discuss this
matter, I am led to think there would be found a great variety in their views
and feelings upon this subject. without direct revelation from the Lord. It
is as much my right to differ from other men, as it is theirs to differ from
me, in points of doctrine and principle, when our minds cannot at once arrive
at the same conclusion. I feel it sometimes very difficult indeed to word
my thoughts as they exist in my own mind, which, I presume, is the grand cause
of many apparent differences in sentiment which may exist among the Saints. (Ibid.,
122-23)
