The following is taken from T. Earl Pardoe, Lorin Farr, Pioneer (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1953), 242-43 (emphasis added):
THE
TERRITORIAL ENQUIRER
Provo City, Tuesday, September 1,
1885
UTAH
STAKE CONFERENCE
“At 10 o’clock on Saturday morning
the Conference opened in the new Stake Tabernacle, which had been temporarily
fitted up for the occasion, Pres. A. O. Smoot, presiding . . .
“Elders Lorin Farr, of Ogden: How
far we all realize the covenants we have made, and how near we come to keeping
them, if for each of us to answer. There are no people upon the earth that have
greater cause to be thankful and humble before the Lord, than the Latter-day
Saints. When we came here the country looked like a barren desert. I thought
then, how-ever, that our settling here was in fulfilment of the prophecy of
Daniel, of the little stone cut out of the mountain, that was to fill the whole
earth. But to make such an assertion, would almost be looked upon as
treason. I feel, however, to bear my testimony, that we are the people
spoken of by Daniel. I am often led to ask, how is it that the professed
Christians are so intent upon trying to make the people generally believe that
we are the worst people on earth. What have the Latter-day Saints done to
justify this feeling?
Do we not teach the doctrines that
Jesus taught? He taught all that we advocate with the exception of plural
marriage, and I am a witness to the fact that the most of our persecutions
were received before this principle was given to the people. Hence we see that
the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints have come upon them for receiving the
doctrines of the Christian world at large profess to believe in. My testimony
is that our present persecutions are not on account of the practice of
polygamy. This is only an excuse. But I wish to say that our prospects were
never better than at the present time. There must be an opposition in all
things. When may we look for a change from our present condition? Satan has
since the fall of man, and I cannot remember of reading of a time when he had
more to do with the government of the people of the earth, than at the present
time. Well, in the face of all the opposition we have had to meet, it has taken
will not cease his rule, until men shall look upon the things of this world as
a secondary nature. All this persecution then is essential. The Lord has plead
with this people for the last fifty years but it has not made much of an
impression, and it seems necessary to use more force. I feel that this is the
set time of the Lord, when he will set up a just government. The world may look
upon us as they please, the Latter-day Saint will yet triumph over all their
enemies. May we be prepared for that great event.”
Note that, according to Farr (1) The establishment of the Church
in the Rocky Mountains was part of the fulfillment of the prophecy in Dan 2 and
(2) Jesus, during the New Testament-era, did not teach plural marriage—such
is a unique teaching to this dispensation.
