MINUTES OF A CONFERENCE. to destroy the righteous, for he was | single-handed,—God is with 538 us, his Son Jesus is helping us; the Prophet Joseph-all the Prophets and Apostles are engaged in the glorious work of building up Zion. The Apostle John, in his Revelations, describes a book which he saw in heaven that was sealed with seven seals, which no man was found worthy to open. He wept Imuch, because there was no man found worthy to open and read this book. But he was told to weep not, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah had prevailed to open the book and to loose the seals thereof. And they sang a new song in heaven before the Lamb, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." He, the Lamb, is on our side, and the day will come when His glorious work will be accomplished, and when he and his faithful ones will reign on the earth. Hear it, O ye people, the kingdom and the greatness thereof shall be given to the Saints of the Most High. He shall come whose right it is to reign, and the dominion will be wrested from Satan who has usurped the power. want you to feel that these are some of the objects for which we are here, that you may rise above the traditions of your ancestors, and not run eternally in the same groove in which they have run. I want you to realize that God has revealed to us his purposes, and I pray that his Spirit may rest upon you, so that you may be pure and holy, for without these qualities you cannot please God. That you may be kept from sin, and be enabled to accumulate these heavenly and eternal riches, is my prayer. Amen. In conclusion, I would say, Labor to build up Zion. Be assured those who have lived and died for the truth are laboring with you. I cannot but rejoice to know that in accomplishing | Cannon. the redemption of the earth we are not I The choir then sang, and the Conference was dismissed by President THE HOURS OF A WISE MAN AND A FOOL.-The hours of a wise man are lengthened by his ideas, as those of a fool are by his passions. The time of the one is long because he does not know what to do with it; so is that of the other, because he distinguishes every moment of it with useful or amusing thoughts-or, in other words, because the one is always wishing it away, and the other always enjoying it. 534 OPPOSITION TO THE TRUTH. OPPOSITION то THE TRUTH. BY ELDER JOSEPH ROMNEY. It is surprising to a candid, inquiring mind, to notice the fanaticism and disrelish with which many, who profess to love the Gospel of Christ, really view it when presented by those laboring under the ban of popular censure. The principles, or many of them, if advanced by one who had worldly weight and influence, might be eagerly sought for and professed by interested parties who gave more attention to popularity than to the truth itself; but the real, innate love for them which begets in their practice vigor, would be wanting, unless some selfish end might be won, and some desires be gratified by being energetic. But the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ offers no emoluments or gifts of an earthly character, for he himself, though in the performance of duty given him by his Father, had to endure degradation and persecution as an impostor, and to suffer for the advocacy of truth, until human nature gave way beneath the trial and the tomb received the noblest and the most innocent victim ever consigned to its keeping. Such, though not perhaps to the same extent, will, undoubtedly, be the persecution met by every Elder who is zealous for the cause of truth and for its triumph among the people; for, under the guise of desire for others welfare, under the mask of philanthrophy, to prevent the spread of error and the blighting influence of impudent imposture, interested and wicked demagogues do, and will strive to lead the people astray, and by prejudice prevent them hearing the Gospel, lest they should believe and they themselves be cast out as impostors. But opposition is what has befallen the spread of truth in every age, and though we meet it we need not be surprised or discouraged in our exertions, for we are not more worthy than many who have endured it before us and may receive it after us. When the Elders are the most active in proclaiming God's word, then will Satan make the greatest and most superhuman exertions to overthrow it, and to uphold his own reign of darkness and unbelief among the nations; for he knows, and the world knows, that the right of Christ to rule is indisputable; yet, in his desire to retain supremacy upon earth,-man's desire for the wealth of this world, for the pleasure that wealth can give, for the self-indulgence it can purchase, is worked upon by him until they would, many of them, rather lose their eternal salvation than obey the first decrees of the Framer of this world. Saint has persecution and trial offered him in this world, but in the next endless felicity and joy in the associa tion with noble and good men, who preferred the service of God and the reproach of the world, to success in this life-a portion of time so infinitely small, when compared with eternity, that it would be scarcely perceptible. A The worlding grasps for substance and for dominion here, dreaming that happiness will come with it, scorning that reward offered in a future life, and looking upon it as something uncertain in its existence and doubtful in its effects as something that is beyond the comprehension of man, a mystery so doubtful in its solution that the realities around us now are not to be relinquished for the future's promised joys. Selfishly grasping for present pleasure is ensuring present and future misery; for happiness is not so much an attribute of substance, as the results flowing from an upright integrity and a contented mind-from a spirit that realizes its own weaknesses when clothed in flesh, yet is resolute in the doing of good deeds, the alleviation of misery, and the onward progress of intelligence. There is nothing which establishes the Divine origin of man with more certainty, than the desire, which at some period is possessed by every heart, of worshiping a Creator-a being superior in intelligence and HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. attributes to himself, possessing all the greatest and best qualities possible for any being to obtain; yet this belief is oftener clouded with error, and buried beneath the traditionary superstitions which cling to him and hang like an incubus upon his belief in God, than it is pure and unselfish in its aim. Men interesed in obtaining influence and power, position and worldly fame, knowing this fact, and likewise the stubborn tenacity with which human nature clings to an opinion once formed, use it to further their own ends, and, by working upon the malevolent passions, bring down upon the good, persecution and strife. give the Adversary power, to diminish our resistive force and to increase the vigor of the assailant; but by indulging in no thought of retreat, by not tampering with the principles of justice, by indulging in no stimulant to forward duty, by rationally and determinedly going to work to do right, we are so constantly engaged that the thought of apostacy or doubt has not time to obtrude itself upon our minds, Inand we are tenfold more happy than if we were listless and apathetic. activity in the affairs of mundane life causes many failures, and is likewise a disastrous drawback to spiritual advancement; while on the other hand, "He that believeth and is baptized the intellect becomes strengthened, shall be saved, but he that believeth more acute in its judgment, and more These words unerring in its instinct in proportion not shall be dammed." are emphatic and not to be contro-to its activity and the frequency with verted by sophistry, yet even many which its faculties are called into play. who say they believe in Christ's ministry strive to disbelieve the Gospel he taught. It seems, from the many precedents established by men in present and past ages, that where any desire for the accomplishment of a purpose exists-where a conflict between known duty and gratification takes place, that it is almost invariably decided by relinquishing the former and giving full play to the latter; and, indeed, we must come to the conclusion that where hesitation between virtue and vice occurs, the evil spirit conquers the good, and a life of misery is the To hesitate to do right consequence. is to let the opportunity pass and to As the principies of the Gospel of Christ are not the philosophical theories of a day, the accumulated sophistries of old and corrupt schools, but the Divine plan of regeneration instituted by Jehovah for man's exaltation, it is worthy of our most serious attenThey tion, and should claim the respect, if not the reverence of all men. who sneer at the idea of a propitiation, or offering of God's own Son to redeem a fallen world, should never blaspheme what they do not understand; and if they should not, how much greater will be the penalty attached to one who, having once known him, forswears that knowledge and scorns his mercy. BRIGHAM I purchased a small improvement on My wife was taken very sick, so that her life was despaired of for a long time. In the course of the fall and fore part of the winter, she recovered her health so that she could journey with me to Illinois. As soon as the Missourians had laid by their corn, as they call it, they com YOUNG. menced to stir up the old mob spirit, riding from neighborhood to neighborhood making inflammatory speeches, stirring up one another against us. Priests seemed to take the lead in this matter, as related in the history. I had no communication, correspondence or deal with the Missourians, consequently they did not personally know me, which gave me a good opportunity to learn their acts and feelings unsuspected. I knew men in the course of the fall to gather up their flocks and herds, and take their families into | their wagons, and then burn up their houses and leave for other parts. I afterwards saw their names attached to affidavits, stating that Mormons had driven them from their homes and burned their houses. This was quite effectual in raising prejudice against us. At the time that the exterminating army of Governor Boggs, commanded by Generals Lucas and Clark, came in sight of Far West, I observed their approach, and thought that it might be the militia of the State which had come to the relief of the citizens; but to my great surprise I found that they were come to strengthen the hands of the mobs that were around us, and which immediately joined the army. Some of these mobs were painted like Indians, and "Gillum,' their leader, was also painted in a similar manner, and styled himself the "Delaware Chief," and afterwards he and the rest of the mob claimed and obtained pay as militia, from the State, for all the time they were engaged as a mob, as will be seen by reference to the acts of the Missouri Legislature. Many Saints were wounded and murdered by the army, and several women were ravished to death. I saw brothers Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight and George W. Robinson, delivered up by Colonel Hinkle to General Lucas, but expected they would have returned to the city that evening, or the next morning, according to agreement, and the pledge of the sacred honor of the officers that they should be allowed to do so, but they did not return at all. (To be continued.) THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR. SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1863. PREDICTIONS AND WARNINGS OF NO AVAIL TO THE WICKED. 0 ONE of the most remarkable peculiarities evinced by mankind in these days is their total blindness to the signs of the times and the fulfilment of events which have been so plainly predicted by the servants of God. There is scarcely a periodical published by professed Christians, which does not contain lengthy comments upon the hardness of heart and perverse blindness of former generations, in rejecting the plain and pointed warnings of the Savior and the Prophets and the Apostles. This generation denounces, with unsparing severity, the fatuity of the Jews and adjoining nations in rejecting the testimonies of the servants of God respecting those judgments with which He had threatened them. Yet there are events taking place at the present time in the midst of the nations which are pregnant with the most stupendous consequences, and of which Christendom, so called, has been fully and faithfully warned. It would almost seem incredible, did we not see it on every hand, that men could be so wilfully blind and besotted. What we see at the present time among the nations is, however, but another evidence of that truth which the history of God's dealings with the children of men in former ages forcibly presses upon our attention, namely, that when God calls upon the people and they will not hearken to his voice, they become utterly blind in their minds and hardened in their hearts to all those manifestations of God's power which the obedient readily perceive. Well might the Prophet of old inquire, "Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" These reflections have been produced by reading the recent news from the United States. The Conscription Act, as our readers are doubtless aware, was passed by the Federal Congress, and, under the provisions of that act, the drafting of citizens for the army has been commenced in many of the Northern States. The people have formed themselves into mobs in several places and resisted its enforcement, but the Government has taken strong measures to put down all resistance and carry out the law at all hazards. In New York the Government is said to be prepared for any emergency that may arise, having thrown large quantities of troops into the city and neighborhood, and concentrated gunboats in the river for the purpose of commanding the city and overawing the rioters. It is stated that throughout New England the draft is severely felt. Under its operations, some families, several of whose male members had enlisted in the beginning of the war, and had been killed or died through sickness, had been deprived of their sole remaining protectors. The Springfield Journal states that more than one thousand persons, whose names had been published in the papers as having been drafted from the city of Boston, had left for the British Provinces. Such events as these scarcely need any comment. To those who are acquainted with and have faith in the revelations of God, they speak in tones louder than thunder. What a change has taken place in that great and proud Republic, within the short space of two or three years! Before this war commenced, who could have thought that the time would ever come in the United States, where the people's boast has been that they were sovereign, that citizens would be compelled, by the strong arm of power, to enter the army and become soldiers, whether they would or not. Yet, that this would be the case was predicted upwards of thirty-two years ago by the Prophet Joseph, under the inspiration of the Almighty. On the 7th of March, 1831, the Lord revealed to his people, through Joseph Smith, that it should " come to pass, among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety. And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another." Already they are fleeing out of the North into the British Provinces; but how long can they remain there and be free from war? How long will it be before the people of those provinces will be required to take the sword? The fiat has gone forth that ". war shall be poured out upon all nations." At the present time there is every prospect of the Southern States being compelled to have recourse to their negro slaves as an auxiliary force in the war which they are waging against the North. Indeed, the most recent intelligence from Richmond states, that if the Federals persist in putting negroes into the field as soldiers, the Confederates will be obliged to adopt the same course, in which event they could create a fresh army of 750,000 men. This dreadful alternative will, sooner or later, despite its repugnance to the measure, be adopted by the South. The numerical superiority of the North is being seriously felt in the Southern States, and to save themselves from complete subjugation, it is quite probable they will arm their slaves and use them in the war. The Lord has said, through his servant, that "after many days slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshalled and disciplined for |