FULFILMENT OF PROPHECIES, ETC 693 of the last Prophet, Joseph Smith, cendants of Jared, became corrupt and murderous, proud and dishonest. | whom the Lord had raised up, and These people subsequently enjoyed consequently they are falling, like the the personal administration of our other nations who preceded them. Savior. He went to the land of pro- through their unbelief and wickedmise in America, selected twelve ness. The news of the present day Apostles, and established the Gospel furnishes abundant evidence of the among them, in a similar manner to truth of this statement. what he had done at Jerusalem; but the descendants of Lehi, like the Christian churches on the European continent, fell into apostacy, and so bitter were their wars that all the children of Nephi fell by the hands of the Lamanites, their brethren, on the field of battle. The survivors were the children of Laman, whose descendants had displeased the Lord and their skins had been cursed with darkness in consequence, and they are now known as the red-skins of America. Thus, the nations that were of the families of Lehi, who came from Jerusalem, failed to be sufficiently righteous for the Lord to permit them to enjoy that land, which is said to be choice above every other land,-viz, the continent of America-because the Lord had passed the decree that "whatsoever nation should possess it should serve God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them." It would appear that after a few centuries had passed away, the Lord, still willing that this choice land should be inhabited, inspired Christopher Columbus, while living in Genoa in Italy, with the idea that there must be a land beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus obtained a vessel and outfit from Ferdinand and Isabella, the King and Queen of Spain, and in the year 1492 discovered the continent of America. On his return to his countrymen he communicated the joyful tidings of the new land to them; a steady stream of emigration set in from Europe to America, and again, in time, a mighty nation, like the Jaredites and like the Lamanites and Nephites, covered the promised land on the western continent. This people, unfortunately, not believing in the records of Ether, failed to be sufficiently righteous for the Lord to permit them to peaceably enjoy the promised land. They, like the other nations that had preceded them, fell into wickedness, rejected the counsel The fulfilment of another of Ether's prophecies-namely, that "whatsoever nation should possess it shall be free from bondage," has also been abundantly exemplified. The history of the struggle of the American people with their parent country, their declaration of independence in the year 1776, and their final success in establishing their nationality, is a strong argument that the Lord remembered his promise that the nation which should possess it should be free from bondage, if they kept His commandnents. The discovery of General Arnold's treachery to the American cause, in his intrigue with General Clinton and Major Andre, in the year 1780, which would, perhaps, if successful. have overthrown the American cause, is also another proof that the prophecy of Ether was a true one, and that the decree of the Lord that "whatsoever nation shall possess it, shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ." The time is near when the Latter-day Saints will dwell on all the face of that choice land, and they have only to continue the virtuous and holy course they have observed since the truth was revealed to them by the administration of holy angels, to secure to themselves the promise of the Lord, made to the former inhabitants of that land, that whatsoever nation shall possess it in righteousness shall be free from bondage and captivity. The administration of angels from heaven, the fellowship of holy Prophets, the communion of Saints, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the possession of a choice land abounding in the luxuries and elegancies of life, are incentives for the Saints in these lands, while dwelling with the wicked, to maintain their integrity to the cause of the Lord that these blessings may be theirs to enjoy. 694 دو DON'T BE SELFISH. DON'T BE SELFISH. First; because it will only make you miserable in the end, and that is quite a consideration to selfish beings such as most of us are. Second; because it will only make others unhappy also. Third; because you will gain a great deal more by a contrary course. "Well, two of those reasons certainly savor very strongly of selfishness. So they do; but as I am talking to selfish people I must use some selfish arguments to try to persuade them to forsake some of their selfish practices. There is no objection, however, to your being selfish if it is only the right kind of selfishness. That is, indeed, the secret mainspring of all our actions, and it is right it should be when governed by an enlightened conscience and a sound judgment. But the selfishness I object to is that which prompts men to seek to grasp all they can, and gather it round their own dear selves, regardless of others and their wants. Such men feel that every blessing another enjoys is so much taken from their own store; they are constantly striving to amass riches, though it be at the expense of others and at the sacrifice of every principle of justice; they are eager to increase their family connections regardless of the happiness or the misery of those who may thus be united with them; in short, the idol "self" is the god of all their worship, before whose shrine they pay their constant devotions and offer up their morning, noon and evening orisons. Did it never occur to you that this is very short-sighted policy? That such inordinate selfishness only defeats its own end, and, instead of adding to your happiness, only makes you miserable? That though you may, for the present, surround yourself with riches and increase the number of your family and your followers, though you may gain a temporary increase of influence and power,-yet, sooner or later, all will leave you, unless a change is affected in your character, because the principle of attraction is not within you to hold them together? Love is the only true attracting or governing principle. If you want influence with men, let them see that you are sincerely interested in them and earnestly seeking to promote their welfare; then they cannot help loving you and having confidence in you, and you could soon command themselves and all that they have. Intrigue and oppression may accomplish, apparently, the same ends, sooner than kindness and justice; but, in the end, he who resorts to such means is feared, hated and despised, and, so soon as opportunity offers, is forsaken by all who have had the opportunity of knowing his character and becoming acquainted with the secret motives of his conduct. On the other hand, though self-denying, disinterested love may be longer in winning its empire over the human mind, yet it is certain to triumph in the end; and, when the victory is won, its captives wear no galling chains and fetters which they chafe and sigh to burst, but are the happy, grateful and obedient subjects to a government whose power they feel is ever wielded for the promotion of their welfare and happiness. Did you ever experience the pure, deep joy consequent upon a kind, disinterested action? If not, just try for one day to forget yourself—your own pride and vanity and personal comfort-and to labor disinterestedly for the good of others; strive to make everybody comfortable and happy around you, and then see how much happier you will be yourself than you ever were before. If you will, you will confess that there is a deeper pleasure and a higher joy in doing good to others than is to be found in the exclusive gratification of our own desires, caprices or even affections, and you will feel to say to everybody, Don't be selfish. W. H. S. Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action to all eternity. If you make a thing perfectly plain and simple to a man, he will give you no credit— he will think he knew it before, HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG. 695 HISTORY OF BRIGHAM January 7, 1840.-Elder Smith and I took stage for West Stockbridge, starting at daybreak; the weather cold and the snow very deep. Elder Smith's health still very poor, and though only thirty-two years of age, his eyesight was so impaired by disease that I had to wait on him while travelling, and select his food and put it | on the plate, as he could not tell one dish from another. While I was settling our bill, I heard some gentlemen conversing, who said, "Do you know that old gentleman who came in the stage?" He was answered "No." "Do you know that young man that waits on him? "No." We arrived at West Stockbridge, and I proceeded to Richmond and sent a team for brother George A. I preached on Wednesday evening amid considerable opposition, and brother George A. on Thursday evening. While we were opening the meeting, three sons of sectarian deacons threw a quantity of sulphur on the stove. which was very hot; it produced such heavy fumes that some left the house, others raised the windows and opened the doors. It was with great difficulty we could proceed with the meeting. After the stench had a little abated, brother George A. said it was the first time he had ever been permitted to visit the State of Massachusetts. He had heard much from his childhood of the refined morals, high state of Christianity and perfect order that reigned predominant in this State, and of the great missionary exertions made to civilize, moralize and Christianize almost every portion of the world. He said he had travelled in the west, north and south; met in congregations with the savages of the forest, and he had never seen so mean a breach of good order and decency before in his life. His first impression was that some sectarian preacher, a wholesale dealer in fire and brimstone, in making an exposition of his creed, had got so near hell that he had been unable to take all the brimstone away with him. At least, he considered himself in no danger of catching the YOUNG. itch in Massachusetts, for the smell of brimstone indicated it was thoroughly cured. -12 (Sunday.)-We had a meeting at William Parsons'; brother Jonathan O. Duke preached. was -17.-Edwin Pearson took his horse and cutter, and brought us to Canaan, Litchfield county, Connecticut. In some places the snow fifteen feet deep. We stayed at Gibson Smith's, and visited the Saints on Canaan Mountain, and preached at brother Francis Benedict's. -19 (Sunday.)-We preached at Sheffield Mills. We visited the scattered Saints in this vicinity, and on Sunday, the 26th, I preached a lengthy discourse at the house of brother French. -27.-Brother French carried us in a sleigh to New Haven. We put up at Lewis' Tavern, where we anxiously waited for a steamboat. We visited the New Haven Museum. -30.-We took steamboat and started, but on getting out a few miles a portentious cloud in the east caused the captain to return, and we went back to the hotel. Next day we took steamboat and went within eighteen miles of New York. When we came into the channel of East River, we found it frozen over. The captain ran his boat as far into the ice as he could, but the ice was so thick he had to land us at Frog's Point, where we hired a Paddy's dirt-cart to carry our luggage a mile, when, with other passengers, we hired a market-wagon to carry us to Harlem, paying all our money on our arrival there. It was late in the evening, and all the stages had left for New York but one, which had only two horses ; sixteen of us got on to it, and we arrived in New York by 10 p.m. When we landed I observed Captain Stone, the commander of the steamer, come out of the coach, and asked him if he would have the goodness to pay this gentleman's fare and mine (pointing to brother George A.) He replied, "With pleasure." I thanked him. He said it was all right, and, shaking hands with us both, bade us February 1.- Spent the day at brother Pratt's; my health was feeble. -2 (Sunday) - Attended three meetings at the Columbian Hall, Grand-street. Elder George A. Smith and myself preached. I attended a meeting in some part of the city every evening during the week, and on Sunday, 9th, preached three times in the hall. I again attended meetings every night during the week, and was constantly conversing with people and teaching them the principles of the Gospel. Passing from Brooklyn to New York, I jumped on to the ferry-boat with my left arm extended, meaning to catch hold of the stanchion, but I fell on a large iron ring on the deck, which put my shoulder out of joint. I asked brother Hedlock to roll me over on my back, which he did; I directed brothers Kimball and Hedlock to lay hold of my body, and brother Pratt to take hold of my hand and pull, putting his foot against my side, while I guided the bone with my right hand back to its place. The brethren wound my handkerchief round my shoulder and helped me up. When I came to a fire I fainted, and was not able to dress myself for several days. (To be continued.) THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1863. THE PAST SEASON'S EMIGRATION-POTENCY OF FAITH AND PRAYER. As will be seen by reference to the extracts which we publish in another column from a letter written by President Young, the news from this year's emigration, up to the latest advices, is of a very pleasing character. To use his own expressive language respecting them :-"On the ocean, on the railroads, and on the Plains, so far as they have arrived and we learn, the hand of the Lord has been extended with manifest and choice blessings and protection in behalf of this year's immigration." When we look back and reflect upon the prospects-which were so adverse to emigration-that presented themselves before the Elders and Saints last spring, we feel very thankful to the Lord for what he has done, and hasten to record it as another instance and illustration of his power and the watchful care and protection which he extends to his people. Our readers will doubtless recollect how diligently the Adversary, through his willing agent Stephen S. Harding, then Governor of Utah Territory, labored early in the season to originate another crusade against the Latter-day Saints by arresting President Young, hoping thereby to arouse the people of the Territory to commit some overt act which would furnish him and his guilty confreres a pretext for bringing upon them the military who were quartered EDITORIAL. 697 there, backed by the whole power of the nation, and how triumphantly the reported arrest of President Young was heralded in the United States and Great Britain. For a time it seemed as if the wicked designs of those men might prove an hindrance to the emigration. The whole eastern country through which the emigrating Saints had to pass, was filled with a people who were aroused to a fearful pitch of anger by the rebellion of the Southern States, and who were in no mood to hesitate about using the most desperate measures to punish the people of Utah for any breach of law or any manifestation of, what could be called by any distortion, rebellious symptoms. The nation was in no condition to brook any insult, whether real or imaginary, to the authority of the Government. But this base creature and his associates were doomed to be signally foiled! Through the overruling wisdom and providence of the Lord their intentions were forestalled ani their villainous scheme proved a total failure! Besides this prospect of difficulty, there was the uncertainty respecting the route by which the Saints would be likely to travel from New York to the west being kept open. Amid the changing fortunes of the war the railroad through Missouri might fall into the hands of the Confederates at such a time as to stop travel, or one of their guerrilla parties might succeed in destroying it! And then, in addition to these prospective obstacles on the other side of the water, there was the difficulty on this side, after the emigration season had fairly opened and the Saints were ready to sail, in obtaining suitable ships and in preparing them to carry them before the season was too far advanced. But, as the season advanced, all these obstacles vanished one by one, and the Saints were able to proceed on their journey in as prosperous a manner as if there had been nothing before them to test their faith, and as if the entire horizon had been completely free from clouds. The Lord removed the difficulties and his people have been blessed and preserved to a truly wonderful extent. In contemplating this subject the feelings that we had last winter and spring, in speaking and writing upon it, forcibly recur to us. We then felt that if the difficulties which then threatened the emigration were removed, and the emigration should be permitted to proceed uninterruptedly, it would be through the prayers and the exercise of the faith of the servants and Saints of God. We still feel that the success, which had up to the latest accounts attended the emigration, is attributable to the acceptableness in the sight of the Lord of these prayers and faith. The time seems to have actually arrived when faith is more essential to the prosperity of the Saints in reaching Zion than money, and every year that passes makes this truth more apparent. If the Saints would be prospered this coming season in their emigration, they must exert their faith and plead with the Lord to exercise his power in their behalf. No spirit of indifference or listlessness upon this subject should, even at this early day, have place for a single hour in the breast of any Elder or Saint throughout these Missions. Obstacles will, doubtless, present themselves and confront the Saints this next year, to prevent their emigration, as they have in the past, and they will only be removed by the faith and prayers of the people of God. We feel assured that, if the way be kept open for the emigration of the Saints this next year, the blessing and power of God must be diligently invoked by us; and that if the Elders and Saints were to relax their faith and become careless upon this subject, there would be great danger of something occurring to prevent the deliverance of the Saints from Babylon from being consum |