Journal of Discourses

Public sermons by Mormon leaders from 1851-1886

Volume 26

pp. 1-3
October 5, 1884
Franklin D. Richards
Blessings Follow Certain Ordinances
pp. 3-17
November 20, 1884
George Q. Cannon
Causes that Govern Us in Settling New Places—Our Respect for the Constitution of Our Country—We Must not Concede Principle for the Privilege of State Government—Practical Men Have Held Office—The Kingdom of God Protects All Religion—Holding the Priesthood Should not Disqualify From Holding Civil Office or Giving Counsel
pp. 18-29
November 16, 1884
Charles W. Penrose
The Personality of God—Vagueness of the Common Idea of Deity—Who and What God Is—The Spirits of Men the Offspring of God—Spirit not Immaterial—The Trinity Creed of Christendom—Man May Become Like God in His Glory
pp. 30-39
December 14, 1884
John Taylor
Object of Gathering—Our Principles and Organization Revealed From God—He is Cognizant of All Things—Our Faith not Affected By the Ideas of Men—Our Dependence Upon God—Enoch's City—God's Justice in Sending the Flood, and in the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah—His Judgments Will Come Upon Those Who Persecute His Saints—The Lord Will Bless His People—We Will Stand By the Constitution Though Others Ignore It
pp. 39-47
December 7, 1884
George Q. Cannon
The Second Coming of Our Savior—Preaching of the Gospel and the Signs Following—the Gathering—Hatred of the World Toward the Latter-Day Saints—No Power Can Overthrow the Work of God—Exhortations to Faithfulness
pp. 48-54
January 11, 1885
George Teasdale
Visit to the South—Testimony Obtained From God—Necessity and Benefits of Prayer
pp. 55-66
December 14, 1884
George Q. Cannon
Power Attending the Action of General Conferences—God Confirms the Authority of His Servants By Manifestations of His Power and Favor—Joseph Smith Chosen and Ordained to Organize the Church of God—The Lord Revealed to the Saints His Choice of President Brigham Young, and Also of President John Taylor—God Blesses Every Man Who Will Magnify His Office and Calling, and Gives to One Man Only at a Time, Revelation to Govern the Church—Folly and Wickedness of Witchcraft
pp. 66-76
November 30, 1884
John Taylor
The Gathering—Our Territorial Condition and Organization—The Eternal Nature of Our Covenants—The Law of Ancient Israel, Which Required a Man to Marry His Brother's Widow—Settlement of the Difficulty Connected With the Utah Lake and Jordan River Dam—The Flood—The Lord Will Sustain and Uphold Us—We Must Not Associate With the Wicked
pp. 77-87
November 9, 1884
George Q. Cannon
Similarity of Circumstances Surrounding Former and Latter-Day Saints—God is No Respecter of Persons—Revelation to Enoch—Christ Preached to the Spirits in Prison Between the Times of His Crucifixion and Resurrection—All Must Hear the Gospel, and Be Judged Thereby—We Must Progress or Retrograde
pp. 87-97
February 12, 1882
John Taylor
Hostility of the World to the Gospel—Rebellion of Lucifer in Heaven—Seth Given in Place of Abel—Wickedness of the Antediluvians—Enoch's Zion—Necessity of Opposing Powers and Principles, that Men May Be Tested—Difference Between Bigamy and Plural Marriage—Our Marriage Covenants Are Eternal—Enmity of Religious Teachers—Our Children Should Be Correctly Taught
pp. 98-104
January 18, 1885
Franklin D. Richards
Our Labors Are Interesting and Peculiar—Character of the Latter-Day Saints—The Blessing and Privilege of Priesthood—The Primary Associations—Our Warfare is One of Faith—We Must Importune for Our Rights—Necessity for Good Lawyers—The Gift of Wisdom—Persecution Will Tend to Unite Us—We Should Be Pure
pp. 105-113
October 20, 1881
John Taylor
The Work of God Only Partially Understood—Manifestation of the Father and Son to the Prophet Joseph—The Priesthood Conferred Upon Him—Kirtland Temple, and the Ministrations of Moses and Elijah—Benefits and Uses of Temples—Public and Private Improvements Advocated—Children Should Be Properly Taught—Wives Should Be Kindly Treated—Exhortations to Virtue and Purity
pp. 114-127
March 8, 1885
Henry W. Naisbitt
Communities Are Made Up of Family Organizations—The Marriage Relationship Instituted By the Almighty—Descent of the Human Family From God—Plural Marriage System of Ancient Israel—Potency of Love—Eternity of Marriage Necessarily Leads to Plural Marriage—Polygamic Form of Marriage Most Prevalent in the World—From Whence Monogamy is Derived—Monogamy Sometimes Necessary—Fruits of Monogamy and Plural Marriage Compared—The Marriage Covenant Changed From a Religious Rite to a Civil Contract—Marriage Requires the Sanction of the Holy Priesthood—The Saints Should not Marry Outside the Church
pp. 128-135
October 6, 1883
John Taylor
Privilege of Meeting Together—We Are Here to Do Our Father's Will—All Dependent Upon God for Assistance, Guidance and Direction—The Lord Revealed to Adam the Purpose of Sacrifice—Adam, Before His Death, Called His Family Together and Blessed Them and Prophesied—Many Spirits Have Been Destined to Hold Certain Positions Among Men—Why We Are Gathered—We Must Follow the Teachings of the Spirit, and Honor the Priesthood in All Its Callings—Prepare Ourselves to Enter Holy Places—The Priesthood Must not Tolerate Iniquity—The Church Must Be Purified—Concluding Exhortations
pp. 136-148
January 18, 1885
George Q. Cannon
Importance of Our Sunday Schools and Mutual Improvement Associations—The Good Work Done By Them in Qualifying Young Men to Be Missionaries—Necessity of Teaching Our Children the Principle of Virtue—Determination of Our Enemies to Destroy the Work of God—The Lord Will Build Up His Kingdom in His Own Way—He Will Stand By Us If We Are Valiant—God Raised up Men to Form the Constitution and Establish the Government of the United States—Self-Preservation Requires Us to Be United—All Reputable Men Among the Latter-Day Saints Hold the Priesthood—We Have to Contend With Mobocracy in Legal Form and Guise—this Work Depends Upon God—Our Enemies Have No Power to Injure Us—No One Has Prospered in Opposing the Work of God—The Lord Will Stand By Us in the Hour of Need—Conclusion
pp. 148-157
February 1, 1885
John Taylor
Visit to the South—Persecution in Arizona—An American Siberia—Persecutions in Missouri and Illinois not the Result of Polygamy—Affecting Reference to the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum—Judgment Begins at the House of God—No Man Has a Right to Attempt to Control Another's Belief or Conscience—Ex Post Facto Application of the Edmunds Law—Attempts of the Speaker to Conform to the Law As Far As Possible—Outrages Heaped Upon the Latter-Day Saints—No One Ever Punished, According to Law, for Killing a Mormon—The Saints Counseled to Endure Their Afflictions, Take Care of Themselves, and Serve God—Conclusion
pp. 157-163
March 29, 1885
George Reynolds
The Work of the Lord in the Sandwich Islands and in New Zealand—The Inhabitants of These Islands Probably Offshoots of the Nephites and Lamanites, and Consequently of the Blood of Israel—The Gentile Nations Have Measurably Rejected the Gospel, Hence Their Disunion and Skepticism—We Can Only Be United on the Principle of Righteousness—In God is Our Only Trust—We Cannot Compromise With Evil—Our Mission is to Do Good—Causes of Opposition to the Gospel—Education Can Only Modify, But the Holy Ghost Changes the Nature of Man—The Principle of Revelation Distinguishes Us From the Rest of the World—The Path of Duty is the Path of Safety and Blessing
pp. 164-173
April 4, 1885
Franklin D. Richards
Present Conditions—The Hatred of the World Toward the Saints—Why the Leaders of the Church Are Attacked—The Purpose of Persecution—The Saints Need not Be Afflicted or Worried About the Present State of Affairs—The Sifting Process—The Epistle of the First Presidency—Work of God Always Met With Opposition—The Gospel Revealed in this Day Was the Gospel that Was Revealed to Adam—More Revelation to Be Given—Saints Must not Borrow Trouble—When a Nation Perverts Justice, Then Commences Its Downfall—The Constitution of the United States—Saints Must Commit No Overt Act—Exhortation to Faithfulness—Conclusion
pp. 174-182
April 6, 1885
John H. Smith
Love of Home—Visit to Friends—Sent to Preside Over the European Mission—Former Ill-Health in England—Extensive System of Tract Distribution Inaugurated—Tribute to the Worth and Efficiency of the Missionaries—Report of the Condition of the Work in Various European Countries—Hatred Manifested Towards Us After the Murder of Our Brethren in Tennessee—America the Haven of Freedom—Truth Has Ever Met With Persecution—Professed Ministers of the Gospel our Greatest Enemies—No One Injured By Our Principles—Plural Marriage—The Social Evil—Conclusion
pp. 182-193
September 28, 1884
George Q. Cannon
The Latter-day Saints Attract Much Attention—They Are the Victims of Scandal and Falsehood, But Have Been Sustained By the Spirit of Peace—God Has Revealed to Us the Purposes of Our Existence—God is the Father of Our Spirits—He Has Given Us An Agency—God Foreseeing that Adam Would Fall Prepared a Redeemer—We Are Here on the Earth to Prove Our Integrity and to Obtain a Knowledge of Good and Evil—The Conscience of Man is the Spirit of God Prompting Us to Do Right—God in His Wisdom Hides From Us the Glories Beyond the Veil—Conclusion
pp. 194-204
April 19, 1885
Orson F. Whitney
God the Source of All Intelligence—Mankind His Offspring and the Instruments of His Will—He Overrules the Results of Men's Actions—Pre-Existence of Man and Plurality of Worlds—The Gospel One and Unchangeable—Charges of Exclusiveness, Etc., Against the Saints—The Christian World Deny Revelation and Repudiate Bible Doctrine—Their Apostasy Predicted and Fulfilled—The Gospel Restored and the Last Dispensation—The Earth's Week of History and Millennial Sabbath—What “Mormon” Treason Consists of—The Mission of the American Republic—A Fable and Its Application—A Prophecy—The Peaceable Mission of the Saints
pp. 204-212
April 13, 1885
Moses Thatcher
The Speaker's Pleasure in Again Meeting With the Saints, and Partaking of the Sacrament—The Companionship of the Holy Ghost is More Precious Than Gold—Future Destiny of the Saints—Their Love for the Mountains—Blessings Only Appreciated By Contrast—Nobility and Scarcity of Moral Courage—Tyranny of Public Opinion—We Cannot Love God and Hate Our Fellow Man—Men and Women Do Wrong When They Yield to the Influence of Satan—What Constitutes a Son of Perdition—Agencies Which Men Use, Compared to Electricity—Truth Has Ever Been Fiercely Opposed—Our Trials Are Agreeable to God's Purposes—Conclusion
pp. 213-227
May 31, 1885
Erastus Snow
The Creation, Male and Female—Calling of Enoch and Noah—God Selected Abraham and His Seed to Be a Chosen People—He Commanded His People to Multiply But Forbade Adultery and Whoredom in Every Form—Plural Marriage Enjoined Upon Abraham and His Seed to Make Them a Great People—The Principle of Life and Eternal Increase is a Spiritual Power—Modern Christendom Opposed to Large Families—Latter-Day Saints Encourage Them—The Edmunds Law Passed With the Pretence of Repressing Immorality Among the Mormons—That Mask of Hypocrisy Now Thrown Off—The Religious Sentiment of the Latter-Day Saints the Real Object of Persecution—Concluding Exhortations
pp. 228-240
June 7, 1885
Henry W. Naisbitt
Ignorance of the World Regarding the Latter-day Saints—Our Doctrines Are Christian and Are Substantiated By the Scriptures—Necessity of Present Revelation—First Principles of the Gospel—Faith, Repentance, Baptism for the Remission of Sins and Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost—Organization of the Church of Christ—“Mormonism” is a Restoration of Ancient Christianity—Joseph Smith a True Prophet—Plural Marriage Practiced By Men of God in Miss-Called Dark Ages—Conclusion
pp. 241-253
October 18, 1884
George Q. Cannon
Priesthood—Its Authority Necessary to Administer in the Ordinances of the Gospel—This Principle Well Illustrated in the Life and Example of the Prophet Joseph—Jesus Officiated By Virtue of the Melchizedek Priesthood—Descent of the Priesthood From Adam—Necessity of Temples in Which the Power of the Priesthood Can Be Exercised for Those Who Died Without the Gospel—Restoration of the Priesthood in These Last Days—The Legitimate Acts of Those Holding the Priesthood Are Acknowledged and Ratified By the Lord—Binding Power of the Holy Priesthood—Opposition of Satan to the Priesthood—Virtues of the Latter-Day Saints—Conclusion
pp. 253-259
April 6, 1885
Franklin D. Richards
Prosperous Condition of the Latter-Day Saints in the Valleys of the Mountains—The Kingdom of God is One of Peace, While Those of the World Are Kingdoms of War and Oppression—Exhortations to Faithfulness—We Must Trust in God and He Will Preserve Us—The Saints Are Not Using Carnal Weapons to Defend Themselves Against the Indians, Nor Against Their Enemies—If Necessary, We Should be Willing to Give Our Lives for the Cause of Truth—The Blessings of God Invoked Upon the Saints
pp. 260-269
June 21, 1885
Orson F. Whitney
Prophecy of John the Revelator—Mission of the Ancient Apostles—Their Reception and Fate—The Great Apostasy—Preservation of the Apostle John—His Revelation—Restoration of the Gospel—The Earth to Be Baptized By Fire As It Was Once Baptized By Water—We Are Sent to the World With a Warning Message—They Can Receive or Reject It—Testimony to the Truth of “Mormonism.”
pp. 269-276
July 12, 1885
Junius F. Wells
Refusal of So-Called Christians to Receive the Gospel of Christ—The Latter-day Saints Desire Investigation of Their Principles—The Truth Cannot Be Destroyed—We Have Every Requisite for Self-Government—We Must Maintain Our Fidelity to the Truth—Rarity of Crime Among the “Mormons”—Purity of “Mormon” Homes—Character of the Latter-day Saints
pp. 276-281
July 27, 1885
John H. Smith
Value of Liberty—Persecution Expected—Morse and Others Were at First Despised—God Overrules for Good—Faith and Works—Repentance and Baptism—Revelation—Witness of the Spirit—Mission of Joseph Smith—the Wheat Will Remain—No Malice to Men, But Hatred of Their Wicked Acts—Plural Marriage
pp. 281-286
November 23, 1884
George Q. Cannon
The Way to Find Out God—Testimony of the Elders—“Whoso Receiveth You Receiveth Me”—The Missionary Learns to Know God is His Friend—We Must Suffer Persecution—Fruits of the Spirit—“Mormon” Society—Trouble for the Wicked in the Future—Saints to Maintain Freedom and to Uphold the Constitution
pp. 287-295
August 2, 1885
George G. Bywater
Devotion to God—How It is Made Manifest—Divers Opinions—Liberty to Worship God—Jesus Christ the Savior of the World—His Apostles Were Unlearned Men—They Were Rejected By the Masses—Writings of the Prophets—Persecution for Righteousness' Sake—Selfishness—Love of Darkness Rather Than Light—Compromise of Principle—Infamy of Sacrificing Truth to Gain Place—God Must Be Obeyed Rather Than Man
pp. 296-303
August 30, 1885
Franklin D. Richards
Parable of the Ten Virgins—Rapid Development of the Arts and Sciences—The Lord Hastening His Work in Its Time—Enmity Between the Church of Christ and the World—The Gathering Together of People From Every Nation After They Have Been Baptized Into One Spirit—The Law of Tithing—Blessings Which Follow Obedience Thereto—Binding Upon All, Rich and Poor Alike—Giving to the Poor—Power of the Principles of the Gospel and Effects of Their Observance—Jehovah—Jesus Christ—His Ministry—His Followers—Their Mission—Preaching to the Spirits in Prison—Baptism for the Dead—Saviors Upon Mount Zion—Responsibility Resting Upon the Saints—a Word of Encouragement to the Missionaries
pp. 303-315
August 28, 1885
Moses Thatcher
The Speaker's Dependence Upon the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost—Comprehensive and Exalted Nature of the Plan of Salvation—Satan's Coercive Scheme—The Sons of Perdition—The Testimony of Jesus—Physical and Moral Courage—True Religion is Practical—One Straight and Narrow Way to Eternal Life—True Religion Compared to Genuine Coin—True Faith is Inseparably Connected With Works—Baptism of Water and of Fire—Apostles, Prophets, Etc., Placed in the Church—God's Impartiality to His Children—Testimony Obtained By Obedience—All Will Be Saved Except the Sons of Perdition—God Has Prepared a Place for All—Paradise—Salvation Beyond the Grave—The Saints Will Have to Endure Persecution—Patriarchal Marriage—Conclusion
pp. 316-321
August 26, 1883
George Q. Cannon
Growth of the Latter-Day Saints—Necessity of the Spirit of Revelation—Conditional Promises—The Lord Designed Israel to Be a Peculiar and Holy People—And He Has the Same Design Concerning Us—We Will Have to Pass Through the Same Ordeals As They—We Should not Intermarry With Those not of Our Faith—We Should Build Up Nothing that is Opposed to Zion—The Favor of God is Better Than Earthly Riches—Exhortations to Faithfulness
pp. 322-326
July 20, 1884
John Taylor
Nature of the Gospel, and of Our Position and Calling—Responsibilities of the Latter-Day Saints—The Right of All Men to Religious Freedom—Honorable Men of the Earth—We Aim at a Higher Exaltation Than the Rest of the World
pp. 327-335
October 8, 1885
Moses Thatcher
The Lord is Teaching Us Valuable Lessons in Our Present Experience—He is Teaching Us to Rely Upon Him and to Exercise the Faculties He Has Given Us—Nature of the Government of the United States—the Elements of a Variety of Governments Enter Into It—Physical and Moral Courage—the Judge of the Third District Court not a Christian—a Concubine Was a Wife and It Should not Be a Term of Reproach—the Character of Abraham Vindicated—Sympathy for Our Enemies—When the Saints Learn to Be Strictly Impartial, Judgment and Rule Will Be Given Them—Not All in the United States Are Arrayed Against Us—Weakness of the American Government—Power of Secret Societies—Zion to Be a Place of Refuge and Safety—President Cleveland's Opportunity to Be Just and Great—We Must Purify Ourselves that Liberty May Come
pp. 336-346
September 30, 1885
Franklin D. Richards
Our Efforts to Inform the World of Our Doctrines—We Must Expect Persecution—Man Has No Right to Make Laws Contrary to the Law of God—Plural Marriage is No Crime—Bigamy a Crime—There Are More for Us Than Against Us—The Work of God not Upheld By Numbers—The Blood of the Prophets is Upon the American Nation—God Will Test Us
pp. 346-363
February 20, 1884
John Taylor
Remarks
pp. 364-369
January 10, 1886
Lorenzo Snow
No Prominent Latter-Day Saint Who Lives His Religion Need Expect Justice in the Courts—The Same Sacrifices May Be Required of Modern As of Ancient Apostles—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Established By Divine Revelation—We Will Be Made Perfect By Suffering—Our Character As Latter-Day Saints Must Be Preserved Inviolate—Visit of Jesus to Kirtland Temple—Farewell
pp. 369-376
March 6, 1886
Lorenzo Snow
The Gospel—It Brings Temporal As Well As Spiritual Salvation—The Prophet Joseph Smith—Persecution—Our Religion Cannot Be Destroyed