January 2, 1994

Jill Player

857 E. Fountain St.

Mesa, AZ 85203

Dear Jill,

Here is the discourse on SALVATION and truth per our discus-

sion with some additional material on truth. Also enclosed is a

whole bunch of love and affection.

Love,

Neal

SALVATION

A discourse delivered by President Brigham Young, in the

Tabernacle,

Great Salt Lake City, January 16, 1853.

The plan of salvation, or, in other words, the redemption

of fallen beings, is a subject that should occupy the attention

of all intelligence that pertains to fallen beings. I do not

like the term fallen beings, but I will say, subjected intelli-

gence, which term suits me better--subjected to law, order, rule,

and government. All intelligences are deeply engaged in this

grand object; not, however, having a correct understanding of the

true principle thereof, they wander to and fro, some to the

right, and some to the left. There is not a person in this

world, who is endowed with a common share of intellect, but is

laboring with all his power for salvation. Men vary in their

efforts to obtain that object, still their individual conclusions

are, that they will ultimately secure it. The merchant, for

instance, seeks with unwearied diligence, by night and by day,

facing misfortunes with a determined and persevering resistance,

enduring losses by sea and by land, with an unshaken patience, to

amass a sufficient amount of wealth to enable him to settle

calmly down in the midst of plenty in some opulent city, walk in

the higher classes of society, and perchance receive a worldly

title, or worldly honor, and enjoy a freedom from all anxiety of

business, and constraint by poverty, throughout the remainder of

his life. He then supposes he has obtained salvation.

Descend from the busy, wealth-seeking middle classes, to

the humbler grade of society, and follow them in their various

occupations and pursuits, and each one of them is seeking ear-

nestly that which he imagines to be salvation. The poor, ragged,

trembling mendicant, who is forced by hunger and cold to drag his

feeble body from under some temporary shelter, to seek a bit of

bread, or a coin from his more fortunate fellow-mortal, if he can

only obtain a few crusts of bread to satisfy the hunger-worm that

gnaws his vitals, and a few coppers to pay his lodgings, he has

attained to the summit of his expectations, to what he sought for

salvation, and he is comparatively happy, but his happiness

vanishes with the shades of night, and his misery comes with the

morning light. From the match-maker up to the tradesman, all

have an end in view, which they suppose will bring to them salva-

tion. King, courtier, commanders, officers, and common soldiers,

the commodore, and sailor before the mast, the fair-skinned

Christian, and the dark-skinned savage, all, in their respective

grades and spheres of action, have a certain point in view,

which, if they can obtain, they suppose will put them in posses-

sion of salvation.

The Latter-day Saint, who is far from the bosom of the

Church, whose home is in distant climes, sighs, and earnestly

prays each day of his life for the Lord to open his way, that he

may mingle with his brethren in Zion, for he supposes that his

happiness would then be complete, but in this his expectations

will be in a measure vain, for happiness that is real and lasting

in its nature cannot be enjoyed by mortals, for it is altogether

out of keeping with this transitory state.

If a man's capacity be limited to the things of this

world, if he reach no further than he can see with his eyes, feel

with his hands, and understand with the ability of the natural

man, still he is as earnestly engaged in securing his salvation,

as others are, who possess a superior intellect, and are also

pursuing the path of salvation, in their estimation, though it

result in nothing more than a good name, or the honors of this

world. Each, according to his capacity--to the natural organiza-

tion of the human system, which is liable to be operated upon by

the circumstances and influences by which it is surrounded, is as

eager to obtain that which he supposes is salvation, as I am to

obtain salvation in the Eternal world.

The object of a true salvation, correctly and minutely

understood, changes the course of mankind. Persons who are

taught by their teachers, friends, and acquaintances, are tradi-

tionated, from their youth up, into the belief that there is no

God, or intelligent beings, other than those that they see with

the natural eye, or naturally comprehend; that there is no here-

after; that at death, all life and intelligence are annihilated.

Such persons are as firm in their belief, and as strenuous in

argument, in support of those doctrines, as others are in the

belief of the existence of an Eternal God. The early customs and

teachings of parents and friends, to a greater or less degree,

influence the minds of children, but when they are disposed to

inquire at the hands of Him who has eternal intelligence to

impart to them, when their understandings are enlarged, when

their minds are enlightened by the Spirit of truth, so that they

can see things that are unseen by the natural eye, they may then

be corrected in their doctrine and belief, and in their manner of

life, but not until then.

How difficult it is to teach the natural man, who compre-

hends nothing more than that which he sees with the natural eye!

How hard it is for him to believe! How difficult would be the

task to make the philosopher, who, for many years, has argued

himself into the belief that his spirit is no more after his body

sleeps in the grave, believe that his intelligence came from

eternity, and is as eternal, in its nature, as the elements, or

as the Gods. Such doctrine by him would be considered vanity and

foolishness, it would be entirely beyond his comprehension. It

is difficult, indeed, to remove an opinion or belief into which

he has argued himself from the mind of the natural man. Talk to

him about angels, heavens, God, immortality, and eternal lives,

and it is like sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal to his ears;

it has no music to him; there is nothing in it that charms his

senses, soothes his feelings, attracts his attention, or engages

his affections, in the least; to him it is all vanity. To say

that the human family are not seeking salvation, is contrary to

my experience, and to the experience of every other person with

whom I have any acquaintance. They are all for salvation, some

in one way, and some in another; but all is darkness and confu-

sion. If the Lord does not speak from heaven, and touch the eyes

of their understanding by His Spirit, who can instruct, guide

them to good? who can give them words of eternal life? It is

not in the power of man to do it; but when the Lord gives His

Spirit to a person, or to a people, they can then hear, believe,

and be instructed. An Elder of Israel may preach the principles

of the Gospel, from first to last, as they were taught to him, to

a congregation ignorant of them; but if he does not do it under

the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, he cannot enlighten that

congregation on those principles, it is impossible. Job said

that "There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Al-

mighty giveth them understanding." Unless we enjoy that under-

standing in this probation, we cannot grow or increase, we cannot

be made acquainted with the principles of truth and righteousness

so as to become exalted. Admit that the Spirit of the Lord

should give us understanding, what would it prove to us? It

would prove to me, at least, and what I may safely say to this

congregation, that Zion is here. Whenever we are disposed to

give ourselves perfectly to righteousness, to yield all the

powers and faculties of the soul (which is the spirit and the

body, and it is there where righteousness dwells); when we are

swallowed up in the will of Him who has called us; when we enjoy

the peace and the smiles of our Father in Heaven, the things of

His Spirit, and all the blessings we are capacitated to receive

and improve upon, then are we in Zion, that is Zion.(This is one

tall order! no?) What will produce the opposite? Hearkening and

giving way to evil, nothing else will.

If a community of people are perfectly devoted to the

cause of righteousness, truth, light, virtue, and every principle

and attribute of the holy Gospel, we may say of that people's the

ancient Apostle said to his brethren, "Know ye not your own

selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be

reprobates;" there is a throne for the Lord Almighty to sit and

reign upon, there is a resting place for the Holy Ghost, there is

a habitation of the Father and the Son. We are the temples of

God, but when we are overcome of evil by yielding to temptation,

we deprive ourselves of the privilege of the Father, the Son, and

the Holy Ghost, taking up their abode and dwelling with us. We

are the people, by our calling and profession, and ought to be by

our daily works, of whom it should be truly said, "Ye are the

temples of our God." Let me ask, what is there to prevent any

person in this congregation from being so blessed, and becoming a

holy temple fit for the in-dwelling of the Holy Ghost? Has any

being in heaven or on earth done aught to prevent you from becom-

ing so blessed? No, but why the people are not so privileged I

will leave you to judge. I would to God that every soul who

professes to be a Latter-day Saint was of that character, a holy

temple for the in-dwelling of the Father, the Son, and the Holy

Ghost, but it is not so. Is there any individual within the

sound of my voice to day, that has received the Holy Ghost

through the principles of the Gospel, and at the same time has

not received a love for them? I will answer that question. Wait

and see who it is that falls out by the way; who it is in whom

the seed of truth has been sown, but has not taken root; and then

you will know the individuals who have received the truth, but

have never received a love of it--they do not love it for itself.

What a delightful aspect would this community present if all men

and women, old and young, were disposed to leave off their own

sins and follies, and overlook those of their neighbors; if they

would cease watching their neighbors for iniquity, and watch that

they themselves might be free from it! if they were trying with

all their powers to sanctify the Lord in their hearts, and would

prove, by their actions, that they had received the truth and the

love of it! if all individuals would watch themselves, that they

do not speak against the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, nor in

short against any being in heaven or on earth. Strange as this

may appear, there have been men in this Church that have done it,

and probably will be again! If this people would be careful not

to do anything to displease the spirits of those who have lived

on the earth, and have been justified, and have gone to rest, and

would so conduct themselves, that no reasonable being upon the

face of the earth could find fault with them, what kind of socie-

ty should we have? Why every man's mouth would be filled with

blessings, every man's hand would be put forth to do good, and

every woman and child in all their intercourse would be praising

God, and blessing each other. Would not Zion be here? It would.

What hinders you from doing this? What is the Lord or the people

doing to cause this one and that one to commit sin with a high

hand, in secret and in the open streets?

If Elders of Israel use language which is not proper for

the lips of a Saint, such Elders are under condemnation, and the

wrath of God abides upon them, those who do it have not the love

of truth in their hearts, they do not love and honor the truth

because it is the truth, but because it is powerful, and they

wish to join with the strongest party. Do they love light be-

cause it is light? virtue because it is virtue? righteousness

because it is righteousness? No. But these principles are

almighty in their influence, and like the tornado in the forest,

they sweep all before them, no argument can weigh against them,

all the philosophy, knowledge, and wisdom of men may be set in

array against them, but they are like chaff before a mighty wind,

or like the morning dew before the sun in its strength--such

Elders embrace truth because it is all-powerful. When a man of

God preaches the principles of the Gospel, all things give way

before it, and some embrace it because it is so mighty. But by

and bye those characters will fall out by the way, because the

soil has not depth to nourish the seeds of truth. They receive

it, but not the love of it; it dies, and they turn away. If

every person who has embraced the Gospel would love it as he

loves his life, would not society wear a different aspect from

that of the present?

I do not intend to enter into a detailed account of the

acts of the people, they are themselves acquainted with them;

people know how they themselves talk; and how their neighbors

talk; how husband and wife agree in their own houses, and with

their neighbors; and how parents and children dwell together. I

need not tell these things, but if every heart were set upon

doing right, we then should have Zion here. I will give you my

reason for thinking so. It is because I have had it with me ever

since I was baptized into this kingdom. I have not been without

it from that day to this. I have therefore a good reason for the

assertion I have made. I live and walk in Zion every day, and so

do thousands of others in this Church and kingdom, they carry

Zion with them, they have one of their own, and it is increasing,

growing, and spreading continually. Suppose it spreads from

heart to heart, from neighborhood to neighborhood, from city to

city, and from nation to nation, how long would it be before the

earth would become revolutionized, and the wheat gathered from

among the tares. (Are there more tares proportionally among the

single adults than the married adults?) The wheat and tares,

however, must grow together until harvest. I am not, therefore,

disposed to separate them yet, for if we pluck up the tares

before the harvest, we may destroy some of the good seed, there-

fore let them grow together, and by and bye the harvest will

come.

There is another thing, brethren, which I wish you to

keep constantly before your minds, that is with regard to your

travels in life. You have read, in the Scriptures, that the

children of men will be judged according to their works, whether

they be good or bad, If a man's days be filled up with good

works, he will be rewarded accordingly. On the other hand, if

his days lie filled up with evil actions, he will receive accord-

ing to those acts. This proves that we are in a state of exalta-

tion, it proves that we can add to our knowledge, wisdom, and

strength, and that we can add power to every attribute that God

has given us. When will the people realize that this is the

period of time in which they should commence to lay the founda-

tion of their exaltation for time and eternity, that this is the

time to conceive, and bring forth from the heart fruit to the

honor and glory of God, as Jesus did--grow as he did from the

child, become perfect, and be prepared to be raised to salvation?

You will find that this probation is the place to increase upon

every little we receive, for the Lord gives line upon line to the

children of men. When He reveals the plan of salvation, then is

the time to fill up our days with good works.

Let us fill up our days with usefulness, do good to each

other, and cease from all evil. Let every evil person forsake

his wickedness. If he be wicked in his words, or in his deal-

ings, let him forsake those practices, and pursue a course of

righteousness. Let every man and woman do this, and peace and

joy will be the result.

A few words more upon the subject of the eternal exist-

ence of the soul. It is hard for mankind to comprehend that

principle. The philosophers of the world will concede that the

elements of which you and I are composed are eternal, yet they

believe that there was a time when there was no God. They cannot

comprehend how it is that God can be eternal. Let me ask this

congregation, Can you realise the eternity of your own existence?

Can you realise that the intelligence which you receive is eter-

nal? I can comprehend this, just as well as I can that I am now

in possession of it. It is as easy for me to comprehend that it

will exist eternally, as that anything else will. I wish to

impress upon your minds the reality that when the body which is

organized for intelligence to dwell in, dies, and returns to its

mother earth, all the feelings, sensibilities, faculties, and

powers of the spirit are still alive, they never die, but in the

absence of the body are more acute. They are organized for an

eternal existence. If this congregation could comprehend that

the intelligence that is in them is eternal in its nature and

existence; if they could realize that when Saints pass through

the vail, they are not dead, but have been laying the foundation

in these tabernacles for exaltation, laying the foundation to

become Gods, even the sons of God, and for crowns which they will

yet receive--they would receive the truth in the love of it, live

by it, and continue in it, until they receive all knowledge and

wisdom, until they grow into eternity, and have the vail taken

from before their eyes, to behold the handiworks of God among all

people, His goings forth among the nations of the earth, and to

discover the rule and law by which He governs. Then could they

say of a truth, We acknowledge the hand of God in all things, all

is right, Zion is here, in our own possession.

I have thus summed up, in a broken manner, that which I

desired to speak. We are not able to comprehend all things, but

we can continue to learn and grow, until all will be perfectly

clear to our minds, which is a great privilege to enjoy--the

blessing of an eternal increase. And the man or woman who lives

worthily is now in a state of salvation.

Now, brethren, love the truth, and put a stop to every

species of folly. How many there are who come to me to find

fault with, and enter complaints against, their brethren, for

some trifling thing, when I can see, in a moment, that they have

received no intentional injury! They have no compassion on their

brethren, but, having passed their judgment, insist that the

criminal shall be punished. And why? Because he does not exact-

ly come up to their standard of right and wrong! They feel to

measure him by the "Iron Bedstead principle"--"if you are too

long, you must be cut off; if too short, you must be stretched."

Now this is the height of folly. I find that I have enough to do

to watch myself. It is as much as I can do to get right, deal

right, and act right. If we all should do this, there would be

no difficulty, but in every man's mouth would lie "May the Lord

bless you." I feel happy, as I always told you. Brother Kimball

has known me thirty years, twenty one of which I have been in

this Church; others have known me twenty years; and there are

some here who knew me in England; I had Zion with me then, and I

brought it with me to America again, and I now appeal to every

man and woman if I have not had Zion with me from first entering

into the Church, to the present time! Light cleaves to light,

and truth to truth. May God bless you. Amen.

Proverbs 12:4

4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that

maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 31:10

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above

rubies.

Proverbs 31:11

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that

he shall have no need of spoil.

Proverbs 31:12

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

DC 93:23

23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is

Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;

DC 93:24

24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they

were, and as they are to come;

DC 93:25

25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of

that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.

DC 93:26

26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth,

and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of

truth, yea, even of all truth;

DC 93:27

27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his com-

mandments.

DC 93:28

28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light,

until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

3 Nephi 11:29

29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit

of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the

father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to

contend with anger, one with another.

3 Nephi 11:30

30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of

men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine,

that such things should be done away.

3 Nephi 11:31

31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto

you my doctrine.

History of the Church, Vol.5, Ch.7, Pg.134

Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and

will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it;

and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and

keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the

commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to

know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep

those we have already received. That which is wrong under one

circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another.

History of the Church, Vol.5, Ch.7, Pg.135

God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said

"Thou shalt utterly destroy." This is the principle on which the

government of heaven is conducted--by revelation adapted to the

circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed.

Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we

may not see the reason thereof till long after the events tran-

spire. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will

be added. So with Solomon: first he asked wisdom, and God gave it

him, and with it every desire of his heart, even things which

might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of

heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God

gave and sanctioned by special revelation.

History of the Church, Vol.5, Ch.7, Pg.135

A parent may whip a child, and justly, too, because he

stole an apple; whereas if the child had asked for the apple, and

the parent had given it, the child would have eaten it with a

better appetite; there would have been no stripes; all the pleas-

ure of the apple would have been secured, all the misery of

stealing lost.

Moroni 7:45

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not,

and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily pro-

voked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoi-

ceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things,

hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Revelation 22:14

14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may

have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the

gates into the city.

Revelation 22:15

15 For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and

murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

D&C 63

17 Wherefore, I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the

unbelieving, and all liars, and whosoever loveth and maketh a

lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part

in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the

second death.

18 Verily I say, that they shall not have part in the first

resurrection.

2 Nephi 9:28

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and

the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned

they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel

of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves,

wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.

And they shall perish.

2 Nephi 9:29

29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels

of God.

2 Nephi 9:31

31 And wo unto the deaf that will not hear; for they shall

perish.

2 Nephi 9:34

34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.

DC 88:36

36 All kingdoms have a law given;

DC 88:37

37 And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the

which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there

is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.

DC 88:38

38 And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law

there are certain bounds also and conditions.

DC 88:39

39 All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justi-

fied.

DC 88:40

40 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom recei-

veth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light

cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth

her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own;

judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne

and governeth and executeth all things.

The Way to Perfection, Pg.60

All Truth in Harmony

There is no conflict between a scientifically discovered

truth and the revealed word of the Lord, for truth everywhere

harmonizes with truth. Or, as it is expressed in the Doctrine and

Covenants: "Intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom

receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue;

light cleaveth unto light," and we will ever find it so.

The Way to Perfection, Pg.230

"I am the true light that enlighteneth every man that

cometh into the world," the Savior said. Every man, therefore,

who will continue in light and truth shall know the truth which

will make him free. "Intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence;

wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth

virtue; light cleaveth unto light," etc. Therefore every man who

possesses true intelligence will come unto God and live, for

there can be no wickedness associated with intelligence. Knowl-

edge, on the other hand, does not always contain the element of

truth and virtue, or of honesty and integrity.

DC 93:24

24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they

were, and as they are to come;

DC 93:25

25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of

that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.

DC 93:26

26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth,

and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of

truth, yea, even of all truth;

DC 93:27

27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his com-

mandments.

DC 93:28

28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light,

until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

DC 93:29

29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or

the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can

be.

DC 93:30

30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has

placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise

there is no existence.

DC 93:31

31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemna-

tion of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly

manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.

DC 93:32

32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under

condemnation.

DC 93:33

33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and

element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy.

DC 93:34

34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.

DC 93:35

35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the

tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is de-

filed, God shall destroy that temple.

DC 93:36

36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light

and truth.

DC 93:37

37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.