How often to all human appearance, has this kingdom been blotted out from the earth, but the Lord has put His hand over the people, and it has passed through and come out two, three and four times larger than before. Our enemies have kicked us, and cuffed us, and driven us from pillar to post, and we have multiplied and increased the more, until we have become what we are this day.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 191.
The devil has put the whole world on the watch against us. It is impossible for us to make the least move without exciting, if not all the world, at least a considerable portion of it. They are excited at what we do, and strange to relate, they are no less excited at what we do not do.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 189.
Do you suppose that this people will ever see the day that they will rest in perfect security, in hopes of becoming like another people, nation, state, kingdom or society? They never will. Christ and Satan never can be friends. Light and darkness will always remain opposites.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 188.
When evil is present with us, we must overcome it, or be overcome by it. When the devil is in our hearts, tempting us to do that which is wrong, we must resist him, or be led captive by him.—J. of D., Vol, I., p. 92.
The speculation I am after, is to exchange this world, which, in its present state, passes away, for a world that is eternal and unchangeable, for a glorified world filled with eternal riches, for the world that is made an inheritance for the Gods of eternity.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 327.
Do the righteous of this people cause persecution to come upon themselves? No, Do the principles of the gospel create prejudice and persecution against them? No. But it is the disposition of the wicked to oppose the principles of truth and righteousness which causes it.—J. of D., Vol. I. p. 186.
To saint and sinner, believer and unbeliever, I wish here to offer one word of advice and counsel by revealing the mystery that abides with this people called Latter-day Saints; it is the Spirit of the living God that leads them; it is the Spirit of the Almighty that binds them together; it is the influence of the Holy Ghost that makes them love each other like little children; it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ that makes them willing to lay down their lives for the cause of truth, and it was that same Spirit that caused Joseph, our martyred prophet to lay down his life for the testimony of what the Lord revealed to him.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 145.
I have nothing to fear in all the persecutions or hardships I may pass through in connection with this people, but the one thing, and that is to stray from the religion I have embraced and be forsaken by my God. If you or I should see that day, we shall see at once that the world will love its own; and affliction, persecution, death, fire and the sword will cease to follow us.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 144.
Money is not real capital, it bears the title only. True capital is labor and is confined to the laboring classes. They only possess it. It is the bone, sinew, nerve and muscle of man that subdue the earth, make it yield its strength and administer to his varied wants. This power tears down mountains and fills up valleys, builds cities and temples, and paves the streets. In short what is there that yields shelter and comfort to civilized man that is not produced by the strength of his arm making the elements bend to his will.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 254.
Though the enemy had power to kill our prophet, that is, kill his body, did he not accomplish all that was in his heart to accomplish in his day? He did to my certain knowledge, and I have many witnesses here that heard him declare that he had done everything he could do—he had revealed everything that could be revealed at present, he had prepared the way for the people to walk in, and no man or woman should be deprived of going into the presence of the Father and the Son and enjoying an eternal exaltation if they would walk in the path he had pointed out.—J. of D., Vol. I., p. 132.