REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG
Delivered in the Tabernacle, Ogden City, July 10, 1870
(Reported by David W. Evans)

SIN--THE ATONEMENT--GOD AND EVIL--THE KINGDOM OF GOD

     I am disposed to ask a few questions of this congregation, though
not expecting them to give audible answers. Judging from what I know and
understand of the Latter-day Saints, I can answer these questions
satisfactorily to myself, and probably to the satisfaction of most
of the people.
     Do we believe in the Scriptures, of Devine truth?--those which are
contained in the Old and New Testaments, in the Book of Mormon, the Book
of Doctrine and Covenants, and other revelations that have been given
to the people? I can answer this in the affirmative, by saying that we
certainly do. This leads my mind to the reflection that if we believe
the Scriptures and the revelations I have referred to, we also believe
that Jesus is the Christ; and believing the Scriptures and that Jesus is
the Christ, we must believe other things also. If the Scriptures are true,
it proves that sin is in the world, and the question arises, It is
necessary that in should be here? What will the Latter-day Saints say?
Is it necessary that we should know good from evil? I can answer this
to suit myself by saying it is absolutely necessary, for the simple reason
that if we had never realized darkness we never could have comprehended the
light; if we never tasted anything bitter, but were to eat sweets, the honey
and the honeycomb, from the time we come into this world until the time we
go out of it, what knowledge could we have of the bitter? This leads me to
the decision that every fact that exists in this world is demonstrated by
its opposite. If this is the fact--and all true philosophy proves it--it
leads me to the conclusion that the transgression of our first parents was
absolutely necessary, that we might be brought in contact with sin and have
the opportunity of knowing good and evil. It may be deemed strange and
singular by the Christian world that we should believe such a thing; but
the Scriptures inform us, in Genesis 1,22, that the Lord God said, "Behold,
the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil." Are we the sons
and daughters of that God whom we serve? We answer we are. Do we
expect to be exalted with our Father in heaven? We do. How are we to be
exalted? We have sinned and transgressed the law of God. The Christian world
and the world of mankind have not only transgressed the laws of God, but
they have changed the ordinances and broken every covenant that God has given
them. Then I ask, Is there a debt contracted between the Father and his
children? There is. Our first parents transgressed the law that was given
them in the garden; their eyes were opened. They created debt. What is the
nature of this debt? It is a devine debt. What will pay it? I ask, Is
there anything short of a devine sacrifice that can pay this debt? No, there
is not.
     I say this to gratify myself, and to gratify my brethren and sisters. A
devine debt has been contracted by the children, and the Father demands
recompense. He says to his children on this earth, who are in sin and
transgression, it is impossible for you to pay this debt; I have prepared a
sacrifice; I will sen my Only Begotten Son to pay this devine debt. Was it
necessary then that Jesus should die? Do we understand why he should
sacrifice his life? This idea that the Son of God, who never committed sin,
should sacrifice his life, is unquestionably preposterous to the minds of many
in the Christian world. But the fact exists that the Father, the Devine
Father, whom we serve, the God of the Universe, the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of our spirits, provided this sacrifice and
sent his Son to die for us; and it is also a great fact that the Son came to
do the will of the Father, and that he has paid the debt, in fulfillment of
the Scripture which says, "He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world." Is it so on any other earth? On every earth. How many earths are
there? I observed this morning that you may take the particles of matter
composing this earth, and if they could be enumerated they would only be a
beginning to the number of the creations of God; and they are continually
coming into existence, and undergoing changes and passing through the same
experience that we are passing through. Sin is upon every earth that ever
was created, and if it was not so, I would like some philosophers to let me
know how people can be exalted to become sons of God, and enjoy a fullness of
glory with the Redeemer. Consequently every earth has its redeemer, and
every earth has its tempter; and every earth, and people thereof, in their
turn and time, receive all that we receive, and pass through all the ordeals
that we are passing through.
     Is this easy to understand? It is perfectly easy to me; and my advise
to those who have queries and doubts on this subject is, when the reason and
philosophize upon it, not to plant their position in falsehood or argue
hypothetically, but upon the facts as they exist, and they will come to the
conclusion that unless God provides a Savior to pay this debt it can never
be paid. Can all the wisdom of the world devise means by which we can be
redeemed, and return to the presence of our Father and elder brother, and
dwell with holy angels and celestial beings? No; it is beyond the power and
wisdom of the inhabitants of the earth that now live, or that ever did or
ever will live, to prepare or create a sacrifice that will pay this devine
debt. But God provided it, and his Son has paid it, and we, each and every
one, can now receive this truth and be save in the kingdom of God. Is it
clear and plain? It is to me, and if you have the Spirit of God, it is as
plain to you as anything else in the world. Why are we baptized for the
remission of sin? Is there virtue in it? There is Why do we lay hands on
the sick? Is there virtue in doing so? There is, and the wicked world as
well as the Saints prove this. Since Joseph Smith received revelations
from God, Spiritualism has taken its rise, and has spread with unprecedented
rapidity; and they will lay hands on each other--one system proving another--
spiritualism demonstrating the reality of animal magnetism? Is there virtue
in one person more than another? Power in one more than another? Spirit in
one more than another? Yes, there is. I will tell you how much I have.
You may assemble together every spiritualist on the face of the earth, and
I will defy them to make a table move or get a communication from hell or
any other place while I am present. Yes, there is more spirit in some than
in others; and this power--called by the world animal magnetism--enables
those possessing it to put other into the mesmeric sleep. When I lay hands on
the sick, I expect the healing power and influence of God to pass through
me to the patient, and the disease to give way. I do not say that I heal
everybody I lay hands on; but many have been healed under my administration.
Jesus said, on one occasion, "Who has touched me?" A woman had crept up
behind him in the crowd, and touched the hem of his garment, and hen knew
it, because virtue had gone from him. Do you see the reason and propriety
of laying hands on each other? When we are prepared, when we are holy vessels
before the Lord, a stream of power from the Almighty can pass through the
tabernacle of the administrator to the system of the patient, and the sick
are made whole; the headache, fever or other disease has to give way. My
brethren and sisters, there is virtue in us if we will do right; if we live
our religion we are the temples of God wherein he will dwell; if we defile
ourselves, these temples God will destroy.
     We shall now sing and dismiss the meeting. We do hope and pray you
Latter-day Saints to live according to your best knowledge; and we pray
God, our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, to give your faith, grace
and fortitude to do so; and his Spirit, that your may be able to see the
glory of his kingdom of this world. What is the glory of the world? Just
gather it all together, and it is nothing but a shadow! Al the kings and
potentates on the earth with all their power, pomp, greatness, and
grandeur, will pass into oblivion--they will pass completely from the
remembrance of the children of men; they were, but are not. This is the
glory of the world; but the glory of the kingdom of God was, is, and forever
will be!
     The Lord bless you. Amen.