I am at the defiance of the rulers of the greatest nation on the earth, with the United States all put together, to produce a more loyal people than the Latter-day Saints.--J. of D., Vol. 1., p. 361. All there is of any worth or value in the world is incorporated in our glorious religion, and designed to exalt the minds of the children of men to a permanent, celestial and eternal station.--J. of D., Vol. I., p. 341. I may have thousands of wealth locked up today, and hold checks for immense sums on the best banking institutions in the world, but have I any surety that I shall be worth a cent tomorrow morning? Not the least. The Lord Almighty can send fire and destruction when He pleases, destroying towns and swallowing up cities in the bellowing earthquake. He can set up kingdoms and make communities wealthy, and bring them to poverty at His pleasure. When He pleases, He can give them wealth, comfort and ease, and on the other hand torment them with poverty, distress and sore afflictions. Who can realize this? All the world ought, and especially the Saints.--J. of D., Vol. I, p. 340. The Lord Almighty can do His own work and no power of man can stay the potency of His wonder-working hand. Men may presume to dictate to the Lord; they come to naught, but His work moves steadily forward.--J. of D., Vol. I., p. 198. When I cannot feed myself through the means God has placed in my power, it is then time enough for Him to exercise His providence in an unusual manner to administer to my wants. But while we can help ourselves, it is our duty to do so. If a saint of God be locked up in prison, by his enemies, to starve to death, it is then time enough for God to interpose, and feed him.--J. of D., Vol. I., p. 108.