The Rise and Fall of NauvooRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo; Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History
It is one of the first principles of my life and one that I have
cultivated from my childhood, having been taught it by my father,
to allow every one the liberty of conscience. I am the greatest
advocate of the Constitution of the United States there is on the
earth. In my feelings I am always ready to die in the protection of
the weak and oppressed in their just rights. The only fault I find
with the Constitution is, it is not broad enough to cover the whole
ground. Although it provides that all men shall enjoy religious
freedom, yet it does not provide the manner in which that freedom
can be preserved, nor for the punishment of government officers
who refuse to protect the people in their religious rights, or
punish those mobs, States or communities who interfere with the
rights of people on account of their religion. Its sentiments are
good, but it provides no means of enforcing them. It has but this
one fault. Under its provision, a man or people who are able to
protect themselves can get along well enough, but those who have
the misfortune to be weak or unpopular are left to the merciless
rage of popular fury. The Constitution should contain a provision
that every officer of the government who should neglect or refuse
to extend the protection guaranteed in the Constitution should be
subject to capital punishment; and then the President of the United
States would not say "Your cause is just but I can do nothing for
you;" governors issue exterminating orders; or judges say, "The men
ought to have the protection of law, but it won't please the mob;
the men must die anyhow to satisfy the clamor of the rabble; they
must be hung, or Missouri be damned to all eternity." Executive
writs could be issued when they ought to be, and not be made
instruments of cruelty to oppress the innocent, and persecute men
whose religion is unpopular.
THE PROPHET'S COMMENT ON GOOD MEN.
I do not think there have been many good men on the earth since
the days of Adam; but there was one good man and His name was
Jesus. Many persons think a prophet must be a great deal better
than anybody else. Suppose I would condescend--yes, I will call
it condescend--to be a great deal better than any of you, I would
be raised up to the highest heavens, and who should I have to
accompany me? I love that man better who swears a stream as long as
my arm, yet deals justice to his neighbors and mercifully deals his
substance to the poor, than the long, smooth-faced hypocrite. I do
not want you to think I am very righteous, for I am not. God judges
men according to the use they make of the light which He gives them.
THE PROPHET'S ESTIMATE AND DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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