go into a neighborhood to preach
the Gospel, never attempt to tear
down a man's house, so to speak,
before you build him a better one;
never, in fact attack any one's re-
ligion, wherever you go. Be willing
to let every man enjoy his own re-
ligion. It is his right to do that.
If he does not accept your testimony
with regard to the Gospel of Christ,
that is his affair, and not yours. Do
not spend your time in pulling down
other sects and parties. We haven't
time to do that. It is never right to
do that. When I have been abroad
preaching I have found that people
who were prepared to receive my
testimony believed in me, and in like
manner they will receive the test-
imony you have to give to them, if
they can be touched with the Spirit
of God. This is exemplified in the
preaching of the Savior, which drew
forth from Him this remark: "No man
can come to me, except the Father,
which hath sent me, draw him."

Another thing is: Wherever we
go, sustain any and every govern-
ment under heaven that sustains you.
Sustain all governments. Never be
found antagonizing any government.
Government belongs to the people,
and if it is not good for them, it is
their business to rectify it, not yours.
I got into a position once that
brought this to my mind very
strongly; it occurred in my labors in
the south of England. On my first
mission to that country I went with
Brother Kimball and Brother George
A. Smith to London, and helped to
build up the first branch of the
Church that was organized there.
After returning home, I was again
sent to England by President Young
with Elder John Taylor and other
brethren. It was customary for us
to hold out-door meetings, as they
are called; and while doing so, on one
occasion, at London, one of our
brethren referred to the English
government in terms anything but
complimentary to the people to whom
it belonged, which, of course, was
contrary to the spirit of our calling
and mission. It was brought to the
attention of one of the chiefs of
police, who came to me about it.
The same Elder had an appointment
for the next Sabbath on the same
ground. But before filling it I was
careful to see that he was shown the
unwisdom of pursuing such a course,
also to see that wiser and more con-
servative men did the preaching on
that occasion. Had he been per-
mitted to continue to indulge in such
talk we would have brought upon
ourselves persecution, but by taking
a wise and proper course, we received
the protection of the police and govern-
ment, and at last got permission to
preach in churches, and were enabled
to baptize thousands of church mem-
bers; and we had as much freedom
as we had in our own country. We
learned afterwards that at this second
meeting were two or three policemen
in disguise who made a most favor-
able report to the chief of police
about us. Wherever we go we must
always sustain the government that
gives us protection. I wanted to
mention and impress upon our young
Elders these two things. It might
not be out of place for me to say that
we baptized the policeman that
approached me, and he proved him-
self to be a true and faithful Latter-
day Saint.

Now, I want to say to the Elders
of Israel, young and old, there is
nothing that we ought to labor more
to obtain while in the flesh than the
Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, the
Comforter, which we are entitled to
receive by reason of our having
obeyed the requirements of the Gos-
pel. When you get acquainted with
the Spirit, follow its dictates, no mat-
ter where it may lead you; and when
you do that, it will become a princi-
ple of revelation in you. I have al-
ways found that a true principle in
my whole life. If I had not followed
that Spirit in my life, I would not be
with you today. President Young
told me, the first year of the settle-

Y. M. M. I. A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 637

go into a neighborhood to preach the Gospel, never attempt to tear down a man's house, so to speak, before you build him a better one; never, in fact attack any one's religion, wherever you go. Be willing to let every man enjoy his own religion. It is his right to do that. If he does not accept your testimony with regard to the Gospel of Christ, that is his affair, and not yours. Do not spend your time in pulling down other sects and parties. We haven't time to do that. It is never right to do that. When I have been abroad preaching I have found that people who were prepared to receive my testimony believed in me, and in like manner they will receive the testimony you have to give to them, if they can be touched with the Spirit of God. This is exemplified in the preaching of the Savior, which drew forth from Him this remark: "No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him."

Another thing is: Wherever we go, sustain any and every government under heaven that sustains you. Sustain all governments. Never be found antagonizing any government. Government belongs to the people, and if it is not good for them, it is their business to rectify it, not yours. I got into a position once that brought this to my mind very strongly; it occurred in my labors in the south of England. On my first mission to that country I went with Brother Kimball and Brother George A. Smith to London, and helped to build up the first branch of the Church that was organized there. After returning home, I was again sent to England by President Young with Elder John Taylor and other brethren. It was customary for us to hold out-door meetings, as they are called; and while doing so, on one occasion, at London, one of our brethren referred to the English government in terms anything but complimentary to the people to whom it belonged, which, of course, was contrary to the spirit of our calling and mission. It was brought to the attention of one of the chiefs of police, who came to me about it. The same Elder had an appointment for the next Sabbath on the same ground. But before filling it I was careful to see that he was shown the unwisdom of pursuing such a course, also to see that wiser and more conservative men did the preaching on that occasion. Had he been permitted to continue to indulge in such talk we would have brought upon ourselves persecution, but by taking a wise and proper course, we received the protection of the police and government, and at last got permission to preach in churches, and were enabled to baptize thousands of church members; and we had as much freedom as we had in our own country. We learned afterwards that at this second meeting were two or three policemen in disguise who made a most favorable report to the chief of police about us. Wherever we go we must always sustain the government that gives us protection. I wanted to mention and impress upon our young Elders these two things. It might not be out of place for me to say that we baptized the policeman that approached me, and he proved himself to be a true and faithful Latterday Saint.

Now, I want to say to the Elders of Israel, young and old, there is nothing that we ought to labor more to obtain while in the flesh than the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which we are entitled to receive by reason of our having obeyed the requirements of the Gospel. When you get acquainted with the Spirit, follow its dictates, no matter where it may lead you; and when you do that, it will become a principle of revelation in you. I have always found that a true principle in my whole life. If I had not followed that Spirit in my life, I would not be with you today. President Young told me, the first year of the settle-