| 380 has forfeited her claim to a celestial crown, notwithstanding the Lord has caused her to be thus afflicted, except it may be some individuals who have walked in disobedience and forsaken the new covenant; all such will be made manifest by their works in due time. I have always expected that Zion would suffer some affliction, from what I could learn from the commandments which have been given. But I would remind you of a certain clause in one which says that, "after much tribulation cometh the blessing." By this, and also others, and also one received of late, I know that Zion, in the own due time of the Lord, will be redeemed; but how many will be the days of her purification, tribulation, and affliction, the Lord has kept hid from my eyes; and when I inquire concerning this subject, the voice of the Lord is, "Be still, and know that I am God! all those who suffer for my name shall reign with me, and he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again" Now there are two things of which I am ignorant, and the Lord will not shew them unto me, perhaps for a wise purpose in himself-I mean in some respects-and they are these: why God has suffered so great a calamity to come upon Zion; and what the great moving cause of this great affliction is; and again, by what means he will return her back to her inheritance with songs of everlasting joy upon her head. These two things, brethren, are in part kept back that they are not plainly manifest, in consequence of those who have incurred the displeasure of the Almighty.
When I contemplate upon all things that have been manifested, I am sensible that I ought not to murmur and do not murmur only in this, that those who are innocent are compelled to suffer for the iniquities of the guilty; and I cannot account for this only on this wise, that the saying of the Savior has not been strictly observed: "If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee; or if thy right arm offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee." Now the fact is, if any of the members of our body are disordered, the rest of our body will be affected with them and then all is brought into bondage together: and yet, notwithstanding all this, it is with difficulty that I can restrain my feelings when I know that you, my brethren, with whom I have had so many happy hours, sitting, as it were, in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; and also, having the witness which I feel and ever have felt of the purity of your motives, are cast out and are as strangers and pilgrims on the earth, exposed to hunger, cold, nakedness, peril, sword, etc.;-I say when I contemplate this, it is with difficulty that I can keep from complaining and murmuring against this dispensation. But I am sensible that this is not right, and may God grant that notwithstanding your great afflictions and sufferings there may not anything separate us from the love of Christ.
Brethren, when we learn your sufferings it awakens every sympathy of our hearts; it weighs us down; we cannot refrain from tears yet we are not able to realize, only in part, your sufferings. And I often hear the brethren saying they wish they were with you that they might bear a part of your sufferings. And I myself should have been with you had not God prevented it in the order of his providence, that the yoke of affliction might be less grievous upon you, God having forewarned me, concerning these things, for your sakes. And also, Elder Cowdery could not have lightened your afflictions by tarrying longer with you, for his presence would have so much the more enraged your enemies; therefore God hath dealt mercifully with us.
O brethren, let us be thankful that it is as well with us as it is and were yet alive, that peradventure God hath laid up in store great good for us in this generation and grant that we may yet glorify his name.
I feel thankful that there have no more denied the faith. I pray God
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