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Show INDIAN HOSTILITIES AND TEEACHEEY. 305 Now, as difficulties surround them, they say to me, " Why, brother Brigham, if you had only told us what to do, we would have done it. Were we not always willing to take your counsel?" Yes, you are a great deal more willing to take it, than to obey it. If people are willing to carry out good counsel, they will secure themselves accordingly. I have thought of setting a pattern, by securing myself; but were I to build a fort for myself and family, I should want about a legion of angels from the throne of God, to stay nine months with me, to get my folks willing to go into it. But I am so independent about it, I care not the snap of my finger for one of them. If my wives will not go into a place of security with me, it is all right, they can stay out, and I will go in and take my children with me. I say, I do not know but I may take a notion to set a pattern by building a fort; if I do, some one in in this city may follow my example, and then somebody else, etc., until we have a perfect city of forts. " Brother Brigham, do you really think we shall ever need them ?" YES, I DO. All the difficulties there is in the community this year, is not a drop in comparison to the heavy shower that will come. " Well, and where is it coming from ?" From hell, where every other trouble comes from. "And who do you think will be the actors ?!' Why, the Devil and his imps. [W. W. Phelps in the stand. We could not do very well without a Devil.] No, sir, you are quite aware of that; you know we could not do without him. If there had been no devil to tempt Eve, she never would have got her eyes opened. We need a devil to stir up the wicked on the |
