Address to My Children

Address to my Children. WRITTEN BY HEBER C. KIMBALL. To my Beloved Children, Sent Greeting: I desire to speak to my children this morning that they may be wise and honored of God and of men ; and I pray that I may be inspired by the Holy Ghost. My soul is swallowed up in God. As to the things of this world, they are lost to me. I do not feel concerning them as I have heretofore; I care only for the things of eternity. When I behold the great things of God and the glory which awaits the righteous, and when I reflect that the road is so straight that but few find it, I feel to pray the Lord to bless my children and save them. I am thankful to God because I live in a day when some will find it, and will become gods. A man may become a god as Jesus Christ did. For this he must prepare himself while in the flesh, that he may be enthroned as a judge is enthroned. I have a desire that my children may be crowned, and if I be enthroned I want to have the privilege of wafting myself, by the power of God, to visit my children. Every- thing we see here is typical of what will be hereafter. Oftentimes, when I hear people talk of their difficulties, it appears like foolishness to me; I scarcely notice them. I want my children to be an example tp others, and I want the older ones to be an example to the younger children, and not only to them, but to their friends and to their sex. My children, listen to the instructions of your parents, and when they say to you, do a thing, doit. Overcome every spirit of tyranny and oppression, and be as clay in the hands of the potter.

990 IMPROVEMENT ERA. The time will come when you will have children, and you will have tender feelings for them, and will then look back and appre- ciate the tender feelings that your parents had for you. My soul has mourned for the welfare and salvation of my children. When I look at the things of the eternal world, I feel willing to make sacrifices that I may enjoy the privileges which God is willing to give his people. When I speak to my children, I speak as a father, and there is no person on the earth that has more tender feelings for his children than I have. I want the older ones to be a pattern for the younger ones, and inasmuch as there is hard- ness, put it away; for it is like a seed which, if it be cultivated, grows to a tree, grows to maturity, and when it brings forth fruit, it brings forth hardness and tyranny. We should always endeavor to plant peace and kindness. Remember always to be affectionate to your parents; for you will have posterity, because God has promised it; and if the oldest are not faithful, God will raise a posterity from the younger. I want my children to show proper respect to all men, and be gentle to them, as you want they should be gentle to you. Be subject to all officers, both civil and religious, and reverence them in their offices. When you speak of the prophet and the apostles, speak well of them and not reproachfully. Reverence all men in their respective places, and never speak disrespectfully of them, nor of any person on the earth. If you cannot speak well, keep your mouth shut. If you do this, you shall be respected as your father has been, for this has always been my course. Be attentive to these instructions and be faithful in all things, and you shall be enthroned in the kingdom of God and shall increase from generation to generation, and there shall be no end of the increase. When I come into the presence of God, he will permit me to stand at your head as Adam will stand at the head of all families of the earth. Don't give way to evil, my children, lay aside all wickedness, and never suffer yourselves to go into wicked company or corrupt places. If we give way to sin even a little it will conceive in our bosoms and grow. I know if I am faithful no good thing will be withheld from me, but if I make a misstep it may all be taken away. We are acting in view of eternity, we are laying a foundation for eternity. If you remem-

ADDRESS TO MY CHILDREN. 991 ber these things, God will bless you with glory and eternal life. I want you to remember that inasmuch as you honor your father, when you become old and are engaged in the ministry, you shall be honored. The gospel of Jesus Christ, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, is true; I know it, for God has revealed it to me. Every man who rejects it will be damned, and every one who receives it will be saved. Baptism is a sign of the resurrec- tion, and it is the password whereby we enter into the kingdom of God. All the ordinances are signs of things in the heavens. I want my children to observe these things, for we have come into a dispensation when we have got to open a door to receive all dis- pensations of old. I want to become just what I ought to be. My children, never cultivate a spirit of covetousness. When you see anybody who is poor, and you have means, assist him; and when poor men or poor women come along, take them into your house ani feed and clothe them. Always enlist on the side of the oppressed. This principle was always in me, and I want my children to cherish it. If you show mercy, you shall have mercy. The character of the Almighty is noble, and none will come into his kingdom only those who are noble, kind, merciful, virtuous and obedient. The course I take in this life will be handed down to future generations. You will hand it down from generation to generation, and all records which are made here on earth will be had in heaven. Now, my children, God recognizes all that you do. Never cultivate anything wicked, corrupt or dishonest. Instead of taking a penny from a neighbor, give him two. As you do unto others, so shall it be measured unto you again. Let these instruc- tions sink deep into your minds: for God is bound to bestow these blessings upon us. Even so. Amen.