October 1905
Seventy-Sixth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (1905). Report of Discourses. Salt Lake City: The Deseret News.
SEVENTY-SIXTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
FIRST DAY
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Reasons for thanksgiving to God.—General condition of the Church highly satisfactory
PRESIDENT JOHN R. WINDER
Admonition to the Saints to sustain President Smith as Trustee-in-Trust.—Testimony that he is worthy of their confidence
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND
Willingness and diligence of the missionaries.—Extensive circulation of Church literature
PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN
Gospel principles did not originate with Joseph Smith.—Joseph called of God to be a great prophet
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
The work of God cannot be overthrown.— Unselfish devotion of the ministers of the Gospel
ELDER RUDGER CLAWSON
Great responsibilities on those who receive God's commandments.—The proclamation of the Gospel
ELDER REED SMOOT
The young people of the Church loyal to it and to the authorities.—Futile efforts of the opponents of God's work
ELDER HYRUM M. SMITH
Magnitude of the work of God.—Abundant opportunities to acquire knowledge
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
GENERAL AUTHORITIES
SECOND DAY. Saturday, October 7, 10 a. m.
ELDER GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
Why the Saints are regarded as a peculiar people.—The duty of forgiving one another
ELDER FRANK Y. TAYLOR
PATRIARCH JOHN SMITH
Testimony concerning the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith
ELDER WILLIAM T. JACK
ELDER CHRISTIAN D. FJELDSTED
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER CHARLES W. PENROSE
Permanence and perpetuity of the Church.—Its growth and development
ELDER BRIGHAM H. ROBERTS
THIRD DAY. Sunday. Oct. 8, 10 a. m.
ELDER RULON S. WELLS
ELDER GERMAN E. ELLSWORTH
ELDER ANTHONY W. IVINS
ELDER JOSEPH E. ROBINSON
OVERFLOW MEETING
ELDER BENJAMIN F. GODDARD
ELDER JOSEPH A. MCRAE
ELDER ANDREW JENSON
ELDER BEN E. RICH
SECOND OVERFLOW MEETING
ELDER THOMAS E. BASSETT
ELDER OLEEN L. STOHL
ELDER NEPHI L. MORRIS
ELDER J. GOLDEN KIMBALL
OUTDOOR MEETING
Elder J. G. McQuarrie
President Nephi Pratt
President William H. Smart
John W. Rigdon
CLOSING SESSION
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN
PATRIARCH S. W. RICHARDS
BISHOP ORSON F. WHITNEY
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Blessings pronounced upon all the faithful, Priesthood and Saints
DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
ELDER HORACE S. ENSIGN
ELDER SAMUEL E. WOOLLEY
ELDER WILLIAM HANSON
ELDER GEORGE M. CANNON
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH M. TANNER
ELDER JAMES E. TALMAGE
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REYNOLDS
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
ASSISTANT SUPT. GEORGE REYNOLDS
SEVENTY-SIXTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
FIRST DAY
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Reasons for thanksgiving to God.—General condition of the Church highly satisfactory
PRESIDENT JOHN R. WINDER
Admonition to the Saints to sustain President Smith as Trustee-in-Trust.—Testimony that he is worthy of their confidence
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND
Willingness and diligence of the missionaries.—Extensive circulation of Church literature
PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN
Gospel principles did not originate with Joseph Smith.—Joseph called of God to be a great prophet
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
The work of God cannot be overthrown.— Unselfish devotion of the ministers of the Gospel
ELDER RUDGER CLAWSON
Great responsibilities on those who receive God's commandments.—The proclamation of the Gospel
ELDER REED SMOOT
The young people of the Church loyal to it and to the authorities.—Futile efforts of the opponents of God's work
ELDER HYRUM M. SMITH
Magnitude of the work of God.—Abundant opportunities to acquire knowledge
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
GENERAL AUTHORITIES
SECOND DAY. Saturday, October 7, 10 a. m.
ELDER GEORGE ALBERT SMITH
Why the Saints are regarded as a peculiar people.—The duty of forgiving one another
ELDER FRANK Y. TAYLOR
PATRIARCH JOHN SMITH
Testimony concerning the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith
ELDER WILLIAM T. JACK
ELDER CHRISTIAN D. FJELDSTED
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER CHARLES W. PENROSE
Permanence and perpetuity of the Church.—Its growth and development
ELDER BRIGHAM H. ROBERTS
THIRD DAY. Sunday. Oct. 8, 10 a. m.
ELDER RULON S. WELLS
ELDER GERMAN E. ELLSWORTH
ELDER ANTHONY W. IVINS
ELDER JOSEPH E. ROBINSON
OVERFLOW MEETING
ELDER BENJAMIN F. GODDARD
ELDER JOSEPH A. MCRAE
ELDER ANDREW JENSON
ELDER BEN E. RICH
SECOND OVERFLOW MEETING
ELDER THOMAS E. BASSETT
ELDER OLEEN L. STOHL
ELDER NEPHI L. MORRIS
ELDER J. GOLDEN KIMBALL
OUTDOOR MEETING
Elder J. G. McQuarrie
President Nephi Pratt
President William H. Smart
John W. Rigdon
CLOSING SESSION
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN
PATRIARCH S. W. RICHARDS
BISHOP ORSON F. WHITNEY
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Blessings pronounced upon all the faithful, Priesthood and Saints
DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
ELDER HORACE S. ENSIGN
ELDER SAMUEL E. WOOLLEY
ELDER WILLIAM HANSON
ELDER GEORGE M. CANNON
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH M. TANNER
ELDER JAMES E. TALMAGE
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REYNOLDS
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
ASSISTANT SUPT. GEORGE REYNOLDS
SEVENTY-SIXTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
FIRST DAY.
The Seventy-sixth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Friday, October 6, 1905, President Joseph F. Smith presiding.
THE PROCEEDINGS
There were present of the First Presidency, Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder and Anthon H. Lund; of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George A. Smith and Charles W. Penrose; of the First Council of Seventies, Seymour B. Young, Christian D. Fjeldsted, Brigham H. Roberts, George Reynolds, J. Golden Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Joseph W. McMurrin; of the presiding Bishopric, William B. Preston and Orrin P. Miller. There were also a large number of presidents of stakes, their counselors, presidents of missions, and other prominent men of the Priesthood.
The services were commenced by the choir and congregation singing the hymn which begins:
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear,
But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
The opening prayer was offered by Elder John T. Caine.
The choir and congregation then united in singing the hymn:
Redeemer of Israel, our only delight.
On whom for a blessing we call;
Our shadow by day, and our pillar by night.
Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all!
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
FIRST DAY.
The Seventy-sixth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Friday, October 6, 1905, President Joseph F. Smith presiding.
THE PROCEEDINGS
There were present of the First Presidency, Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder and Anthon H. Lund; of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George A. Smith and Charles W. Penrose; of the First Council of Seventies, Seymour B. Young, Christian D. Fjeldsted, Brigham H. Roberts, George Reynolds, J. Golden Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Joseph W. McMurrin; of the presiding Bishopric, William B. Preston and Orrin P. Miller. There were also a large number of presidents of stakes, their counselors, presidents of missions, and other prominent men of the Priesthood.
The services were commenced by the choir and congregation singing the hymn which begins:
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear,
But with joy wend your way;
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
The opening prayer was offered by Elder John T. Caine.
The choir and congregation then united in singing the hymn:
Redeemer of Israel, our only delight.
On whom for a blessing we call;
Our shadow by day, and our pillar by night.
Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all!
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
(Opening Address.)
Reasons for thanksgiving to God.—General condition of the Church highly satisfactory.—Injunction urgently repeated, "Get out of debt."—Many more missionaries needed.—"Zion is growing;" more and larger buildings needed for Church schools, etc.—The tithing accounts can be seen by tithepayers.— Satan and his agents cannot stop the progress of God's work.
I desire to say, welcome to all the Latter-day Saints, and to our friends and the stranger within our gates, at the opening of this seventy-sixth semiannual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am pleased to be with you, and am exceedingly grateful to the Lord for His kind mercies and preserving care that have been extended to us all during the past six months, in that we have been blessed with life, health and prosperity, and have been preserved to attend this conference in the enjoyment of so many precious gifts and blessings. I think we may consistently congratulate ourselves on the great goodness manifested toward us by Him from whom all blessings come, in preserving us in the truth, putting into our hearts and continuing within us that earnest desire which we all must feel for the upbuilding of Zion, the spread of truth, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord, and for the establishment of righteousness in the hearts of our children, our associates and of the people of the world; and that earnest desire also which we all should feel for those who are misled and are sitting in darkness and know not the truth, that we may become instrumental in the hands of the Lord of extending to all such, as far as it may be possible, a knowledge of the Gospel which we have embraced, that they too may see the light, if they choose to do so; and if they choose not the light, but prefer to remain in darkness, that they may be left without excuse. I feel thankful every day of my life for that desire in my heart, and I would fear that the Lord was withdrawing His Spirit from me if I did not entertain that feeling, and did not have an earnest desire in my soul for good, and not for evil. I am thankful to the Lord that He gives me the desire to do good, and not evil; that He leads my thoughts in the channels of honor, virtue, uprightness, and integrity to those principles which I have espoused. And I believe that all Latter-day Saints possess that spirit and feeling in their hearts, and that they have reason to be grateful to the Lord every day of their lives that their ambitions, their hopes and their desires are for good, and not for evil. The Latter-day Saints possess the spirit of salvation, and not the spirit of destruction; the spirit of life, not the spirit of death; the spirit of peace, not of disunion; the spirit of love for their fellow-beings, not the spirit of hate. And for the enjoyment of this spirit by the saints of the Most High we all have great cause to render praise and thanksgiving to Him who has so ordered it, and who has given to us humility to receive and that measure of His Spirit which inclines our hearts to good and not to evil. Since our last general conference, the general authorities of the Church, I believe, have been performing their duty to the best of their ability, according to their strength and the gifts of God that they possess. They have been diligent. Not one of them has declined to respond to any call that has been made upon him. The Apostles and the Seventies have been faithful in attending to the various quarterly conferences of the Church: and from all the reports that we have heard of their labors, we are given to understand that the people have not only been satisfied with their ministrations, but the Apostles and Seventies, and the Elders who have accompanied them., have reported most satisfactorily of the condition generally of the Latter-day Saints where they have visited.
The reports that we have received from the various missions are most encouraging, with this one exception: the demand from the missionary fields for Elders to preach the Gospel to the world seems more than we can fill. The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few. It seems impossible for us to meet the requirements that are made of us for missionaries. In this connection it may be proper for me to say that in some instances —far too many—these who have been invited to go on missions have replied that while they felt honored with the call they regretted to say that their circumstances were such that they could not see their way clear to go, as they were involved in debt. They had assumed pecuniary responsibilities that they could not discharge at that time, and they were obliged to ask for further time in order to liquidate their indebtedness and prepare themselves to go into the world to preach the Gospel.
For three years and more my text, and the text of my brethren, to the Latter-day Saints and to ourselves, has been, pay your debts; get out of debt, and then remain out of debt, by living economically, by being prudent with means, by saving up and gathering in our resources, thus preparing ourselves to meet our necessities with ready means, instead of being inclined to go to the stores, to the implement shops, and to the various establishments, to purchase goods on credit—goods which it might be possible for us to do without, at least until we could pay down for them and get the cash price. Reports have come to us from various parts of the Church that many of our people are still being gulled by traveling agents, and persuaded to enter into obligations for wagons, for agricultural implements, for sewing machines, for stoves and heaters, and for almost every imaginable thing, giving therefor ironclad notes, at highest prices, with agreements compelling them to surrender the goods whenever they fail to pay interest and principal as specified, under which they are liable to have the goods taken from them and lose all they have paid thereon. Many of our people are unwise enough to deal with men in this way. If they would only save their means, and live so that they will have means on hand instead of being obligated to others, it would be far better for them, and there would be fewer excuses on the part of Elders who are invited to take missions, in consequence of their being involved in debt. Besides it would not cost them so much to live. We do not mind when a young man is not able to take a mission because he is building a home for his wife and is under contract for it. That is all right. We will excuse him, he is at liberty to remain until he has accomplished his homework, and when he is ready he can report himself as prepared to take his mission. Now, I repeat to the people present at this conference: My injunction, and the injunction of my brethren of the Presidency and of the Twelve, is. Get out of debt; pay your honest obligations, free yourselves so that you will be at liberty to perform any duty that you desire or that may be asked of you for the upbuilding of Zion and the spread of truth. We do not care what the world says with reference to our preaching the Gospel, nor with reference to the necessity of young men being asked to go out into the world to preach the Gospel. In nine hundred and ninety-nine times out of a thousand the young men who are asked to take missions to the nations of the earth respond cheerfully and gladly, and rejoice that they are considered worthy to go out bearing the message of life and salvation to their fellowmen. It is a privilege, it is an honor to them to be accounted worthy to bear the name of God and the message of life and salvation to the world, and no amount of ridicule, no amount of false accusations and malicious charges, will ever change their thoughts and feelings with respect to this work. They know what they are doing. And there is no coercion used in matters of this kind. It is all free will, all free grace. Never was there a man required to go on a mission to the world, or sent on a mission, who had any objection to going or who declined to go. Those who have gone out to preach the Gospel have gone willingly, cheerfully, gladly, because they have felt it was to their own advantage and a great honor.
Then I repeat, the only difficulty we have to meet now with reference to the preaching of the Gospel in the various missions in the earth is that we are unable to furnish the number and the character of the help required. We would like the young men to prepare themselves, financially and intellectually, and above all spiritually, having the testimony of the Gospel in their hearts, that when they shall be called to go upon missions they will be ready to go. so that we may be in a position to supply the Elders necessary to preach the Gospel to the world.
A large amount of means has been expended in the erection of meetinghouses in the various wards and stakes of Zion, and the Trustee-in-Trust has been called upon to furnish large sums of money to assist; and also, in many instances, to assist the people in the erection of church schoolhouses and houses of amusement. We would like all the world to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aims not only to provide houses of worship for its members, but it also aims to provide houses of instruction and houses of amusement as well, that the people of the Church, old and young, may have places where they can assemble in the dance, in concerts, in musical festivals, and in intellectual feasts, that they may have scope for the enjoyment of every desire of their hearts in righteousness. I will say to you that the Church has been as liberal in these matters as it was possible to be in view of the obligations that still rest upon the Trustee-in-Trust. Our Church schools are increasing, and the demand is increasing continually for means with which to keep them going, and also for the purpose of erecting additional buildings to accommodate the children. When we tell you that almost every Church school throughout the land is filled to overflowing, you may perhaps discern the growth of the people of God and the progress and advancement of our educational institutions. No sooner is one building completed than it is discovered that it is too small, and that more room is required. From time to time, therefore, we have to assist ii\ enlarging and in providing accommodation for our children. I think that the Latter-day Saints will be able to discern in this fact a glorious truth. Zion is growing, and interest is being increased in the hearts of the people in proper education and training, to the end that our children may go to schools where the Bible is not excluded, where the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants are admitted, and where true religion may be taught as well as letters and the sciences and arts. The Trustee-in-Trust has also assisted largely in procuring mission houses in Scandinavia, in Great Britain, in the islands of the sea, and in our own land of America. We are now helping to build a place of worship and a dwelling-house at Papeete, Tahiti. We have done the same in Samoa. Assistance has also been rendered to the New Zealand mission for a similar purpose, and to Australia as well. In these island missions we are extending aid to our people in order to give them a better standing and wider influence, that they may gain the respect they merit; for, as a rule, the people of those islands are very poor. Since our last conference the Scandinavian mission has been divided in two, for the convenience of the people. Sweden has been organized into a mission of itself, with headquarters at Stockholm; and the Scandinavian mission now consists of Denmark and Norway.
Casting one's thoughts over all the field, we cannot come to any other conclusion than that the work of the Lord is alive, healthy and vigorous, in every land where the Gospel of the Son of God is preached by the Elders of the Church. It is spreading abroad, and the power and influence of the people is growing for good. The strangers who visit us see the contrast between the false and slanderous representations that are sent abroad with reference to the Latter-day Saints and the actual conditions existing here, and they go away agreeably disappointed, delighted with what they see and hear, and convinced that no people, perhaps, upon the earth are so much vilified as are the Latter-day Saints. I sometimes feel that I can see the hand of Providence in the work that is going on in the world; for surely it only takes an eye half open to discover the fraud and misrepresentation, the slanders and the lies that are circulated throughout the world with reference to the Latter- day Saints. If people will only come and see for themselves, if they will only take the pains to inform themselves of the truth, and compare conditions here with the false reports that are circulated, the very contrast will, make the truth more forceful to their minds.
Brother Horace S. Ensign, who has presided for a number of years in the Japanese mission, has returned, and the presidency of that mission has been turned over to Brother Alma O. Taylor. A number of young men have recently been sent to that mission. The Elders that have been there have succeeded in learning the language, as is the case in other foreign missions. Wherever the Elders of the Church go they are remarkable in acquiring speedily and thoroughly the language of the people to whom they are sent. Everywhere the Spirit of the Lord whispers to the honest in heart who are faithful, and gives to them the assurance that His hand is stretched out continually over His people; that as, in the past, He has preserved them and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, so in the future He will continue to preserve and deliver them, and he will make the wrath of the wicked to praise Him and to accomplish the more speedily His purposes. We have every evidence to convince us that the work of the Lord is a reality, a living, active, progressive work in the earth. Let me say to you that the Latter-day Saints throughout the length and breadth of the land have faithfully and honestly, I believe, as ever they did in their lives, observed the law of tithing. I am happy to say to you that the tithes of the people have not diminished, but they have increased, notwithstanding the disasters that have occurred in some portions of the land. In some parts hailstorms have destroyed portions of the crops; in other parts there have been more or less drouth, and insects, which have cut short the crops in some degree; but this has only been to a limited extent; the most of the products of the land have been blessed and are abundant, and the majority of the people have reaped bounteous harvests, through the blessing of God upon their labors. I am happy to say this to you.
I want to say further to the Saints, that your brethren to whom you have entrusted the care and management of the finances of the Church stand ready and willing, any moment, to answer to YOU—to Latter-day Saints, to tithepayers, to those who are in the faith of the Gospel—for our stewardship. We can give you an account of our doings to the last senine; and I defy any man on earth to point his finger to a dollar that is willfully wasted, or stolen by the servants of God. The tithing books are kept as accurately and as perfectly as any books kept in any bank. Every man that pays a dollar tithing gets his credit on the books; and if he wants to see that his credit is there he can go and see for himself. But we do not propose to open our books and show your accounts to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the land that never did pay any tithing. We do not propose to do that, if we can help it. But you Latter- day Saints who pay your tithes and your offerings, if you want to see for yourselves, that you may be eye and ear witnesses, the books are open to you, and you can come and examine your accounts any business day you want.
Now, we are thankful to the Lord that we are counted worthy to be taken notice of by the devil. I would fear very much for our safety if we had fallen into a condition where the devil ceased to be concerned about us. So long as the Spirit of the Lord is enjoyed by you, so long as you are living your religion and keeping the commandments of the Lord, walking uprightly before Him, I assure you that the adversary of souls will not rest easy; he will be discontented with you. will find fault with you, and he will arraign you before his bar; but that will not hurt you very much if you will only just keep on doing right. You do not need to worry in the least, the Lord will take care of you and bless you. He will also take care of His servants, and will bless them and help them to accomplish His purposes; and all the powers of darkness combined in earth and in hell cannot prevent it. They may take men's lives; they may slay and destroy, if they will; but they cannot destroy the purposes of God, nor stop the progress of His work. He has stretched forth His hand to accomplish His purposes, and the arm of flesh cannot stay it. He will cut His work short in righteousness, and will hasten His purposes in His own time. It is only necessary for us to try with our might to keep pace with the onward progress of the work of the Lord, then God will preserve and protect us, and will prepare the way before us, that we shall live and multiply and replenish the earth and always do His will; which may God grant is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "Lift up the voice in singing."
(Opening Address.)
Reasons for thanksgiving to God.—General condition of the Church highly satisfactory.—Injunction urgently repeated, "Get out of debt."—Many more missionaries needed.—"Zion is growing;" more and larger buildings needed for Church schools, etc.—The tithing accounts can be seen by tithepayers.— Satan and his agents cannot stop the progress of God's work.
I desire to say, welcome to all the Latter-day Saints, and to our friends and the stranger within our gates, at the opening of this seventy-sixth semiannual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am pleased to be with you, and am exceedingly grateful to the Lord for His kind mercies and preserving care that have been extended to us all during the past six months, in that we have been blessed with life, health and prosperity, and have been preserved to attend this conference in the enjoyment of so many precious gifts and blessings. I think we may consistently congratulate ourselves on the great goodness manifested toward us by Him from whom all blessings come, in preserving us in the truth, putting into our hearts and continuing within us that earnest desire which we all must feel for the upbuilding of Zion, the spread of truth, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord, and for the establishment of righteousness in the hearts of our children, our associates and of the people of the world; and that earnest desire also which we all should feel for those who are misled and are sitting in darkness and know not the truth, that we may become instrumental in the hands of the Lord of extending to all such, as far as it may be possible, a knowledge of the Gospel which we have embraced, that they too may see the light, if they choose to do so; and if they choose not the light, but prefer to remain in darkness, that they may be left without excuse. I feel thankful every day of my life for that desire in my heart, and I would fear that the Lord was withdrawing His Spirit from me if I did not entertain that feeling, and did not have an earnest desire in my soul for good, and not for evil. I am thankful to the Lord that He gives me the desire to do good, and not evil; that He leads my thoughts in the channels of honor, virtue, uprightness, and integrity to those principles which I have espoused. And I believe that all Latter-day Saints possess that spirit and feeling in their hearts, and that they have reason to be grateful to the Lord every day of their lives that their ambitions, their hopes and their desires are for good, and not for evil. The Latter-day Saints possess the spirit of salvation, and not the spirit of destruction; the spirit of life, not the spirit of death; the spirit of peace, not of disunion; the spirit of love for their fellow-beings, not the spirit of hate. And for the enjoyment of this spirit by the saints of the Most High we all have great cause to render praise and thanksgiving to Him who has so ordered it, and who has given to us humility to receive and that measure of His Spirit which inclines our hearts to good and not to evil. Since our last general conference, the general authorities of the Church, I believe, have been performing their duty to the best of their ability, according to their strength and the gifts of God that they possess. They have been diligent. Not one of them has declined to respond to any call that has been made upon him. The Apostles and the Seventies have been faithful in attending to the various quarterly conferences of the Church: and from all the reports that we have heard of their labors, we are given to understand that the people have not only been satisfied with their ministrations, but the Apostles and Seventies, and the Elders who have accompanied them., have reported most satisfactorily of the condition generally of the Latter-day Saints where they have visited.
The reports that we have received from the various missions are most encouraging, with this one exception: the demand from the missionary fields for Elders to preach the Gospel to the world seems more than we can fill. The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few. It seems impossible for us to meet the requirements that are made of us for missionaries. In this connection it may be proper for me to say that in some instances —far too many—these who have been invited to go on missions have replied that while they felt honored with the call they regretted to say that their circumstances were such that they could not see their way clear to go, as they were involved in debt. They had assumed pecuniary responsibilities that they could not discharge at that time, and they were obliged to ask for further time in order to liquidate their indebtedness and prepare themselves to go into the world to preach the Gospel.
For three years and more my text, and the text of my brethren, to the Latter-day Saints and to ourselves, has been, pay your debts; get out of debt, and then remain out of debt, by living economically, by being prudent with means, by saving up and gathering in our resources, thus preparing ourselves to meet our necessities with ready means, instead of being inclined to go to the stores, to the implement shops, and to the various establishments, to purchase goods on credit—goods which it might be possible for us to do without, at least until we could pay down for them and get the cash price. Reports have come to us from various parts of the Church that many of our people are still being gulled by traveling agents, and persuaded to enter into obligations for wagons, for agricultural implements, for sewing machines, for stoves and heaters, and for almost every imaginable thing, giving therefor ironclad notes, at highest prices, with agreements compelling them to surrender the goods whenever they fail to pay interest and principal as specified, under which they are liable to have the goods taken from them and lose all they have paid thereon. Many of our people are unwise enough to deal with men in this way. If they would only save their means, and live so that they will have means on hand instead of being obligated to others, it would be far better for them, and there would be fewer excuses on the part of Elders who are invited to take missions, in consequence of their being involved in debt. Besides it would not cost them so much to live. We do not mind when a young man is not able to take a mission because he is building a home for his wife and is under contract for it. That is all right. We will excuse him, he is at liberty to remain until he has accomplished his homework, and when he is ready he can report himself as prepared to take his mission. Now, I repeat to the people present at this conference: My injunction, and the injunction of my brethren of the Presidency and of the Twelve, is. Get out of debt; pay your honest obligations, free yourselves so that you will be at liberty to perform any duty that you desire or that may be asked of you for the upbuilding of Zion and the spread of truth. We do not care what the world says with reference to our preaching the Gospel, nor with reference to the necessity of young men being asked to go out into the world to preach the Gospel. In nine hundred and ninety-nine times out of a thousand the young men who are asked to take missions to the nations of the earth respond cheerfully and gladly, and rejoice that they are considered worthy to go out bearing the message of life and salvation to their fellowmen. It is a privilege, it is an honor to them to be accounted worthy to bear the name of God and the message of life and salvation to the world, and no amount of ridicule, no amount of false accusations and malicious charges, will ever change their thoughts and feelings with respect to this work. They know what they are doing. And there is no coercion used in matters of this kind. It is all free will, all free grace. Never was there a man required to go on a mission to the world, or sent on a mission, who had any objection to going or who declined to go. Those who have gone out to preach the Gospel have gone willingly, cheerfully, gladly, because they have felt it was to their own advantage and a great honor.
Then I repeat, the only difficulty we have to meet now with reference to the preaching of the Gospel in the various missions in the earth is that we are unable to furnish the number and the character of the help required. We would like the young men to prepare themselves, financially and intellectually, and above all spiritually, having the testimony of the Gospel in their hearts, that when they shall be called to go upon missions they will be ready to go. so that we may be in a position to supply the Elders necessary to preach the Gospel to the world.
A large amount of means has been expended in the erection of meetinghouses in the various wards and stakes of Zion, and the Trustee-in-Trust has been called upon to furnish large sums of money to assist; and also, in many instances, to assist the people in the erection of church schoolhouses and houses of amusement. We would like all the world to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aims not only to provide houses of worship for its members, but it also aims to provide houses of instruction and houses of amusement as well, that the people of the Church, old and young, may have places where they can assemble in the dance, in concerts, in musical festivals, and in intellectual feasts, that they may have scope for the enjoyment of every desire of their hearts in righteousness. I will say to you that the Church has been as liberal in these matters as it was possible to be in view of the obligations that still rest upon the Trustee-in-Trust. Our Church schools are increasing, and the demand is increasing continually for means with which to keep them going, and also for the purpose of erecting additional buildings to accommodate the children. When we tell you that almost every Church school throughout the land is filled to overflowing, you may perhaps discern the growth of the people of God and the progress and advancement of our educational institutions. No sooner is one building completed than it is discovered that it is too small, and that more room is required. From time to time, therefore, we have to assist ii\ enlarging and in providing accommodation for our children. I think that the Latter-day Saints will be able to discern in this fact a glorious truth. Zion is growing, and interest is being increased in the hearts of the people in proper education and training, to the end that our children may go to schools where the Bible is not excluded, where the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants are admitted, and where true religion may be taught as well as letters and the sciences and arts. The Trustee-in-Trust has also assisted largely in procuring mission houses in Scandinavia, in Great Britain, in the islands of the sea, and in our own land of America. We are now helping to build a place of worship and a dwelling-house at Papeete, Tahiti. We have done the same in Samoa. Assistance has also been rendered to the New Zealand mission for a similar purpose, and to Australia as well. In these island missions we are extending aid to our people in order to give them a better standing and wider influence, that they may gain the respect they merit; for, as a rule, the people of those islands are very poor. Since our last conference the Scandinavian mission has been divided in two, for the convenience of the people. Sweden has been organized into a mission of itself, with headquarters at Stockholm; and the Scandinavian mission now consists of Denmark and Norway.
Casting one's thoughts over all the field, we cannot come to any other conclusion than that the work of the Lord is alive, healthy and vigorous, in every land where the Gospel of the Son of God is preached by the Elders of the Church. It is spreading abroad, and the power and influence of the people is growing for good. The strangers who visit us see the contrast between the false and slanderous representations that are sent abroad with reference to the Latter-day Saints and the actual conditions existing here, and they go away agreeably disappointed, delighted with what they see and hear, and convinced that no people, perhaps, upon the earth are so much vilified as are the Latter-day Saints. I sometimes feel that I can see the hand of Providence in the work that is going on in the world; for surely it only takes an eye half open to discover the fraud and misrepresentation, the slanders and the lies that are circulated throughout the world with reference to the Latter- day Saints. If people will only come and see for themselves, if they will only take the pains to inform themselves of the truth, and compare conditions here with the false reports that are circulated, the very contrast will, make the truth more forceful to their minds.
Brother Horace S. Ensign, who has presided for a number of years in the Japanese mission, has returned, and the presidency of that mission has been turned over to Brother Alma O. Taylor. A number of young men have recently been sent to that mission. The Elders that have been there have succeeded in learning the language, as is the case in other foreign missions. Wherever the Elders of the Church go they are remarkable in acquiring speedily and thoroughly the language of the people to whom they are sent. Everywhere the Spirit of the Lord whispers to the honest in heart who are faithful, and gives to them the assurance that His hand is stretched out continually over His people; that as, in the past, He has preserved them and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, so in the future He will continue to preserve and deliver them, and he will make the wrath of the wicked to praise Him and to accomplish the more speedily His purposes. We have every evidence to convince us that the work of the Lord is a reality, a living, active, progressive work in the earth. Let me say to you that the Latter-day Saints throughout the length and breadth of the land have faithfully and honestly, I believe, as ever they did in their lives, observed the law of tithing. I am happy to say to you that the tithes of the people have not diminished, but they have increased, notwithstanding the disasters that have occurred in some portions of the land. In some parts hailstorms have destroyed portions of the crops; in other parts there have been more or less drouth, and insects, which have cut short the crops in some degree; but this has only been to a limited extent; the most of the products of the land have been blessed and are abundant, and the majority of the people have reaped bounteous harvests, through the blessing of God upon their labors. I am happy to say this to you.
I want to say further to the Saints, that your brethren to whom you have entrusted the care and management of the finances of the Church stand ready and willing, any moment, to answer to YOU—to Latter-day Saints, to tithepayers, to those who are in the faith of the Gospel—for our stewardship. We can give you an account of our doings to the last senine; and I defy any man on earth to point his finger to a dollar that is willfully wasted, or stolen by the servants of God. The tithing books are kept as accurately and as perfectly as any books kept in any bank. Every man that pays a dollar tithing gets his credit on the books; and if he wants to see that his credit is there he can go and see for himself. But we do not propose to open our books and show your accounts to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the land that never did pay any tithing. We do not propose to do that, if we can help it. But you Latter- day Saints who pay your tithes and your offerings, if you want to see for yourselves, that you may be eye and ear witnesses, the books are open to you, and you can come and examine your accounts any business day you want.
Now, we are thankful to the Lord that we are counted worthy to be taken notice of by the devil. I would fear very much for our safety if we had fallen into a condition where the devil ceased to be concerned about us. So long as the Spirit of the Lord is enjoyed by you, so long as you are living your religion and keeping the commandments of the Lord, walking uprightly before Him, I assure you that the adversary of souls will not rest easy; he will be discontented with you. will find fault with you, and he will arraign you before his bar; but that will not hurt you very much if you will only just keep on doing right. You do not need to worry in the least, the Lord will take care of you and bless you. He will also take care of His servants, and will bless them and help them to accomplish His purposes; and all the powers of darkness combined in earth and in hell cannot prevent it. They may take men's lives; they may slay and destroy, if they will; but they cannot destroy the purposes of God, nor stop the progress of His work. He has stretched forth His hand to accomplish His purposes, and the arm of flesh cannot stay it. He will cut His work short in righteousness, and will hasten His purposes in His own time. It is only necessary for us to try with our might to keep pace with the onward progress of the work of the Lord, then God will preserve and protect us, and will prepare the way before us, that we shall live and multiply and replenish the earth and always do His will; which may God grant is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "Lift up the voice in singing."
PRESIDENT JOHN R. WINDER.
Admonition to the Saints to sustain President Smith as Trustee-in-Trust.—Testimony that he is worthy of their confidence.
My brethren and sisters, my soul is filled with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for permitting me to assemble with you once more in general conference. I have rejoiced exceedingly in what we have heard from our President, and I wish to testify that every word he has spoken is true and faithful. I am here to uphold and sustain him in the position he has taken in every particular. All I want to say to you this morning, my brethren and sisters, is in relation to the Trustee-in- Trust. I say that your funds are perfectly safe in his hands, and, as he has said, not one dollar is used except where it belongs. I testify to this in your presence this morning, and that all things are well. He is doing just right; and the statement that he has made with regard to the books being open to those who have an interest, is a fact, and you can satisfy yourselves of these things. Now, let all doubts be removed from your minds, if you have any, though I do not believe the Latter-day Saints have any doubts in relation to this matter. There may be a few who have, but the true and faithful Latter-day Saints have no doubt in regard to this subject. I say to you this morning, my brethren and sisters, uphold and sustain the President as Trustee-in-Trust of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all things will be well with you. May the Lord help us all, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Admonition to the Saints to sustain President Smith as Trustee-in-Trust.—Testimony that he is worthy of their confidence.
My brethren and sisters, my soul is filled with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for permitting me to assemble with you once more in general conference. I have rejoiced exceedingly in what we have heard from our President, and I wish to testify that every word he has spoken is true and faithful. I am here to uphold and sustain him in the position he has taken in every particular. All I want to say to you this morning, my brethren and sisters, is in relation to the Trustee-in- Trust. I say that your funds are perfectly safe in his hands, and, as he has said, not one dollar is used except where it belongs. I testify to this in your presence this morning, and that all things are well. He is doing just right; and the statement that he has made with regard to the books being open to those who have an interest, is a fact, and you can satisfy yourselves of these things. Now, let all doubts be removed from your minds, if you have any, though I do not believe the Latter-day Saints have any doubts in relation to this matter. There may be a few who have, but the true and faithful Latter-day Saints have no doubt in regard to this subject. I say to you this morning, my brethren and sisters, uphold and sustain the President as Trustee-in-Trust of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all things will be well with you. May the Lord help us all, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND,
Willingness and diligence of the missionaries.—Extensive circulation of Church literature.—Difficulties in Turkey.—Success in Greece, South Africa, and Japan.—Satisfactory conditions among the gathered Saints.
I am indeed happy this morning to see this large congregation at the first session of our conference. It shows that the Latter-day Saints are alive in their religion and anxious to meet in these gatherings of the Saints. They want to be built up and refreshed in their holy faith.
I was pleased to look at your faces and to note the attention with which you followed the remarks of our President and Bro her Winder. Like Brother Winder, I can endorse everything the President has said. We are in a position to know that it is the truth. I was pleased to follow the President in his sketch of the work being done abroad. We feel indeed interested in the missionary labors, and it is a pleasure to tell you how gladly our brethren respond to the calls made upon them to go upon missions. I do not remember more than one or two refusals during the last six months. The great majority have expressed themselves as honored in being called to go, and they say that they feel it is their duty to go and let the world know what they themselves have received. It is pleasant to read these letters from our young men, middle aged men, and even old men, who have been called to go out and bear their testimonies to the world.
A great deal has been done in diffusing the printed word to the world. I believe the British mission lead? in this, but, take all our missions together, the number of tracts and books that have been scattered among the people has run up into millions. Our brethren are faithful in going from house to house, leaving tracts, trying to get into conversation with the people, to let them know the glorious truth that God has again spoken unto man. The Book of Mormon is sought after. The presidents of missions in the United States have printed large editions and are circulating them everywhere, selling them as cheaply as possible, that the world may become acquainted with that sacred volume, which has been given by God unto this generation. Our French edition is gone; another must be published. The Swedish edition of the Book of Mormon is out of print, and another must be printed there. The Turkish Saints are asking that they may have this volume printed in the Turkish language. It has been translated by Brother Hintze and assistants, and we intend to have it published, and try to get it into the Ottoman empire. It is hard to get printed matter into that country, as they are afraid of books, afraid that there is something in them inimical to the government. Whenever you land at a port the custom officers are suspicious of your books, and they have them examined before they allow you to take them into the country. Hence the difficulty We will have in getting the Book of Mormon to the people there. We would print it in Constantinople and thus have it in the country, but we find that should we try to get it into the other provinces of Turkey we would have the same difficulty to pass the custom officers, whether it has the government permit stamped on it or not. They say that anyone could print that on the book, and so it is left to the custom house officers to decide. But we believe we shall yet be able to get this work into the hands of the people of that land. The work of the Lord is progressing there; still our Armenian Saints are having a hard time. It is a poor country to live in, and the Saints are not yet recognized as a religious body by the government. We have not very many Elders laboring there at present, but will try to get more. At Athens, in Greece, there are several persons inquiring about the truth. We were indeed pleased a few weeks ago to receive from them several tracts printed in Athens in the Greek language. They are "Rays of Living Light," written by Elder Penrose, and had been translated into that language. These Greeks had received copies of those tracts, and they thought them worth translating and printing, and sending out among their countrymen. They are now asking for missionaries to be sent to them to officiate in the ordinances of the Gospel. This shows that the Spirit of God is working upon the people, and that men are seeking for the truth. We are trying to get the Gospel principles sent to every nation. Our brethren who were sent to South Africa found members of the Church who received the Gospel there many years ago, when the mission was first opened, and although they have not been visited by Elders, for many years, they have kept the faith and have tried to make others understand the truth as they have received it. Our Elders have been successful in baptizing new members, and the Church there is increasing in numbers. Brother Alma O. Taylor, president of the Japanese mission is engaged in translating the Book of Mormon. He has been wonderfully blest in learning that language. Several of the Elders with him are also able to preach in Japanese and are traveling amongst the people. Brother Ensign, who has recently returned accomplished a great work in translating hymns into the Japanese language and setting them to music, .so that the Japanese can sing' our hymns and feel the spirit that goes with them. They have not baptized very many, though they have had many applications for baptism, but the brethren feel that before they baptize anyone he should understand the Gospel, have faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ, and know concerning the work that God has established upon the earth. The method of preaching the Gospel to a people that do not bel eve in the true God is, of course, much different from the way we preach it to those who are believers in the Bible, and in Christ as the Savior of mankind. The brethren are seeking to reach the children there, and they have a large attendance at Sunday schools. The children are delighted to hear the teachings of the Elders and to sing our hymns, and in the streets of Tokyo you can often hear the little ones sing our Sunday school songs. These children go home and tell their parents what they have learned in the Mormon Sunday school, and their parents get interested themselves. I consider that the Elders there are taking the right course to reach the hearts of the people of that nation.
It is indeed pleasing to us to see the progress that the work is making in the different parts of the earth, and I hope to see this progress accelerated and the benign influences of the Gospel he felt more and more among the people. At home, we feel that the Saints in the different Stakes are progressing In all good works. The quarterly conferences that have been held in all of the 55 Stakes have been times of rejoicing, and spiritual feasts unto all present, and we believe that the Saints are growing in grace with God.
Now, brethren and sisters, I rejoice to be with you. I rejoice to be a fellow-laborer with you in building up the Church of Christ upon the earth. This work will prosper and it will not be given to any other people. The Lord has so declared it. This people will carry it on. and the Lord will crown their efforts with success. God bless you all. Amen.
Willingness and diligence of the missionaries.—Extensive circulation of Church literature.—Difficulties in Turkey.—Success in Greece, South Africa, and Japan.—Satisfactory conditions among the gathered Saints.
I am indeed happy this morning to see this large congregation at the first session of our conference. It shows that the Latter-day Saints are alive in their religion and anxious to meet in these gatherings of the Saints. They want to be built up and refreshed in their holy faith.
I was pleased to look at your faces and to note the attention with which you followed the remarks of our President and Bro her Winder. Like Brother Winder, I can endorse everything the President has said. We are in a position to know that it is the truth. I was pleased to follow the President in his sketch of the work being done abroad. We feel indeed interested in the missionary labors, and it is a pleasure to tell you how gladly our brethren respond to the calls made upon them to go upon missions. I do not remember more than one or two refusals during the last six months. The great majority have expressed themselves as honored in being called to go, and they say that they feel it is their duty to go and let the world know what they themselves have received. It is pleasant to read these letters from our young men, middle aged men, and even old men, who have been called to go out and bear their testimonies to the world.
A great deal has been done in diffusing the printed word to the world. I believe the British mission lead? in this, but, take all our missions together, the number of tracts and books that have been scattered among the people has run up into millions. Our brethren are faithful in going from house to house, leaving tracts, trying to get into conversation with the people, to let them know the glorious truth that God has again spoken unto man. The Book of Mormon is sought after. The presidents of missions in the United States have printed large editions and are circulating them everywhere, selling them as cheaply as possible, that the world may become acquainted with that sacred volume, which has been given by God unto this generation. Our French edition is gone; another must be published. The Swedish edition of the Book of Mormon is out of print, and another must be printed there. The Turkish Saints are asking that they may have this volume printed in the Turkish language. It has been translated by Brother Hintze and assistants, and we intend to have it published, and try to get it into the Ottoman empire. It is hard to get printed matter into that country, as they are afraid of books, afraid that there is something in them inimical to the government. Whenever you land at a port the custom officers are suspicious of your books, and they have them examined before they allow you to take them into the country. Hence the difficulty We will have in getting the Book of Mormon to the people there. We would print it in Constantinople and thus have it in the country, but we find that should we try to get it into the other provinces of Turkey we would have the same difficulty to pass the custom officers, whether it has the government permit stamped on it or not. They say that anyone could print that on the book, and so it is left to the custom house officers to decide. But we believe we shall yet be able to get this work into the hands of the people of that land. The work of the Lord is progressing there; still our Armenian Saints are having a hard time. It is a poor country to live in, and the Saints are not yet recognized as a religious body by the government. We have not very many Elders laboring there at present, but will try to get more. At Athens, in Greece, there are several persons inquiring about the truth. We were indeed pleased a few weeks ago to receive from them several tracts printed in Athens in the Greek language. They are "Rays of Living Light," written by Elder Penrose, and had been translated into that language. These Greeks had received copies of those tracts, and they thought them worth translating and printing, and sending out among their countrymen. They are now asking for missionaries to be sent to them to officiate in the ordinances of the Gospel. This shows that the Spirit of God is working upon the people, and that men are seeking for the truth. We are trying to get the Gospel principles sent to every nation. Our brethren who were sent to South Africa found members of the Church who received the Gospel there many years ago, when the mission was first opened, and although they have not been visited by Elders, for many years, they have kept the faith and have tried to make others understand the truth as they have received it. Our Elders have been successful in baptizing new members, and the Church there is increasing in numbers. Brother Alma O. Taylor, president of the Japanese mission is engaged in translating the Book of Mormon. He has been wonderfully blest in learning that language. Several of the Elders with him are also able to preach in Japanese and are traveling amongst the people. Brother Ensign, who has recently returned accomplished a great work in translating hymns into the Japanese language and setting them to music, .so that the Japanese can sing' our hymns and feel the spirit that goes with them. They have not baptized very many, though they have had many applications for baptism, but the brethren feel that before they baptize anyone he should understand the Gospel, have faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ, and know concerning the work that God has established upon the earth. The method of preaching the Gospel to a people that do not bel eve in the true God is, of course, much different from the way we preach it to those who are believers in the Bible, and in Christ as the Savior of mankind. The brethren are seeking to reach the children there, and they have a large attendance at Sunday schools. The children are delighted to hear the teachings of the Elders and to sing our hymns, and in the streets of Tokyo you can often hear the little ones sing our Sunday school songs. These children go home and tell their parents what they have learned in the Mormon Sunday school, and their parents get interested themselves. I consider that the Elders there are taking the right course to reach the hearts of the people of that nation.
It is indeed pleasing to us to see the progress that the work is making in the different parts of the earth, and I hope to see this progress accelerated and the benign influences of the Gospel he felt more and more among the people. At home, we feel that the Saints in the different Stakes are progressing In all good works. The quarterly conferences that have been held in all of the 55 Stakes have been times of rejoicing, and spiritual feasts unto all present, and we believe that the Saints are growing in grace with God.
Now, brethren and sisters, I rejoice to be with you. I rejoice to be a fellow-laborer with you in building up the Church of Christ upon the earth. This work will prosper and it will not be given to any other people. The Lord has so declared it. This people will carry it on. and the Lord will crown their efforts with success. God bless you all. Amen.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
Gospel principles did not originate with Joseph Smith.—Joseph called of God to be a great prophet.—Gathering and Temple building.—The Church of Christ, and His disciples, always persecuted.— The Saints loyal to the nation, and to the Church.—The Church thoroughly established.
I have been very greatly interested in the remarks of our brethren, and. with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord I shall take pleasure in talking to you for a few moments. The congregation this morning is unusually large for the first meeting, which indicates that the Saints are interested and are anxious to participate in the conference. The testimonies that we have listened to from the Presidency find an echo in our hearts. The Latter-day Saints are a peculiar people, and every individual member of the Church has the same kind of testimony that is enjoyed by the Presidency. These testimonies are not confined to any quorum or council, but every member of the Church, whether his membership is of long or of short duration, has the same abiding spirit in his soul, and is established and fixed in his faith. For that reason there is no danger to this Church, because the members thereof enjoy the same spirit. We are one; and the doctrines so commend themselves to the judgment of honest people, that when we have tested them and realized how precious, reliable, and soul-satisfying they are, we are never inclined to depart from them so long as we are true and faithful. The principles of the Gospel have always been and will always be true. They have been revealed to us in the latter days. They have not been created in this dispensation. They have not originated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, but they have simply been brought to light and revealed to the children of men in this age. They are possessed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only living and true Church established among the children of men—this Church that has been brought out of obscurity into the light and brought to the attention of the peoples of the world. We have been preaching these doctrines as revealed through the Prophet Joseph, for seventy-five years. We are in the ministry, and are increasing gradually, steadily, and surely, spreading abroad and becoming more solid, substantial and reliable than ever. The work is so well settled that it cannot be disturbed, so we believe, and absolutely know, for It is the work of the Lord. The Lord has called and qualified His servants, commencing with the Prophet Joseph many years ago. He took him in hand. He gave him birth, He brought him forward, introduced him to the world, planted in his heart the doctrines of life and salvation, and early in the last century honored him with the sacred calling of an Apostle, a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, a man of God, a living minister, endowed with inspiration and revelation, a law-giver, such a man as has rarely ever been known among the children of men. I can hardly think of one who has been superior to him among the prophets and patriarchs of God. Of course, the Savior is far in advance of all patriarchs, of all prophets, and of all men in the earth, that are, that have been, or that will be. He is at the front and is the head of all. But among the prophets of God born of women, no man has been superior to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This congregation of thousands of people know it. Hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints know it well. We have entered into covenant with the Lord, we have become acquainted with the doctrines and principles of the Gospel, we have demonstrated and see and know most perfectly that they are the power of God unto salvation. Hence we are not ashamed of these principles. We love them and we honor them, and through our love and devotion and faithfulness to this cause we have obtained that remarkable testimony, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for our brethren of other denominations to convert us to their ways.
The Latter-day Saints possess the truth, and have many principles of truth in addition to what is possessed t)y the people of the world. Of course, we are peculiar for a- number of reasons. It is our peculiarities that make us different from other Christian people. One of our peculiarities is that we gather to the land of Zion, to those sections of the country that have been selected and set apart for the gathering of the Latter-day Saints. Other religious denominations have their churches and their branches where they are successful, but they do not gather as we do. No other people, that I can think of, at present, gather together as we do. This doctrine of the gathering is one of the remarkable features of this church, established by the Prophet Joseph Smith. We believe also in the building of Temples, and have built several.
We believe it is necessary for the salvation of the people living and dead, that temples should be built to the name of the Lord and ordinances performed therein, without which men may not enter into the Celestial Kingdom of the Father. No other people, so far as I am acquainted, are building temples. They build houses of worship, tabernacles and the like, all of which are very useful, and we build them also, but we are remarkable for the building of temples. There are doctrines and principles sacred to the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, revealed through the Prophet Joseph, which require us to make the sacrifice of gathering together, of building temples and of laboring for our kindred that are dead. The living must perform that work for themselves or forfeit the blessing, but those who have died before the knowledge of the truth was among the children of men, we believe, are entitled to salvation, especially if they would have received the truth had it been presented to them. We feel that all such are entitled to salvation, and we make the sacrifice that is necessary for their redemption and for their union throughout eternity. We believe most earnestly and thoroughly that our family relations that we enter into in this life will continue beyond the resurrection. This doctrine has been revealed to us by the Prophet of the nineteenth century. We expect that those relations so sacred to men in this life will continue in the life to come; and we have been taught to be true and faithful men, and we are such. I say to this congregation that Ave are true and loyal men, not only true and loyal to the Church and to the doctrines that we have received, but we are true and loyal among men, honorable as neighbors and as citizens. We love our country, we love its laws, its liberties, its institutions; we love the people of our nation, and we love to live with them, to neighbor with them, and to be friendly with them. We desire to share with them in the benefits of this nation. We desire to share with them the benefits of this city and of the states and territories in which we reside, not only in the United States, but where we have spread abroad into the neighboring commonwealths of Mexico and Canada. Wherever we settle and locate we desire to share with the people, our neighbors, the blessings that are given to mankind. We are a moral people, a sober people, a God-fearing people, who love the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Of course, there are exceptions; but this is a rule with the Latter-day Saints. I speak of those who are faithful and true to the doctrines of the Lord Jesus and who are thoroughly established. They are not only here in Salt Lake, at headquarters, but they are in the cities and counties north, south, east and west of us. You cannot find a little branch or ward of Latter-day Saints but what they are so thoroughly settled and established that an innovator can have no influence over them, and they cannot be converted unto any other form of religion. But we are not all Latter-day Saints here, there are some of us who are fit subjects for the labors of missionaries of all denominations, whom they may make converts. We thank the Lord when they are converted, if we have been unable to convert them and to redeem them. If others can do them good, the Lord be praised; we have no fault to find. But Latter-day Saints, followers of the Prophet Joseph, walking in his footsteps and in his doctrines received from the Lord Jesus, can no more be turned from their faith than anything in the world, for they do know, they are thoroughly converted, and they are established so that they cannot be moved nor led astray.
This Church the Lord has established. He laid its foundations and has built it up. He hath taken care of it and will preserve it. You can always knew just exactly where the Church of Christ is, for where it is the darts of the enemy are always directed, and particularly against the head of the Church. Was not the Savior the head and front of all offending in his life? Was not every dart of the enemy directed against the Son of God until His life was taken? And after Him, His apostles, one by one were destroyed; for at that the people would not endure the sound doctrines of the Lord Jesus. And is it not the same today? Did He not tell His disciples that if the world hated them it hated Him also? The world loves its own; the world is friendly with its own; and if we were of the world and believed as they do, worshiped as they do, and lived as they do, do you think they would find fault with us here? No. We believe more and we do a great deal more in the direction of the saving of mankind than any other body of Christianity, and for that reason they dislike us. Our lives offend them, not because we are wicked, but because we are not of them. They were not offended with the Savior because of his transgressions; they were not offended with His apostles because of their sins. There is no need of sentiment being aroused in regard to people, who are wicked and corrupt, for the law is ready to take hold of them; and, if we transgress the law, we are subject to the law and liable to be handled by it. But as Latter-day Saints we live above the law. We observe the law and keep it sacred, that it shall not take hold of us. We are true to our cities and counties, to our state and to our nation. We are loyal, and, as I said before, we love the institutions of our country. We thank the Lord for the religious liberty that is guaranteed in the United States. We thank Him for the protection that has been given to this Church in the United States, and that we have been preserved and established so solidly that we are in no danger of being removed. The kingdom will remain with this people, and not with any other. Many have gone out from among us. Among them have been men holding great and Important authority, nearly as great as there has been in the Church—even the counselors of the Prophet Joseph. He could hardly get a man that would be true to him, aside from his brother Hyrum. They fell one by one, until every counselor that he ever had departed from his side. But he was true and faithful to the end, and, like our Redeemer, he almost trod the wine-press alone. There were false brethren in those days, much more than today. Though the Church was only few in numbers at that time, false brethren were many. Now look ever the Church today; can you find a Bishop, a Bishop's counselor, a president of Stake or his counselor, or a High Councilor, can you find a President of Seventy, can you find a presiding authority in any mission of the world, or any branch of this Church, that is not true to the faith? There are individuals occasionally who show that they have received a bad spirit, be which they are led astray, but you will find that every President of a Stake and every Bishop of a Ward knows just exactly how to take care of the flock. They are trained, they are inspired, they are established, and they have the same testimony burning in their hearts that burns in the hearts of President Joseph F. Smith, his counselors and the Twelve. I wanted to draw the attention of the conference to this fact, for there are representatives here from almost every Stake and Ward in Zion You all know that what I say is true.
When missionaries go out among the Latter-day Saints, they find that the people are so thoroughly trained and experienced in the doctrines of the Gospel that they are not easily deceived or blinded. The work is so established and so thoroughly fixed upon the earth that it will endure. You will find the Latter-day Saints just as true as their leaders; for they have the same spirit and the same testimony burning in their hearts. These President of Stakes, these presidents of quorums and these men who stand at the head of the wards and the missions at home or abroad, are filled with the same inspiration of the Lord. They know the voice of the true shepherd and they do not know the voice of strangers, and they will not follow them, but they will follow and listen to the true Shepherd. That is my testimony to you, and I thank the Lord that it burns in my heart as it does in yours. Blessed be those who are fortunate enough to maintain their standing and their fellowship in this Church, for this is the Church of Christ. It is not the Church of the. Prophet Joseph, it is not the Church of any of his successors, or of those that may succeed hereafter, but. it is the Church of Jesus Christ: He has established it, and He will preserve, it among the children of men. Righteousness shall be cultivated among this people; corruption and wickedness will not be tolerated.
Speaking of the experience of the Prophet Joseph in the early days, I want to say that though there were many who turned from him, yet he had true and devoted friends, who stood by his side and sustained him to the very last; and he rolled upon their shoulders the cause of the kingdom, and they have been true to that trust. This Church has been taken care of from that time to this, and these, men have walked in the footsteps of their file leaders, in the footsteps of the Prophet Joseph, and they have built upon the foundations which he laid. They have magnified the doctrines that he taught, have sent them to the world, have advocated them, lived by them, and defended them in the earth; and the fruits are seen throughout this mountain country, where the Prophet Joseph saw by vision that this people would be established. He so announced it, and was prepared himself to lead the Church into this very location if his life had not been taken; but in the Prophet Brigham he found a devout, faithful and competent successor. The Church has been established and stands today on foundations that shall never be shaken. It is true and faithful. It is the Lord's and He will take care of it, if you and I will only take care of ourselves and be sure that we are faithful and true, and that we are not deceived nor darkened in our minds.
God bless you and all Israel, our neighbors, our friends, and all that love truth, righteousness and justice, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang:
We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet,
To guide us in these latter days;
We thank thee for sending the Gospel,
To lighten our minds with its rays.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Seymour B. Young.
Gospel principles did not originate with Joseph Smith.—Joseph called of God to be a great prophet.—Gathering and Temple building.—The Church of Christ, and His disciples, always persecuted.— The Saints loyal to the nation, and to the Church.—The Church thoroughly established.
I have been very greatly interested in the remarks of our brethren, and. with the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord I shall take pleasure in talking to you for a few moments. The congregation this morning is unusually large for the first meeting, which indicates that the Saints are interested and are anxious to participate in the conference. The testimonies that we have listened to from the Presidency find an echo in our hearts. The Latter-day Saints are a peculiar people, and every individual member of the Church has the same kind of testimony that is enjoyed by the Presidency. These testimonies are not confined to any quorum or council, but every member of the Church, whether his membership is of long or of short duration, has the same abiding spirit in his soul, and is established and fixed in his faith. For that reason there is no danger to this Church, because the members thereof enjoy the same spirit. We are one; and the doctrines so commend themselves to the judgment of honest people, that when we have tested them and realized how precious, reliable, and soul-satisfying they are, we are never inclined to depart from them so long as we are true and faithful. The principles of the Gospel have always been and will always be true. They have been revealed to us in the latter days. They have not been created in this dispensation. They have not originated with the Prophet Joseph Smith, but they have simply been brought to light and revealed to the children of men in this age. They are possessed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only living and true Church established among the children of men—this Church that has been brought out of obscurity into the light and brought to the attention of the peoples of the world. We have been preaching these doctrines as revealed through the Prophet Joseph, for seventy-five years. We are in the ministry, and are increasing gradually, steadily, and surely, spreading abroad and becoming more solid, substantial and reliable than ever. The work is so well settled that it cannot be disturbed, so we believe, and absolutely know, for It is the work of the Lord. The Lord has called and qualified His servants, commencing with the Prophet Joseph many years ago. He took him in hand. He gave him birth, He brought him forward, introduced him to the world, planted in his heart the doctrines of life and salvation, and early in the last century honored him with the sacred calling of an Apostle, a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, a man of God, a living minister, endowed with inspiration and revelation, a law-giver, such a man as has rarely ever been known among the children of men. I can hardly think of one who has been superior to him among the prophets and patriarchs of God. Of course, the Savior is far in advance of all patriarchs, of all prophets, and of all men in the earth, that are, that have been, or that will be. He is at the front and is the head of all. But among the prophets of God born of women, no man has been superior to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This congregation of thousands of people know it. Hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints know it well. We have entered into covenant with the Lord, we have become acquainted with the doctrines and principles of the Gospel, we have demonstrated and see and know most perfectly that they are the power of God unto salvation. Hence we are not ashamed of these principles. We love them and we honor them, and through our love and devotion and faithfulness to this cause we have obtained that remarkable testimony, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for our brethren of other denominations to convert us to their ways.
The Latter-day Saints possess the truth, and have many principles of truth in addition to what is possessed t)y the people of the world. Of course, we are peculiar for a- number of reasons. It is our peculiarities that make us different from other Christian people. One of our peculiarities is that we gather to the land of Zion, to those sections of the country that have been selected and set apart for the gathering of the Latter-day Saints. Other religious denominations have their churches and their branches where they are successful, but they do not gather as we do. No other people, that I can think of, at present, gather together as we do. This doctrine of the gathering is one of the remarkable features of this church, established by the Prophet Joseph Smith. We believe also in the building of Temples, and have built several.
We believe it is necessary for the salvation of the people living and dead, that temples should be built to the name of the Lord and ordinances performed therein, without which men may not enter into the Celestial Kingdom of the Father. No other people, so far as I am acquainted, are building temples. They build houses of worship, tabernacles and the like, all of which are very useful, and we build them also, but we are remarkable for the building of temples. There are doctrines and principles sacred to the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, revealed through the Prophet Joseph, which require us to make the sacrifice of gathering together, of building temples and of laboring for our kindred that are dead. The living must perform that work for themselves or forfeit the blessing, but those who have died before the knowledge of the truth was among the children of men, we believe, are entitled to salvation, especially if they would have received the truth had it been presented to them. We feel that all such are entitled to salvation, and we make the sacrifice that is necessary for their redemption and for their union throughout eternity. We believe most earnestly and thoroughly that our family relations that we enter into in this life will continue beyond the resurrection. This doctrine has been revealed to us by the Prophet of the nineteenth century. We expect that those relations so sacred to men in this life will continue in the life to come; and we have been taught to be true and faithful men, and we are such. I say to this congregation that Ave are true and loyal men, not only true and loyal to the Church and to the doctrines that we have received, but we are true and loyal among men, honorable as neighbors and as citizens. We love our country, we love its laws, its liberties, its institutions; we love the people of our nation, and we love to live with them, to neighbor with them, and to be friendly with them. We desire to share with them in the benefits of this nation. We desire to share with them the benefits of this city and of the states and territories in which we reside, not only in the United States, but where we have spread abroad into the neighboring commonwealths of Mexico and Canada. Wherever we settle and locate we desire to share with the people, our neighbors, the blessings that are given to mankind. We are a moral people, a sober people, a God-fearing people, who love the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Of course, there are exceptions; but this is a rule with the Latter-day Saints. I speak of those who are faithful and true to the doctrines of the Lord Jesus and who are thoroughly established. They are not only here in Salt Lake, at headquarters, but they are in the cities and counties north, south, east and west of us. You cannot find a little branch or ward of Latter-day Saints but what they are so thoroughly settled and established that an innovator can have no influence over them, and they cannot be converted unto any other form of religion. But we are not all Latter-day Saints here, there are some of us who are fit subjects for the labors of missionaries of all denominations, whom they may make converts. We thank the Lord when they are converted, if we have been unable to convert them and to redeem them. If others can do them good, the Lord be praised; we have no fault to find. But Latter-day Saints, followers of the Prophet Joseph, walking in his footsteps and in his doctrines received from the Lord Jesus, can no more be turned from their faith than anything in the world, for they do know, they are thoroughly converted, and they are established so that they cannot be moved nor led astray.
This Church the Lord has established. He laid its foundations and has built it up. He hath taken care of it and will preserve it. You can always knew just exactly where the Church of Christ is, for where it is the darts of the enemy are always directed, and particularly against the head of the Church. Was not the Savior the head and front of all offending in his life? Was not every dart of the enemy directed against the Son of God until His life was taken? And after Him, His apostles, one by one were destroyed; for at that the people would not endure the sound doctrines of the Lord Jesus. And is it not the same today? Did He not tell His disciples that if the world hated them it hated Him also? The world loves its own; the world is friendly with its own; and if we were of the world and believed as they do, worshiped as they do, and lived as they do, do you think they would find fault with us here? No. We believe more and we do a great deal more in the direction of the saving of mankind than any other body of Christianity, and for that reason they dislike us. Our lives offend them, not because we are wicked, but because we are not of them. They were not offended with the Savior because of his transgressions; they were not offended with His apostles because of their sins. There is no need of sentiment being aroused in regard to people, who are wicked and corrupt, for the law is ready to take hold of them; and, if we transgress the law, we are subject to the law and liable to be handled by it. But as Latter-day Saints we live above the law. We observe the law and keep it sacred, that it shall not take hold of us. We are true to our cities and counties, to our state and to our nation. We are loyal, and, as I said before, we love the institutions of our country. We thank the Lord for the religious liberty that is guaranteed in the United States. We thank Him for the protection that has been given to this Church in the United States, and that we have been preserved and established so solidly that we are in no danger of being removed. The kingdom will remain with this people, and not with any other. Many have gone out from among us. Among them have been men holding great and Important authority, nearly as great as there has been in the Church—even the counselors of the Prophet Joseph. He could hardly get a man that would be true to him, aside from his brother Hyrum. They fell one by one, until every counselor that he ever had departed from his side. But he was true and faithful to the end, and, like our Redeemer, he almost trod the wine-press alone. There were false brethren in those days, much more than today. Though the Church was only few in numbers at that time, false brethren were many. Now look ever the Church today; can you find a Bishop, a Bishop's counselor, a president of Stake or his counselor, or a High Councilor, can you find a President of Seventy, can you find a presiding authority in any mission of the world, or any branch of this Church, that is not true to the faith? There are individuals occasionally who show that they have received a bad spirit, be which they are led astray, but you will find that every President of a Stake and every Bishop of a Ward knows just exactly how to take care of the flock. They are trained, they are inspired, they are established, and they have the same testimony burning in their hearts that burns in the hearts of President Joseph F. Smith, his counselors and the Twelve. I wanted to draw the attention of the conference to this fact, for there are representatives here from almost every Stake and Ward in Zion You all know that what I say is true.
When missionaries go out among the Latter-day Saints, they find that the people are so thoroughly trained and experienced in the doctrines of the Gospel that they are not easily deceived or blinded. The work is so established and so thoroughly fixed upon the earth that it will endure. You will find the Latter-day Saints just as true as their leaders; for they have the same spirit and the same testimony burning in their hearts. These President of Stakes, these presidents of quorums and these men who stand at the head of the wards and the missions at home or abroad, are filled with the same inspiration of the Lord. They know the voice of the true shepherd and they do not know the voice of strangers, and they will not follow them, but they will follow and listen to the true Shepherd. That is my testimony to you, and I thank the Lord that it burns in my heart as it does in yours. Blessed be those who are fortunate enough to maintain their standing and their fellowship in this Church, for this is the Church of Christ. It is not the Church of the. Prophet Joseph, it is not the Church of any of his successors, or of those that may succeed hereafter, but. it is the Church of Jesus Christ: He has established it, and He will preserve, it among the children of men. Righteousness shall be cultivated among this people; corruption and wickedness will not be tolerated.
Speaking of the experience of the Prophet Joseph in the early days, I want to say that though there were many who turned from him, yet he had true and devoted friends, who stood by his side and sustained him to the very last; and he rolled upon their shoulders the cause of the kingdom, and they have been true to that trust. This Church has been taken care of from that time to this, and these, men have walked in the footsteps of their file leaders, in the footsteps of the Prophet Joseph, and they have built upon the foundations which he laid. They have magnified the doctrines that he taught, have sent them to the world, have advocated them, lived by them, and defended them in the earth; and the fruits are seen throughout this mountain country, where the Prophet Joseph saw by vision that this people would be established. He so announced it, and was prepared himself to lead the Church into this very location if his life had not been taken; but in the Prophet Brigham he found a devout, faithful and competent successor. The Church has been established and stands today on foundations that shall never be shaken. It is true and faithful. It is the Lord's and He will take care of it, if you and I will only take care of ourselves and be sure that we are faithful and true, and that we are not deceived nor darkened in our minds.
God bless you and all Israel, our neighbors, our friends, and all that love truth, righteousness and justice, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang:
We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet,
To guide us in these latter days;
We thank thee for sending the Gospel,
To lighten our minds with its rays.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Seymour B. Young.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Conference convened at 2 p. m.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said --
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
Prayer was offered by Elder Nathaniel Smith.
The choir sang the anthem,
"From afar, gracious Lord,
Thou hast gathered Thy flock."
Conference convened at 2 p. m.
The choir and congregation sang:
How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said --
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
Prayer was offered by Elder Nathaniel Smith.
The choir sang the anthem,
"From afar, gracious Lord,
Thou hast gathered Thy flock."
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH.
The work of God cannot be overthrown.— Unselfish devotion of the ministers of the Gospel.—The rights of all mankind guarded by the Church.—Heroic character of the Church leaders.
I am pleased with the privilege of being with you in the commencement of this conference. At the April conference I had been absent in Mexico and did not reach here until the last session. One year ago I was considerably "under the weather" and did not have part with you in the conference at that time. It has been a pleasure to me this morning to hear the songs of Zion, and listen to the voices of our brethren in instructions, reporting the conditions attendant upon the labors of the elders of the church, and in the testimonies that have been borne concerning your fidelity and faith in the work that our Father has established in the world, with the promise that it should never be thrown down nor given to another people. That promise has found lodgment, I believe, in your hearts and has remained with you in the midst of many trying experiences, and will in the future remain, imparting hope and strength which shall cause you to possess the fortitude and faith necessary to fulfill the missions whereunto you have been called by the Almighty. To me, it is ever a Joy to remember those memorable words, and wherever I have found myself, whether at home or abroad, whether in your companionship, under the sound of your voices, or in the association and companionship of men of the world, the same joy and satisfaction has welled up in my soul as the remembrance of these words has come up in my mind. The Latter-day Saints have no cause for concern so far as the work itself is concerned. It is a heritage of the Lord. It has been sent into the world to fulfill a great purpose, and they to whom the message of glad tidings has come are under the obligation to fulfill their part to the best of their ability, based upon the requirement that he who is warned shall warn his neighbor. In this connection we remember that there are few men in this congregation but what have performed this sacred duty with fidelity and faith. Consigning their families to the mercies of the Lord, they have entered the field, in almost every land and clime, and have sought to free themselves from that responsibility which attaches to the acceptance of the Gospel, in heralding the same among their fellow creatures, that when they stand at the bar of the Great Judge and the books are opened, and they are judged out of the books from the things written therein, it will be found that in fulfillment of the sacred obligation and the discharge of this requirement, their names are registered there, and that fidelity and faith, the love of our Father and of His children, characterized their lives. To this end, the gray-haired ones who sit under the sound of my voice upon this occasion have ministered with that determination, that patriotism, and that love that only a love of the Supreme Being and an absolute belief in the sacred mission entrusted to their care could cause them to exhibit. When I look upon the faces of these mothers and these wives who are congregated here today, I remember too, that they have been in no degree less heroic, or less lacking in that abiding faith, and that undying determination in connection 'with the work to which they have been called along with their husbands, fathers or brothers. They also have regarded it as among the sacred heritages of the human race, and it has been their determination that while husband or father was in the field carrying the glad tidings of great joy to the children of men. their homes and their firesides should be guarded from the attacks of the enemy, and their children should be nurtured in the faith which is dear to themselves. And while, perchance, in some instances' these children may not have been as fully equipped in the faith as they should be, as has been intimated in the remarks of presiding brethren this morning, the responses that have been made by the younger members of the church bear witness to the heroism of their mothers, the faith of their fathers, and the honesty and Integrity possessed by themselves.
My brethren and sisters, I rejoice to be numbered with a people such as you are. I rejoice to recognize the fact that you have come from many lands and climes, and that you abandoned those lands for the sake of the truth. I have pleasure in the fact that it has been my privilege, in connection with my brethren, to meet you in those lands, to bear witness of the restoration oi the gospel in its fullness and purity, to declared that the Prophet of this latter-day dispensation did gaze upon the face of the Father and the Son; and we bear that witness in harmony with the declaration that went forth in a former day that an angel of the Lord should fly through the midst of heaven having the Everlasting Gospel to preach to them! that dwell upon the earth, to every nation, to every kindred, to every tongue, and to every people. I have rejoiced in the faithfulness you have displayed in the fulfillment of your sacred duty in the receipt of that warning, in the carrying of these glad tidings, and in meeting the obligation in the manly and womanly way in which it has been done by the heroes and heroines who have builded these western commonwealths and have confronted the trials and tribulations incident to the establishment of homes and the upbuilding of many sections of our land. As I look upon the faces of men who are sitting before me, I see those who have sacrificed every interest in the world for the cause which to their hearts was most dear, and I recognize that in their doing this, it was not to please President Young, it was not to please President John Taylor, it was not to please President Wilford Woodruff, it was not to please President Lorenzo Enow, it was not to please President Joseph F. Smith and his associates. but it was to satisfy their own consciences and to serve that Being who called them by the voice of His Spirit to an understanding of the truth, and had written it in their souls that the most sacred duty which mortal could discharge was to live and minister for the reclamation of the human race, to establish in them faith and an understanding of the gospel, and to minister in the temporal concerns of this life, that' their fellows might possess the blessings and comforts of the present and have joy and satisfaction therein. The gospel we 'have embraced is the truth. It came from the Master. It has been sent to renovate the world, to re-establish among mankind the living faith which had so largely departed from the breasts of the human family, and to bring them to a comprehension of the responsibilities they owe to the Divine Master. Nothing can stay its progress. You and I may fall by the wayside; we may lack the fortitude and faith to endure and fulfill our part; but the work itself has gone on from the day the announcement was made of the administration of heavenly beings, and it will continue in its onward march until every nation, kindred, tongue, and people throughout the universe shall hear the glad tidings of great joy and have the privilege of accepting or rejecting the same in the exercise of the agency our Father has given to them. I trust, that in the fulfillment of our duties, in the discharge of the great obligations that are ours, our hearts and minds will never waver. It can never be anticipated that this work shall be made popular with the human family at large. It cannot be expected that its mission will be accomplished without opposition. It must meet adverse elements, it must overcome obstacles, it must secure the ground step by step, without fear and without favor, honoring- our heavenly Father, and maintaining the dignity of that Priesthood God has given to us—the grandest heritage that was ever given to the children of men in any day and age of the world.
I pray that the blessings of the Gospel may abound with you in the future as in the past; that, true to the obligations that are yours, in every place and in every station, among all men, no matter who or where they may be, you may know where you stand, and, knowing where you stand, you may have the faith and the fortitude to express your views and your sentiments. It has been my experience thus far in life that there is nothing in connection with this work for which any man in the world need blush. There has been no revelation given to the Prophet for which we should have the least feeling of regret or concern. There is nothing within these statute books given by our heavenly Father for which I, as one of His sons, need blush. On the contrary, I honor Him for giving the same, and purpose in the fulfillment of life's mission, if He will give me faith and fortitude so to do, to raise my voice in their defense, and to stand for the advancement and spreading of this work, as I know it came from Him. The same is true not only in regard to our membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it is true in regard to our citizenship in the republic of the United States. No man of standing in this Church has ever in my presence given utterance to a word that would cause me, in any sense of the word, to be ashamed of my citizenship in this glorious land; on the contrary, the sentiment and feeling that has ever come from the lips of the men with whom it has been my privilege to mingle has been to preserve our constitutional liberties, and accord the same rights to every other man, whether he be Jew, Pagan, Christian, Mohammedan, or infidel. So long as he interferes not with the rights and liberties of other men, his liberties should be guarded, his rights should be preserved, and he should be honored in the exercise thereof, and his rights maintained justly and properly. Standing before you with these sentiments in my heart, I trust that we will continue to maintain the highest citizenship it is possible for mortals to do; and that we shall stand for our own liberties, that we shall maintain them to the best of our ability, be subservient to every principle that is right, and concede nothing that is wrong, but stand by the truth, honoring the Lord, fulfilling our obligations, preaching the principles of righteousness to the children of men, and pointing the way of life to every man in whose company it may be our privilege to come.
I bear you my testimony to the truth of the Gospel, and the mission of Joseph Smith; to the mission of his associates that stood around him and were true to him; to the mission of Brigham Young, who was faithful, earnest, devoted and of a heroic mold, and who, had he not been of such type, Would have failed in the great mission that was given to him; honoring and esteeming in his life's ministry that heroic man whose blood mingled with the prophet in Carthage jail, John Taylor; true to that humble and earnest advocate of the principles of the gospel, one of the most successful that ever preached it in the world, Wilford Woodruff; and to that upright man of the Lord, Lorenzo Snow, who presided in righteousness over this people. And I will not in any degree slacken in my allegiance and respect for the man who stands at our head today. No truer man ever breathed the breath of life. No man has ever been more willing to stand up for the principles of justice and mercy. No man has been more loyal in preaching the principles of his faith. No man is more ready today to discharge that high responsibility and fulfill every obligation- Sitting by his side are those who, commencing in their boyhood, have ministered in the interests of this work, and who have never faltered nor turned their back upon the truth in any place or station. Such has been the character of the heroic men who laid the foundations of these commonwealths. Such is the character of the men who stand at the head of these Stakes and Wards, and of the Seventies and Elders who have carried this gospel to the nations, and also of the mothers who have guarded their hearthstones and taught their children in the principles of eternal life. I bear my witness to this work. I know that it is from the Lord, that it has come to stay, that it will continue to spread and increase in the world, and that it will become the joy of the whole earth. May God bless you with faith and fill you with understanding; may we be loyal to ourselves and to our heavenly Father, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A duet, composed by Prof. Evan Stephens, entitled "God Bless and Guard Our Mountain Home," was effectively rendered by George M. Cannon, Jr., and Noall S. Pratt.
The work of God cannot be overthrown.— Unselfish devotion of the ministers of the Gospel.—The rights of all mankind guarded by the Church.—Heroic character of the Church leaders.
I am pleased with the privilege of being with you in the commencement of this conference. At the April conference I had been absent in Mexico and did not reach here until the last session. One year ago I was considerably "under the weather" and did not have part with you in the conference at that time. It has been a pleasure to me this morning to hear the songs of Zion, and listen to the voices of our brethren in instructions, reporting the conditions attendant upon the labors of the elders of the church, and in the testimonies that have been borne concerning your fidelity and faith in the work that our Father has established in the world, with the promise that it should never be thrown down nor given to another people. That promise has found lodgment, I believe, in your hearts and has remained with you in the midst of many trying experiences, and will in the future remain, imparting hope and strength which shall cause you to possess the fortitude and faith necessary to fulfill the missions whereunto you have been called by the Almighty. To me, it is ever a Joy to remember those memorable words, and wherever I have found myself, whether at home or abroad, whether in your companionship, under the sound of your voices, or in the association and companionship of men of the world, the same joy and satisfaction has welled up in my soul as the remembrance of these words has come up in my mind. The Latter-day Saints have no cause for concern so far as the work itself is concerned. It is a heritage of the Lord. It has been sent into the world to fulfill a great purpose, and they to whom the message of glad tidings has come are under the obligation to fulfill their part to the best of their ability, based upon the requirement that he who is warned shall warn his neighbor. In this connection we remember that there are few men in this congregation but what have performed this sacred duty with fidelity and faith. Consigning their families to the mercies of the Lord, they have entered the field, in almost every land and clime, and have sought to free themselves from that responsibility which attaches to the acceptance of the Gospel, in heralding the same among their fellow creatures, that when they stand at the bar of the Great Judge and the books are opened, and they are judged out of the books from the things written therein, it will be found that in fulfillment of the sacred obligation and the discharge of this requirement, their names are registered there, and that fidelity and faith, the love of our Father and of His children, characterized their lives. To this end, the gray-haired ones who sit under the sound of my voice upon this occasion have ministered with that determination, that patriotism, and that love that only a love of the Supreme Being and an absolute belief in the sacred mission entrusted to their care could cause them to exhibit. When I look upon the faces of these mothers and these wives who are congregated here today, I remember too, that they have been in no degree less heroic, or less lacking in that abiding faith, and that undying determination in connection 'with the work to which they have been called along with their husbands, fathers or brothers. They also have regarded it as among the sacred heritages of the human race, and it has been their determination that while husband or father was in the field carrying the glad tidings of great joy to the children of men. their homes and their firesides should be guarded from the attacks of the enemy, and their children should be nurtured in the faith which is dear to themselves. And while, perchance, in some instances' these children may not have been as fully equipped in the faith as they should be, as has been intimated in the remarks of presiding brethren this morning, the responses that have been made by the younger members of the church bear witness to the heroism of their mothers, the faith of their fathers, and the honesty and Integrity possessed by themselves.
My brethren and sisters, I rejoice to be numbered with a people such as you are. I rejoice to recognize the fact that you have come from many lands and climes, and that you abandoned those lands for the sake of the truth. I have pleasure in the fact that it has been my privilege, in connection with my brethren, to meet you in those lands, to bear witness of the restoration oi the gospel in its fullness and purity, to declared that the Prophet of this latter-day dispensation did gaze upon the face of the Father and the Son; and we bear that witness in harmony with the declaration that went forth in a former day that an angel of the Lord should fly through the midst of heaven having the Everlasting Gospel to preach to them! that dwell upon the earth, to every nation, to every kindred, to every tongue, and to every people. I have rejoiced in the faithfulness you have displayed in the fulfillment of your sacred duty in the receipt of that warning, in the carrying of these glad tidings, and in meeting the obligation in the manly and womanly way in which it has been done by the heroes and heroines who have builded these western commonwealths and have confronted the trials and tribulations incident to the establishment of homes and the upbuilding of many sections of our land. As I look upon the faces of men who are sitting before me, I see those who have sacrificed every interest in the world for the cause which to their hearts was most dear, and I recognize that in their doing this, it was not to please President Young, it was not to please President John Taylor, it was not to please President Wilford Woodruff, it was not to please President Lorenzo Enow, it was not to please President Joseph F. Smith and his associates. but it was to satisfy their own consciences and to serve that Being who called them by the voice of His Spirit to an understanding of the truth, and had written it in their souls that the most sacred duty which mortal could discharge was to live and minister for the reclamation of the human race, to establish in them faith and an understanding of the gospel, and to minister in the temporal concerns of this life, that' their fellows might possess the blessings and comforts of the present and have joy and satisfaction therein. The gospel we 'have embraced is the truth. It came from the Master. It has been sent to renovate the world, to re-establish among mankind the living faith which had so largely departed from the breasts of the human family, and to bring them to a comprehension of the responsibilities they owe to the Divine Master. Nothing can stay its progress. You and I may fall by the wayside; we may lack the fortitude and faith to endure and fulfill our part; but the work itself has gone on from the day the announcement was made of the administration of heavenly beings, and it will continue in its onward march until every nation, kindred, tongue, and people throughout the universe shall hear the glad tidings of great joy and have the privilege of accepting or rejecting the same in the exercise of the agency our Father has given to them. I trust, that in the fulfillment of our duties, in the discharge of the great obligations that are ours, our hearts and minds will never waver. It can never be anticipated that this work shall be made popular with the human family at large. It cannot be expected that its mission will be accomplished without opposition. It must meet adverse elements, it must overcome obstacles, it must secure the ground step by step, without fear and without favor, honoring- our heavenly Father, and maintaining the dignity of that Priesthood God has given to us—the grandest heritage that was ever given to the children of men in any day and age of the world.
I pray that the blessings of the Gospel may abound with you in the future as in the past; that, true to the obligations that are yours, in every place and in every station, among all men, no matter who or where they may be, you may know where you stand, and, knowing where you stand, you may have the faith and the fortitude to express your views and your sentiments. It has been my experience thus far in life that there is nothing in connection with this work for which any man in the world need blush. There has been no revelation given to the Prophet for which we should have the least feeling of regret or concern. There is nothing within these statute books given by our heavenly Father for which I, as one of His sons, need blush. On the contrary, I honor Him for giving the same, and purpose in the fulfillment of life's mission, if He will give me faith and fortitude so to do, to raise my voice in their defense, and to stand for the advancement and spreading of this work, as I know it came from Him. The same is true not only in regard to our membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it is true in regard to our citizenship in the republic of the United States. No man of standing in this Church has ever in my presence given utterance to a word that would cause me, in any sense of the word, to be ashamed of my citizenship in this glorious land; on the contrary, the sentiment and feeling that has ever come from the lips of the men with whom it has been my privilege to mingle has been to preserve our constitutional liberties, and accord the same rights to every other man, whether he be Jew, Pagan, Christian, Mohammedan, or infidel. So long as he interferes not with the rights and liberties of other men, his liberties should be guarded, his rights should be preserved, and he should be honored in the exercise thereof, and his rights maintained justly and properly. Standing before you with these sentiments in my heart, I trust that we will continue to maintain the highest citizenship it is possible for mortals to do; and that we shall stand for our own liberties, that we shall maintain them to the best of our ability, be subservient to every principle that is right, and concede nothing that is wrong, but stand by the truth, honoring the Lord, fulfilling our obligations, preaching the principles of righteousness to the children of men, and pointing the way of life to every man in whose company it may be our privilege to come.
I bear you my testimony to the truth of the Gospel, and the mission of Joseph Smith; to the mission of his associates that stood around him and were true to him; to the mission of Brigham Young, who was faithful, earnest, devoted and of a heroic mold, and who, had he not been of such type, Would have failed in the great mission that was given to him; honoring and esteeming in his life's ministry that heroic man whose blood mingled with the prophet in Carthage jail, John Taylor; true to that humble and earnest advocate of the principles of the gospel, one of the most successful that ever preached it in the world, Wilford Woodruff; and to that upright man of the Lord, Lorenzo Snow, who presided in righteousness over this people. And I will not in any degree slacken in my allegiance and respect for the man who stands at our head today. No truer man ever breathed the breath of life. No man has ever been more willing to stand up for the principles of justice and mercy. No man has been more loyal in preaching the principles of his faith. No man is more ready today to discharge that high responsibility and fulfill every obligation- Sitting by his side are those who, commencing in their boyhood, have ministered in the interests of this work, and who have never faltered nor turned their back upon the truth in any place or station. Such has been the character of the heroic men who laid the foundations of these commonwealths. Such is the character of the men who stand at the head of these Stakes and Wards, and of the Seventies and Elders who have carried this gospel to the nations, and also of the mothers who have guarded their hearthstones and taught their children in the principles of eternal life. I bear my witness to this work. I know that it is from the Lord, that it has come to stay, that it will continue to spread and increase in the world, and that it will become the joy of the whole earth. May God bless you with faith and fill you with understanding; may we be loyal to ourselves and to our heavenly Father, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A duet, composed by Prof. Evan Stephens, entitled "God Bless and Guard Our Mountain Home," was effectively rendered by George M. Cannon, Jr., and Noall S. Pratt.
ELDER RUDGER CLAWSON.
Great responsibilities on those who receive God's commandments.—The proclamation of the Gospel.—Building up of Zion.
Brethren and sisters, I have very much rejoiced in the spirit of the conference. I listened with deep interest to the testimonies of the First Presidency and the President of the Twelve at the meeting this morning. I felt that it was a most auspicious opening of our conference, and the congregation which was assembled will judge as to whether they spoke by the Spirit of God, or by some other spirit. I am sure that their words found a response in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints. We not only have with us, brethren and sisters, the living oracles, but we also have the Holy Scriptures, which embody the commandments of God to His people and to the children of men. In every age of the world when the Lord has given a commandment to men, it has always been accompanied by a heavy weight of responsibility. We have examples of this from the beginning. You remember that Moses went by instruction into the mount and communed with the Almighty; he was gone forty days and forty nights. While there he received from the hand of God the Ten Commandments. And with these tables of stone that were entrusted to him came a very great responsibility—a double responsibility, you might say. In the first place Moses was required to deliver these commandments to the children of Israel. Now, if he had taken them to his tent, dug a hole in the earth and hidden them out of sight, he would have stood condemned before the Lord; but we learn that Moses, the law-giver, discharged his duty faithfully and well, for he brought the commandments to the children of Israel. A heavy weight of responsibility rested upon the people with reference to these commandments, as to their attitude and the manner in which they should treat them. If they failed to obey the commandments, they would be answerable to the Lord and would have to give an accounting to Him in the day of judgment. For those commandments were not only binding upon Moses, but they were binding upon the whole people; not only upon the children of Israel, but upon the entire world. Therefore, it was necessary that they should go to the world. We have another striking example in the day of the Savior when He said to His disciples: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." You will observe that no exception was made, but this message was to go to every creature. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." With this commandment from the Messiah to His disciples came a heavy responsibility— a double responsibility. In the first place, they were required not to conceal this message, not to keep it back, not to hold it for themselves and for their immediate family and friends; but the message of the gospel was to go to the entire world, and if they failed to discharge that duty they were under a very serious obligation before the Lord, and they would have to account to Him for it, and perchance the blood of that generation would have been found upon their skirts. But we learn from the Scriptures that they discharged this duty faithfully and well, as did Moses before them, for they carried the gospel in all humility and in faith and power to the world. The moment they did this a very great responsibility rested upon the children of men, as to whether they regarded the message as being divine, and whether they would accept it and be governed by the spirit thereof, and avail themselves of the opportunity and the mercy of the Lord, and thus obtain salvation; otherwise they would stand condemned before the Lord.
So it has been, brethren and sisters, in our day and time. Joseph Smith, the prophet, received revelation, not only by the personal visitation of the Father and the Son, but also in the written word. Furthermore, Joseph Smith received the authority of the apostleship and priesthood under the hands of Peter, James and John, and also under the hands of John the Baptist, by which the Melchisedek and the Aaronic priesthoods were restored to the earth. With the restoration of this authority there came to Joseph Smith a very heavy responsibility. He could not be justified for a moment in keeping the information from the world. He could not hide it away. He could not call around him his immediate family and friends and indicate to them only what the Lord had done, but he must bear the message to the whole world. Growing out of that responsibility, there has been established in the church a vast system for proselyting, which has continued to this day, running down through the years. Elders from this church have been continually sent into the field to preach the Gospel, numbering as high as two thousand at a time. I think that there is now about twelve hundred in the mission field. I leave you, brethren and sisters, to judge whether any degree of responsibility comes with the invitation of the First Presidency of this Church to your sons to go forth and proclaim the gospel message, which came first to Joseph Smith, the prophet. Mark these words that will be found in section 84 of the book of Doctrine & Covenants. Speaking of the early Elders who were sent out to preach the gospel (and you will perceive also that the language applies to Elders of our day and time) the Lord says:
Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come. And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face: I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
Whoso receiveth you receiveth me, and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money.
And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in no wise lose his reward;
And he that doeth not these things is not my disciple; by this you may know my disciples.
He that receiveth you not, go away from him alone by yourselves, and cleanse your feet even with water, pure water, whether in heat or in cold, and bear testimony of it unto your Father which is in heaven, and return not again unto that man.
And in whatsoever village or city ye enter, do likewise.
Nevertheless, search diligently and spare not; and wo unto that house, or that village or city that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimony concerning me.
Wo, I say again, unto that house, or that village or city that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimonies.
In Section 75 it is said: "And it shall be more tolerable for the heathen in the day of judgment than for that house. Therefore, gird up your loins and be faithful, and ye shall overcome all things and be lifted up at the last day."
You will perceive that this invitation which comes to the young men of Israel to go forth and bear this gospel message, carries with it a heavy weight of responsibility, first with the Elders themselves, for if they reject the invitation, if they turn away from the voice of the priesthood, which is the voice of God. if they refuse to perform this obligation, it may be that the blood of this generation will be found upon their skirts. On the other hand, if they discharge this duty faithfully and well, you perceive that there is a heavy weight of responsibility resting upon the people of the world who hear this message, though it may come to them in a humble manner, by those who may possibly be unlearned or inexperienced, and who bring it to their doors, from house to house, and, as the revelation says, from city to city. If they reject it, God will hold them to a strict accounting and, as He has said by His own voice, " it will be more tolerable for the heathen in the day of judgment than for that house or that city."
But I remind you, brethren and sisters, that this responsibility of preaching the gospel to the world is not all. It does not fully cover the ground, because there is a responsibility resting upon the Elders of Israel with reference to the building up of Zion; for, as the Lord says, every heart shall be pierced, and every ear shall hear. This message of life and salvation, too, must not only go to the strangers and to people who have never heard it in the world, but it must also go to the children of Zion, to your children and to my children. They must be taught and warned. You will remember what the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel along this line:
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
When I say unto the wicked. Thou Shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
That is the attitude, brethren and sisters, which the authorities of this church, the High Priests, Seventies and Eiders, and the authorities of the lesser priesthood, bear toward this people; They are called to be watchmen upon the towers of Zion, and to give notice and warning, to point out the evil before it comes, and to guard the young against danger. What must we think when we learn that there are many who bear the sacred authority of the holy priesthood, who are careless and indifferent, and who fail to magnify this authority and to carry the message to the people? Will not the displeasure of the Lord be upon them? Will not this thing be required at their hands? Will they not have to give a strict account of the priesthood and power which they have received from the heavens? This responsibility has been passed from the shoulders of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and now rests down upon the Elders of Israel who have succeeded him, and who are on the scene of action. The Lord says to His servants: "Behold, how great is your calling; cleanse your hearts and your garments, lest the blood of this generation be required at your hands." I think that passage will be found in section one hundred and twelve. It is the strict injunction of the Lord.
I rejoice in the gospel, in the authority of the holy priesthood, and in the power that is manifested by this people in carrying out the great purposes of Jehovah. The work will stand, and the will of the Lord be accomplished, as we have heard it from the Presidency of the Church and those who have spoken. I testify to this, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Great responsibilities on those who receive God's commandments.—The proclamation of the Gospel.—Building up of Zion.
Brethren and sisters, I have very much rejoiced in the spirit of the conference. I listened with deep interest to the testimonies of the First Presidency and the President of the Twelve at the meeting this morning. I felt that it was a most auspicious opening of our conference, and the congregation which was assembled will judge as to whether they spoke by the Spirit of God, or by some other spirit. I am sure that their words found a response in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints. We not only have with us, brethren and sisters, the living oracles, but we also have the Holy Scriptures, which embody the commandments of God to His people and to the children of men. In every age of the world when the Lord has given a commandment to men, it has always been accompanied by a heavy weight of responsibility. We have examples of this from the beginning. You remember that Moses went by instruction into the mount and communed with the Almighty; he was gone forty days and forty nights. While there he received from the hand of God the Ten Commandments. And with these tables of stone that were entrusted to him came a very great responsibility—a double responsibility, you might say. In the first place Moses was required to deliver these commandments to the children of Israel. Now, if he had taken them to his tent, dug a hole in the earth and hidden them out of sight, he would have stood condemned before the Lord; but we learn that Moses, the law-giver, discharged his duty faithfully and well, for he brought the commandments to the children of Israel. A heavy weight of responsibility rested upon the people with reference to these commandments, as to their attitude and the manner in which they should treat them. If they failed to obey the commandments, they would be answerable to the Lord and would have to give an accounting to Him in the day of judgment. For those commandments were not only binding upon Moses, but they were binding upon the whole people; not only upon the children of Israel, but upon the entire world. Therefore, it was necessary that they should go to the world. We have another striking example in the day of the Savior when He said to His disciples: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." You will observe that no exception was made, but this message was to go to every creature. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." With this commandment from the Messiah to His disciples came a heavy responsibility— a double responsibility. In the first place, they were required not to conceal this message, not to keep it back, not to hold it for themselves and for their immediate family and friends; but the message of the gospel was to go to the entire world, and if they failed to discharge that duty they were under a very serious obligation before the Lord, and they would have to account to Him for it, and perchance the blood of that generation would have been found upon their skirts. But we learn from the Scriptures that they discharged this duty faithfully and well, as did Moses before them, for they carried the gospel in all humility and in faith and power to the world. The moment they did this a very great responsibility rested upon the children of men, as to whether they regarded the message as being divine, and whether they would accept it and be governed by the spirit thereof, and avail themselves of the opportunity and the mercy of the Lord, and thus obtain salvation; otherwise they would stand condemned before the Lord.
So it has been, brethren and sisters, in our day and time. Joseph Smith, the prophet, received revelation, not only by the personal visitation of the Father and the Son, but also in the written word. Furthermore, Joseph Smith received the authority of the apostleship and priesthood under the hands of Peter, James and John, and also under the hands of John the Baptist, by which the Melchisedek and the Aaronic priesthoods were restored to the earth. With the restoration of this authority there came to Joseph Smith a very heavy responsibility. He could not be justified for a moment in keeping the information from the world. He could not hide it away. He could not call around him his immediate family and friends and indicate to them only what the Lord had done, but he must bear the message to the whole world. Growing out of that responsibility, there has been established in the church a vast system for proselyting, which has continued to this day, running down through the years. Elders from this church have been continually sent into the field to preach the Gospel, numbering as high as two thousand at a time. I think that there is now about twelve hundred in the mission field. I leave you, brethren and sisters, to judge whether any degree of responsibility comes with the invitation of the First Presidency of this Church to your sons to go forth and proclaim the gospel message, which came first to Joseph Smith, the prophet. Mark these words that will be found in section 84 of the book of Doctrine & Covenants. Speaking of the early Elders who were sent out to preach the gospel (and you will perceive also that the language applies to Elders of our day and time) the Lord says:
Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come. And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face: I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.
Whoso receiveth you receiveth me, and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money.
And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in no wise lose his reward;
And he that doeth not these things is not my disciple; by this you may know my disciples.
He that receiveth you not, go away from him alone by yourselves, and cleanse your feet even with water, pure water, whether in heat or in cold, and bear testimony of it unto your Father which is in heaven, and return not again unto that man.
And in whatsoever village or city ye enter, do likewise.
Nevertheless, search diligently and spare not; and wo unto that house, or that village or city that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimony concerning me.
Wo, I say again, unto that house, or that village or city that rejecteth you, or your words, or your testimonies.
In Section 75 it is said: "And it shall be more tolerable for the heathen in the day of judgment than for that house. Therefore, gird up your loins and be faithful, and ye shall overcome all things and be lifted up at the last day."
You will perceive that this invitation which comes to the young men of Israel to go forth and bear this gospel message, carries with it a heavy weight of responsibility, first with the Elders themselves, for if they reject the invitation, if they turn away from the voice of the priesthood, which is the voice of God. if they refuse to perform this obligation, it may be that the blood of this generation will be found upon their skirts. On the other hand, if they discharge this duty faithfully and well, you perceive that there is a heavy weight of responsibility resting upon the people of the world who hear this message, though it may come to them in a humble manner, by those who may possibly be unlearned or inexperienced, and who bring it to their doors, from house to house, and, as the revelation says, from city to city. If they reject it, God will hold them to a strict accounting and, as He has said by His own voice, " it will be more tolerable for the heathen in the day of judgment than for that house or that city."
But I remind you, brethren and sisters, that this responsibility of preaching the gospel to the world is not all. It does not fully cover the ground, because there is a responsibility resting upon the Elders of Israel with reference to the building up of Zion; for, as the Lord says, every heart shall be pierced, and every ear shall hear. This message of life and salvation, too, must not only go to the strangers and to people who have never heard it in the world, but it must also go to the children of Zion, to your children and to my children. They must be taught and warned. You will remember what the Lord said to the prophet Ezekiel along this line:
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
When I say unto the wicked. Thou Shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
That is the attitude, brethren and sisters, which the authorities of this church, the High Priests, Seventies and Eiders, and the authorities of the lesser priesthood, bear toward this people; They are called to be watchmen upon the towers of Zion, and to give notice and warning, to point out the evil before it comes, and to guard the young against danger. What must we think when we learn that there are many who bear the sacred authority of the holy priesthood, who are careless and indifferent, and who fail to magnify this authority and to carry the message to the people? Will not the displeasure of the Lord be upon them? Will not this thing be required at their hands? Will they not have to give a strict account of the priesthood and power which they have received from the heavens? This responsibility has been passed from the shoulders of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and now rests down upon the Elders of Israel who have succeeded him, and who are on the scene of action. The Lord says to His servants: "Behold, how great is your calling; cleanse your hearts and your garments, lest the blood of this generation be required at your hands." I think that passage will be found in section one hundred and twelve. It is the strict injunction of the Lord.
I rejoice in the gospel, in the authority of the holy priesthood, and in the power that is manifested by this people in carrying out the great purposes of Jehovah. The work will stand, and the will of the Lord be accomplished, as we have heard it from the Presidency of the Church and those who have spoken. I testify to this, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER REED SMOOT.
The young people of the Church loyal to it and to the authorities.—Futile efforts of the opponents of God's work.—Arduous labors of the First Presidency.— Trials necessary.—The Saints will be faithful, and victorious.
I desire, my brothers and sisters, to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the privilege I have of standing before this immense congregation of Latter-day Saints, and expressing to them, in the few moments I have at my command, some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind during this conference. I am indeed thankful for my standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am indeed thankful for the position occupied today in the world's affairs by the Church and by the people; and "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation." I believe with all my soul, and with all the understanding that God has given me, that this is His work, and that it is designed to redeem the earth, to bring light unto its inhabitants, to make people better, and to ma\e this planet a fit place for the second coming of the Lord and Master.
I have had a great deal of pleasure in visiting the different parts of our state, mingling with the people, seeing the conditions surrounding them. and noting their loyalty to the work of God. Brother John Henry Smith, in speaking of the loyalty of the gray-haired men and women before him, touched my heart. I also say that, not only are they loyal to this work, but, if I am any judge, the young people are just as loyal to the authorities and to the institutions of the Church as were our fathers in the past, and a& they are today. Our brethren have been testifying to the loyalty, which is manifest in our church towards the authorities, and especially towards the presidency. I feel like testifying to you, and to all. that this great work of God is in the hands of honest, upright. God-fearing men. Assaults are made upon us from all sides. Many claim that they are not assailing the "Mormon" people, nor the principles of the Gospel which they believe, but it is the leaders they are condemning and finding fault with. They are also trying to bring distrust of the authorities into the minds of the Latter-day Saints. Why are they assailing the principle of tithing? Why are they trying to make you believe that every cent paid by you, for the forwarding of God's work upon this earth, is being handled by dishonest men and being spent, not for the work itself but for the aggrandizement and personal benefit of men? If I had the power to reach the heart of every honest Latter-day Saint, and if I had the confidence of every soul that hears my voice, I would testify to this fact, that, as far as the tithing of the Church is concerned, not one farthing is spent wrongfully, or is diverted from the channel in which it was intended to be used. O, how natural it is for our opponents to try to advance some argument that may bring distrust into the minds of people, and cause apostasy in our midst. They think they have found a condemning argument In the collection and use of tithing, and, in calling attention to it, they rely on the appeals they make to the selfishness of the people. But the evil one today plainly sees and knows as well as, or perhaps better than, we do, that this great work of God is moving on, spreading in foreign lands, and reaching to the farthest ends of the world. It is therefore natural for his emissaries to cry "fraud, fraud." We are informed that the Church is building meetinghouses and establishing headquarters upon the islands of the sea, and in all the great countries of Europe. Respectable, places of worship, and homes for presidents of missions, are also being established in some of the principal cities of our great country. The Devi! sees these things going on, and he knows there must be something done to retard the work if possible, and inciting the. cry of "fraud, fraud," is one way he has of attacking it. He thinks by this to bring distrust into the minds of the people; but he will fail in this just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow morning. I believe that the Latter-day Saints, who have the Spirit of God in them, never had more confidence in a man, or set of men, than they have in the presidency of the Church today. I wish that everyone could read the heart and understand the thoughts of the presidency, and all others who are trying, in their humble way. to lead and direct the affairs of this people. I feel that if it were possible for you to do so, you would not only love them as you have in the past, but you would have for them still greater love; and the confidence you would have in them would be such that you could pray for them with all your soul, and uphold them, and ask the blessings of God upon them in the important work they are trying to accomplish in this dispensation.
Some people think, as I have heard it expressed, inspired from the source of all misrepresentation and falsehood, that the president of the Church does not work, and that he and his counselors do not give the attention they should to the work of the Lord. I wish that these men had more physical strength than they have, for I testify to you that it is strained to the utmost. I go into their office and I see almost an arm full of mail brought in several times a day. I find President Winder, eighty-three years old, reading aloud almost every letter, and, with the President of the Church, and the other counselor, attending to every little detail that is brought to their notice from all parts of this great Church. While speaking upon this subject, I feel to ask the brethren here, Who hold leading positions in the Church, as well as all members in the different stakes of Zion who write letters to the presidency, if it is absolutely necessary for you to write, make the letters as short as you can, but do not write unless it is necessary. I would advise the people to first go to their Bishop, and, if possible, get from him the advice and counsel they need; if unable to get it from him, then apply to the presidency of the stake, and, if it becomes absolutely necessary to appeal to the First Presidency, make the communication just as short as possible, for those brethren are worked almost to death. I feel like asking the good people of the Church to bear this in mind when they are tempted to write long letters to the Presidency.
I have absolute confidence in the majority of the young people of the Church and in their understanding of the truth of the Gospel. Being born in the Covenant and reared among the Saints, I have absolute confidence that they are net going to be tricked or turned aside by misrepresentations. I feel that, when they stop to consider and compare things as they are today with conditions of the past, they will be led to say that, as far as they are concerned, they will be loyal and true to the fathers and mothers who gave them birth.
My brethren and sisters, I hope you will never be discouraged, and never feel that God is going to abandon this people, for He never will as long as we are prayerful and feel in our souls to do His will, according to the wisdom and light He has given us. I have thought a great deal lately of the history of the Church, and I have wondered sometimes whether our position as a people is any different today than it has been from the beginning of the Church. As I study the history of the people, I find that it is about the same as it always has been, with but few exceptions. Whenever there is a great advance, and when the evil one sees the Church progressing a little more rapidly than usual, it arouses him to greater action. I read here the 'word of the Lord to Joseph the Prophet, while he was in Liberty Jail, Clay County, Missouri, March, 1839. At that time prospects looked very black to him. He, the Prophet of God, was being hounded on every hand, and every kind of a charge being made against him. His heart was heavy. He was pondering how it was that these things should come to a man who was trying to serve the good Master, and while in that condition of mind the Lord gave unto him these words:
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
I believe with all my heart that our trials are given us for the same purpose. We are to be a tried people. We are to be thrice tried, as the Saints of old. I believe that all trials are given to us for experience, just as the Lord permitted them to be given to Joseph in the early days of the church. At this same time the Lord said to him, "Thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors." I say to you, President Joseph F. Smith, that the Saints in this vast congregation (and they are but representative of the communities in which they live) will never turn against thee by the testimony of traitors.
My brethren and sisters, all I care for is that we may live as God wants us to live, observing all the requirements made of us, and performing the duty that is incumbent upon us, then all will be well, as sure as He has spoken from the heavens. As I travel among the people and see the feeling of loyalty and truth existing, I feel in my soul to say, God bless the Latter-day Saints in all their interests, in their basket and in their store. God bless them with strong testimony, that they may know the voice of the true shepherd. I feel in my soul that they will know it. No matter what transpires, or who may come in our midst thinking there will be a falling away from the Church, and that they may succeed in gathering in the lost ones. I say there never was a time when the people testified with more fervency, and with a deeper feeling of love for our heavenly Father and His work, than they do at the present moment. I bear my testimony to you that this work is the work of God, and He will make it triumphant in the end; we will love it, and be loyal to it, and its interests; and we will be loyal to every institution upon the earth that has for Its object the advancement of mankind. We will continue to be good citizens of this nation; we will uphold and pray for it. We will be true men and true women to our Church, to our country, and to our God. May God bless you, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The young people of the Church loyal to it and to the authorities.—Futile efforts of the opponents of God's work.—Arduous labors of the First Presidency.— Trials necessary.—The Saints will be faithful, and victorious.
I desire, my brothers and sisters, to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the privilege I have of standing before this immense congregation of Latter-day Saints, and expressing to them, in the few moments I have at my command, some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind during this conference. I am indeed thankful for my standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am indeed thankful for the position occupied today in the world's affairs by the Church and by the people; and "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation." I believe with all my soul, and with all the understanding that God has given me, that this is His work, and that it is designed to redeem the earth, to bring light unto its inhabitants, to make people better, and to ma\e this planet a fit place for the second coming of the Lord and Master.
I have had a great deal of pleasure in visiting the different parts of our state, mingling with the people, seeing the conditions surrounding them. and noting their loyalty to the work of God. Brother John Henry Smith, in speaking of the loyalty of the gray-haired men and women before him, touched my heart. I also say that, not only are they loyal to this work, but, if I am any judge, the young people are just as loyal to the authorities and to the institutions of the Church as were our fathers in the past, and a& they are today. Our brethren have been testifying to the loyalty, which is manifest in our church towards the authorities, and especially towards the presidency. I feel like testifying to you, and to all. that this great work of God is in the hands of honest, upright. God-fearing men. Assaults are made upon us from all sides. Many claim that they are not assailing the "Mormon" people, nor the principles of the Gospel which they believe, but it is the leaders they are condemning and finding fault with. They are also trying to bring distrust of the authorities into the minds of the Latter-day Saints. Why are they assailing the principle of tithing? Why are they trying to make you believe that every cent paid by you, for the forwarding of God's work upon this earth, is being handled by dishonest men and being spent, not for the work itself but for the aggrandizement and personal benefit of men? If I had the power to reach the heart of every honest Latter-day Saint, and if I had the confidence of every soul that hears my voice, I would testify to this fact, that, as far as the tithing of the Church is concerned, not one farthing is spent wrongfully, or is diverted from the channel in which it was intended to be used. O, how natural it is for our opponents to try to advance some argument that may bring distrust into the minds of people, and cause apostasy in our midst. They think they have found a condemning argument In the collection and use of tithing, and, in calling attention to it, they rely on the appeals they make to the selfishness of the people. But the evil one today plainly sees and knows as well as, or perhaps better than, we do, that this great work of God is moving on, spreading in foreign lands, and reaching to the farthest ends of the world. It is therefore natural for his emissaries to cry "fraud, fraud." We are informed that the Church is building meetinghouses and establishing headquarters upon the islands of the sea, and in all the great countries of Europe. Respectable, places of worship, and homes for presidents of missions, are also being established in some of the principal cities of our great country. The Devi! sees these things going on, and he knows there must be something done to retard the work if possible, and inciting the. cry of "fraud, fraud," is one way he has of attacking it. He thinks by this to bring distrust into the minds of the people; but he will fail in this just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow morning. I believe that the Latter-day Saints, who have the Spirit of God in them, never had more confidence in a man, or set of men, than they have in the presidency of the Church today. I wish that everyone could read the heart and understand the thoughts of the presidency, and all others who are trying, in their humble way. to lead and direct the affairs of this people. I feel that if it were possible for you to do so, you would not only love them as you have in the past, but you would have for them still greater love; and the confidence you would have in them would be such that you could pray for them with all your soul, and uphold them, and ask the blessings of God upon them in the important work they are trying to accomplish in this dispensation.
Some people think, as I have heard it expressed, inspired from the source of all misrepresentation and falsehood, that the president of the Church does not work, and that he and his counselors do not give the attention they should to the work of the Lord. I wish that these men had more physical strength than they have, for I testify to you that it is strained to the utmost. I go into their office and I see almost an arm full of mail brought in several times a day. I find President Winder, eighty-three years old, reading aloud almost every letter, and, with the President of the Church, and the other counselor, attending to every little detail that is brought to their notice from all parts of this great Church. While speaking upon this subject, I feel to ask the brethren here, Who hold leading positions in the Church, as well as all members in the different stakes of Zion who write letters to the presidency, if it is absolutely necessary for you to write, make the letters as short as you can, but do not write unless it is necessary. I would advise the people to first go to their Bishop, and, if possible, get from him the advice and counsel they need; if unable to get it from him, then apply to the presidency of the stake, and, if it becomes absolutely necessary to appeal to the First Presidency, make the communication just as short as possible, for those brethren are worked almost to death. I feel like asking the good people of the Church to bear this in mind when they are tempted to write long letters to the Presidency.
I have absolute confidence in the majority of the young people of the Church and in their understanding of the truth of the Gospel. Being born in the Covenant and reared among the Saints, I have absolute confidence that they are net going to be tricked or turned aside by misrepresentations. I feel that, when they stop to consider and compare things as they are today with conditions of the past, they will be led to say that, as far as they are concerned, they will be loyal and true to the fathers and mothers who gave them birth.
My brethren and sisters, I hope you will never be discouraged, and never feel that God is going to abandon this people, for He never will as long as we are prayerful and feel in our souls to do His will, according to the wisdom and light He has given us. I have thought a great deal lately of the history of the Church, and I have wondered sometimes whether our position as a people is any different today than it has been from the beginning of the Church. As I study the history of the people, I find that it is about the same as it always has been, with but few exceptions. Whenever there is a great advance, and when the evil one sees the Church progressing a little more rapidly than usual, it arouses him to greater action. I read here the 'word of the Lord to Joseph the Prophet, while he was in Liberty Jail, Clay County, Missouri, March, 1839. At that time prospects looked very black to him. He, the Prophet of God, was being hounded on every hand, and every kind of a charge being made against him. His heart was heavy. He was pondering how it was that these things should come to a man who was trying to serve the good Master, and while in that condition of mind the Lord gave unto him these words:
"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
I believe with all my heart that our trials are given us for the same purpose. We are to be a tried people. We are to be thrice tried, as the Saints of old. I believe that all trials are given to us for experience, just as the Lord permitted them to be given to Joseph in the early days of the church. At this same time the Lord said to him, "Thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors." I say to you, President Joseph F. Smith, that the Saints in this vast congregation (and they are but representative of the communities in which they live) will never turn against thee by the testimony of traitors.
My brethren and sisters, all I care for is that we may live as God wants us to live, observing all the requirements made of us, and performing the duty that is incumbent upon us, then all will be well, as sure as He has spoken from the heavens. As I travel among the people and see the feeling of loyalty and truth existing, I feel in my soul to say, God bless the Latter-day Saints in all their interests, in their basket and in their store. God bless them with strong testimony, that they may know the voice of the true shepherd. I feel in my soul that they will know it. No matter what transpires, or who may come in our midst thinking there will be a falling away from the Church, and that they may succeed in gathering in the lost ones. I say there never was a time when the people testified with more fervency, and with a deeper feeling of love for our heavenly Father and His work, than they do at the present moment. I bear my testimony to you that this work is the work of God, and He will make it triumphant in the end; we will love it, and be loyal to it, and its interests; and we will be loyal to every institution upon the earth that has for Its object the advancement of mankind. We will continue to be good citizens of this nation; we will uphold and pray for it. We will be true men and true women to our Church, to our country, and to our God. May God bless you, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER HYRUM M. SMITH.
Magnitude of the work of God.—Abundant opportunities to acquire knowledge.— Reasons for diligence and. faithfulness.— Respect for local authorities.
My brothers and sisters, I greatly desire that you shall accord me the same attention you have extended to my brethren who have spoken already, and that you will assist me by your prayers, that in bearing testimony to the truth of the everlasting Gospel I may do so under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord. The Latter-day Saints certainly have wonderfully good times when they gather in their general conferences. They never fail to come together in the spirit of prayer and with a great desire in their hearts that the Lord will have something to say to them through His servants who shall speak; and when they come together In this spirit they never fail to receive the word of the Lord, that word which fills their souls with joy and thanksgiving, and which allays any doubt that may have found lodgment in their minds. They never fail to be built up and strengthened, and they go home after the conference is over, feeling that the Lord is with His people.
Now, the thing that is on my mind this afternoon is the greatness of the work which has been introduced into the world in this day and age through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We meet together here in vast numbers, and yet though all the Latter-day Saints were met together they would only be a hand-full compared to the multitudes of people that dwell in the earth. We have been highly favored of the Lord, in that He has sent His servants unto us with the word of truth and of revelation, and He has put it into our hearts to receive that word and to obtain a testimony of the truth of the revelation which He has given to the world. We younger ones, the young men and the young women of Israel, who have been so highly favored as to be born in the Church, having the testimony of the truth born in us and having the seed of truth grow and develop within us, most assuredly ought to feel thankfulness to our Father in heaven for it. The whole world still lieth in darkness. "This Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached in all the world as a witness before the end shall come."' The angel who introduced this Gospel came with it that it might be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. And while we are doing a great deal towards the carrying of the message unto the nations of the earth, still the progress we are making, when we consider the vast amount of work that must be done, is only small, and we have only advanced a little way.
I believe all that has been said of the Latter-day Saints by our brethren who have spoken. I believe they are the children of God, and that they have the testimony of the truth burning within their souls. I believe they love the truth and desire to keep the commandments of the Lord. Yet I am constrained to believe they still need more labor among them every day than ought to be necessary. I believe that they should be firmly founded in the knowledge of the truth, by reason of the great blessings the Lord has bestowed upon them, and the great means He has placed in their way whereby they may learn of Him. They have the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, which contains the word of God; the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price; they have the Journal of Discourses; also periodicals, books and papers which are published from time to time containing the discourses and inspired words of the servants of the Lord. All these they have, and all they need do, if they have the desire, is to open the books and there read the word of the Lord. In addition to this it seems essential that the Twelve and the Seven Presidents of the Seventies shall visit the various Stakes of Zion and spend all their time, month after month, year after year, exhorting the Saints to faithfulness, reproving them at times for wickedness and folly, laboring to keep them, as it were, to the line and from departing by degrees from their full duty. Now this is what I think ought not to be. I think that the Saints ought to know the truth as well as the servants of the Lord. They ought to be' as firmly grounded in the faith. It ought to be just as impossible to move them from the truth as it is to move the men who stand at the head of the Church; and the time of the Twelve, and that of the Seventies (who labor among the members holding the Priesthood of Seventy) might be given to these hundreds of millions of people who still dwell in the world without a knowledge of the truth. I am constrained to believe that if the same amount of inspired preaching of the word of the Lord that is done among the Saints were done in the world, thousands and tens of thousands of honest souls who are now in the world might be brought to the knowledge of the true Gospel, and they might gather with the Saints and enjoy the blessings of the house of the Lord, and there labor for their own salvation and for the redemption of their dead. We ought to rely a little more than we do upon the Lord and upon the intelligence He has given us to develop the light within us, to become better informed, to be more faithful than we are, notwithstanding good testimony of our faithfulness may be borne now. My brethren and sisters, there is no reason in the world why the Saints should not keep the commandments of the Lord, there is no reason why they need fail to do their duty towards the Lord and towards their fellow men» Surely, the Lord has held out the hand of fellowship to us. Truly, He has not withheld when we have asked Him. He has fulfilled on our heads the promise that if we will ask of Him He will give freely unto us, whether it be wisdom, or the necessaries of life or intelligence, or knowledge, no matter what it be, if it is for our good and for the good of the children of men. He has not withheld it from us. All things, it would seem, that the Latter-day Saints could possibly desire, the Lord has given freely. We ought to be His people. We ought to hang on firmly and steadfastly to the truth. Great will be the condemnation of the Saints if they fail to remain faithful after all that the Lord has done for them. A season has just passed that has been wonderfully prosperous and bounteous to the Saints; prosperity abounds on every hand temporally, and the Spirit of the Lord is being poured out in great abundance. Prophecy, revelation and the gifts of the Holy Ghost are also enjoyed by them. All these things the Lord has done for us. Ought we not then to be true and faithful in keeping His commandments? We ought not to complain if our stake conferences come and go and we do not have in our midst one of the brethren known as the authorities of the Church. Why, my brethren and sisters, all men who hold the holy Priesthood are authorities in the Church, and through the Deacon the Lord may speak unto the people, and give His word of praise or reproof, or bestow upon them His blessing. The Priest and the Teacher likewise. The Bishop, the High Priest, the Seventy, the President of a Stake — all of these servants of the Lord are authorities of the Church, and when you have them in your midst you may hear the word of the Lord preached, you may hear and see' and feel the inspiration of the Lord. Therefore you should be content. You should not feel to complain, even though one of the Twelve, or the First Council of Seventy, or even the First Presidency, find it impossible' to be with you. You should read the word of the Lord from the books, and kneeling down around the family altar, you should commune with the Lord and ask Him for wisdom, judgment and enlightenment. You should depend more upon Him and less than some of us do upon those who constitute the authorities of the church. Then turn your hearts, my brethren and sisters, to the nations of the earth, to the kindreds, and tongues, and peoples, all of whom are the Lord's children, who are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the whole world in untold numbers, many of whom are only waiting for an opportunity to hear the word of the Good Shepherd. Pray not only for yourselves, but for them also. Pray that the door of the Gospel may be opened to them, that the servants of the Lord may be sent unto them, and that those who have this work upon their shoulders of carrying the Gospel unto all nations may be at liberty to go. Say that they may go with your blessing, and that you will endeavor to more greatly appreciate the local authorities of the church, some of whom sit round your own tables and hearthstones, and are your sons, husbands and fathers who hold the holy priesthood.
I was going to read from the Scripture, but I have almost let it go by:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 18: 44-46.)
Do we appreciate the kingdom of God in this way? Do we value it above all else? Is it more dear to us than the fruit of the field, than the treasures of the mine, than the wealth that can be gathered from all of the avocations and occupations of life? Do we value this kingdom of God even as a goodly pearl, which is beyond price? I believe we do. All else is as nothing when compared to it, and we would gladly, if need be, sell all we had to possess it and make it our own, or at least to become a member in the kingdom.
Now, my brothers and sisters, cleave unto the truth. Lay hold upon this "iron rod," and never, release that hold. Go forward steadily with your eyes set upon the tree of life until you are partakers of its fruit, which Is the word of the Lord, and which above all else is most joyous to the soul of the righteous man. Be faithful all your days. Prepare yourselves to help in the work of the redemption of the human race; and do not be content to say, "In my heart is a knowledge of the truth, I know the gospel is true, and I rejoice in it," and then stop. Do not stop there. Say that and still more: "O Lord, make me an instrument in Thy hands. Make all Thy servants who have been called of Thee wonderful and powerful instruments in Thy hands, that this same gospel which lighteth my soul, and which filleth me with gladness, may be sent unto all the world, that my neighbor, my brother, Thy children, may rejoice in Thee, even with me, by being brought into Thy kingdom." May the (testimony of the truth ever be with you, my brothers and sisters. May the powers of evil never be permitted to tempt you from your duty or from the path of right. The Lord will be with you, and build you up, and make you a power in the world for good; and through us, lives through us, even as through Father Abraham, because of our faithfulness in keeping the commandments of the Lord, shall the whole world be blest and be led to glorify God. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Magnitude of the work of God.—Abundant opportunities to acquire knowledge.— Reasons for diligence and. faithfulness.— Respect for local authorities.
My brothers and sisters, I greatly desire that you shall accord me the same attention you have extended to my brethren who have spoken already, and that you will assist me by your prayers, that in bearing testimony to the truth of the everlasting Gospel I may do so under the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord. The Latter-day Saints certainly have wonderfully good times when they gather in their general conferences. They never fail to come together in the spirit of prayer and with a great desire in their hearts that the Lord will have something to say to them through His servants who shall speak; and when they come together In this spirit they never fail to receive the word of the Lord, that word which fills their souls with joy and thanksgiving, and which allays any doubt that may have found lodgment in their minds. They never fail to be built up and strengthened, and they go home after the conference is over, feeling that the Lord is with His people.
Now, the thing that is on my mind this afternoon is the greatness of the work which has been introduced into the world in this day and age through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We meet together here in vast numbers, and yet though all the Latter-day Saints were met together they would only be a hand-full compared to the multitudes of people that dwell in the earth. We have been highly favored of the Lord, in that He has sent His servants unto us with the word of truth and of revelation, and He has put it into our hearts to receive that word and to obtain a testimony of the truth of the revelation which He has given to the world. We younger ones, the young men and the young women of Israel, who have been so highly favored as to be born in the Church, having the testimony of the truth born in us and having the seed of truth grow and develop within us, most assuredly ought to feel thankfulness to our Father in heaven for it. The whole world still lieth in darkness. "This Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached in all the world as a witness before the end shall come."' The angel who introduced this Gospel came with it that it might be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. And while we are doing a great deal towards the carrying of the message unto the nations of the earth, still the progress we are making, when we consider the vast amount of work that must be done, is only small, and we have only advanced a little way.
I believe all that has been said of the Latter-day Saints by our brethren who have spoken. I believe they are the children of God, and that they have the testimony of the truth burning within their souls. I believe they love the truth and desire to keep the commandments of the Lord. Yet I am constrained to believe they still need more labor among them every day than ought to be necessary. I believe that they should be firmly founded in the knowledge of the truth, by reason of the great blessings the Lord has bestowed upon them, and the great means He has placed in their way whereby they may learn of Him. They have the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, which contains the word of God; the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price; they have the Journal of Discourses; also periodicals, books and papers which are published from time to time containing the discourses and inspired words of the servants of the Lord. All these they have, and all they need do, if they have the desire, is to open the books and there read the word of the Lord. In addition to this it seems essential that the Twelve and the Seven Presidents of the Seventies shall visit the various Stakes of Zion and spend all their time, month after month, year after year, exhorting the Saints to faithfulness, reproving them at times for wickedness and folly, laboring to keep them, as it were, to the line and from departing by degrees from their full duty. Now this is what I think ought not to be. I think that the Saints ought to know the truth as well as the servants of the Lord. They ought to be' as firmly grounded in the faith. It ought to be just as impossible to move them from the truth as it is to move the men who stand at the head of the Church; and the time of the Twelve, and that of the Seventies (who labor among the members holding the Priesthood of Seventy) might be given to these hundreds of millions of people who still dwell in the world without a knowledge of the truth. I am constrained to believe that if the same amount of inspired preaching of the word of the Lord that is done among the Saints were done in the world, thousands and tens of thousands of honest souls who are now in the world might be brought to the knowledge of the true Gospel, and they might gather with the Saints and enjoy the blessings of the house of the Lord, and there labor for their own salvation and for the redemption of their dead. We ought to rely a little more than we do upon the Lord and upon the intelligence He has given us to develop the light within us, to become better informed, to be more faithful than we are, notwithstanding good testimony of our faithfulness may be borne now. My brethren and sisters, there is no reason in the world why the Saints should not keep the commandments of the Lord, there is no reason why they need fail to do their duty towards the Lord and towards their fellow men» Surely, the Lord has held out the hand of fellowship to us. Truly, He has not withheld when we have asked Him. He has fulfilled on our heads the promise that if we will ask of Him He will give freely unto us, whether it be wisdom, or the necessaries of life or intelligence, or knowledge, no matter what it be, if it is for our good and for the good of the children of men. He has not withheld it from us. All things, it would seem, that the Latter-day Saints could possibly desire, the Lord has given freely. We ought to be His people. We ought to hang on firmly and steadfastly to the truth. Great will be the condemnation of the Saints if they fail to remain faithful after all that the Lord has done for them. A season has just passed that has been wonderfully prosperous and bounteous to the Saints; prosperity abounds on every hand temporally, and the Spirit of the Lord is being poured out in great abundance. Prophecy, revelation and the gifts of the Holy Ghost are also enjoyed by them. All these things the Lord has done for us. Ought we not then to be true and faithful in keeping His commandments? We ought not to complain if our stake conferences come and go and we do not have in our midst one of the brethren known as the authorities of the Church. Why, my brethren and sisters, all men who hold the holy Priesthood are authorities in the Church, and through the Deacon the Lord may speak unto the people, and give His word of praise or reproof, or bestow upon them His blessing. The Priest and the Teacher likewise. The Bishop, the High Priest, the Seventy, the President of a Stake — all of these servants of the Lord are authorities of the Church, and when you have them in your midst you may hear the word of the Lord preached, you may hear and see' and feel the inspiration of the Lord. Therefore you should be content. You should not feel to complain, even though one of the Twelve, or the First Council of Seventy, or even the First Presidency, find it impossible' to be with you. You should read the word of the Lord from the books, and kneeling down around the family altar, you should commune with the Lord and ask Him for wisdom, judgment and enlightenment. You should depend more upon Him and less than some of us do upon those who constitute the authorities of the church. Then turn your hearts, my brethren and sisters, to the nations of the earth, to the kindreds, and tongues, and peoples, all of whom are the Lord's children, who are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the whole world in untold numbers, many of whom are only waiting for an opportunity to hear the word of the Good Shepherd. Pray not only for yourselves, but for them also. Pray that the door of the Gospel may be opened to them, that the servants of the Lord may be sent unto them, and that those who have this work upon their shoulders of carrying the Gospel unto all nations may be at liberty to go. Say that they may go with your blessing, and that you will endeavor to more greatly appreciate the local authorities of the church, some of whom sit round your own tables and hearthstones, and are your sons, husbands and fathers who hold the holy priesthood.
I was going to read from the Scripture, but I have almost let it go by:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 18: 44-46.)
Do we appreciate the kingdom of God in this way? Do we value it above all else? Is it more dear to us than the fruit of the field, than the treasures of the mine, than the wealth that can be gathered from all of the avocations and occupations of life? Do we value this kingdom of God even as a goodly pearl, which is beyond price? I believe we do. All else is as nothing when compared to it, and we would gladly, if need be, sell all we had to possess it and make it our own, or at least to become a member in the kingdom.
Now, my brothers and sisters, cleave unto the truth. Lay hold upon this "iron rod," and never, release that hold. Go forward steadily with your eyes set upon the tree of life until you are partakers of its fruit, which Is the word of the Lord, and which above all else is most joyous to the soul of the righteous man. Be faithful all your days. Prepare yourselves to help in the work of the redemption of the human race; and do not be content to say, "In my heart is a knowledge of the truth, I know the gospel is true, and I rejoice in it," and then stop. Do not stop there. Say that and still more: "O Lord, make me an instrument in Thy hands. Make all Thy servants who have been called of Thee wonderful and powerful instruments in Thy hands, that this same gospel which lighteth my soul, and which filleth me with gladness, may be sent unto all the world, that my neighbor, my brother, Thy children, may rejoice in Thee, even with me, by being brought into Thy kingdom." May the (testimony of the truth ever be with you, my brothers and sisters. May the powers of evil never be permitted to tempt you from your duty or from the path of right. The Lord will be with you, and build you up, and make you a power in the world for good; and through us, lives through us, even as through Father Abraham, because of our faithfulness in keeping the commandments of the Lord, shall the whole world be blest and be led to glorify God. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
I will now present to the conference the general authorities of the Church, and also the authorities of the auxiliary organizations, with such other officers as may properly be brought before this assembly, for your vote. It is expected that every Latter-day Saint in good standing will exercise his or her prerogative to vote for or against the names that may be presented. Of course, we do not expect any who are not members of the Church in good standing to take any part in this.
I will now present to the conference the general authorities of the Church, and also the authorities of the auxiliary organizations, with such other officers as may properly be brought before this assembly, for your vote. It is expected that every Latter-day Saint in good standing will exercise his or her prerogative to vote for or against the names that may be presented. Of course, we do not expect any who are not members of the Church in good standing to take any part in this.
GENERAL AUTHORITIES.
Joseph F. Smith, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
John R. Winder, as first counselor in the First Presidency.
Anthon H. Lund, as second counselor in the First Presidency.
Francis M. Lyman as president of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles—Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber, J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Matthias F. Cowley, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George A. Smith and Charles W. Penrose.
John Smith, as Presiding Patriarch of the Church.
The counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles and the Presiding Patriarch as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
First Seven Presidents of Seventies—Seymour B. Young, Christian D. Fjeldsted, Brigham H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Joseph W. McMurrin.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton and Orrin P. Miller, as his first and second counselors.
Joseph F. Smith, as trustee-in-trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Anthon H. Lund, as Church historian, and general Church recorder. Andrew Jenson, Orson F. "Whitney, A. Milton Musser and Brigham H. Roberts, assistant historians.
As members of the general Church board of education, Joseph F. Smith, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, John Nicholson, George H. Brimhall, Rudger Clawson, Joseph M. Tanner, John R. Winder and Charles W. Penrose.
Arthur Winter, secretary and treasurer to the general Church board of education.
John Nicholson as clerk of the conference.
Evan Stephens as director of the Tabernacle choir; J. J. McClellan, organist; Tracy Y. Cannon, assistant organist, and all the members of the Tabernacle choir.
Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Wm. W. Riter, Charles W. Nibley and August W. Carlson, auditing committee.
RELIEF SOCIETY.
Bathsheba W. B. Smith, president.
Annie T. Hyde, first counselor.
Ida Smoot Dusenberry, second counselor.
Emmeline B. Wells, secretary.
Clarissa S. Williams, treasurer.
Aids—Jane S. Richards, Sarah Jane Cannon, Romania B. Penrose, Susan Grant, Martha A, Cannon, Emma S. Woodruff, Julina L. Smith, Emily S. Richards, Ellis R. Shipp, Julia P. M. Farnsworth, Elizabeth J. Stevenson, Phebe Y. Beatie, Carrie S. Thomas, Alice Merrill Home, Annie Wells Cannon, Priscilla P. Jennings, Margaret A, Caine, Rebecca E. Little.
Missionaries—Harriet Ann Badger, Sophia T. Nuttall, Mary A. C. Lambert, Mary T. Smith, Elizabeth S. Wilcox, Hattie B. Harker, Priscilla Smith.
Emma A. Empey, superintendent of Relief Society nurses.
Margaret C. Roberts, Romania B. Penrose and Ellis R. Shipp, Instructors of Relief Society nurses.
Phebe Y. Beatie. secretary and treasurer of Relief Society nurses.
DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
Joseph F. Smith, general superintendent.
George Reynolds, first assistant general superintendent.
Joseph M. Tanner, second assistant general superintendent.
George D. Pyper, general secretary.
George Reynolds, treasurer.
Members of the Board—Joseph F. Smith, George Reynolds, Joseph M. Tanner, Joseph W. Summerhays, Levi W. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, Heber J. Grant, George Teasdale, Hugh J. Cannon, Andrew Kimball, John W. Taylor, James W. Ure, John F. Bennett, John M. Mills, William D. Owen, Seymour B. Young, George D. Pyper, Henry Peterson, Anthon H. Lund, John R. Winder, James E. Talmage, George M. Cannon, Horace Cummings, Josiah Burrows, William A. Morton, Horace S. Ensign.
William A. Morton, business manager,
Joseph F. Smith, editor Juvenile Instructor.
George Reynolds and J. M. Tanner, assistant editors.
George D. Pyper, business manager, Juvenile Instructor.
GENERAL OFFICERS OF THE YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.
Joseph F. Smith, general superintendent.
Heber J. Grant, and B. H. Roberts, assistants.
Thomas Hull, secretary and treasurer.
Evan Stephens, music director.
Horace S. Ensign, assistant music director.
Aids—Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Matthias F. Cowley, J. Golden Kimball, Junius F. Wells, Rodney C. Badger, George H. Brimhall, Edward H. Anderson, Douglas M. Todd, Thomas Hull, Nephi L. Morris, Willard Done, Lo Roi C. Snow, Frank Y. Taylor, Rudger Clawson, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Reed Smoot, Bryant S. Hinckley, Moses W. Taylor, B. F. Grant. Henry S. Tanner, Hyrum M. Smith, William B. Dougall, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., O. C. Bebe, Lewis T. Cannon, Philip S. Maycock, Benjamin Goddard, George Albert Smith, Thomas A. Clawson, Louis A. Kelsch, Lyman R. Martineau.
YOUNG LADIES' MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.
Martha H. Tingey, president.
Ruth M. Fox, first counselor.
Mae Taylor Nystrom, second counselor.
Ann M. Cannon, secretary.
Agnes Campbell, assistant secretary.
Alice K. Smith, treasurer.
Maria Y. Dougall, honorary member.
Alice Calder Tuddenham, music director.
Mattie Read, organist.
Elizabeth Thomas, assistant organist.
Aids—Adella W. Eardley, Sarah Eddington, Agnes Campbell, Susa T. Gates, Minnie J. Snow, May B. Talmage, Joan Campbell, Emma Goddard, Rose W. Bennett, Elizabeth C. McCune, Julia M. Brixen, Augusta W. Grant, Mary A. Freeze, Estelle Neff Caldwell, Nellie C. Taylor, Emily C. Adams, Mary E. Connelly, Elen Wallace.
PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS.
Louie B. Felt, president.
Lillie T. Freeze, first counselor.
Josephine R. West, second counselor.
May Anderson, secretary and treasurer.
Olive D. Christensen, assistant secretary.
Vera I. Felt, recording secretary.
Margaret Hull, chorister.
Norma Fenton, Organist.
Aids—Aurelia S. Rogers, L, L. Greene Richards. Isabella S. Ross, Camilla C. Cobb, Euphemia I. Burnham, Eliza S. Bennion, Edna L, Smith, Josephine G. Smith, Ida B. Smith, Clara W. Beebe, Edna Harker, Lilian L. Maeser, Grace Folland, Allie Howarth, Annie Wallace.
RELIGION CLASSES.
Anthon H. Lund, general superintendent.
Rudger Clawson, first assistant.
J. M. Tanner, second assistant.
Joseph J. Cannon, secretary.
Members of the General Board—Anthon H. Lund, Rudger Clawson, Joseph M. Tanner, Henry Peterson, Horace Cummings, Joseph W. Summerhays, Matthias F. Cowley, Hyrum M. Smith, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Louis A. Kelsch, John H. Evans, William A. Morton, Joseph J. Cannon.
President Smith announced that the congregation had voted unanimously in favor of all the names submitted.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn beginning,
"Our God we raise to thee,
Thanks for Thy blessings free."
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch John Smith.
Joseph F. Smith, as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
John R. Winder, as first counselor in the First Presidency.
Anthon H. Lund, as second counselor in the First Presidency.
Francis M. Lyman as president of the Twelve Apostles.
As members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles—Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber, J. Grant, John W. Taylor, Marriner W. Merrill, Matthias F. Cowley, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George A. Smith and Charles W. Penrose.
John Smith, as Presiding Patriarch of the Church.
The counselors in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles and the Presiding Patriarch as Prophets, Seers and Revelators.
First Seven Presidents of Seventies—Seymour B. Young, Christian D. Fjeldsted, Brigham H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and Joseph W. McMurrin.
William B. Preston as Presiding Bishop, with Robert T. Burton and Orrin P. Miller, as his first and second counselors.
Joseph F. Smith, as trustee-in-trust for the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Anthon H. Lund, as Church historian, and general Church recorder. Andrew Jenson, Orson F. "Whitney, A. Milton Musser and Brigham H. Roberts, assistant historians.
As members of the general Church board of education, Joseph F. Smith, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, John Nicholson, George H. Brimhall, Rudger Clawson, Joseph M. Tanner, John R. Winder and Charles W. Penrose.
Arthur Winter, secretary and treasurer to the general Church board of education.
John Nicholson as clerk of the conference.
Evan Stephens as director of the Tabernacle choir; J. J. McClellan, organist; Tracy Y. Cannon, assistant organist, and all the members of the Tabernacle choir.
Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Wm. W. Riter, Charles W. Nibley and August W. Carlson, auditing committee.
RELIEF SOCIETY.
Bathsheba W. B. Smith, president.
Annie T. Hyde, first counselor.
Ida Smoot Dusenberry, second counselor.
Emmeline B. Wells, secretary.
Clarissa S. Williams, treasurer.
Aids—Jane S. Richards, Sarah Jane Cannon, Romania B. Penrose, Susan Grant, Martha A, Cannon, Emma S. Woodruff, Julina L. Smith, Emily S. Richards, Ellis R. Shipp, Julia P. M. Farnsworth, Elizabeth J. Stevenson, Phebe Y. Beatie, Carrie S. Thomas, Alice Merrill Home, Annie Wells Cannon, Priscilla P. Jennings, Margaret A, Caine, Rebecca E. Little.
Missionaries—Harriet Ann Badger, Sophia T. Nuttall, Mary A. C. Lambert, Mary T. Smith, Elizabeth S. Wilcox, Hattie B. Harker, Priscilla Smith.
Emma A. Empey, superintendent of Relief Society nurses.
Margaret C. Roberts, Romania B. Penrose and Ellis R. Shipp, Instructors of Relief Society nurses.
Phebe Y. Beatie. secretary and treasurer of Relief Society nurses.
DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
Joseph F. Smith, general superintendent.
George Reynolds, first assistant general superintendent.
Joseph M. Tanner, second assistant general superintendent.
George D. Pyper, general secretary.
George Reynolds, treasurer.
Members of the Board—Joseph F. Smith, George Reynolds, Joseph M. Tanner, Joseph W. Summerhays, Levi W. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, Heber J. Grant, George Teasdale, Hugh J. Cannon, Andrew Kimball, John W. Taylor, James W. Ure, John F. Bennett, John M. Mills, William D. Owen, Seymour B. Young, George D. Pyper, Henry Peterson, Anthon H. Lund, John R. Winder, James E. Talmage, George M. Cannon, Horace Cummings, Josiah Burrows, William A. Morton, Horace S. Ensign.
William A. Morton, business manager,
Joseph F. Smith, editor Juvenile Instructor.
George Reynolds and J. M. Tanner, assistant editors.
George D. Pyper, business manager, Juvenile Instructor.
GENERAL OFFICERS OF THE YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.
Joseph F. Smith, general superintendent.
Heber J. Grant, and B. H. Roberts, assistants.
Thomas Hull, secretary and treasurer.
Evan Stephens, music director.
Horace S. Ensign, assistant music director.
Aids—Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Matthias F. Cowley, J. Golden Kimball, Junius F. Wells, Rodney C. Badger, George H. Brimhall, Edward H. Anderson, Douglas M. Todd, Thomas Hull, Nephi L. Morris, Willard Done, Lo Roi C. Snow, Frank Y. Taylor, Rudger Clawson, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Reed Smoot, Bryant S. Hinckley, Moses W. Taylor, B. F. Grant. Henry S. Tanner, Hyrum M. Smith, William B. Dougall, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., O. C. Bebe, Lewis T. Cannon, Philip S. Maycock, Benjamin Goddard, George Albert Smith, Thomas A. Clawson, Louis A. Kelsch, Lyman R. Martineau.
YOUNG LADIES' MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.
Martha H. Tingey, president.
Ruth M. Fox, first counselor.
Mae Taylor Nystrom, second counselor.
Ann M. Cannon, secretary.
Agnes Campbell, assistant secretary.
Alice K. Smith, treasurer.
Maria Y. Dougall, honorary member.
Alice Calder Tuddenham, music director.
Mattie Read, organist.
Elizabeth Thomas, assistant organist.
Aids—Adella W. Eardley, Sarah Eddington, Agnes Campbell, Susa T. Gates, Minnie J. Snow, May B. Talmage, Joan Campbell, Emma Goddard, Rose W. Bennett, Elizabeth C. McCune, Julia M. Brixen, Augusta W. Grant, Mary A. Freeze, Estelle Neff Caldwell, Nellie C. Taylor, Emily C. Adams, Mary E. Connelly, Elen Wallace.
PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS.
Louie B. Felt, president.
Lillie T. Freeze, first counselor.
Josephine R. West, second counselor.
May Anderson, secretary and treasurer.
Olive D. Christensen, assistant secretary.
Vera I. Felt, recording secretary.
Margaret Hull, chorister.
Norma Fenton, Organist.
Aids—Aurelia S. Rogers, L, L. Greene Richards. Isabella S. Ross, Camilla C. Cobb, Euphemia I. Burnham, Eliza S. Bennion, Edna L, Smith, Josephine G. Smith, Ida B. Smith, Clara W. Beebe, Edna Harker, Lilian L. Maeser, Grace Folland, Allie Howarth, Annie Wallace.
RELIGION CLASSES.
Anthon H. Lund, general superintendent.
Rudger Clawson, first assistant.
J. M. Tanner, second assistant.
Joseph J. Cannon, secretary.
Members of the General Board—Anthon H. Lund, Rudger Clawson, Joseph M. Tanner, Henry Peterson, Horace Cummings, Joseph W. Summerhays, Matthias F. Cowley, Hyrum M. Smith, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin, Louis A. Kelsch, John H. Evans, William A. Morton, Joseph J. Cannon.
President Smith announced that the congregation had voted unanimously in favor of all the names submitted.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn beginning,
"Our God we raise to thee,
Thanks for Thy blessings free."
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch John Smith.
SECOND DAY. Saturday, October 7, 10 a. m.
Conference was called to order by President Smith.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Come, let us anew, our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
His adorable will let us gladly fulfil,
And our talents improve.
By the patience of hope and the labor of love.
Prayer was offered by Elder Helaman Pratt.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
O! ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky
Arches over the vales of the free.
Where the pure breezes blow, and the clear streamlets
How I've longed to your bosom to flee.
Conference was called to order by President Smith.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Come, let us anew, our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
His adorable will let us gladly fulfil,
And our talents improve.
By the patience of hope and the labor of love.
Prayer was offered by Elder Helaman Pratt.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
O! ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky
Arches over the vales of the free.
Where the pure breezes blow, and the clear streamlets
How I've longed to your bosom to flee.
ELDER GEO. ALBERT SMITH.
Why the Saints are regarded as a peculiar people.—The duty of forgiving one another.—Performance of duty increases faith.—We should not limit ourselves in good works.—The joy of eternal association with loved ones.
My brethren and sisters, I am grateful to my Heavenly Father this morning for the privilege of meeting with you in this house of worship. While I occupy this position I desire an interest in your faith and prayers, that I may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to say such things as He would have me say unto you. I have rejoiced with you in the remarks that have been made by our brethren in this conference, and it has been joy to me to see the multitude of Latter-day Saints present upon this occasion. The hymn that has just been sung is an inspiration to us who live in these mountain vales. I believe the fervor with which it was sung is an^ evidence of the appreciation of the Latter-day Saints for the blessings of our Father upon them. We are called a peculiar people because, perchance, we thoroughly believe and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our peculiarity lies very largely in the fact that we believe the Old and New Testaments actually contain the word of the Lord, as far as they have been translated correctly. We also firmly believe the Book of Mormon, which the world knows comparatively little of; and add to' that unwavering belief in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. We regard the teachings contained therein as revelations of our Father in heaven to His children who dwell upon this earth. It is not! alone because we have faith in the books referred to that we are considered a peculiar people, but also because we confidently believe that our Father in Heaven has spoken in this day and age. In fact, we know that there is communication with the heavens. Our brethren and sisters of the world, generally, do not acknowledge that. We believe that Jehovah has the same feeling towards us, the same influence over us, that He had for and over His children who lived in this world in times that are past. If our peculiarity went to the extent that we lived by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of our Heavenly Father, then we would indeed be a blessed people. We do, to' a large degree, live by the testimony that has been given to us by our Redeemer, and thus far we are a blessed people, the acknowledged children of the Lord.
There is one thing I find that we have not yet learned completely, and it comes to my mind this morning, that is, the disposition to forgive one another our trespasses. The Lord has given us great information, has revealed His mind and will unto us, has taught us things that the world know not of, and, in accordance with the information we have received, He holds us responsible and expects us to live a higher life, a more ideal life than those who do not as fully comprehend the Gospel as we do. The spirit of forgiveness is something that the Latter-day Saints might with profit exhibit more fully among themselves. Sometimes a brother in authority has offended, in some way, one of the members of the Church, probably unknown to himself, and that child of our Father's silently continues to feel hurt, instead of doing as the Lord has commanded, going to the offending man and stating to him, in kindness, the feelings of his heart, and giving that brother an opportunity to say to him, "I am sorry I have offended you, and I desire that you shall forgive me." The result is that, in some instances, we find a resentful feeling existing that has been instigated by Satan. Now, we must get into a condition where we can forgive our brethren. In connection with this matter, I will read a few verses from the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew, beginning with the twenty-first verse. It seems that the Apostles were with the Master upon this occasion, and Peter came to Him and said:
"Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times but, Until seventy times seven."
Then the Savior gave a parable, which I will not take time to read, but it was a parable of two men. One of the men owed his lord a large amount of money, and he come to him and told him he could not pay what he owed, and asked that he might be forgiven the debt. The lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and forgave the debt. Straightway this man who had been forgiven went out and found a fellow servant who owed him a small amount, and he demanded his pay. The poor man was unable to meet the obligation, and he in turn asked that he might be forgiven the debt. But he was not forgiven; on the contrary he was taken and cast into prison by the one who had already been forgiven by his lord. When the other fellow-servants saw what had been done they went to the lord of this man and told him, and he was wroth and delivered the one whom he had forgiven unto torment, until he should pay all that was due. His soul was not big enough to appreciate the mercy shown him, and because of that lack of charity he lost all. At times we find little difficulties arising among us, and we forget the patience our Father in Heaven exercises towards us, and we magnify in our hearts some trivial thing that our brother or sister may have done or said concerning us. We do not always live that law which the Lord desires us to observe in regard to these matters. We forget the commandment He gave to the Apostles in the words of the prayer, wherein they were told to pray that they might be forgiven their debts even as they forgive their debtors. I feel that we have to learn a great deal in this regard. We have not complied as completely as we should with the requirements of our Heavenly Father. In the Book of Doctrine and Covenants we find a reference made to this matter of forgiveness, wherein the Lord gives a commandment: it is contained in the sixty-fourth section, and refers to us in this day. It reads as follows:
"Nevertheless he has sinned, but verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death.
"My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another, and forgave not one another in their hearts, and for this evil they were afflicted, and sorely chastened:
"Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another, for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses, standeth condemned before the Lord for there remaineth in him the greater sin."
(The verse last read is the one I would emphasize.)
"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men;
"And ye ought to say in your hearts, let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds."
If our lives were such that, when w; differ with our neighbor, if, instead of setting ourselves up as judges one against another, we could honestly and conscientiously appeal to our Father in Heaven and say, "Lord, judge between me and my brother; thou knowest my heart; Thou knowest I have no feeling of anger against him; help us to see alike, and give us wisdom that we may deal righteously with each other," how few differences there would be, and what joy and blessings would come to us! But, little difficulties arise from time to time which disturb the equilibrium of our daily lives, and we continue to be unhappy because we cherish an improper influence, and have not charity.
We find another reference to this matter, that has a bearing also upon another condition, in that sometimes we feel uneasy and worried when we fail to do what our Father desires of us. A man who is living in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is never in doubt about its success; but the man who neglects his duty, who fails to keep his covenants, loses the Spirit of the Lord, and he then begins to wonder what will become of Zion. Whenever you, my fellow laborers, feel there is something wrong with the Church, go in.to your secret places and kneel down before the Lord, examine your heart, and you will find every time that there is something in your own life that occasions doubt; the tempter is working on your mind, causing you to feel that perhaps Zion will not be victorious. Whenever you are doing your full duty, you will know, as you know that you live, that it is our Father's work, and that He will brins it off triumphant. We find in the ninety-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants the following reference:
"And again I say unto you, if ye observe to do whatsoever I command you, I, the Lord, will turn away all wrath and indignation from you, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."
This is the word of our Father in Heaven to us.
And again with reference to patience under persecution:
“Now I speak unto you concerning your families; if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded:
"But if ye bear it not patiently. It shall be accounted unto you as being meted out a just measure unto you."
This also is the word of the Master unto us. If we live according to this law, we will grow in grace and strength day by day, and in favor with our Heavenly Father. Faith will increase in the hearts of our children. They will love us for the uprightness and integrity of our lives, and they will rejoice that they have been born of such parents. I say to you that this commandment is not given in an idle way; for the Lord has declared that He does not give any law indifferently, but every law is given that it may be kept and lived up to by us. We will be m this world only a short time. The youngest and strongest of us are simply preparing for the other life, and before we get into the glory of our Father and enjoy the blessings that we hope to receive through faithfulness, we will have to live the laws of patience, and exercise forgiveness toward those who trespass against us, and remove from our hearts all feelings of hatred toward them.
"And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an hundred fold.
"And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you fourfold;
"And these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if he repent not, and shall not be blotted out."
There is a disposition on the part of some returned Elders, and other men who hold the Priesthood, and women, who hold positions in the Church, to neglect Sacrament meetings and other important duties, and to confine their labors to some social calling. They may be office.rs and teachers in the Sunday school, and when they perform their Sabbath school labor, consider that sufficient; or, they may be Mutual Improvement workers, and if they discharge their obligations in that regard they consider their whole duty done, But this is an erroneous idea. "We are required to live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of our Father in Heaven. We are expected to so conduct ourselves day by day that, if we see distress or want, or need of advice and counsel on any occasion, we should forthwith act as servants of the Lord in very deed. We find in the fifty-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants a reference to this matter: I desire to read it to you, because it is the word of the Lord with reference to our opportunities:
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things, for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And Inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
"But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned. . .
"Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?"
I feel that we are representatives of a great people. We have met together from all the stakes and branches of the Church. We have come to be fed by the Spirit of our Master. When we go back to our homes, if there are those among us who are indifferent and careless, it is our duty to call their attention to the Scriptures and to bring them face to face with the commandments of our heavenly Father. There are many young men who are indifferent and careless, but who possess some ability, and as the Lord has said in this revelation, they should not wait to be commanded, but volunteer to go forth and, in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, labor for the salvation of the souls of the children of men. Grateful should we be, that in the fastnesses of these grand mountains, our feet have been planted; and that the Messiah has imparted to us a knowledge that the Gospel is true.
Grateful should we be for a knowledge of the eternity of the marriage covenant. If in this life only had we hope, we would indeed be of all men most miserable. The assurance that our relationship here as parents and children, as husbands and wives will continue in heaven, and that this is but the beginning of a great and glorious kingdom that our Father has destined we shall inherit on the other side, fills us with hope and joy. One of the greatest evidences to me of the divinity of this work is that it teaches there is eternal life on the other side, and that there will be a reunion there of the loved ones who have known each other here. Consequently, as parents, we may well be patient and loving toward our children, for they will eternally abide with us on the other side, if we and they are faithful. The few years that we live here may be regarded as a time in which we become acquainted, but, when we mingle in the other life, we will know each other better than we have here. Grateful am I that this testimony has been given me, and for the knowledge that the Savior was indeed the Redeemer of the world. Thankful am I for the testimony that Joseph Smith was indeed a Prophet of the Lord, and that every one of those who have succeeded him. in the exalted calling of president of this Church, have been inspired by the same spirit that characterized Joseph Smith's life. I am glad to add my testimony to the integrity of Joseph F. Smith. No matter what the world may think of him, no matter what unkind things they have said of him, I testify to you that he is, indeed, a servant of the Lord, that he stands at the head of this work, by Divine appointment, and that there is no power, either in earth or in hell, that can destroy the influence our Father has given to him. He is surrounded by men who are faithful and true, men who love the Saints better than their very lives, men who devote the energies and powers that God has given unto them to your blessing. They leave their homes and the comforts thereof, and labor constantly, not that they may be glorified, but that you and your families and all mankind may be saved and exalted. Honor and love these men, sustain them with your faith and prayers, and as you uphold them in the positions to which they have been called, so will our Father in Heaven sustain and bless and magnify you in the eyes of your families and those with whom you associate. May the peace of heaven be with us. May the ensuing meetings be a joy and blessing to every one of us, as were those of yesterday. May we have the Spirit of the Master dwelling within us, that we may forgive all men as He was commanded, forgive, not only with our lips, but in the very depths of our hearts, every trespass that may have been committed against us. If we do this through life, the blessings of the Lord will abide in our hearts and our homes, which may God grant, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Why the Saints are regarded as a peculiar people.—The duty of forgiving one another.—Performance of duty increases faith.—We should not limit ourselves in good works.—The joy of eternal association with loved ones.
My brethren and sisters, I am grateful to my Heavenly Father this morning for the privilege of meeting with you in this house of worship. While I occupy this position I desire an interest in your faith and prayers, that I may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to say such things as He would have me say unto you. I have rejoiced with you in the remarks that have been made by our brethren in this conference, and it has been joy to me to see the multitude of Latter-day Saints present upon this occasion. The hymn that has just been sung is an inspiration to us who live in these mountain vales. I believe the fervor with which it was sung is an^ evidence of the appreciation of the Latter-day Saints for the blessings of our Father upon them. We are called a peculiar people because, perchance, we thoroughly believe and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our peculiarity lies very largely in the fact that we believe the Old and New Testaments actually contain the word of the Lord, as far as they have been translated correctly. We also firmly believe the Book of Mormon, which the world knows comparatively little of; and add to' that unwavering belief in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. We regard the teachings contained therein as revelations of our Father in heaven to His children who dwell upon this earth. It is not! alone because we have faith in the books referred to that we are considered a peculiar people, but also because we confidently believe that our Father in Heaven has spoken in this day and age. In fact, we know that there is communication with the heavens. Our brethren and sisters of the world, generally, do not acknowledge that. We believe that Jehovah has the same feeling towards us, the same influence over us, that He had for and over His children who lived in this world in times that are past. If our peculiarity went to the extent that we lived by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of our Heavenly Father, then we would indeed be a blessed people. We do, to' a large degree, live by the testimony that has been given to us by our Redeemer, and thus far we are a blessed people, the acknowledged children of the Lord.
There is one thing I find that we have not yet learned completely, and it comes to my mind this morning, that is, the disposition to forgive one another our trespasses. The Lord has given us great information, has revealed His mind and will unto us, has taught us things that the world know not of, and, in accordance with the information we have received, He holds us responsible and expects us to live a higher life, a more ideal life than those who do not as fully comprehend the Gospel as we do. The spirit of forgiveness is something that the Latter-day Saints might with profit exhibit more fully among themselves. Sometimes a brother in authority has offended, in some way, one of the members of the Church, probably unknown to himself, and that child of our Father's silently continues to feel hurt, instead of doing as the Lord has commanded, going to the offending man and stating to him, in kindness, the feelings of his heart, and giving that brother an opportunity to say to him, "I am sorry I have offended you, and I desire that you shall forgive me." The result is that, in some instances, we find a resentful feeling existing that has been instigated by Satan. Now, we must get into a condition where we can forgive our brethren. In connection with this matter, I will read a few verses from the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew, beginning with the twenty-first verse. It seems that the Apostles were with the Master upon this occasion, and Peter came to Him and said:
"Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times but, Until seventy times seven."
Then the Savior gave a parable, which I will not take time to read, but it was a parable of two men. One of the men owed his lord a large amount of money, and he come to him and told him he could not pay what he owed, and asked that he might be forgiven the debt. The lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and forgave the debt. Straightway this man who had been forgiven went out and found a fellow servant who owed him a small amount, and he demanded his pay. The poor man was unable to meet the obligation, and he in turn asked that he might be forgiven the debt. But he was not forgiven; on the contrary he was taken and cast into prison by the one who had already been forgiven by his lord. When the other fellow-servants saw what had been done they went to the lord of this man and told him, and he was wroth and delivered the one whom he had forgiven unto torment, until he should pay all that was due. His soul was not big enough to appreciate the mercy shown him, and because of that lack of charity he lost all. At times we find little difficulties arising among us, and we forget the patience our Father in Heaven exercises towards us, and we magnify in our hearts some trivial thing that our brother or sister may have done or said concerning us. We do not always live that law which the Lord desires us to observe in regard to these matters. We forget the commandment He gave to the Apostles in the words of the prayer, wherein they were told to pray that they might be forgiven their debts even as they forgive their debtors. I feel that we have to learn a great deal in this regard. We have not complied as completely as we should with the requirements of our Heavenly Father. In the Book of Doctrine and Covenants we find a reference made to this matter of forgiveness, wherein the Lord gives a commandment: it is contained in the sixty-fourth section, and refers to us in this day. It reads as follows:
"Nevertheless he has sinned, but verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death.
"My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another, and forgave not one another in their hearts, and for this evil they were afflicted, and sorely chastened:
"Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another, for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses, standeth condemned before the Lord for there remaineth in him the greater sin."
(The verse last read is the one I would emphasize.)
"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men;
"And ye ought to say in your hearts, let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds."
If our lives were such that, when w; differ with our neighbor, if, instead of setting ourselves up as judges one against another, we could honestly and conscientiously appeal to our Father in Heaven and say, "Lord, judge between me and my brother; thou knowest my heart; Thou knowest I have no feeling of anger against him; help us to see alike, and give us wisdom that we may deal righteously with each other," how few differences there would be, and what joy and blessings would come to us! But, little difficulties arise from time to time which disturb the equilibrium of our daily lives, and we continue to be unhappy because we cherish an improper influence, and have not charity.
We find another reference to this matter, that has a bearing also upon another condition, in that sometimes we feel uneasy and worried when we fail to do what our Father desires of us. A man who is living in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is never in doubt about its success; but the man who neglects his duty, who fails to keep his covenants, loses the Spirit of the Lord, and he then begins to wonder what will become of Zion. Whenever you, my fellow laborers, feel there is something wrong with the Church, go in.to your secret places and kneel down before the Lord, examine your heart, and you will find every time that there is something in your own life that occasions doubt; the tempter is working on your mind, causing you to feel that perhaps Zion will not be victorious. Whenever you are doing your full duty, you will know, as you know that you live, that it is our Father's work, and that He will brins it off triumphant. We find in the ninety-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants the following reference:
"And again I say unto you, if ye observe to do whatsoever I command you, I, the Lord, will turn away all wrath and indignation from you, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you."
This is the word of our Father in Heaven to us.
And again with reference to patience under persecution:
“Now I speak unto you concerning your families; if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded:
"But if ye bear it not patiently. It shall be accounted unto you as being meted out a just measure unto you."
This also is the word of the Master unto us. If we live according to this law, we will grow in grace and strength day by day, and in favor with our Heavenly Father. Faith will increase in the hearts of our children. They will love us for the uprightness and integrity of our lives, and they will rejoice that they have been born of such parents. I say to you that this commandment is not given in an idle way; for the Lord has declared that He does not give any law indifferently, but every law is given that it may be kept and lived up to by us. We will be m this world only a short time. The youngest and strongest of us are simply preparing for the other life, and before we get into the glory of our Father and enjoy the blessings that we hope to receive through faithfulness, we will have to live the laws of patience, and exercise forgiveness toward those who trespass against us, and remove from our hearts all feelings of hatred toward them.
"And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an hundred fold.
"And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you fourfold;
"And these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if he repent not, and shall not be blotted out."
There is a disposition on the part of some returned Elders, and other men who hold the Priesthood, and women, who hold positions in the Church, to neglect Sacrament meetings and other important duties, and to confine their labors to some social calling. They may be office.rs and teachers in the Sunday school, and when they perform their Sabbath school labor, consider that sufficient; or, they may be Mutual Improvement workers, and if they discharge their obligations in that regard they consider their whole duty done, But this is an erroneous idea. "We are required to live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of our Father in Heaven. We are expected to so conduct ourselves day by day that, if we see distress or want, or need of advice and counsel on any occasion, we should forthwith act as servants of the Lord in very deed. We find in the fifty-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants a reference to this matter: I desire to read it to you, because it is the word of the Lord with reference to our opportunities:
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things, for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And Inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
"But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned. . .
"Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?"
I feel that we are representatives of a great people. We have met together from all the stakes and branches of the Church. We have come to be fed by the Spirit of our Master. When we go back to our homes, if there are those among us who are indifferent and careless, it is our duty to call their attention to the Scriptures and to bring them face to face with the commandments of our heavenly Father. There are many young men who are indifferent and careless, but who possess some ability, and as the Lord has said in this revelation, they should not wait to be commanded, but volunteer to go forth and, in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, labor for the salvation of the souls of the children of men. Grateful should we be, that in the fastnesses of these grand mountains, our feet have been planted; and that the Messiah has imparted to us a knowledge that the Gospel is true.
Grateful should we be for a knowledge of the eternity of the marriage covenant. If in this life only had we hope, we would indeed be of all men most miserable. The assurance that our relationship here as parents and children, as husbands and wives will continue in heaven, and that this is but the beginning of a great and glorious kingdom that our Father has destined we shall inherit on the other side, fills us with hope and joy. One of the greatest evidences to me of the divinity of this work is that it teaches there is eternal life on the other side, and that there will be a reunion there of the loved ones who have known each other here. Consequently, as parents, we may well be patient and loving toward our children, for they will eternally abide with us on the other side, if we and they are faithful. The few years that we live here may be regarded as a time in which we become acquainted, but, when we mingle in the other life, we will know each other better than we have here. Grateful am I that this testimony has been given me, and for the knowledge that the Savior was indeed the Redeemer of the world. Thankful am I for the testimony that Joseph Smith was indeed a Prophet of the Lord, and that every one of those who have succeeded him. in the exalted calling of president of this Church, have been inspired by the same spirit that characterized Joseph Smith's life. I am glad to add my testimony to the integrity of Joseph F. Smith. No matter what the world may think of him, no matter what unkind things they have said of him, I testify to you that he is, indeed, a servant of the Lord, that he stands at the head of this work, by Divine appointment, and that there is no power, either in earth or in hell, that can destroy the influence our Father has given to him. He is surrounded by men who are faithful and true, men who love the Saints better than their very lives, men who devote the energies and powers that God has given unto them to your blessing. They leave their homes and the comforts thereof, and labor constantly, not that they may be glorified, but that you and your families and all mankind may be saved and exalted. Honor and love these men, sustain them with your faith and prayers, and as you uphold them in the positions to which they have been called, so will our Father in Heaven sustain and bless and magnify you in the eyes of your families and those with whom you associate. May the peace of heaven be with us. May the ensuing meetings be a joy and blessing to every one of us, as were those of yesterday. May we have the Spirit of the Master dwelling within us, that we may forgive all men as He was commanded, forgive, not only with our lips, but in the very depths of our hearts, every trespass that may have been committed against us. If we do this through life, the blessings of the Lord will abide in our hearts and our homes, which may God grant, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER FRANK Y. TAYLOR.
(President of Granite Stake.)
I desire, my brothers and sisters, to enjoy the same good spirit that has actuated the remarks of the brethren who have preceded me. I feel grateful unto my Heavenly Father that I can bear my testimony to the work of the Lord, and that we have servants and prophets of the Lord ministering to us. I have been much impressed with the remarks of Elder George A. Smith this morning on the spirit of forgiveness. I feel how necessary it is that we as Latter- day Saints should have this in our souls, not only towards those who are of our own faith, but the Savior requires that we have it towards all men. In connection with this, I bear testimony that I have been acquainted with the authorities of this Church from President Young until this day, and that I have witnessed this spirit of forgiveness in the hearts of all those prophets and leaders of the Church. They have felt to forgive their fellowmen. I was not, of course, acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith; but my father was intimate with him, and hundreds of times I have listened to him discourse on the merits and graces that characterized the Prophet, and I learned to love him more dearly because of the kindness of his heart and because he loved all persons, little children and all. I remember, a year or two ago, a man bearing his testimony to the kindness of the Prophet Joseph toward little ones, and it struck me as being very similar to the character of our Savior. He referred to an incident when he was a little bare-footed boy. He was traveling in to Far West, and it was inclement weather. He and several other small boys were paddling through the cold water and their feet were chilled. A man came along on horseback and he picked them up, one by one, took a large silk handkerchief out of his pocket and tried to warm their benumbed feet. It is only a little incident, but it shows the kindness of the Prophet's heart toward little ones. I remember my father speaking of the mobbings, trials and privations he endured and I being but a little boy, unable to discriminate always between right and wrong, and not having that feeling of forgiveness which the Gospel of Christ brings to the soul, my face used to blush up and I would become indignant, and felt in my heart that when I became a man I would resent the wrongs that had been perpetrated upon our fathers in establishing this work. My father used to smile at me, and pat me on the back and say, "My boy, that is not the kind of spirit that the Gospel leaves in the hearts of mankind; as you grow older you must learn that you must forgive." This gospel of ours is designed to save, to build up, to bless and comfort; and it is not right on our part to harm any man. I have been acquainted with these brethren. I have listened to their testimonies, and I know that I have never yet listened to their voices being raised to harm or injure any man. On the other hand, their counsel and advice has been uplifting, saving, and such as would bless and comfort all who would give heed to it. I know that they have been good, clean men, and I know their advice has been good and would bless me if I would only carry it out. I honor them for this- I know that the example they have set In this community has been good, one that anybody could imitate with profit and blessing. When I think of this, I think how different it is to the spirit that has characterized some of our friends who do not have the same faith that we have. I never knew the authorities of this church to go out into the world condemning mankind, and pulling them down. On the contrary, their counsel and their lives have been examples to live up to, and that would benefit and bless mankind. I have met many people of different denominations in the world, and I have been anxious to learn concerning their faith, to find out what they possessed that might add to my faith and increase my knowledge, but I never had one of them manifest a spirit to bless me. 1 have had them by the score point the finger of scorn at me, and I have heard them ridicule the best men of our community, men I love with my whole heart. I have had men tell me that my father, who I knew was clean, pure and upright, was not a fit man to associate with. Figuratively, I never had one of them hand me a loaf, when I asked for it they have given me a stone. On the other hand, whenever I have gone to the authorities of this church they have given me comfort, and peace. The spirit that seeks to pull down, to destroy, and to harm mankind, is not the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. The genius of this gospel is to build up, not to destroy; it is to unite, not to dismember; it is to bring peace and good will, not to bring sorrow and distress. I testify that when I have lived this religion, and done my duty, the Spirit has brought unto me peace, comfort and blessing. As I have grown older I have learned, as my father testified to me when I was a boy, that when people live this religion and keep the commandments of the Lord they seek to build up, to bless, and to comfort mankind. When I was young it used to be quite a testimony to me, and it is today, that the religion of the world cannot be true because the followers seek to destroy the character of clean, good men, and to pull down this work of our Heavenly Father. I know that the Spirit of the Lord does not actuate men to injure or to destroy, or to pull down any people, whether in this church or any other church. The Spirit of the Lord does not actuate people to do harm, or to do ill of any kind. I take delight, brothers and sisters^ in sustaining the authorities of this church, because I know they are men of God, actuated by the Spirit to bless and comfort us if we will only follow their teachings. God forbid that I should forsake them, or that my hand should be raised against them, or that I should indirectly or directly be a party to any ' attempt to nullify their good works and bring to naught that which they desire for the blessing and comfort of the Latter-day Saints. If we will heed their counsels we will be happy indeed, and we will be blessed and sustained by our Heavenly Father. I have no fear of the Latter-day Saints in the least about this matter, because I know those whom I come in contact with, that are living their religion, manifest unity of faith, and do sustain those who preside over them. I know that the people in the stake over which I preside sustain the authorities of 'this church with their whole hearts, and propose to continue to sustain them. I do not feel that it would be wise for me to continue my remarks. I love this work, I love the authorities who preside over us. I have a testimony of the truth of this work. As I live nearer to my heavenly Father I enjoy more of the Spirit of the Lord, I have more happiness and peace in my heart, and I feel kindly towards all mankind. May the blessings of the Lord attend you ever, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sister Annie Shields sang beautifully a solo entitled, "With Verdure Clad."
(President of Granite Stake.)
I desire, my brothers and sisters, to enjoy the same good spirit that has actuated the remarks of the brethren who have preceded me. I feel grateful unto my Heavenly Father that I can bear my testimony to the work of the Lord, and that we have servants and prophets of the Lord ministering to us. I have been much impressed with the remarks of Elder George A. Smith this morning on the spirit of forgiveness. I feel how necessary it is that we as Latter- day Saints should have this in our souls, not only towards those who are of our own faith, but the Savior requires that we have it towards all men. In connection with this, I bear testimony that I have been acquainted with the authorities of this Church from President Young until this day, and that I have witnessed this spirit of forgiveness in the hearts of all those prophets and leaders of the Church. They have felt to forgive their fellowmen. I was not, of course, acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith; but my father was intimate with him, and hundreds of times I have listened to him discourse on the merits and graces that characterized the Prophet, and I learned to love him more dearly because of the kindness of his heart and because he loved all persons, little children and all. I remember, a year or two ago, a man bearing his testimony to the kindness of the Prophet Joseph toward little ones, and it struck me as being very similar to the character of our Savior. He referred to an incident when he was a little bare-footed boy. He was traveling in to Far West, and it was inclement weather. He and several other small boys were paddling through the cold water and their feet were chilled. A man came along on horseback and he picked them up, one by one, took a large silk handkerchief out of his pocket and tried to warm their benumbed feet. It is only a little incident, but it shows the kindness of the Prophet's heart toward little ones. I remember my father speaking of the mobbings, trials and privations he endured and I being but a little boy, unable to discriminate always between right and wrong, and not having that feeling of forgiveness which the Gospel of Christ brings to the soul, my face used to blush up and I would become indignant, and felt in my heart that when I became a man I would resent the wrongs that had been perpetrated upon our fathers in establishing this work. My father used to smile at me, and pat me on the back and say, "My boy, that is not the kind of spirit that the Gospel leaves in the hearts of mankind; as you grow older you must learn that you must forgive." This gospel of ours is designed to save, to build up, to bless and comfort; and it is not right on our part to harm any man. I have been acquainted with these brethren. I have listened to their testimonies, and I know that I have never yet listened to their voices being raised to harm or injure any man. On the other hand, their counsel and advice has been uplifting, saving, and such as would bless and comfort all who would give heed to it. I know that they have been good, clean men, and I know their advice has been good and would bless me if I would only carry it out. I honor them for this- I know that the example they have set In this community has been good, one that anybody could imitate with profit and blessing. When I think of this, I think how different it is to the spirit that has characterized some of our friends who do not have the same faith that we have. I never knew the authorities of this church to go out into the world condemning mankind, and pulling them down. On the contrary, their counsel and their lives have been examples to live up to, and that would benefit and bless mankind. I have met many people of different denominations in the world, and I have been anxious to learn concerning their faith, to find out what they possessed that might add to my faith and increase my knowledge, but I never had one of them manifest a spirit to bless me. 1 have had them by the score point the finger of scorn at me, and I have heard them ridicule the best men of our community, men I love with my whole heart. I have had men tell me that my father, who I knew was clean, pure and upright, was not a fit man to associate with. Figuratively, I never had one of them hand me a loaf, when I asked for it they have given me a stone. On the other hand, whenever I have gone to the authorities of this church they have given me comfort, and peace. The spirit that seeks to pull down, to destroy, and to harm mankind, is not the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. The genius of this gospel is to build up, not to destroy; it is to unite, not to dismember; it is to bring peace and good will, not to bring sorrow and distress. I testify that when I have lived this religion, and done my duty, the Spirit has brought unto me peace, comfort and blessing. As I have grown older I have learned, as my father testified to me when I was a boy, that when people live this religion and keep the commandments of the Lord they seek to build up, to bless, and to comfort mankind. When I was young it used to be quite a testimony to me, and it is today, that the religion of the world cannot be true because the followers seek to destroy the character of clean, good men, and to pull down this work of our Heavenly Father. I know that the Spirit of the Lord does not actuate men to injure or to destroy, or to pull down any people, whether in this church or any other church. The Spirit of the Lord does not actuate people to do harm, or to do ill of any kind. I take delight, brothers and sisters^ in sustaining the authorities of this church, because I know they are men of God, actuated by the Spirit to bless and comfort us if we will only follow their teachings. God forbid that I should forsake them, or that my hand should be raised against them, or that I should indirectly or directly be a party to any ' attempt to nullify their good works and bring to naught that which they desire for the blessing and comfort of the Latter-day Saints. If we will heed their counsels we will be happy indeed, and we will be blessed and sustained by our Heavenly Father. I have no fear of the Latter-day Saints in the least about this matter, because I know those whom I come in contact with, that are living their religion, manifest unity of faith, and do sustain those who preside over them. I know that the people in the stake over which I preside sustain the authorities of 'this church with their whole hearts, and propose to continue to sustain them. I do not feel that it would be wise for me to continue my remarks. I love this work, I love the authorities who preside over us. I have a testimony of the truth of this work. As I live nearer to my heavenly Father I enjoy more of the Spirit of the Lord, I have more happiness and peace in my heart, and I feel kindly towards all mankind. May the blessings of the Lord attend you ever, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sister Annie Shields sang beautifully a solo entitled, "With Verdure Clad."
PATRIARCH JOHN SMITH.
Testimony concerning the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith.—Necessity for following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
My brethren and sisters, it is with a feeling of pleasure, also of regret, that I stand before you on this occasion. It is a pleasure to me to be in the line of my duty. It is a pleasure to me to look at the faces of the people who are present, and to see so many gathered here to listen to the words of the Lord through His servants. It is with regret that I realize I am not what is termed a public speaker. It is seldom that my voice is heard in public, and unless you give me your faith and prayers to bring something to my mind, it will be a hard matter for me to say anything profitable to you on this occasion. I have a testimony to bear that this is the work of God, that we are His people, that Joseph was a prophet of the Lord, and that he gave unto us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the principles of life and salvation, which are now taught to the people. On many occasions I know that the Lord has been with me, and has inspired my sayings. I can bear testimony also that it is through the faith and prayers of the Saints I am here now. On two different occasions I have been physically broken down by overwork, but the faith and prayers of the Saints have prevailed, and I am here today, and, the Lord being my helper, I shall stay with you sometime yet. I bear testimony that that which we have listened to thus far through the conference is just and true. It has been spoken by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and if we, as a people, will follow the instructions we have received it will be well with us. In my travels among the people of late I have noticed that they are, as a rule, striving to live their religion and do their duty. They are striving to live before our Heavenly Father in that way and manner that His blessings will attend them. As Latter- day Saints we have many duties t> perform, and if we are diligent, and learn to listen to the whispering of the Good Spirit, we will not often err in judgment. All persons have a good monitor with them, and if they will live in a proper manner that monitor will direct them in the right path, and they will make no mistakes, but if they are careless and indifferent, trusting entirely to their own judgment, then they are liable to err. Speaking of the principle of forgiveness, we find that it is not so much among us as it ought to be. We should strive to live according to the old adage, "Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." If we will be guided by the True Spirit, and follow its promptings, it will be better for us. That the blessings of the Father may rest upon Israel and guide us in the true path, that when our time comes to go hence His blessings shall be with us and we shall be prepared to receive all that He has promised the -faithful, is my prayer In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Testimony concerning the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith.—Necessity for following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
My brethren and sisters, it is with a feeling of pleasure, also of regret, that I stand before you on this occasion. It is a pleasure to me to be in the line of my duty. It is a pleasure to me to look at the faces of the people who are present, and to see so many gathered here to listen to the words of the Lord through His servants. It is with regret that I realize I am not what is termed a public speaker. It is seldom that my voice is heard in public, and unless you give me your faith and prayers to bring something to my mind, it will be a hard matter for me to say anything profitable to you on this occasion. I have a testimony to bear that this is the work of God, that we are His people, that Joseph was a prophet of the Lord, and that he gave unto us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the principles of life and salvation, which are now taught to the people. On many occasions I know that the Lord has been with me, and has inspired my sayings. I can bear testimony also that it is through the faith and prayers of the Saints I am here now. On two different occasions I have been physically broken down by overwork, but the faith and prayers of the Saints have prevailed, and I am here today, and, the Lord being my helper, I shall stay with you sometime yet. I bear testimony that that which we have listened to thus far through the conference is just and true. It has been spoken by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and if we, as a people, will follow the instructions we have received it will be well with us. In my travels among the people of late I have noticed that they are, as a rule, striving to live their religion and do their duty. They are striving to live before our Heavenly Father in that way and manner that His blessings will attend them. As Latter- day Saints we have many duties t> perform, and if we are diligent, and learn to listen to the whispering of the Good Spirit, we will not often err in judgment. All persons have a good monitor with them, and if they will live in a proper manner that monitor will direct them in the right path, and they will make no mistakes, but if they are careless and indifferent, trusting entirely to their own judgment, then they are liable to err. Speaking of the principle of forgiveness, we find that it is not so much among us as it ought to be. We should strive to live according to the old adage, "Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." If we will be guided by the True Spirit, and follow its promptings, it will be better for us. That the blessings of the Father may rest upon Israel and guide us in the true path, that when our time comes to go hence His blessings shall be with us and we shall be prepared to receive all that He has promised the -faithful, is my prayer In the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER WILLIAM T. JACK.
(President of Cassia Stake.)
My brethren and sisters, I feel very thankful this morning for the opportunity I have, in connection with you, in attending this general conference of the church. I have rejoiced very much in the testimonies of those who have spoken in this meeting, and in the previous sessions of this conference, I have a testimony that our brethren. who have addressed us have spoken the truth, because they are actuated by the spirit of truth. They are men of God, engaged in the work of salvation, and I know that their words are words of eternal life. It is an exceeding great pleasure to us, living as we do in one of the remoter stakes of Zion, to have the privilege of coming to conference to hear the words of inspiration that fall from the lips of the servants of the Lord, and listen to the sweet singing that we hear. These things cause my heart to rejoice, and I feel continually to praise the Lord and acknowledge His goodness. I desire with all my heart to be able to serve Him, to keep His commandments and to be instrumental in His hands in seeking to bring to pass righteousness among the children of men.
The Cassia stake over which I have the honor to preside, is one of the small stakes of the church, our population numbering only 3,231 souls. Of this number, we have nine hundred and forty-four children under eight years of age. I felt very pleased yesterday, while President Smith was speaking of the limited number of missionaries now abroad carrying glad tidings of salvation, that it is our good fortune to have about forty brethren from Cassia stake in the mission field, who have gone willingly, yea, gladly, in order that they may assist in accomplishing this part of the work of the Church. The Stake in which I reside is one of the new settlements of the Church. We have within our borders one of the great government projects for bringing water upon the arid lands, and through the efficiency of the servants of the government in this work much is being accomplished. Many thousands of acres of land will be brought under cultivation, and homes can be made by thousands of people. We have, at the present time, coming into that part of the State of Idaho people from nearly all parts of the United States, and I am very pleased to note that they are men and women of good principles, as a rule. They are honest, industrious, and friendly toward their neighbors. They have not come with the prejudices and animosities that our missionaries often find in the east. We are glad to extend the hand of friendship to all such people. The time will come when that part of the state will become important. We hope as citizens of that state to assist by our efforts in helping to bring to pass this change. Our people are an exceedingly good class. I do not believe it would be possible to go into any of the Stakes of Zion and find Latter-day Saints who are more sincerely endeavoring to live their religion than the people of the Cassia stake. As a rule they are living in peace, and I believe they possess the spirit of forgiveness. They are endeavoring through faith and prayer to continue in possession of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which leads and guides into all truth. In consequence of the newness of our country we are just beginning the erection of commodious meetinghouses in our wards. Wherever we see these houses, we look upon them with the thought that a part of the means used for this purpose has come to us from the Trustee-in-Trust. and when we read the newspaper agitation which is going on over the disposition of the tithes, we look at our ward meetinghouses, our Stake meetinghouse, our beautiful Academy, realizing they are monuments to the credit of the tithe payers, and to the beneficence of the authorities of this Church. I want to say, my brethren and sisters, in behalf of the saints of the Cassia stake of Zion, I believe there is not one among them who is paying tithing that is questioning as to the disposition of that fund. "We know full well the men into whose hands it comes, and we know that it is handled as carefully and judiciously as any money in this world can be handled. We have implicit faith and confidence in President Joseph F. Smith, and his counselors, the Twelve Apostles, the Seven Presidents of Seventies, and in all the general authorities of this Church, because we know that they are men of God. We are endeavoring to the best of our ability to uphold their hands. It is our practice to go before the Lord and, in the earnestness of our souls, ask him to bless and preserve and magnify these brethren. I realize, as you do, that the Lord has blest them, that He has sustained them, and that He is assisting them in the very important duties they have to perform.
We are endeavoring to assist in the building up of the Gem State. We see in our state immense possibilities. We are sustaining the officers of the government of our state. We look upon them as being exceptionally good men. We are honoring the laws of the land in which we live, both local and general. This, I may say, is a characteristic of Latter-day Saints. They have been taught from childhood to honor the flag of our country, to obey the laws of the land. This is being done, notwithstanding what may be said to the contrary by the enemies of this work. We love our country. We honor that great and good man, President Roosevelt, who stands at its head. We look upon him as a man of destiny, a man of exceptional power and ability, a man whom we believe God has raised up; and his influence is being felt in the west. In the reclamation of thousands of acres of arid lands that have been bleached In the sunshine of heaven. I say, God bless our country, its laws and its institutions, its officers and its people. I believe that the gospel has inspired within my heart greater love for this country, greater veneration for its law, than I could possibly have felt had it not been for the influence of the gospel. I believe that the same feeling prevails, as a rule, among the Latter-day Saints. I know that our authorities are patriotic, loyal men. If there is one Individual in this church that I have admired more than any other, it is President Joseph F. Smith, because I have looked upon him as a model among men. I have watched his purity of life, I have observed his nobility of character, I have noted his sacrifices in his labor for the benefit of mankind. I know there is a man standing at the head of this church at the present time whose superior cannot be found in this wide world. That is my testimony and my feelings regarding President Joseph F. Smith. These men who stand at the head of this church are men whose lives are exemplary. They are men who are and have been willing to sacrifice for this work and for the salvation of the souls of mankind. It cannot be said of these brethren that they say to the rank and file of the church, go hither and thither into the missionary field, and they themselves remain at home; but as you know, my brethren and sisters, all of these general authorities are practical missionaries. They have been out into the world. They have marked the path and led the way. They have brought home sheaves for their hire. They have in all these respects, and in all other respects, set before the membership of this church an example they expect us to follow, and I hope we will not be unmindful of their counsels. I thought while President Smith was addressing us yesterday, how few of us have attempted in the last three years to extricate ourselves from the bonds of indebtedness: some have been inclined to go further into debt, and have reached out upon the right hand and upon the left, and today it is a question as to whether or not the Latter-day Saints are in any better condition financially than they were when this note was first sounded by the prophet of the Lord. So far as I am concerned as an individual (I do not say it boastingly), I have tried to follow the example of these brethren. I have taken their counsel in relation to debt, and I stand today an example of the benefits of following the counsel of those who are in authority over us. The Lord will bless us if we will do this, we will get out of debt and surround ourselves with the necessaries and comforts of life. I suggest to the Latter-day Saints that one of the best ways to get out of debt, and to keep tout, is to pay as we go. If we have not money to pay for anything, let us go without it until we get the money. We have demonstrated that in our stake in the last sixteen months. In one concern where there was a debt of some $23,000 hanging over the institution; today it is practically out of debt, by reason of the fact that the directors adopted the system of requiring the people to pay cash for what they got. It has enabled that institution to get out of trouble, and has lifted it up so that today it is independent. I recommend this to the Latter-day Saints, and suggest that we adopt a cash policy, and pay as we go. While doing this, let US endeavor to live our religion, attend to our prayers, do our duty, attend our meetings, and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I testily to you, as a servant of God, that all other things will be added unto us. This gospel is truer, there is no doubt about that, and it will save us if we will live according to its precepts. May the peace and blessings of the Almighty rest upon us. May the inspiration of His Holy Spirit enlighten our minds, quicken our understandings, enable us to comprehend the truth when we hear it, and cause us to be united in all the affairs of life; that we may be forgiving in our lives, and, as we read from the revelation, seek to forgive all men, not only those who are members of the church, but forgive all men, no matter who they may be. If we will do this, the Lord will in the end forgive us, and will lift us up to revelation. Peace be unto you, my brethren and sisters. May the blessings of the Almighty rest upon you, and His prosperity attend you in your homes. I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Elder John Robinson rendered a sacred solo entitled "Grant Us Thy Peace."
(President of Cassia Stake.)
My brethren and sisters, I feel very thankful this morning for the opportunity I have, in connection with you, in attending this general conference of the church. I have rejoiced very much in the testimonies of those who have spoken in this meeting, and in the previous sessions of this conference, I have a testimony that our brethren. who have addressed us have spoken the truth, because they are actuated by the spirit of truth. They are men of God, engaged in the work of salvation, and I know that their words are words of eternal life. It is an exceeding great pleasure to us, living as we do in one of the remoter stakes of Zion, to have the privilege of coming to conference to hear the words of inspiration that fall from the lips of the servants of the Lord, and listen to the sweet singing that we hear. These things cause my heart to rejoice, and I feel continually to praise the Lord and acknowledge His goodness. I desire with all my heart to be able to serve Him, to keep His commandments and to be instrumental in His hands in seeking to bring to pass righteousness among the children of men.
The Cassia stake over which I have the honor to preside, is one of the small stakes of the church, our population numbering only 3,231 souls. Of this number, we have nine hundred and forty-four children under eight years of age. I felt very pleased yesterday, while President Smith was speaking of the limited number of missionaries now abroad carrying glad tidings of salvation, that it is our good fortune to have about forty brethren from Cassia stake in the mission field, who have gone willingly, yea, gladly, in order that they may assist in accomplishing this part of the work of the Church. The Stake in which I reside is one of the new settlements of the Church. We have within our borders one of the great government projects for bringing water upon the arid lands, and through the efficiency of the servants of the government in this work much is being accomplished. Many thousands of acres of land will be brought under cultivation, and homes can be made by thousands of people. We have, at the present time, coming into that part of the State of Idaho people from nearly all parts of the United States, and I am very pleased to note that they are men and women of good principles, as a rule. They are honest, industrious, and friendly toward their neighbors. They have not come with the prejudices and animosities that our missionaries often find in the east. We are glad to extend the hand of friendship to all such people. The time will come when that part of the state will become important. We hope as citizens of that state to assist by our efforts in helping to bring to pass this change. Our people are an exceedingly good class. I do not believe it would be possible to go into any of the Stakes of Zion and find Latter-day Saints who are more sincerely endeavoring to live their religion than the people of the Cassia stake. As a rule they are living in peace, and I believe they possess the spirit of forgiveness. They are endeavoring through faith and prayer to continue in possession of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which leads and guides into all truth. In consequence of the newness of our country we are just beginning the erection of commodious meetinghouses in our wards. Wherever we see these houses, we look upon them with the thought that a part of the means used for this purpose has come to us from the Trustee-in-Trust. and when we read the newspaper agitation which is going on over the disposition of the tithes, we look at our ward meetinghouses, our Stake meetinghouse, our beautiful Academy, realizing they are monuments to the credit of the tithe payers, and to the beneficence of the authorities of this Church. I want to say, my brethren and sisters, in behalf of the saints of the Cassia stake of Zion, I believe there is not one among them who is paying tithing that is questioning as to the disposition of that fund. "We know full well the men into whose hands it comes, and we know that it is handled as carefully and judiciously as any money in this world can be handled. We have implicit faith and confidence in President Joseph F. Smith, and his counselors, the Twelve Apostles, the Seven Presidents of Seventies, and in all the general authorities of this Church, because we know that they are men of God. We are endeavoring to the best of our ability to uphold their hands. It is our practice to go before the Lord and, in the earnestness of our souls, ask him to bless and preserve and magnify these brethren. I realize, as you do, that the Lord has blest them, that He has sustained them, and that He is assisting them in the very important duties they have to perform.
We are endeavoring to assist in the building up of the Gem State. We see in our state immense possibilities. We are sustaining the officers of the government of our state. We look upon them as being exceptionally good men. We are honoring the laws of the land in which we live, both local and general. This, I may say, is a characteristic of Latter-day Saints. They have been taught from childhood to honor the flag of our country, to obey the laws of the land. This is being done, notwithstanding what may be said to the contrary by the enemies of this work. We love our country. We honor that great and good man, President Roosevelt, who stands at its head. We look upon him as a man of destiny, a man of exceptional power and ability, a man whom we believe God has raised up; and his influence is being felt in the west. In the reclamation of thousands of acres of arid lands that have been bleached In the sunshine of heaven. I say, God bless our country, its laws and its institutions, its officers and its people. I believe that the gospel has inspired within my heart greater love for this country, greater veneration for its law, than I could possibly have felt had it not been for the influence of the gospel. I believe that the same feeling prevails, as a rule, among the Latter-day Saints. I know that our authorities are patriotic, loyal men. If there is one Individual in this church that I have admired more than any other, it is President Joseph F. Smith, because I have looked upon him as a model among men. I have watched his purity of life, I have observed his nobility of character, I have noted his sacrifices in his labor for the benefit of mankind. I know there is a man standing at the head of this church at the present time whose superior cannot be found in this wide world. That is my testimony and my feelings regarding President Joseph F. Smith. These men who stand at the head of this church are men whose lives are exemplary. They are men who are and have been willing to sacrifice for this work and for the salvation of the souls of mankind. It cannot be said of these brethren that they say to the rank and file of the church, go hither and thither into the missionary field, and they themselves remain at home; but as you know, my brethren and sisters, all of these general authorities are practical missionaries. They have been out into the world. They have marked the path and led the way. They have brought home sheaves for their hire. They have in all these respects, and in all other respects, set before the membership of this church an example they expect us to follow, and I hope we will not be unmindful of their counsels. I thought while President Smith was addressing us yesterday, how few of us have attempted in the last three years to extricate ourselves from the bonds of indebtedness: some have been inclined to go further into debt, and have reached out upon the right hand and upon the left, and today it is a question as to whether or not the Latter-day Saints are in any better condition financially than they were when this note was first sounded by the prophet of the Lord. So far as I am concerned as an individual (I do not say it boastingly), I have tried to follow the example of these brethren. I have taken their counsel in relation to debt, and I stand today an example of the benefits of following the counsel of those who are in authority over us. The Lord will bless us if we will do this, we will get out of debt and surround ourselves with the necessaries and comforts of life. I suggest to the Latter-day Saints that one of the best ways to get out of debt, and to keep tout, is to pay as we go. If we have not money to pay for anything, let us go without it until we get the money. We have demonstrated that in our stake in the last sixteen months. In one concern where there was a debt of some $23,000 hanging over the institution; today it is practically out of debt, by reason of the fact that the directors adopted the system of requiring the people to pay cash for what they got. It has enabled that institution to get out of trouble, and has lifted it up so that today it is independent. I recommend this to the Latter-day Saints, and suggest that we adopt a cash policy, and pay as we go. While doing this, let US endeavor to live our religion, attend to our prayers, do our duty, attend our meetings, and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I testily to you, as a servant of God, that all other things will be added unto us. This gospel is truer, there is no doubt about that, and it will save us if we will live according to its precepts. May the peace and blessings of the Almighty rest upon us. May the inspiration of His Holy Spirit enlighten our minds, quicken our understandings, enable us to comprehend the truth when we hear it, and cause us to be united in all the affairs of life; that we may be forgiving in our lives, and, as we read from the revelation, seek to forgive all men, not only those who are members of the church, but forgive all men, no matter who they may be. If we will do this, the Lord will in the end forgive us, and will lift us up to revelation. Peace be unto you, my brethren and sisters. May the blessings of the Almighty rest upon you, and His prosperity attend you in your homes. I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Elder John Robinson rendered a sacred solo entitled "Grant Us Thy Peace."
ELDER CHRISTIAN D. FJELDSTED.
I do not know if I shall be able to speak loud enough to be heard by this vast congregation, but I esteem it a great privilege to attend this conference, a privilege I have not had for several years. I can truly say I am enjoying the Spirit there is in this conference. The doctrines we have listened to have come from God, and the singing has been quite inspiring. Thanks be to God, we are living in a time when we 'have inspired men to lead us. I have been in Scandinavia for several years, and I bring kind regards and thanks from the Saints of those countries, for the liberal feelings manifested both by the trustee-in-trust and by the people here generally, through whose donations we have been greatly assisted, and we now have some very good meetinghouses in those countries. The gospel is spreading, and is being preached with power. I can say, in behalf of the Elders who have been sent from home, that they are doing a good work. They are fine men. You parents whose sons are out in the field can rejoice, because they are good boys, they are doing a good work, and they are living their religion. It is a hard matter to learn a language, but even in that the Lord is blessing them wonderfully. They meet, of -course, with a good deal of opposition, and finding fault with the principles of the gospel by our friends outside of the church. I have told them we have not originated this gospel, neither has Joseph Smith nor the other leaders of the church; it originated with the Lord, the Creator of the world, and if you have any complaint to make against the principles of the gospel, He is the individual for you to complain against, not Joseph Smith, nor the Latter-day Saints. The Lord has revealed this grand and glorious gospel. He appeared to Joseph Smith and introduced His Son, even the Savior of the world, who spoke to Joseph Smith concerning the gospel; and that is where the complaint should be laid if there is any. We say that the principles of the gospel are true, and are calculated to exalt mankind, to bless the people, and to bring salvation to the human family, if they will obey it. My brothers and sisters, it is for us, as Latter-day Saints, to live our religion, because this is the work of God. 'His servants who stand at the head of His church are leading Israel in the way of salvation. May the Lord help us that we may do our duty, live our religion, honor our Father in heaven, and keep the covenants we have entered into, is my prayer, for Christ's sake. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer,
Blessed to open the last dispensation;
Kings shall extol him and nations revere.
Benediction by Bishop William B. Preston.
I do not know if I shall be able to speak loud enough to be heard by this vast congregation, but I esteem it a great privilege to attend this conference, a privilege I have not had for several years. I can truly say I am enjoying the Spirit there is in this conference. The doctrines we have listened to have come from God, and the singing has been quite inspiring. Thanks be to God, we are living in a time when we 'have inspired men to lead us. I have been in Scandinavia for several years, and I bring kind regards and thanks from the Saints of those countries, for the liberal feelings manifested both by the trustee-in-trust and by the people here generally, through whose donations we have been greatly assisted, and we now have some very good meetinghouses in those countries. The gospel is spreading, and is being preached with power. I can say, in behalf of the Elders who have been sent from home, that they are doing a good work. They are fine men. You parents whose sons are out in the field can rejoice, because they are good boys, they are doing a good work, and they are living their religion. It is a hard matter to learn a language, but even in that the Lord is blessing them wonderfully. They meet, of -course, with a good deal of opposition, and finding fault with the principles of the gospel by our friends outside of the church. I have told them we have not originated this gospel, neither has Joseph Smith nor the other leaders of the church; it originated with the Lord, the Creator of the world, and if you have any complaint to make against the principles of the gospel, He is the individual for you to complain against, not Joseph Smith, nor the Latter-day Saints. The Lord has revealed this grand and glorious gospel. He appeared to Joseph Smith and introduced His Son, even the Savior of the world, who spoke to Joseph Smith concerning the gospel; and that is where the complaint should be laid if there is any. We say that the principles of the gospel are true, and are calculated to exalt mankind, to bless the people, and to bring salvation to the human family, if they will obey it. My brothers and sisters, it is for us, as Latter-day Saints, to live our religion, because this is the work of God. 'His servants who stand at the head of His church are leading Israel in the way of salvation. May the Lord help us that we may do our duty, live our religion, honor our Father in heaven, and keep the covenants we have entered into, is my prayer, for Christ's sake. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer,
Blessed to open the last dispensation;
Kings shall extol him and nations revere.
Benediction by Bishop William B. Preston.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation.
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation.
And shortly the hour of redemption will come.
Prayer was offered by Patriarch Angus M. Cannon.
The choir sang the hymn:
High on the mountain top a banner is unfurled,
Ye nations now look up. it waves to all the world;
In Deseret's sweet, peaceful land.
On Zion's mount behold it stand!
Singing by the choir and congregation:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation.
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation.
And shortly the hour of redemption will come.
Prayer was offered by Patriarch Angus M. Cannon.
The choir sang the hymn:
High on the mountain top a banner is unfurled,
Ye nations now look up. it waves to all the world;
In Deseret's sweet, peaceful land.
On Zion's mount behold it stand!
ELDER CHARLES W. PENROSE.
Permanence and perpetuity of the Church.—Its growth and development.— No hiatus in its history.—Keys given to Joseph Smith not to be taken away. — Organization of First Presidency.—it is not hereditary.—The work of God will continue and abide forever.
It is a great pleasure to me to look upon this congregation. We have come here from different parts of this state and of the surrounding states and territories that we might associate as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in general conference. I feel for one that we have been well repaid for such journeyings as we have had to undertake in order to come here. The Spirit that has prevailed in this conference from the very beginning has been such as to give comfort and joy and confidence to the Latter-day Saints assembled, and to increase in our souls a determination that we will serve the Lord, that we will keep His commandments, that we will sustain His servants whom He has appointed to guide and direct the affairs of His Church on earth, and that we will place ourselves in such a condition that the Lord may use us for the accomplishment of His purposes, for the upbuilding of His kingdom, for the spread of truth and righteousness, and to help prepare the way for the coming of Him whose right it is to reign over all the earth. I am sure that every person present who knows anything about the operations of the Spirit of the Lord has had a testimony in his or her heart that the Lord is with His servants, that His power attends their ministrations, and that they are really and truly engaged in the Lord's work, and 'not in the work of man alone.
A remark made by Elder John Henry Smith, I am sure was thoroughly appreciated by those who heard him, and recommended itself to my soul, and that was, that the Lord in the latter days was to establish a kingdom that should "not be given to another people," that should not be overcome of the world but should stand forever, and it was to be given "to the people of the Saints of the Most High," and they should possess it for an everlasting kingdom. Now, we understood in the beginning, when we obeyed the Gospel of Christ and became members of this Church, that this promise was in relation to the work in which we became engaged. That it was to be different from former dispensations. That while the establishment of the Church and kingdom of God in former times was such that it was temporary and was overcome by the powers of evil—the world, the flesh and the devil, this latter- day work was to continue and abide. That it should not cease, but that it was established here permanently. We applied to ourselves the remark of the Prophet Isaiah concerning the great latter-day work, that the truth which the Lord revealed to us should "not depart from us nor from our seed, nor from our seed's seed, from henceforth, even forever," We understood that while those former dispensations only lasted for a time, and then wickedness came in like a flood and spread over the earth, that the dispensation of the fulness of times which the Lord ushered in through His servant Joseph Smith, was to continue and prevail over every power beneath the eternal heavens, to establish truth and righteousness in the earth, to overcome the powers of evil, and bring to pass the purposes of God in the establishment of His kingdom and the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. That while in former times the powers of the world had overcome the saints, in the latter days, in the last dispensation, the people and kingdom of God were to prevail over the kingdoms of this world and the powers of darkness, until Satan and his hosts should be bound and evil should be exterminated from the earth, and righteousness should come in, and "a king should reign in righteousness and princes should rule in judgment."
Was not this the understanding that we had in the very beginning of our career in the Church? And has not the Lord strengthened that faith in our souls by the manner in which He has caused this work to prevail and progress in the earth? When' we look upon the congregations of the saints in this conference and realize the fact, repeatedly stated here, that we are only representatives of the great body of the Church located in different parts of the world, we may exclaim as one did when the telegraph line completed, "What hath God wrought!" He has brought us from afar; He has congregated us here in the mountains, in fulfillment of that which He predicted through the Prophet Joseph, that before the Lord should come "Zion should rejoice on the hills and should flourish in the mountains." Zion, that has brought good tidings, as the Prophet Isaiah predicted, has come up into the high mountain, and as he and Micah both predicted, the people of God have come from the nations afar off. They have gathered up into the heights of the mountains. They have come here "to learn the ways of the Lord and to walk' in His paths." They are building the house of the Lord, as he foresaw it, "in the tops of the mountains."
An effort has been made for some time past to make some of the Latter-day Saints believe that at a certain period of the Church's history there was a great hiatus, that the Church became disorganized, as it were, because Joseph the Prophet died, martyred with his brother Hyrum for the word of the Lord and the testimony of Jesus, and that because the quorum of the First Presidency was disorganized the Church was disorganized and rejected. Now, my dear brethren and sisters and friends, if that were the case, then the hopes planted in our bosoms by the power of the Spirit of God in the beginning were vain, the promises made to the Church in the start were not true. God declared that He had set up His Church upon the earth "in the last days for the last time," and that it should prevail and should not be prevailed against. The idea that the disorganization of one quorum of the holy priesthood disorganized the Church is in itself an absurdity, and might be rejected by every sensible Saint. But you know there are evil influences abroad in the earth, and different spirits have gone forth to deceive the children of men, and we who are the servants of the Lord ought to be well posted on these matters, so that we may be able to dissipate doubt and uncertainty, and explain that which may seem a little mysterious to some people who are not fully in the light, because we do not all have the same degree of faith. Certainly I believe that the congregations that have assembled here have not the least dubiety in their minds. The spirit that has prevailed here has testified of this. The unanimity with which the servants of God who have been appointed and called to lead the people in the latter days were accepted and endorsed by the congregation, without any dissenting voice, testifies to this. But there are others who are not up to the mark, not up to the standard, and they need encouraging, and need to have things explained to them, and we should be ready to expound, explain and exhort with all long-suffering, that the faith of the saints may be confirmed, and that they may understand things as they are.
Now, when the Lord established the Church, as you know, it was but a little thing. As one of the writers of the Book of Mormon said, "out of small things proceedeth that which is great." That has been fulfilled, so far, in the history of this Church. Yet this is only the beginning of the magnitude of the great latter-day work, which shall prevail over everything that is evil and establish the kingdom of God in all the world. When the Church was organized, only six members were present at its organization; at any rate that number took part in the legal organization of the Church, and if all those who had been baptized at that time were counted they would make a very small number. The Church gradually grew and increased. It illustrated what the Savior said in regard to the work of God. It came forth, "first the blade, and then the ear, and after that, the full corn in the ear." It is a growth, as all the works of God are, so far as we can understand. Even the worlds commenced with a nucleus, and they gradually accumulated and grew, as God ordained, until they filled the place that God had appointed. The kingdom of the latter days was to be like "the stone cut out of the mountain without hands," which was to grow and increase until it became a "great mountain and filled the whole earth." So on the 6th day of April, 1830, when the Church was formally organized, and the Prophet Joseph was accepted as the first Elder in the Church, and as a prophet, a seer and a revelator, and the people were commanded to observe all things that he brought forth by the power and Spirit of God—on that day there were not enough persons in the Church to organize it in its fulness. It was like the little blade that comes out of the ground after the seed is planted; but as the years rolled on the Church increased in numbers, and the Lord brought into use the different men and women who came into the Church, that they might be utilized for the purpose of spreading the Gospel and building up His kingdom in the latter days. The Lord foreshadowed that at a certain time there were to be Twelve that should be ordained to hold the keys of carrying the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. And so various quorums and organizations were added. They grew out of that organization that the Lord established in the beginning. The germ, the form, the potency of it was right there, but it was not developed. It took time and circumstances and people to bring it into a condition that it might be fully organized according to the mind and will of the Lord. In the first place, the Lord gave the- Prophet Joseph Smith the presidency of the Church and the keys of this latter-day work. The Lord tested and tried him, to see whether he would stand, before he conferred upon him the fulness of the power of the Holy Priesthood to build up His kingdom in its fulness. I will read a verse or two from the 28th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, which shows how the Lord led along His servant in the beginning, and that this work was to come forth by degrees. The Lord gave a commandment to Oliver Cowdery as early as September, 1830, that he was to speak by the Holy Ghost, and that he should have the revelations of the Lord for himself and to aid him in his teachings; but although he had been ordained an Apostle when the Prophet Joseph was ordained by Peter, James and John, he was not to command the man who stood at the head. The Lord said:
"And thou Shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church;
"For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead."
Here is the possibility set forth that if Joseph was not true and faithful in all things, another might be appointed in his stead; and Oliver was commanded not to counsel him or to attempt to command him, but to receive the word, of the Lord as it came from him.
In the 35th section of the Doctrine and Covenants—a revelation given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon—the Lord said:
"And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead."
This revelation was given in December, 1830. and there are two or three more of the same kind, given in the very beginning of the Church, while the Prophet Joseph was, as it were, on probation before the Lord. The Lord gave him authority and put him into positions where he could be tried and tested, and He said, "If he abide not in me, another will I plant in his stead."
I will read the 2nd verse of Section 65:
"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth until it has filled the whole earth."
Now I will read from the 43rd Section, verses 3 to 7:
"And this ye shall know .assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
“But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him, he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead;
"And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments:
"And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
"For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed."
There is still, you will see, the opening left that if Joseph was not true and faithful and worthy of his calling, another might be appointed in his stead. But I want you to mark this point: there was not to be another appointed in his stead if he abided in the Lord. It was only if he transgressed and became unworthy of his calling that he should have power to appoint another. Just put that down in your minds. So if dividers declare that somebody else was appointed to take the place of the Prophet Joseph, then they announce that the Prophet did not abide in the Lord, that he transgressed, and therefore another had to be appointed in his stead.
In a revelation given to the Church September 11th, 1831, the Lord said:
"I will be merciful unto you, for I have given unto you the kingdom.
"And the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., through the means I have appointed, while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.— Doc. and Cov. Section 64, verses 4, 5.
Here the promise was made to the Prophet Joseph Smith that he should have those keys as long as he lived, if he obeyed the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
Our testimony is that he lived and died a prophet of God, and that he sealed his testimony with his blood. The Lord promised that the keys should not be taken from him while he lived, inasmuch as he obeyed His ordinances, so when the Prophet Joseph was taken away, the keys were with him, as the Lord promised they should be, both in this world and in the world to come. I will read a verse from the 112th Section. The Lord says:
"Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you 1 say unto all the Twelve, Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.
"Exalt not yourselves: rebel not against my servant Joseph, for verily I sav unto you, I am with him and mv hand shall be over him: and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to you ward, shall not be taken from him till I come."
Here is the promise of the Lord, not only to the Prophet Joseph Smith, but also to the Twelve, that the keys should Hot be taken from the Prophet until the Lord should come: for by this time he had been tested, proved, and. found worthy. As he himself said, he had been swimming in deep waters and up stream, and he had struggled against false friends and those surrounding him who professed to be his disciples, but who spoke against him and had risen up against him. ' Now the Lord said to him and to the Twelve, that the keys, which had been given first of all temporarily, as it' were, until he should be tested and proved, should abide with him until the Lord should come, and with the Twelve whom He had called and appointed. Therefore, rest your souls easy in this security, that the kingdom, as the Lord says, is given to His people. I might read to you a dozen passages from the Doctrine and Covenants showing that the kingdom was given to the Church, and It was to abide and continue. The Lord said "'I have sent my servants out to prune my vineyard for the last time, for behold this is the eleventh hour." His servants whom he had called into the vineyard were called for the last dispensation, and, He said, the keys should not be taken from the Prophet Joseph, for he had been tested and proved and found worthy before the Lord, before the angels and before the Church. They should not be taken from him and from the Twelve (that is the promise) "until I shall come, saith the Lord." So the keys were to abide with the Church from that time henceforth, until the Lord Himself should come and reign "in Zion and Jerusalem and before His ancients gloriously." As further evidence that this work was established for the last time, the Lord says in the thirtieth verse of the same section:
"For unto you (the Twelve), and those (the First Presidency) who are appointed with you, to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this Priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the -which is the dispensation of the fulness of times."
Here is the promise of the Lord to His servant Joseph and the Twelve that were with him, that the keys were given unto them, and they were to hold them and exercise them, and they were given in the power of this Priesthood for the last time, in the last days, and for the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Now, as the Church progressed, the Lord, as I before remarked, added organizations and quorums, until the Church became perfectly established. The ear came forth in its beauty and glory. The little blade had measurably disappeared. "Mormonism," as I have said, is a growth. It is not the same today as it was yesterday; for it is growing, just like the flower that puts forth its leaves and its buds, and then its blossoms. It is the same plant, but it is continually changing, according to conditions and its environment and the necessity to develop itself in its beauty and glory. So also it is in the Church. Why, we have hardly attained the full corn in the ear yet. Every man read the 107th and the 124th Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants from beginning to end. If you do not have the book, buy one; and if you cannot buy one, borrow one. In the 107th Section the Lord reveals to the Church His Holy Priesthood—two Priesthoods, the Melchisedek and the Aaronic, which are one in reality, but divided into two branches. He says:
"Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods.
"Of the Melchizedek Priesthood three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the church."
Does the Lord say there that some man is to appoint his brother, or his uncle, or his son, to preside over the Church? No. "Three presiding High Priests, chosen by the body," upheld and sustained by the vote and faith and fellowship of the Church, form the First Presidency. That is how the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ was established, by the revelation and commandment of God. That is how it has continued from that time until the present. When the Prophet Joseph was taken he had remained faithful and true, and he had the keys of the latter-day dispensation, and he has them today. And if you think that he has departed from this people, if you think that his influence and power are withdrawn from the brethren here whom God has appointed to preside over us in the Church, you are sadly mistaken. The spirit and power of Joseph are in this Church and with this Presidency. Joseph the Prophet, although he has gone from our midst, holds the keys of the last dispensation, and will hold them till the Lord comes. But there were others appointed to act in his stead, In the place he occupied in the flesh, and he still holds his priesthood and power and authority and the keys of the dispensation behind the veil. He is doing a far greater work there than he could accomplish in the flesh. He has a wider sphere of labor, and more power and influence, now that the infirmities of the flesh are gone. He is clothed with the power of the holy priesthood, and the keys thereof abide with him. And he Is with this people, for "the powers of this priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers behind the veil;" and they, united together, will prevail over every power and influence that may be brought against them.
When the Prophet Joseph was taken, and the quorum of the First Presidency was thus dissolved, it devolved upon the Twelve. Read this Section and you will find that the Lord gave to the Twelve authority to hold the keys, equal with the First Presidency—that is, when the First Presidency was dissolved. The quorum of the Twelve came next, and they had power to set in order all the other offices in the Church. That is part of their duty, as the Lord has commanded in this section. Therefore, the Twelve came up, with Brigham Young at their head, the Lord having designated him by revelation to be the President of the Twelve, as you has commanded in this section. There- Doctrine and Covenants. God gave Hyrum to be the man to hold the keys, of the patriarchal blessings over the whole Church; but He gave Joseph Smith to preside over the Church, the whole Church—over Hyrum as well as the rest. He also gave him his counselors. Then He gave the Twelve, and He put Brigham Young at the head of the Twelve. God knew what was coming, and He so, ordered things that Brigham stood at the head of the Twelve; and when the Prophet Joseph, and the Prophet Hyrum, the Patriarch, were taken, the Twelve came up in their place, as the Lord had ordained. Satan then had twelve to overcome instead of three. Furthermore, you will find in the same revelation, in Section 107, that even if the Twelve should all be taken away, then there are Seventy to come up. It put one in mind of the Irishman's wall. He built it five feet high and eight feet thick, and when they asked him the reason, he said that if the wind came and blowed it over it would be higher than it was before.
Now, as to this Church—the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints— the Lord laid its foundations broad and deep and high. He made it impregnable. Why? Because He had ordained in the beginning that it should be perpetual, that it should not be overcome, that it should not be left to another people, that the keys of the priesthood should continue and abide until Christ should come and reign over the earth. So the Lord ordained, in the order of the priesthood, that when the First Presidency was dissolved, the Twelve should succeed, having all the keys, power and authority to regulate the Church and to organize the quorums. Thus it was that President Young and the Twelve conducted the affairs of the Church for some time. There was a majority of the Twelve who stood faithful, who were ready to do their duty, and the Lord says that' "a majority may form a quorum" when it is impossible to have them all together. The vacant places were filled up in the quorum; and when the proper time came, President Young, who was a Presiding High Priest (so are all the Twelve—God's High Priests—a presiding traveling High Council), and his two counselors, were upheld and sustained by the vote and faith and fellowship of the Church, and formed the Presidency of the Church, in the way God had appointed.
So it has been from that time to the present, my brethren and sisters. Whenever a vacancy has occurred, it has been filled. For the power of growth is in the Church. The power to regulate all its affairs is in the Church. The power to purge out all that is evil is in the Church. We need no outside pressure, or counsel, or instruction. All that is necessary is right within the Church. As we were told by Brother Lyman, it is a living thing, a living organism, quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is the word of the Lord that is proclaimed through its leaders. And so we have had the quorum of the First Presidency organized according to the will and commandment of God from that day to the present. I testify to you, before the Lord, that the truth which God has given to this Church shall continue and abide, that the keys of the holy priesthood sent down out of heaven in the last days for the last time, will not be taken away again from the earth; that as the priesthood of Aaron will remain "until the sons of Levi do offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness," so the keys of the Melchisedek Priesthood shall remain and abide until Christ, who is the great High Priest shall come and stand at our head, and be our King.
I know that this truth abides in the hearts of the people; but we ought not to allow any of our friends who are not strong in the testimony to be led astray by anything that may come along to lessen their faith and to weaken them. Let us be one. We have been one in these valleys. There never was a better spirit in the Church since I have known it, and I have been a minister in it for nearly 55 years. I know that the Spirit of God is with this people, and I have never enjoyed it better than I have during this conference. The Spirit of the living God has been present and inspired the utterances of those who have spoken, and they have found a place in the hearts of the people. The Saints have rejoiced. Why? Because the Lord is with us. My brethren and sisters, this is His work, not the work of man, and He will cause it to prevail. How absurd it would be for the Lord, after He had established His Church on foundations of perpetuity, to allow it to lapse, to remain dormant for a number of years, when the very keys that He had given that the Church might be perpetuated were still held by the Twelve and the brethren associated with them. The idea that the Lord would allow the Church to go to sleep and into darkness when He had declared it should stand forever, would be folly. But the Lord has been with His people and with His servants. Do we not know that the Lord was with Brother Brigham when he led the- Saints out of trouble and bondage in the east, across the great plains, and planted the Church in these mountain valleys, and prepared the way for the building up of the great community and the Zion which the Prophet Joseph foresaw, for he talked about it and appointed men to go and prospect the land, that "the Saints might become a great people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains," that Zion might flourish upon the hills.
The Church is still growing. The ear is still growing, and the full corn in the ear will be seen when Christ shall come. We have all the keys and powers necessary for that, right in the Church. Its organization is complete, with a Presidency, with Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, Elders, Priests. Teachers and Deacons, with the auxiliary societies which the Lord has inspired His servants to establish, both for the brethren and the sisters, that the women as well as the men might have something to do in building up this great latter day work. It is beautiful, it is glorious, it is perfect: for it has come from the hands of the Almighty. We are imperfect, we are feeble, we are not all fully carrying out that which God has placed upon us; but we will try, will we not? to do our duty. Let every man learn his duty in the Priesthood. Let every woman learn her duty in the organizations of the Church. Let us all perform our duties as members of the Church, meet tog-ether often, partake of the sacrament, remember our prayers, teach our children the principles of the Gospel of Christ and plant in their hearts that faith which has given us so much joy, satisfaction and contentment, and the work of the Lord shall go onward and shall prevail; the truth shall be carried to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, the honest in heart shall rejoice among the nations, the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, the Lord will bring to shame the mocker and the scornful, the wisdom of this world shall come to naught and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid, but the honest and upright of heart shall rejoice in the Lord, the truth shall prevail, and the kingdom of our God shall come and His will be done on the earth as it is done in heaven, when "the meek inherit the earth and the wicked are cut off forever." God help us to be faithful and true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
"One Hundred Years," a quartet composed by Prof. Stephens, to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Prophet's birth, was rendered by Lottie Owen, Mabel Cooper, George D. Pyper and Horace S. Ensign.
Permanence and perpetuity of the Church.—Its growth and development.— No hiatus in its history.—Keys given to Joseph Smith not to be taken away. — Organization of First Presidency.—it is not hereditary.—The work of God will continue and abide forever.
It is a great pleasure to me to look upon this congregation. We have come here from different parts of this state and of the surrounding states and territories that we might associate as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in general conference. I feel for one that we have been well repaid for such journeyings as we have had to undertake in order to come here. The Spirit that has prevailed in this conference from the very beginning has been such as to give comfort and joy and confidence to the Latter-day Saints assembled, and to increase in our souls a determination that we will serve the Lord, that we will keep His commandments, that we will sustain His servants whom He has appointed to guide and direct the affairs of His Church on earth, and that we will place ourselves in such a condition that the Lord may use us for the accomplishment of His purposes, for the upbuilding of His kingdom, for the spread of truth and righteousness, and to help prepare the way for the coming of Him whose right it is to reign over all the earth. I am sure that every person present who knows anything about the operations of the Spirit of the Lord has had a testimony in his or her heart that the Lord is with His servants, that His power attends their ministrations, and that they are really and truly engaged in the Lord's work, and 'not in the work of man alone.
A remark made by Elder John Henry Smith, I am sure was thoroughly appreciated by those who heard him, and recommended itself to my soul, and that was, that the Lord in the latter days was to establish a kingdom that should "not be given to another people," that should not be overcome of the world but should stand forever, and it was to be given "to the people of the Saints of the Most High," and they should possess it for an everlasting kingdom. Now, we understood in the beginning, when we obeyed the Gospel of Christ and became members of this Church, that this promise was in relation to the work in which we became engaged. That it was to be different from former dispensations. That while the establishment of the Church and kingdom of God in former times was such that it was temporary and was overcome by the powers of evil—the world, the flesh and the devil, this latter- day work was to continue and abide. That it should not cease, but that it was established here permanently. We applied to ourselves the remark of the Prophet Isaiah concerning the great latter-day work, that the truth which the Lord revealed to us should "not depart from us nor from our seed, nor from our seed's seed, from henceforth, even forever," We understood that while those former dispensations only lasted for a time, and then wickedness came in like a flood and spread over the earth, that the dispensation of the fulness of times which the Lord ushered in through His servant Joseph Smith, was to continue and prevail over every power beneath the eternal heavens, to establish truth and righteousness in the earth, to overcome the powers of evil, and bring to pass the purposes of God in the establishment of His kingdom and the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. That while in former times the powers of the world had overcome the saints, in the latter days, in the last dispensation, the people and kingdom of God were to prevail over the kingdoms of this world and the powers of darkness, until Satan and his hosts should be bound and evil should be exterminated from the earth, and righteousness should come in, and "a king should reign in righteousness and princes should rule in judgment."
Was not this the understanding that we had in the very beginning of our career in the Church? And has not the Lord strengthened that faith in our souls by the manner in which He has caused this work to prevail and progress in the earth? When' we look upon the congregations of the saints in this conference and realize the fact, repeatedly stated here, that we are only representatives of the great body of the Church located in different parts of the world, we may exclaim as one did when the telegraph line completed, "What hath God wrought!" He has brought us from afar; He has congregated us here in the mountains, in fulfillment of that which He predicted through the Prophet Joseph, that before the Lord should come "Zion should rejoice on the hills and should flourish in the mountains." Zion, that has brought good tidings, as the Prophet Isaiah predicted, has come up into the high mountain, and as he and Micah both predicted, the people of God have come from the nations afar off. They have gathered up into the heights of the mountains. They have come here "to learn the ways of the Lord and to walk' in His paths." They are building the house of the Lord, as he foresaw it, "in the tops of the mountains."
An effort has been made for some time past to make some of the Latter-day Saints believe that at a certain period of the Church's history there was a great hiatus, that the Church became disorganized, as it were, because Joseph the Prophet died, martyred with his brother Hyrum for the word of the Lord and the testimony of Jesus, and that because the quorum of the First Presidency was disorganized the Church was disorganized and rejected. Now, my dear brethren and sisters and friends, if that were the case, then the hopes planted in our bosoms by the power of the Spirit of God in the beginning were vain, the promises made to the Church in the start were not true. God declared that He had set up His Church upon the earth "in the last days for the last time," and that it should prevail and should not be prevailed against. The idea that the disorganization of one quorum of the holy priesthood disorganized the Church is in itself an absurdity, and might be rejected by every sensible Saint. But you know there are evil influences abroad in the earth, and different spirits have gone forth to deceive the children of men, and we who are the servants of the Lord ought to be well posted on these matters, so that we may be able to dissipate doubt and uncertainty, and explain that which may seem a little mysterious to some people who are not fully in the light, because we do not all have the same degree of faith. Certainly I believe that the congregations that have assembled here have not the least dubiety in their minds. The spirit that has prevailed here has testified of this. The unanimity with which the servants of God who have been appointed and called to lead the people in the latter days were accepted and endorsed by the congregation, without any dissenting voice, testifies to this. But there are others who are not up to the mark, not up to the standard, and they need encouraging, and need to have things explained to them, and we should be ready to expound, explain and exhort with all long-suffering, that the faith of the saints may be confirmed, and that they may understand things as they are.
Now, when the Lord established the Church, as you know, it was but a little thing. As one of the writers of the Book of Mormon said, "out of small things proceedeth that which is great." That has been fulfilled, so far, in the history of this Church. Yet this is only the beginning of the magnitude of the great latter-day work, which shall prevail over everything that is evil and establish the kingdom of God in all the world. When the Church was organized, only six members were present at its organization; at any rate that number took part in the legal organization of the Church, and if all those who had been baptized at that time were counted they would make a very small number. The Church gradually grew and increased. It illustrated what the Savior said in regard to the work of God. It came forth, "first the blade, and then the ear, and after that, the full corn in the ear." It is a growth, as all the works of God are, so far as we can understand. Even the worlds commenced with a nucleus, and they gradually accumulated and grew, as God ordained, until they filled the place that God had appointed. The kingdom of the latter days was to be like "the stone cut out of the mountain without hands," which was to grow and increase until it became a "great mountain and filled the whole earth." So on the 6th day of April, 1830, when the Church was formally organized, and the Prophet Joseph was accepted as the first Elder in the Church, and as a prophet, a seer and a revelator, and the people were commanded to observe all things that he brought forth by the power and Spirit of God—on that day there were not enough persons in the Church to organize it in its fulness. It was like the little blade that comes out of the ground after the seed is planted; but as the years rolled on the Church increased in numbers, and the Lord brought into use the different men and women who came into the Church, that they might be utilized for the purpose of spreading the Gospel and building up His kingdom in the latter days. The Lord foreshadowed that at a certain time there were to be Twelve that should be ordained to hold the keys of carrying the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. And so various quorums and organizations were added. They grew out of that organization that the Lord established in the beginning. The germ, the form, the potency of it was right there, but it was not developed. It took time and circumstances and people to bring it into a condition that it might be fully organized according to the mind and will of the Lord. In the first place, the Lord gave the- Prophet Joseph Smith the presidency of the Church and the keys of this latter-day work. The Lord tested and tried him, to see whether he would stand, before he conferred upon him the fulness of the power of the Holy Priesthood to build up His kingdom in its fulness. I will read a verse or two from the 28th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, which shows how the Lord led along His servant in the beginning, and that this work was to come forth by degrees. The Lord gave a commandment to Oliver Cowdery as early as September, 1830, that he was to speak by the Holy Ghost, and that he should have the revelations of the Lord for himself and to aid him in his teachings; but although he had been ordained an Apostle when the Prophet Joseph was ordained by Peter, James and John, he was not to command the man who stood at the head. The Lord said:
"And thou Shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church;
"For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead."
Here is the possibility set forth that if Joseph was not true and faithful in all things, another might be appointed in his stead; and Oliver was commanded not to counsel him or to attempt to command him, but to receive the word, of the Lord as it came from him.
In the 35th section of the Doctrine and Covenants—a revelation given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon—the Lord said:
"And I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead."
This revelation was given in December, 1830. and there are two or three more of the same kind, given in the very beginning of the Church, while the Prophet Joseph was, as it were, on probation before the Lord. The Lord gave him authority and put him into positions where he could be tried and tested, and He said, "If he abide not in me, another will I plant in his stead."
I will read the 2nd verse of Section 65:
"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth until it has filled the whole earth."
Now I will read from the 43rd Section, verses 3 to 7:
"And this ye shall know .assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
“But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him, he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead;
"And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments:
"And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
"For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed."
There is still, you will see, the opening left that if Joseph was not true and faithful and worthy of his calling, another might be appointed in his stead. But I want you to mark this point: there was not to be another appointed in his stead if he abided in the Lord. It was only if he transgressed and became unworthy of his calling that he should have power to appoint another. Just put that down in your minds. So if dividers declare that somebody else was appointed to take the place of the Prophet Joseph, then they announce that the Prophet did not abide in the Lord, that he transgressed, and therefore another had to be appointed in his stead.
In a revelation given to the Church September 11th, 1831, the Lord said:
"I will be merciful unto you, for I have given unto you the kingdom.
"And the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., through the means I have appointed, while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.— Doc. and Cov. Section 64, verses 4, 5.
Here the promise was made to the Prophet Joseph Smith that he should have those keys as long as he lived, if he obeyed the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
Our testimony is that he lived and died a prophet of God, and that he sealed his testimony with his blood. The Lord promised that the keys should not be taken from him while he lived, inasmuch as he obeyed His ordinances, so when the Prophet Joseph was taken away, the keys were with him, as the Lord promised they should be, both in this world and in the world to come. I will read a verse from the 112th Section. The Lord says:
"Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you 1 say unto all the Twelve, Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.
"Exalt not yourselves: rebel not against my servant Joseph, for verily I sav unto you, I am with him and mv hand shall be over him: and the keys which I have given unto him, and also to you ward, shall not be taken from him till I come."
Here is the promise of the Lord, not only to the Prophet Joseph Smith, but also to the Twelve, that the keys should Hot be taken from the Prophet until the Lord should come: for by this time he had been tested, proved, and. found worthy. As he himself said, he had been swimming in deep waters and up stream, and he had struggled against false friends and those surrounding him who professed to be his disciples, but who spoke against him and had risen up against him. ' Now the Lord said to him and to the Twelve, that the keys, which had been given first of all temporarily, as it' were, until he should be tested and proved, should abide with him until the Lord should come, and with the Twelve whom He had called and appointed. Therefore, rest your souls easy in this security, that the kingdom, as the Lord says, is given to His people. I might read to you a dozen passages from the Doctrine and Covenants showing that the kingdom was given to the Church, and It was to abide and continue. The Lord said "'I have sent my servants out to prune my vineyard for the last time, for behold this is the eleventh hour." His servants whom he had called into the vineyard were called for the last dispensation, and, He said, the keys should not be taken from the Prophet Joseph, for he had been tested and proved and found worthy before the Lord, before the angels and before the Church. They should not be taken from him and from the Twelve (that is the promise) "until I shall come, saith the Lord." So the keys were to abide with the Church from that time henceforth, until the Lord Himself should come and reign "in Zion and Jerusalem and before His ancients gloriously." As further evidence that this work was established for the last time, the Lord says in the thirtieth verse of the same section:
"For unto you (the Twelve), and those (the First Presidency) who are appointed with you, to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this Priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the -which is the dispensation of the fulness of times."
Here is the promise of the Lord to His servant Joseph and the Twelve that were with him, that the keys were given unto them, and they were to hold them and exercise them, and they were given in the power of this Priesthood for the last time, in the last days, and for the dispensation of the fulness of times.
Now, as the Church progressed, the Lord, as I before remarked, added organizations and quorums, until the Church became perfectly established. The ear came forth in its beauty and glory. The little blade had measurably disappeared. "Mormonism," as I have said, is a growth. It is not the same today as it was yesterday; for it is growing, just like the flower that puts forth its leaves and its buds, and then its blossoms. It is the same plant, but it is continually changing, according to conditions and its environment and the necessity to develop itself in its beauty and glory. So also it is in the Church. Why, we have hardly attained the full corn in the ear yet. Every man read the 107th and the 124th Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants from beginning to end. If you do not have the book, buy one; and if you cannot buy one, borrow one. In the 107th Section the Lord reveals to the Church His Holy Priesthood—two Priesthoods, the Melchisedek and the Aaronic, which are one in reality, but divided into two branches. He says:
"Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods.
"Of the Melchizedek Priesthood three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the church."
Does the Lord say there that some man is to appoint his brother, or his uncle, or his son, to preside over the Church? No. "Three presiding High Priests, chosen by the body," upheld and sustained by the vote and faith and fellowship of the Church, form the First Presidency. That is how the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ was established, by the revelation and commandment of God. That is how it has continued from that time until the present. When the Prophet Joseph was taken he had remained faithful and true, and he had the keys of the latter-day dispensation, and he has them today. And if you think that he has departed from this people, if you think that his influence and power are withdrawn from the brethren here whom God has appointed to preside over us in the Church, you are sadly mistaken. The spirit and power of Joseph are in this Church and with this Presidency. Joseph the Prophet, although he has gone from our midst, holds the keys of the last dispensation, and will hold them till the Lord comes. But there were others appointed to act in his stead, In the place he occupied in the flesh, and he still holds his priesthood and power and authority and the keys of the dispensation behind the veil. He is doing a far greater work there than he could accomplish in the flesh. He has a wider sphere of labor, and more power and influence, now that the infirmities of the flesh are gone. He is clothed with the power of the holy priesthood, and the keys thereof abide with him. And he Is with this people, for "the powers of this priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers behind the veil;" and they, united together, will prevail over every power and influence that may be brought against them.
When the Prophet Joseph was taken, and the quorum of the First Presidency was thus dissolved, it devolved upon the Twelve. Read this Section and you will find that the Lord gave to the Twelve authority to hold the keys, equal with the First Presidency—that is, when the First Presidency was dissolved. The quorum of the Twelve came next, and they had power to set in order all the other offices in the Church. That is part of their duty, as the Lord has commanded in this section. Therefore, the Twelve came up, with Brigham Young at their head, the Lord having designated him by revelation to be the President of the Twelve, as you has commanded in this section. There- Doctrine and Covenants. God gave Hyrum to be the man to hold the keys, of the patriarchal blessings over the whole Church; but He gave Joseph Smith to preside over the Church, the whole Church—over Hyrum as well as the rest. He also gave him his counselors. Then He gave the Twelve, and He put Brigham Young at the head of the Twelve. God knew what was coming, and He so, ordered things that Brigham stood at the head of the Twelve; and when the Prophet Joseph, and the Prophet Hyrum, the Patriarch, were taken, the Twelve came up in their place, as the Lord had ordained. Satan then had twelve to overcome instead of three. Furthermore, you will find in the same revelation, in Section 107, that even if the Twelve should all be taken away, then there are Seventy to come up. It put one in mind of the Irishman's wall. He built it five feet high and eight feet thick, and when they asked him the reason, he said that if the wind came and blowed it over it would be higher than it was before.
Now, as to this Church—the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints— the Lord laid its foundations broad and deep and high. He made it impregnable. Why? Because He had ordained in the beginning that it should be perpetual, that it should not be overcome, that it should not be left to another people, that the keys of the priesthood should continue and abide until Christ should come and reign over the earth. So the Lord ordained, in the order of the priesthood, that when the First Presidency was dissolved, the Twelve should succeed, having all the keys, power and authority to regulate the Church and to organize the quorums. Thus it was that President Young and the Twelve conducted the affairs of the Church for some time. There was a majority of the Twelve who stood faithful, who were ready to do their duty, and the Lord says that' "a majority may form a quorum" when it is impossible to have them all together. The vacant places were filled up in the quorum; and when the proper time came, President Young, who was a Presiding High Priest (so are all the Twelve—God's High Priests—a presiding traveling High Council), and his two counselors, were upheld and sustained by the vote and faith and fellowship of the Church, and formed the Presidency of the Church, in the way God had appointed.
So it has been from that time to the present, my brethren and sisters. Whenever a vacancy has occurred, it has been filled. For the power of growth is in the Church. The power to regulate all its affairs is in the Church. The power to purge out all that is evil is in the Church. We need no outside pressure, or counsel, or instruction. All that is necessary is right within the Church. As we were told by Brother Lyman, it is a living thing, a living organism, quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is the word of the Lord that is proclaimed through its leaders. And so we have had the quorum of the First Presidency organized according to the will and commandment of God from that day to the present. I testify to you, before the Lord, that the truth which God has given to this Church shall continue and abide, that the keys of the holy priesthood sent down out of heaven in the last days for the last time, will not be taken away again from the earth; that as the priesthood of Aaron will remain "until the sons of Levi do offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness," so the keys of the Melchisedek Priesthood shall remain and abide until Christ, who is the great High Priest shall come and stand at our head, and be our King.
I know that this truth abides in the hearts of the people; but we ought not to allow any of our friends who are not strong in the testimony to be led astray by anything that may come along to lessen their faith and to weaken them. Let us be one. We have been one in these valleys. There never was a better spirit in the Church since I have known it, and I have been a minister in it for nearly 55 years. I know that the Spirit of God is with this people, and I have never enjoyed it better than I have during this conference. The Spirit of the living God has been present and inspired the utterances of those who have spoken, and they have found a place in the hearts of the people. The Saints have rejoiced. Why? Because the Lord is with us. My brethren and sisters, this is His work, not the work of man, and He will cause it to prevail. How absurd it would be for the Lord, after He had established His Church on foundations of perpetuity, to allow it to lapse, to remain dormant for a number of years, when the very keys that He had given that the Church might be perpetuated were still held by the Twelve and the brethren associated with them. The idea that the Lord would allow the Church to go to sleep and into darkness when He had declared it should stand forever, would be folly. But the Lord has been with His people and with His servants. Do we not know that the Lord was with Brother Brigham when he led the- Saints out of trouble and bondage in the east, across the great plains, and planted the Church in these mountain valleys, and prepared the way for the building up of the great community and the Zion which the Prophet Joseph foresaw, for he talked about it and appointed men to go and prospect the land, that "the Saints might become a great people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains," that Zion might flourish upon the hills.
The Church is still growing. The ear is still growing, and the full corn in the ear will be seen when Christ shall come. We have all the keys and powers necessary for that, right in the Church. Its organization is complete, with a Presidency, with Apostles, Seventies, High Priests, Elders, Priests. Teachers and Deacons, with the auxiliary societies which the Lord has inspired His servants to establish, both for the brethren and the sisters, that the women as well as the men might have something to do in building up this great latter day work. It is beautiful, it is glorious, it is perfect: for it has come from the hands of the Almighty. We are imperfect, we are feeble, we are not all fully carrying out that which God has placed upon us; but we will try, will we not? to do our duty. Let every man learn his duty in the Priesthood. Let every woman learn her duty in the organizations of the Church. Let us all perform our duties as members of the Church, meet tog-ether often, partake of the sacrament, remember our prayers, teach our children the principles of the Gospel of Christ and plant in their hearts that faith which has given us so much joy, satisfaction and contentment, and the work of the Lord shall go onward and shall prevail; the truth shall be carried to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, the honest in heart shall rejoice among the nations, the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, the Lord will bring to shame the mocker and the scornful, the wisdom of this world shall come to naught and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid, but the honest and upright of heart shall rejoice in the Lord, the truth shall prevail, and the kingdom of our God shall come and His will be done on the earth as it is done in heaven, when "the meek inherit the earth and the wicked are cut off forever." God help us to be faithful and true, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
"One Hundred Years," a quartet composed by Prof. Stephens, to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Prophet's birth, was rendered by Lottie Owen, Mabel Cooper, George D. Pyper and Horace S. Ensign.
ELDER BRIGHAM H. ROBERTS.
Of necessity the subjects that are considered at our conferences are varied and numerous, in consequence of the work of the Lord being so extensive and consisting of both temporal and spiritual things. The Spirit of the Lord moves upon His servants to address themselves to the various interests in which the Church is concerned; and I have taken pleasure in noting that all the interests and all the departments of work in the Church generally receive that word that is seasonable to each before the conference is concluded.
Much has been said during this conference concerning the opposition that is waged against the work of God, and by the remarks made I have been reminded of a saying current in France to the effect that for a man guilty of crime two courses only lie before him: one 15 confession, the other is suicide; and they add, "suicide is confession." So -with those who feel disposed to attack this work. They may attack the administration of it, or they may attack its fundamental doctrines and seek to disprove it altogether; and in either event the attempt will end in failure as surely as confession or suicide ends in one result. To attack the administration of the work of the Lord under our present circumstances, in this year of grace 1905, is vain; for the testimony of all who have spoken and the testimony in the hearts of the Saints of God bear witness that there never was a time in the history of the church, when individual liberty was more respected than now, and when the necessarily great administrative power in the presiding officer was exercised in more moderation. So that to my mind: those who assail the administration of this work proclaim their own unwisdom and fret out only their own folly. To attack the Church in its fundamental doctrines is useless; for they are invulnerable, and not to be overthrown, by the efforts of the ungodly to disprove their truth. Therefore, if these people who interest themselves in our concerns will take a word of advice, I, would suggest, in the language of one of old, that they would best let this work alone; for if it be of man, it will come to naught of itself; and if it be of God, they cannot do aught against it, and possibly they may And themselves fighting against God.
The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, told them that the Lord had revealed to him that in the dispensation of the fulness of times God would; gather together in one all things in. Christ, both things which are in heaven and things which are in earth, even in Him. I do not know that I quote this scripture for the purpose of having it foreshadow at all the line of thought that I would like to follow; but I believe it is profitable to remember In these great assemblies of the Church that we are living in that dispensation, of the fulness of times, in which God has promised to gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven and in earth.
Accepting the doctrine as true that we are living and operating in that dispensation, and that to the Prophet Joseph Smith was accorded the supreme honor of introducing that last dispensation— that dispensation which should culminate in the redemption of the earth and in the salvation of men; recognizing the truth, as pointed out in the remarks of Elder Penrose, that this institution of the kingdom is not to be left to other people, but is to grow and increase in the earth until it should fill the whole earth and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and His Christ—after admitting these premises, for anyone to suppose that after that glorious dispensation had made but a few steps forward in the unfolding of its greatness it was suddenly halted to wait for someone to grow from childhood to manhood, is of all follies the most supreme. I call your attention for a few moments to the very palpable evidences that may be seen and read of all men that there has been no halting in this work, no cessation in its growth and development, from the days of the Prophet Joseph until the present time. And I base mv remarks upon the facts in the case; upon the word of God and His promise unto His people, given at a time when the fortunes of the Church were sunken to the lowest point in its history— I refer to the promise given to the Saints of God in 1834, in the month of February, when some twelve hundred of them had been exiled from Jackson County and were bivouacked on the Missouri bottoms, in most helpless circumstances. In that dark hour the voice of the Lord came to His Prophet and spoke these words:
"Verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them.
Behold they shall, for I have decreed it. Login to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour.
And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it for ever and ever."
That was the promise of the Lord given unto the saints; and I say that the repeated triumphs of the Church over their enemies, notwithstanding the trials through which the Church has passed, the conditions that prevail in these 55 stakes of Zion represented in this conference, are the proof positive that God has vindicated His promise, so. far as increasing the number of the Saints is concerned and multiplying the stakes of Zion; and the number and condition of the Saints in these stakes is evidence that they have, largely at least, lived in harmony with the conditions named in the revelation upon which they were to have success over God's enemies. It is true, of course, that a few years after this revelation was given the Saints were again driven from their possessions in the state of Missouri; but mark this difference between the first expulsion that took place in our history — the expulsion from Jackson county and the expulsion from Missouri five years later; 1,200 were driven from Jackson county in 1833, but when the Church was moved from Missouri 12,000 or 15,000 people were exiled. The work of God then certainly had not ceased to grow. It was the turning over of Elder Penrose's wall, so built as to be higher when turned over than before. The proclamation of the Gospel had been fruitful, and thousands had been brought unto a knowledge of the truth between the two expulsions. It is true also, that a few years later another exodus was forced upon the people. Expatriation took place, and our fathers were compelled to leave the beautiful city upon the banks of the Mississippi and come into this desert, mountain waste. But this time when they moved the Church they moved something over 20,000! And then, if such a thing were to be thought possible that we must again move they would have to move something like 300.000 people from these mountains! So that in the matter of numbers, at least, there has been no retrogression in this work. It has steadily increased. The testimony of the Elders of Israel has been accompanied by the witness of God. It has appealed to the honest in heart, and in nearly all the nations of the earth there has been found a response. The gathering has continued until behold, the Saints have their feet made fast in these valleys of the Rocky mountains, where, in fulfillment of the prediction of the Prophet Joseph himself, the Latter-day Saints have become a great and a powerful people.
In the matter of preaching the Gospel the work has not slackened. We have been true to that missionary spirit impressed upon the people who received the Gospel in the commencement. The history of the Church is unique in this, it seems to me, that every time our fortunes have fallen lowest we have turned to the preaching of the Gospel as a means of relief, and through the proclamation of it have found renewed strength and added increased vigor to the work of God. You remember, do you not, the first foreign mission that was conceived and executed in the Church? In those dark days, when clouds of spiritual darkness settled upon Kirtland, and men whom the Prophet had trusted fell upon the right and upon the left and were filled with bitterness and hatred towards him—you remember how the Spirit whispered to him that some new move must be made for the salvation of the Church, and he was prompted by the Spirit to send word to Heber C. Kimball that the voice of the Spirit of the Lord indicated that he must carry the Gospel message to a foreign land; and it was done; for Heber C. Kimball opened the work in England. Then, after [the exodus from Missouri, before the Saints were yet settled permanently in Commerce, while the bulk of the Church was living in wagons, tents and other temporary homes, behold, a mission for the Twelve, to go abroad and proclaim the Gospel! Leaving their families in utmost poverty, many of them in sickness, and the Twelve themselves sick, they drew to themselves the spiritual strength of this work and went forth as messengers of life and salvation. Again, true to this spirit characteristic of the Church when it was presided over by the Prophet Joseph, when the pioneers landed in this valley and began to settle this city and the surrounding country, before there had been any great development of material resources, the Twelve are again called out of this desert land, not only to preach the Gospel in England, but in France, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia. Thus this spirit of proclaiming those truths that God has deposited with the Church was characteristic of the Church when it settled in these mountains. These missions were appointed unto the especial witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ—to the Twelve Apostles. Lorenzo Snow went to Italy, John Taylor to Germany and Prance, Erastus Snow to Scandinavia; and from all these lands sons and daughters of God have been brought into the fold of Christ.
A week or two ago I attended a service held in this city, in which the Church of Christ was arraigned for having by its conduct so prejudiced the world That they would not listen to the message that we had to deliver, and in solemn tones we were warned that somebody was responsible for that condition of things. Oh, how my heart swelled with joy when he who uttered those words and that warning was present at the opening session of this conference and listened to the report of the President of the Church concerning the missionary work carried on in all lands by the Elders of the Church; that the harvest was so great and the laborers so few , that although we had nearly fifteen hundred Elders in the field—and keep about that number out from year to year—yet this host of the servants of God were not able to meet the demands that are made for the proclamation of the Gospel. It seems to me that we are in a pretty good condition to meet all the responsibility that we may be warned about concerning this matter.
Take it in the matter of publishing to the world the American volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon — one of the incidents, we may say, with which this great work commenced in the earth. Who is it that has published that work in some ten or twelve different languages; and to as many or more nations? It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the end is not yet; for we heard the explanation of President Anthon H. Lund, wherein he told us in this conference that still more translations of this work were in contemplation, in the Turkish and other languages. So that we have been steadily employed in giving to the world this new volume of God's word. Our hands have not been slackened with reference to sending abroad the word of God as it was known to the Nephites upon this continent, thus fulfilling the decree of God that the inhabitants of the earth should not only have the testimony of the Jews, but that they should have the testimony of the Nephites also, and through them they should learn that Jesus is the Christ. I say the Church has been most faithful in publishing the word of God to the inhabitants of the earth.
Another item. During the last few months of the Prophet's earthly career, the one subject which rested upon his mind more than any other was the subject of the salvation for the dead, the building of the Nauvoo Temple, the erection of a baptismal font and a house in which the keys of the holy Priesthood might be given to the servants of the Lord, where they might receive their conversations, as described in one of the later revelations to the Prophet, wherein they might receive that spiritual instruction that should better equip them for the work of the ministry which God had laid upon them. This was the burden of his discourses, this the burden of his' letters written to the Church from his place of exile, while being compelled to hide from the officers of the law under the false accusation of having transgressed the law^ parenthetically: the Prophet Joseph was as frequently in that condition, aye, more frequently than any of the brethren have been since. But this temple work was the one thing that seemed to press most heavily upon him just previous to his death. Have this people been true to that spirit of temple building and temple work? Let this monument of granite to the east of us, a collective discourse in stone by the Latter-day Saints, bear witness to the world that we have been true to that part of the work which was of such importance in the mind of the Prophet. Let the stone temple in St. George bear a similar testimony. Let the splendid temple in Sanpete county be another witness; and the one at Logan in the north, let it also testify to the same fact. Bring forth the records of those temples, and let the millions of baptisms for the dead answer whether this people have been true to the mission, in the redemption of the dead, which God has placed upon the Church. Let the records of sealings of husbands to wives, wives to husbands, children to parents and parents to children—let the hundreds of thousands of ministrations of this kind bear witness to the faithfulness of the people of God to this doctrine advanced by our Prophet in the last days. I say that the blending together, or, if you will, in the language of Paul, the gathering together of all things in earth as well as of things in heaven; the uniting together of the past with the present, of the fathers with the children, is one of the most stupendous facts connected with this great work of the Lord in the last days. Do you not remember that this doctrine, which is now so gloriously developed among us, was a matter of early concern to the Prophet Joseph? This work was foreshadowed in the very first interview the Prophet had with Moroni, for he quoted the words of Malachi, though a little different from what they are in the Bible, to the effect that the Lord would soon reveal the Priesthood by the hand of Elijah, and the hearts of the children shall be turned to the fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children. If it were not so, Tie said, all would be consumed at the Lord's coming. After that, step by step, line upon line, precept upon precept, this doctrine was delivered, until it has borne fruit in the manner that I have indicated to you by the administration of the ordinances of the Priesthood, wherein the power of godliness is made manifest, and without which ordinances of the Priesthood, we are informed, the power of God is not made manifest.
So that we have been carrying out the projected work of the Prophet Joseph Smith in this respect.
One other thing I desire to call your attention to. The President, in his opening remarks, rejoiced that we were taking a course that at least displeased the devil, or his advocates. I remember in this connection a saying of President Young's. He said, You may feel pretty safe as long as the devil takes exception to what you are doing, for he is not disposed to approve of righteousness, or to complain if through unrighteousness you play into his hands. Now then, it may be a miserable sort of evidence to refer to in connection with a theme so glorious as this, and yet I cannot quite resist the temptation to let him furnish a little evidence; and I do it in this way: Has not the same bitterness and hatred that characterized the Church under the presidency of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the same determination to destroy the Church, followed the Church led to the mountains by the Twelve Apostles under President Brigham Young? Has not the same spirit characterized their ministrations among the inhabitants of the earth? Surely you know the Saints had no rest in the days of the Prophet Joseph. His life was one continual scene of conflict and contest with the powers of darkness, who sought to destroy him and also the work which God had ordained that he should bring forth. At every turn we have been confronted with the selfsame enemy. From the fact that that enemy recognized the Church of Christ in these mountains we may gather some evidence that this is the continued work of God. It was not the Elders of any of the so-called dissenting factions that have met mobbings and whippings in various countries of the world; it was not any of their representatives that were shot down in the State of Georgia, or the State of Tennessee. No; they were representatives of the Church of Christ in these mountains—the men who held the Priesthood—divine authority— and stood for the truth, and the fulness thereof.
But I do not know that we ought to concern ourselves too much about these matters, though it makes one rather rejoice to see the work of God grow and flourish, notwithstanding all the opposition that is aroused against it; to see stakes multiplied, missions increased, and the people grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, despite the efforts of the adversary. You will pardon me, I hope, for glorifying a little in the failure of our enemies, as well as rejoicing a great deal in the success of the work of God.
I do not know whether I can make a thought I have in mind clear to you or not, but I am going to try. It has only passed through my mind a few times, and I do not know whether I have it well digested. As I pointed out in the commencement, we are living in the dispensation of the fulness of times, in the which would be gathered together in one all things in heaven and in earth. Repeatedly the brethren have borne testimony that this work, in pursuance of the promises of God, should not be left to other people. It is not going to fail. In past dispensations there has been a seeming triumph for the powers of darkness, and I have often wondered how Paul could possibly continue to labor with such energy when he had such clear conceptions, by the spirit of prophecy, that the time would come when an evil power would arise, which should exalt himself above all that is called God, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself that he was God—that is, usurping God's authority and ruling men with a rod of iron. Paul had the clearest conceptions, it seems to me, that the time would not be long before clouds of spiritual darkness would rest down upon the people. And so, in dispensations preceding that of the meridian of time, one after another they seem to have failed of permanently maintaining themselves in the earth. But now at last we have the sure word of God that His work shall be established no more to be destroyed nor given to another people. What I want to call your attention to is, that this idea is in harmony with the age in which we live. Our civilization has taken on a promise of permanency, the like of which did not characterize the civilizations of former days. The great Greek civilization was overthrown to a great extent by the success of the Roman arms. True, in time it reasserted itself, and by their civilization the Greeks are generally conceded to have subdued Rome. Rome in turn declined, and finally fell under the repeated assaults and waves of immigration of barbarous tribes from beyond the Danube, from the far north and northeast. This was the fate of the western division of the Roman empire. Later, in the fifteenth century, this was the fate also of the eastern division; for the terrible Seljuk Turks repeated the success over the eastern empire, that the German tribes won over the "western. So the whole Roman civilization was crushed. And through all the ages civilizations have gone down and others have arisen in their place. But today the civilization of this age seems to have based on better foundations. Judge it by human wisdom, at least, one would say that we had arrived at a state of preservation of all light, truth and knowledge that has been confided into the human consciousness through the intellectual efforts of those who devote themselves to thought, science and philosophy. There exists nowhere on the face of the round globe the barbarous tribes that can possibly overwhelm the knowledge and the civilization of the present age. And I believe that this permanency in civilization, the prospect of preservation of the light and truth that have been given unto the children of men, ought to be and necessarily will be accompanied by spiritual truth, spiritual philosophy, a true and permanent religion, that ?hall move side by side with this permanent civilization until it brings to pass the redemption of the children of men. So that this dispensation of the Gospel is in harmony with all other things with which we are surrounded. It promises permanency of civilization, and the preservation of all the knowledge that has been developed through the experience and researches of men as well as through the revelations of truth to the Prophet Joseph Smith. But I would say ta those who pride themselves upon their attainments in science—and from the magnitude of their achievements I do not deny that they have a right to feel a little proud; I would say to those who glory in the philosophy that they have developed—and they too may well be proud of their achievements—I say unto them, scientists and philosophers alike, You are but lamely limping along far in the rear of the far-flung thought line of what God revealed through His servants the prophets. I will not have time to develop that thought; but I rejoice in the prospective triumph of the truth. We are going to win. We will not fail as a community, as an organization. Individuals, through human weakness and inclination to evil, may offend the Spirit of God and fail, as individuals; but as the throne of God stands sure so stands sure the foundations of this work and the structure that God is rearing upon it. That is my testimony in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang "The Doxology."
Benediction by Elder J. Golden Kimball.
Of necessity the subjects that are considered at our conferences are varied and numerous, in consequence of the work of the Lord being so extensive and consisting of both temporal and spiritual things. The Spirit of the Lord moves upon His servants to address themselves to the various interests in which the Church is concerned; and I have taken pleasure in noting that all the interests and all the departments of work in the Church generally receive that word that is seasonable to each before the conference is concluded.
Much has been said during this conference concerning the opposition that is waged against the work of God, and by the remarks made I have been reminded of a saying current in France to the effect that for a man guilty of crime two courses only lie before him: one 15 confession, the other is suicide; and they add, "suicide is confession." So -with those who feel disposed to attack this work. They may attack the administration of it, or they may attack its fundamental doctrines and seek to disprove it altogether; and in either event the attempt will end in failure as surely as confession or suicide ends in one result. To attack the administration of the work of the Lord under our present circumstances, in this year of grace 1905, is vain; for the testimony of all who have spoken and the testimony in the hearts of the Saints of God bear witness that there never was a time in the history of the church, when individual liberty was more respected than now, and when the necessarily great administrative power in the presiding officer was exercised in more moderation. So that to my mind: those who assail the administration of this work proclaim their own unwisdom and fret out only their own folly. To attack the Church in its fundamental doctrines is useless; for they are invulnerable, and not to be overthrown, by the efforts of the ungodly to disprove their truth. Therefore, if these people who interest themselves in our concerns will take a word of advice, I, would suggest, in the language of one of old, that they would best let this work alone; for if it be of man, it will come to naught of itself; and if it be of God, they cannot do aught against it, and possibly they may And themselves fighting against God.
The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, told them that the Lord had revealed to him that in the dispensation of the fulness of times God would; gather together in one all things in. Christ, both things which are in heaven and things which are in earth, even in Him. I do not know that I quote this scripture for the purpose of having it foreshadow at all the line of thought that I would like to follow; but I believe it is profitable to remember In these great assemblies of the Church that we are living in that dispensation, of the fulness of times, in which God has promised to gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven and in earth.
Accepting the doctrine as true that we are living and operating in that dispensation, and that to the Prophet Joseph Smith was accorded the supreme honor of introducing that last dispensation— that dispensation which should culminate in the redemption of the earth and in the salvation of men; recognizing the truth, as pointed out in the remarks of Elder Penrose, that this institution of the kingdom is not to be left to other people, but is to grow and increase in the earth until it should fill the whole earth and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and His Christ—after admitting these premises, for anyone to suppose that after that glorious dispensation had made but a few steps forward in the unfolding of its greatness it was suddenly halted to wait for someone to grow from childhood to manhood, is of all follies the most supreme. I call your attention for a few moments to the very palpable evidences that may be seen and read of all men that there has been no halting in this work, no cessation in its growth and development, from the days of the Prophet Joseph until the present time. And I base mv remarks upon the facts in the case; upon the word of God and His promise unto His people, given at a time when the fortunes of the Church were sunken to the lowest point in its history— I refer to the promise given to the Saints of God in 1834, in the month of February, when some twelve hundred of them had been exiled from Jackson County and were bivouacked on the Missouri bottoms, in most helpless circumstances. In that dark hour the voice of the Lord came to His Prophet and spoke these words:
"Verily I say unto you, that I have decreed a decree which my people shall realize, inasmuch as they hearken from this very hour unto the counsel which I, the Lord their God, shall give unto them.
Behold they shall, for I have decreed it. Login to prevail against mine enemies from this very hour.
And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it for ever and ever."
That was the promise of the Lord given unto the saints; and I say that the repeated triumphs of the Church over their enemies, notwithstanding the trials through which the Church has passed, the conditions that prevail in these 55 stakes of Zion represented in this conference, are the proof positive that God has vindicated His promise, so. far as increasing the number of the Saints is concerned and multiplying the stakes of Zion; and the number and condition of the Saints in these stakes is evidence that they have, largely at least, lived in harmony with the conditions named in the revelation upon which they were to have success over God's enemies. It is true, of course, that a few years after this revelation was given the Saints were again driven from their possessions in the state of Missouri; but mark this difference between the first expulsion that took place in our history — the expulsion from Jackson county and the expulsion from Missouri five years later; 1,200 were driven from Jackson county in 1833, but when the Church was moved from Missouri 12,000 or 15,000 people were exiled. The work of God then certainly had not ceased to grow. It was the turning over of Elder Penrose's wall, so built as to be higher when turned over than before. The proclamation of the Gospel had been fruitful, and thousands had been brought unto a knowledge of the truth between the two expulsions. It is true also, that a few years later another exodus was forced upon the people. Expatriation took place, and our fathers were compelled to leave the beautiful city upon the banks of the Mississippi and come into this desert, mountain waste. But this time when they moved the Church they moved something over 20,000! And then, if such a thing were to be thought possible that we must again move they would have to move something like 300.000 people from these mountains! So that in the matter of numbers, at least, there has been no retrogression in this work. It has steadily increased. The testimony of the Elders of Israel has been accompanied by the witness of God. It has appealed to the honest in heart, and in nearly all the nations of the earth there has been found a response. The gathering has continued until behold, the Saints have their feet made fast in these valleys of the Rocky mountains, where, in fulfillment of the prediction of the Prophet Joseph himself, the Latter-day Saints have become a great and a powerful people.
In the matter of preaching the Gospel the work has not slackened. We have been true to that missionary spirit impressed upon the people who received the Gospel in the commencement. The history of the Church is unique in this, it seems to me, that every time our fortunes have fallen lowest we have turned to the preaching of the Gospel as a means of relief, and through the proclamation of it have found renewed strength and added increased vigor to the work of God. You remember, do you not, the first foreign mission that was conceived and executed in the Church? In those dark days, when clouds of spiritual darkness settled upon Kirtland, and men whom the Prophet had trusted fell upon the right and upon the left and were filled with bitterness and hatred towards him—you remember how the Spirit whispered to him that some new move must be made for the salvation of the Church, and he was prompted by the Spirit to send word to Heber C. Kimball that the voice of the Spirit of the Lord indicated that he must carry the Gospel message to a foreign land; and it was done; for Heber C. Kimball opened the work in England. Then, after [the exodus from Missouri, before the Saints were yet settled permanently in Commerce, while the bulk of the Church was living in wagons, tents and other temporary homes, behold, a mission for the Twelve, to go abroad and proclaim the Gospel! Leaving their families in utmost poverty, many of them in sickness, and the Twelve themselves sick, they drew to themselves the spiritual strength of this work and went forth as messengers of life and salvation. Again, true to this spirit characteristic of the Church when it was presided over by the Prophet Joseph, when the pioneers landed in this valley and began to settle this city and the surrounding country, before there had been any great development of material resources, the Twelve are again called out of this desert land, not only to preach the Gospel in England, but in France, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia. Thus this spirit of proclaiming those truths that God has deposited with the Church was characteristic of the Church when it settled in these mountains. These missions were appointed unto the especial witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ—to the Twelve Apostles. Lorenzo Snow went to Italy, John Taylor to Germany and Prance, Erastus Snow to Scandinavia; and from all these lands sons and daughters of God have been brought into the fold of Christ.
A week or two ago I attended a service held in this city, in which the Church of Christ was arraigned for having by its conduct so prejudiced the world That they would not listen to the message that we had to deliver, and in solemn tones we were warned that somebody was responsible for that condition of things. Oh, how my heart swelled with joy when he who uttered those words and that warning was present at the opening session of this conference and listened to the report of the President of the Church concerning the missionary work carried on in all lands by the Elders of the Church; that the harvest was so great and the laborers so few , that although we had nearly fifteen hundred Elders in the field—and keep about that number out from year to year—yet this host of the servants of God were not able to meet the demands that are made for the proclamation of the Gospel. It seems to me that we are in a pretty good condition to meet all the responsibility that we may be warned about concerning this matter.
Take it in the matter of publishing to the world the American volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon — one of the incidents, we may say, with which this great work commenced in the earth. Who is it that has published that work in some ten or twelve different languages; and to as many or more nations? It is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the end is not yet; for we heard the explanation of President Anthon H. Lund, wherein he told us in this conference that still more translations of this work were in contemplation, in the Turkish and other languages. So that we have been steadily employed in giving to the world this new volume of God's word. Our hands have not been slackened with reference to sending abroad the word of God as it was known to the Nephites upon this continent, thus fulfilling the decree of God that the inhabitants of the earth should not only have the testimony of the Jews, but that they should have the testimony of the Nephites also, and through them they should learn that Jesus is the Christ. I say the Church has been most faithful in publishing the word of God to the inhabitants of the earth.
Another item. During the last few months of the Prophet's earthly career, the one subject which rested upon his mind more than any other was the subject of the salvation for the dead, the building of the Nauvoo Temple, the erection of a baptismal font and a house in which the keys of the holy Priesthood might be given to the servants of the Lord, where they might receive their conversations, as described in one of the later revelations to the Prophet, wherein they might receive that spiritual instruction that should better equip them for the work of the ministry which God had laid upon them. This was the burden of his discourses, this the burden of his' letters written to the Church from his place of exile, while being compelled to hide from the officers of the law under the false accusation of having transgressed the law^ parenthetically: the Prophet Joseph was as frequently in that condition, aye, more frequently than any of the brethren have been since. But this temple work was the one thing that seemed to press most heavily upon him just previous to his death. Have this people been true to that spirit of temple building and temple work? Let this monument of granite to the east of us, a collective discourse in stone by the Latter-day Saints, bear witness to the world that we have been true to that part of the work which was of such importance in the mind of the Prophet. Let the stone temple in St. George bear a similar testimony. Let the splendid temple in Sanpete county be another witness; and the one at Logan in the north, let it also testify to the same fact. Bring forth the records of those temples, and let the millions of baptisms for the dead answer whether this people have been true to the mission, in the redemption of the dead, which God has placed upon the Church. Let the records of sealings of husbands to wives, wives to husbands, children to parents and parents to children—let the hundreds of thousands of ministrations of this kind bear witness to the faithfulness of the people of God to this doctrine advanced by our Prophet in the last days. I say that the blending together, or, if you will, in the language of Paul, the gathering together of all things in earth as well as of things in heaven; the uniting together of the past with the present, of the fathers with the children, is one of the most stupendous facts connected with this great work of the Lord in the last days. Do you not remember that this doctrine, which is now so gloriously developed among us, was a matter of early concern to the Prophet Joseph? This work was foreshadowed in the very first interview the Prophet had with Moroni, for he quoted the words of Malachi, though a little different from what they are in the Bible, to the effect that the Lord would soon reveal the Priesthood by the hand of Elijah, and the hearts of the children shall be turned to the fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children. If it were not so, Tie said, all would be consumed at the Lord's coming. After that, step by step, line upon line, precept upon precept, this doctrine was delivered, until it has borne fruit in the manner that I have indicated to you by the administration of the ordinances of the Priesthood, wherein the power of godliness is made manifest, and without which ordinances of the Priesthood, we are informed, the power of God is not made manifest.
So that we have been carrying out the projected work of the Prophet Joseph Smith in this respect.
One other thing I desire to call your attention to. The President, in his opening remarks, rejoiced that we were taking a course that at least displeased the devil, or his advocates. I remember in this connection a saying of President Young's. He said, You may feel pretty safe as long as the devil takes exception to what you are doing, for he is not disposed to approve of righteousness, or to complain if through unrighteousness you play into his hands. Now then, it may be a miserable sort of evidence to refer to in connection with a theme so glorious as this, and yet I cannot quite resist the temptation to let him furnish a little evidence; and I do it in this way: Has not the same bitterness and hatred that characterized the Church under the presidency of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the same determination to destroy the Church, followed the Church led to the mountains by the Twelve Apostles under President Brigham Young? Has not the same spirit characterized their ministrations among the inhabitants of the earth? Surely you know the Saints had no rest in the days of the Prophet Joseph. His life was one continual scene of conflict and contest with the powers of darkness, who sought to destroy him and also the work which God had ordained that he should bring forth. At every turn we have been confronted with the selfsame enemy. From the fact that that enemy recognized the Church of Christ in these mountains we may gather some evidence that this is the continued work of God. It was not the Elders of any of the so-called dissenting factions that have met mobbings and whippings in various countries of the world; it was not any of their representatives that were shot down in the State of Georgia, or the State of Tennessee. No; they were representatives of the Church of Christ in these mountains—the men who held the Priesthood—divine authority— and stood for the truth, and the fulness thereof.
But I do not know that we ought to concern ourselves too much about these matters, though it makes one rather rejoice to see the work of God grow and flourish, notwithstanding all the opposition that is aroused against it; to see stakes multiplied, missions increased, and the people grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, despite the efforts of the adversary. You will pardon me, I hope, for glorifying a little in the failure of our enemies, as well as rejoicing a great deal in the success of the work of God.
I do not know whether I can make a thought I have in mind clear to you or not, but I am going to try. It has only passed through my mind a few times, and I do not know whether I have it well digested. As I pointed out in the commencement, we are living in the dispensation of the fulness of times, in the which would be gathered together in one all things in heaven and in earth. Repeatedly the brethren have borne testimony that this work, in pursuance of the promises of God, should not be left to other people. It is not going to fail. In past dispensations there has been a seeming triumph for the powers of darkness, and I have often wondered how Paul could possibly continue to labor with such energy when he had such clear conceptions, by the spirit of prophecy, that the time would come when an evil power would arise, which should exalt himself above all that is called God, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself that he was God—that is, usurping God's authority and ruling men with a rod of iron. Paul had the clearest conceptions, it seems to me, that the time would not be long before clouds of spiritual darkness would rest down upon the people. And so, in dispensations preceding that of the meridian of time, one after another they seem to have failed of permanently maintaining themselves in the earth. But now at last we have the sure word of God that His work shall be established no more to be destroyed nor given to another people. What I want to call your attention to is, that this idea is in harmony with the age in which we live. Our civilization has taken on a promise of permanency, the like of which did not characterize the civilizations of former days. The great Greek civilization was overthrown to a great extent by the success of the Roman arms. True, in time it reasserted itself, and by their civilization the Greeks are generally conceded to have subdued Rome. Rome in turn declined, and finally fell under the repeated assaults and waves of immigration of barbarous tribes from beyond the Danube, from the far north and northeast. This was the fate of the western division of the Roman empire. Later, in the fifteenth century, this was the fate also of the eastern division; for the terrible Seljuk Turks repeated the success over the eastern empire, that the German tribes won over the "western. So the whole Roman civilization was crushed. And through all the ages civilizations have gone down and others have arisen in their place. But today the civilization of this age seems to have based on better foundations. Judge it by human wisdom, at least, one would say that we had arrived at a state of preservation of all light, truth and knowledge that has been confided into the human consciousness through the intellectual efforts of those who devote themselves to thought, science and philosophy. There exists nowhere on the face of the round globe the barbarous tribes that can possibly overwhelm the knowledge and the civilization of the present age. And I believe that this permanency in civilization, the prospect of preservation of the light and truth that have been given unto the children of men, ought to be and necessarily will be accompanied by spiritual truth, spiritual philosophy, a true and permanent religion, that ?hall move side by side with this permanent civilization until it brings to pass the redemption of the children of men. So that this dispensation of the Gospel is in harmony with all other things with which we are surrounded. It promises permanency of civilization, and the preservation of all the knowledge that has been developed through the experience and researches of men as well as through the revelations of truth to the Prophet Joseph Smith. But I would say ta those who pride themselves upon their attainments in science—and from the magnitude of their achievements I do not deny that they have a right to feel a little proud; I would say to those who glory in the philosophy that they have developed—and they too may well be proud of their achievements—I say unto them, scientists and philosophers alike, You are but lamely limping along far in the rear of the far-flung thought line of what God revealed through His servants the prophets. I will not have time to develop that thought; but I rejoice in the prospective triumph of the truth. We are going to win. We will not fail as a community, as an organization. Individuals, through human weakness and inclination to evil, may offend the Spirit of God and fail, as individuals; but as the throne of God stands sure so stands sure the foundations of this work and the structure that God is rearing upon it. That is my testimony in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang "The Doxology."
Benediction by Elder J. Golden Kimball.
THIRD DAY. Sunday. Oct. 8, 10 a. m.
The choir sang the hymn beginning:
Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell.
By faith and love in every breast;
Then shall we know, and taste and feel,
The joys that cannot be expressed.
Prayer was offered by Bishop Orrin P. Miller.
The choir sang the anthem, "Rouse oh ye mortals, the dawn is near."
The choir sang the hymn beginning:
Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell.
By faith and love in every breast;
Then shall we know, and taste and feel,
The joys that cannot be expressed.
Prayer was offered by Bishop Orrin P. Miller.
The choir sang the anthem, "Rouse oh ye mortals, the dawn is near."
ELDER RULON S. WELLS.
My brethren and sisters, I rise before you this morning- in response to a call from President Smith, and I can assure you that it is with a feeling of great timidity, and unless our Father shall come to my support I feel wholly unequal to the task that has been assigned to me. I feel now, as I have always felt, deep interest in the great work of our Father In heaven, which He has instituted for the salvation of His children here upon the earth, and a testimony of its divine truth burns in my heart at this very moment. To me the meetings of this conference have been in very deed spiritual feasts. The Spirit of the Lord has been poured out abundantly upon His servants who have addressed the congregations, and I feel that the people themselves entertain the same view that I have expressed. Indeed the gathering of the people this morning is a sufficient guarantee of this truth, and I rejoice that even this great Tabernacle is not sufficient to hold the Latter-day Saints who have come up hither to hear the word of the Lord, insomuch that it has become necessary notwithstanding the fact that the elements have been somewhat threatening, to hold an overflow meeting in order to accommodate the people who have come in such great numbers to hear His holy word. It speaks well for the faith and for the interest that the Latter-day Saints have in the work of the Lord.
It has been said, during this conference, that the Latter-day Saints are a peculiar people, and sometimes I have wondered in what did this peculiarity consist. Wherever we go we find that we are somewhat different from the rest of mankind, so much so that we are pointed out and observed. In fact, we might say we are the observed of all observers when we go out into the world. Many times people have accosted me and spoken in reference to our missionaries. When I was in the missionary field they have said to me, "Your men are different from ours; they seem to be a different class of people." Why is it? Is it not the effect that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is producing among the Latter-day Saints? In our own community we do not realize the great change that has taken place in us since we have become identified with this peculiar religion. If we are living in harmony with the teachings of the Gospel it will have the effect to make those peculiarities still more pronounced. There is an influence that goes with the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is felt among the people of the world with whom we associate. I do not wish to convey the idea that we have so far advanced and become so perfect that we claim to be holier than the rest of mankind, but I do wish to convey the idea that there has been an effect wrought upon this community as a direct result of our religion. It has opened the eyes of our understanding. It has caused us to look at life from an entirely different aspect. We have been enlightened by the power of the Holy Ghost that was conferred upon us when we entered into covenant with the Lord. The peculiarity that is more prominent with us than all others is the spirit of love. The spirit of the Gospel is the spirit of love, and there have been exhibitions of that love in the whole career of the Latter-day Saints.
In pursuance of this quality which so distinguishes us from other peoples in the world, our young men leave their fathers and their mothers, their wives and children, and go out into the world without remuneration to proclaim the glad message of great joy. Oh! what a wonderful manifestation of love towards their fellow men. Where in all the world can such a thing be found, other than among the Latter-day Saints? There may be isolated instances of great devotion on the part of men who are sincere and honest in their motives, but where upon the face of the whole earth will you find a whole community who are willing to make this sacrifice because of the love which they hold toward their fellowmen? The spirit of this work, the spirit that impels these young men to go out into the world, distinguishes them wherever they go and manifests itself in the spirit of love. You do not hear of the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being full of hatred and venom and seeking whom they can destroy; you do not find them laying traps, or disseminating falsehood, or doing that which will bring their opponents into discomfort. No; you will find them laboring for the salvation of the souls of the children of mien. You will find them going from door to door, holding forth upon the corners of the streets, and encountering all kinds of opposition. You will find them proclaiming the fact that God has spoken from heaven and restored to earth His everlasting Gospel. You will find them traveling without purse and without scrip, ofttimes going hungry and submitting to great indignities and privations. These are not acts of men filled with the spirit of hate, but they are impelled by the spirit of love, a spirit to benefit and bless their fellowmen. There is a spirit of peace that accompanies them in their ministrations; there is an influence, which they carry with them that they themselves seem to be unconscious of. They do not realize the great force and influence that is with them when they go out into the world. The influence that impels the Latter-day Saints, as I said before, is the spirit of the Gospel, which is the spirit of love. God is love, and if we possess His Holy Spirit it will manifest itself in acts of love. I do not know how I can more specifically illustrate the feeling that is possessed in such measure by the Latter-day Saints. Nevertheless. I will say this, that the man who is in possession of the Spirit of the Lord carries with him an influence that is a strange thing in the world, and it will cause those who come in contact with him to recognize the fact that he is different from the majority of mankind.
In the 121st section of the book of Doctrine and Covenants you will find these words:
45. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men. and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from Heaven.
46. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of righteousness and truth, and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever.
In these words you find a corroboration of that which I have said. If the Latter-day Saints will allow their hearts to go out in sympathy and love for their fellowmen. and especially for the household of faith, their faith will grow stronger day by day, they will increase in the knowledge of God, and their confidence shall wax strong Id His presence, and this doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon their souls as the dews from Heaven. Their whole being will be lit up by the power of the Spirit of God, and this power will make itself felt among the people of the world. This is the great advantage we have received in yielding obedience to the Gospel. It is in this regard that we are different from the rest of mankind. That is not saying there are not millions of good people upon the face of the earth who desire to do the will of the Lord. But I would say to such that if they will also accept the truth as it has been revealed from Heaven, the same power, the same gifts and the same influence, will distinguish them from the rest of mankind. It is the marvelous power of the Holy Spirit; the doctrine of the Priesthood distilling upon the souls of those who allow their hearts to go out in sympathy and love toward their fellowmen, and who manifest that love in going out into the world to proclaim the truth as it has been revealed from Heaven. It is the same love that imbued the Savior of the world when He gave His life for the salvation of men. Greater love than this hath no man, that he will lay down his life for his friends. It is that love that impelled the Prophet Joseph Smith to lay down his life and to go as a lamb to the slaughter. It is that love that impels the servants of the Lord in this day to take their lives in their hands and go into the world, which is so full of hatred and prejudice against the work of the Lord. Those whom we find in the world rising up against the Latter-day Saints, what justification can they find in that? What spirit is it that imbues the men and women who disseminate falsehood and misstatements, which have the result of arousing prejudice and hatred toward the Latter-day Saints? What spirit is it that impels men and women to raise their voices against men whom they know to be honorable and men of virtue and integrity, for the purpose of blackening their characters, and making them appear in the eyes of the world men of the vilest character?
Contrast this spirit with the spirit that animates our missionaries. It seems to be the heritage of the Saints to be hated of the world, and to have all manner of evil spoken against them falsely. It was so in the case of the Savior Himself. It was so with other Prophets and holy men who have spoken under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. It is that which has helped to distinguish them in the different periods of the world's history. They have always stood out prominent among the inhabitants of the earth, and their names have been had for good and for evil in all the world. The name of the Savior Himself was had for good and evil. The prophets of God have been despised and hated and .stoned to death. They have been spoken of both good and evil. The Latter-day Saints in this day and age of the world, are no exception. They are spoken evil of by those who possess an evil spirit, and they are spoken well of by those who are honest in heart.
Having said this much regarding the peculiarities of our people, let us, my brethren and sisters, continue to be a peculiar people. Let our influence be felt wherever we go. Let it be said of us that we are indeed a peculiar people, in this, that the love of God abounds in our hearts, and that we seek to build one another up, not to tear down. When we come in contact with the world let them feel that we have no spirit of hatred toward them, no spirit to tear them down, but that m the depths of our hearts we desire to save their souls and to do them good. I know that this Gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation; that through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith it has been restored to earth, never again to be taken away and never again to be thrown down; that those whom God ha? chosen to stand at the head of His people today are inspired of Him and possess the spirit of their calling. God help all to attain this testimony for themselves, and may we uphold and sustain His servants with all our hearts, is my prayer through Jesus Christ, Amen.
My brethren and sisters, I rise before you this morning- in response to a call from President Smith, and I can assure you that it is with a feeling of great timidity, and unless our Father shall come to my support I feel wholly unequal to the task that has been assigned to me. I feel now, as I have always felt, deep interest in the great work of our Father In heaven, which He has instituted for the salvation of His children here upon the earth, and a testimony of its divine truth burns in my heart at this very moment. To me the meetings of this conference have been in very deed spiritual feasts. The Spirit of the Lord has been poured out abundantly upon His servants who have addressed the congregations, and I feel that the people themselves entertain the same view that I have expressed. Indeed the gathering of the people this morning is a sufficient guarantee of this truth, and I rejoice that even this great Tabernacle is not sufficient to hold the Latter-day Saints who have come up hither to hear the word of the Lord, insomuch that it has become necessary notwithstanding the fact that the elements have been somewhat threatening, to hold an overflow meeting in order to accommodate the people who have come in such great numbers to hear His holy word. It speaks well for the faith and for the interest that the Latter-day Saints have in the work of the Lord.
It has been said, during this conference, that the Latter-day Saints are a peculiar people, and sometimes I have wondered in what did this peculiarity consist. Wherever we go we find that we are somewhat different from the rest of mankind, so much so that we are pointed out and observed. In fact, we might say we are the observed of all observers when we go out into the world. Many times people have accosted me and spoken in reference to our missionaries. When I was in the missionary field they have said to me, "Your men are different from ours; they seem to be a different class of people." Why is it? Is it not the effect that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is producing among the Latter-day Saints? In our own community we do not realize the great change that has taken place in us since we have become identified with this peculiar religion. If we are living in harmony with the teachings of the Gospel it will have the effect to make those peculiarities still more pronounced. There is an influence that goes with the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is felt among the people of the world with whom we associate. I do not wish to convey the idea that we have so far advanced and become so perfect that we claim to be holier than the rest of mankind, but I do wish to convey the idea that there has been an effect wrought upon this community as a direct result of our religion. It has opened the eyes of our understanding. It has caused us to look at life from an entirely different aspect. We have been enlightened by the power of the Holy Ghost that was conferred upon us when we entered into covenant with the Lord. The peculiarity that is more prominent with us than all others is the spirit of love. The spirit of the Gospel is the spirit of love, and there have been exhibitions of that love in the whole career of the Latter-day Saints.
In pursuance of this quality which so distinguishes us from other peoples in the world, our young men leave their fathers and their mothers, their wives and children, and go out into the world without remuneration to proclaim the glad message of great joy. Oh! what a wonderful manifestation of love towards their fellow men. Where in all the world can such a thing be found, other than among the Latter-day Saints? There may be isolated instances of great devotion on the part of men who are sincere and honest in their motives, but where upon the face of the whole earth will you find a whole community who are willing to make this sacrifice because of the love which they hold toward their fellowmen? The spirit of this work, the spirit that impels these young men to go out into the world, distinguishes them wherever they go and manifests itself in the spirit of love. You do not hear of the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being full of hatred and venom and seeking whom they can destroy; you do not find them laying traps, or disseminating falsehood, or doing that which will bring their opponents into discomfort. No; you will find them laboring for the salvation of the souls of the children of mien. You will find them going from door to door, holding forth upon the corners of the streets, and encountering all kinds of opposition. You will find them proclaiming the fact that God has spoken from heaven and restored to earth His everlasting Gospel. You will find them traveling without purse and without scrip, ofttimes going hungry and submitting to great indignities and privations. These are not acts of men filled with the spirit of hate, but they are impelled by the spirit of love, a spirit to benefit and bless their fellowmen. There is a spirit of peace that accompanies them in their ministrations; there is an influence, which they carry with them that they themselves seem to be unconscious of. They do not realize the great force and influence that is with them when they go out into the world. The influence that impels the Latter-day Saints, as I said before, is the spirit of the Gospel, which is the spirit of love. God is love, and if we possess His Holy Spirit it will manifest itself in acts of love. I do not know how I can more specifically illustrate the feeling that is possessed in such measure by the Latter-day Saints. Nevertheless. I will say this, that the man who is in possession of the Spirit of the Lord carries with him an influence that is a strange thing in the world, and it will cause those who come in contact with him to recognize the fact that he is different from the majority of mankind.
In the 121st section of the book of Doctrine and Covenants you will find these words:
45. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men. and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from Heaven.
46. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of righteousness and truth, and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever.
In these words you find a corroboration of that which I have said. If the Latter-day Saints will allow their hearts to go out in sympathy and love for their fellowmen. and especially for the household of faith, their faith will grow stronger day by day, they will increase in the knowledge of God, and their confidence shall wax strong Id His presence, and this doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon their souls as the dews from Heaven. Their whole being will be lit up by the power of the Spirit of God, and this power will make itself felt among the people of the world. This is the great advantage we have received in yielding obedience to the Gospel. It is in this regard that we are different from the rest of mankind. That is not saying there are not millions of good people upon the face of the earth who desire to do the will of the Lord. But I would say to such that if they will also accept the truth as it has been revealed from Heaven, the same power, the same gifts and the same influence, will distinguish them from the rest of mankind. It is the marvelous power of the Holy Spirit; the doctrine of the Priesthood distilling upon the souls of those who allow their hearts to go out in sympathy and love toward their fellowmen, and who manifest that love in going out into the world to proclaim the truth as it has been revealed from Heaven. It is the same love that imbued the Savior of the world when He gave His life for the salvation of men. Greater love than this hath no man, that he will lay down his life for his friends. It is that love that impelled the Prophet Joseph Smith to lay down his life and to go as a lamb to the slaughter. It is that love that impels the servants of the Lord in this day to take their lives in their hands and go into the world, which is so full of hatred and prejudice against the work of the Lord. Those whom we find in the world rising up against the Latter-day Saints, what justification can they find in that? What spirit is it that imbues the men and women who disseminate falsehood and misstatements, which have the result of arousing prejudice and hatred toward the Latter-day Saints? What spirit is it that impels men and women to raise their voices against men whom they know to be honorable and men of virtue and integrity, for the purpose of blackening their characters, and making them appear in the eyes of the world men of the vilest character?
Contrast this spirit with the spirit that animates our missionaries. It seems to be the heritage of the Saints to be hated of the world, and to have all manner of evil spoken against them falsely. It was so in the case of the Savior Himself. It was so with other Prophets and holy men who have spoken under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. It is that which has helped to distinguish them in the different periods of the world's history. They have always stood out prominent among the inhabitants of the earth, and their names have been had for good and for evil in all the world. The name of the Savior Himself was had for good and evil. The prophets of God have been despised and hated and .stoned to death. They have been spoken of both good and evil. The Latter-day Saints in this day and age of the world, are no exception. They are spoken evil of by those who possess an evil spirit, and they are spoken well of by those who are honest in heart.
Having said this much regarding the peculiarities of our people, let us, my brethren and sisters, continue to be a peculiar people. Let our influence be felt wherever we go. Let it be said of us that we are indeed a peculiar people, in this, that the love of God abounds in our hearts, and that we seek to build one another up, not to tear down. When we come in contact with the world let them feel that we have no spirit of hatred toward them, no spirit to tear them down, but that m the depths of our hearts we desire to save their souls and to do them good. I know that this Gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation; that through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith it has been restored to earth, never again to be taken away and never again to be thrown down; that those whom God ha? chosen to stand at the head of His people today are inspired of Him and possess the spirit of their calling. God help all to attain this testimony for themselves, and may we uphold and sustain His servants with all our hearts, is my prayer through Jesus Christ, Amen.
ELDER GERMAN E. ELLSWORTH.
(President of Northern States Mission).
My brothers and sisters, there is a desire in my breast that our Father will bless me with His Spirit the few moments I stand before you to testify of His goodness unto me, and unto the Elders I am privileged to labor with in the Northern States mission. Though my knees tremble under the task of speaking to you, my heart rejoices in the privilege of visiting this conference, and hearing the testimonies of my brethren who have been called upon to speak. I rejoice in their testimonies because it warms my soul, and makes me feel that God has been good to me in giving me also a testimony of His Gospel, and testifying to my soul that His Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know that for the past six months our Father in heaven has fulfilled His promises upon the heads of the Elders laboring in the Northern States mission, and that they have been inspired in the performance of their duties. Many of them, during the past few months, look as brown as though they had been working in the harvest fields at home. I rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in the progress of the work in the mission where we are laboring. Our cry to the Presidency of the Church has been, as I understand is the case with presidents of other missions, that we have too few Elders to answer the calls of the people who desire to hear from us. From the northern to the southern part of our mission, we have calls from the people for tracts and books, and for visits from the Elders, so much so that during the last six months we have been compelled to ask the Saints to stand alone, to look to God, to read the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, to go to their Father in heaven for wisdom, and permit the Elders to go out among the strangers who have not had the privilege of hearing the gospel. The efforts of the Elders this summer have been blessed, and for the past four months, we have had an average of about fifty baptisms per month; and we have distributed 125,000 tracts, half of which are pamphlets, consisting of thirty-two pages. The Elders have sold hundreds of Books of Mormon in the last two months. Some of the big book stores in our part of the country have kindly consented to put our books upon sale along with others. We appreciate this kindly interest, it is a change ' from what has been in the past, for heretofore our books, if they have been in stores at all, have had a place among the shelf worn and second-hand stock.
There is one incident that has occurred in the Northern States mission which I believe all Latter-day Saints will be interested in, that is the conference that was held in Nauvoo last Saturday and Sunday. If I may be permitted I will relate the circumstances under which the conference was held there. About one month ago the president of the Northern Illinois conference was looking for a suitable place to hold a conference, and, having done missionary work for the past year in Hancock county, and had been blessed by a number of baptisms, and having heard it remarked that the "Reorganized church" people were contemplating holding conference in Nauvoo, he decided to hold the conference there, if possible, for he understood that they had postponed theirs for one year, because conditions were not favorable. When he wrote to us about this, we requested the Southern Illinois Elders to join the northern Elders in holding conference there on the 30th of September, and the 1st of October. In accordance with that appointment, forty-eight Elders and twenty Saints gathered at Nauvoo on the 29th of September. The people residing here unitedly opened their homes and welcomed what they termed the constructionist division of the Latter-day Saints. They said that, if the people of Nauvoo had not driven the Latter-day Saints, that beautiful location would now be one of the greatest cities in the United States. They remarked that the people who were driven out of Nauvoo had gone into a desert and had made it a desirable place, and they have not imagination enough to conceive of what would have been done in Nauvoo, had the Saints stayed in that goodly country. Some of the Saints and Elders from the Central States mission, hearing of our conference, visited us, as also some from the Southern States. The Spirit of the Lord was upon every Elder who bore witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and the hearts of the people rejoiced. We had more houses offered for our accommodation than we could occupy. Eight Elders had the privilege of rooming in President Brigham Young's old home; four, I think, in Heber C. Kimball's house; and eight or ten in the Nauvoo Mansion House. We held our fast meeting in the Riverside or Nauvoo house. The Spirit of the Lord was upon those who bore witness in that meeting, and all present were much affected. We had the pleasure of having Brother Lorin Farr with us, who formerly lived in that city, and who filled a mission to the Eastern States under the call of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Nauvoo people are anxious to have him visit them and talk of old times. Some said they had been praying for years that the Latter-day Saints, the people who had made a desert to blossom as the rose, would come back, and help them build up that city, which is now sixty years behind the times. The residents in the Nauvoo House moved into that place four months ago. They had never net any of the elders before, but the Spirit of the :Lord came upon them, and we heard that, the day after conference, that family, with others, were baptized in the Mississippi river.
I rejoice that the spirit in that country, once the home of the Latter-day Saints, has changed, and the people there deplore the fact that wicked men drove out people who were gifted with the power to build up a country, and who had within their souls a desire to beautify this earth. The mayor told us we would be always welcome. The man who owns the hall that faces east on the temple block said that we could have the use of that hall from this time forth. Heretofore we have had to hold our meetings on the streets. Our Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening meetings were attended by about five hundred people, and they expressed themselves sorry when the meetings closed, for, they said they had never witnessed anything like it since they lived in that city. The comment was made that, if fifty elders and a few saints could make them feel that good, what would ten thousand, or twenty thousand Latter-day Saints do for them? The spirit manifested in Nauvoo is also exhibited in other parts of Illinois, with the exception that a few people are still fighting the truth. The honest people, the farmers, the working people, those who earn their bread by industry, seem to desire the truth, and though they may be blinded, and feel that in fighting the Latter-day Saints they are engaged in a good cause, yet when they meet our elders and come in contact with their influence, they admire their devotion and respect the sacrifice they make in proclaiming the gospel. People of honest purpose cannot withstand the influence of the men who are out preaching the gospel, young men from eighteen to twenty-four years of age, who go hungry and footsore, who pray by the roadside that they may find the honest in heart, who stop from time to time and hold meetings, laboring faithfully until their souls and their bodies are weary. These young men, filled with the Spirit of God, plead on their knees for' God to bless the people; and they call them to repentance in a voice that would almost soften the heart of a stone. These young men, after they have notified the people of a little town that they are going to hold a meeting, and have labored all day with that end in view, are filled with the Spirit of God when the meeting is held, and the people bless them, take them home, buy their books, and invite them to come again. I know of no one better prepared to preach to the people, and to plead with them to follow Christ, than these young men are after a hard day's work of this kind. I rejoice in the work they are doing. I rejoice in the faithfulness of the Latter-day Saints. I rejoice in the spirit of this conference, and in the spirit of the Saints wherever I go. May God bless them; may He help all of us to fulfill the calling whereunto we have been called, that we may dedicate our all to the service of the Master, that we may spread the truth, to the end that all the world may feel as we do, and rejoice in the name of the Lord for the Gospel that He has restored in our day. And though our knees tremble, may our hearts rejoice in bearing this witness to the inhabitants of the earth, that when we come up in the morning of the resurrection our Master may say "Well done," and the honest in heart of the earth rise up and bless us for our labors and for the time we spent in bringing them to a knowledge of the truth. May the sacrifice and the devotion of the Latter-day Saints draw to them the honest in heart of the earth, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Horace S. Ensign sang feelingly "The Lord's Prayer."
(President of Northern States Mission).
My brothers and sisters, there is a desire in my breast that our Father will bless me with His Spirit the few moments I stand before you to testify of His goodness unto me, and unto the Elders I am privileged to labor with in the Northern States mission. Though my knees tremble under the task of speaking to you, my heart rejoices in the privilege of visiting this conference, and hearing the testimonies of my brethren who have been called upon to speak. I rejoice in their testimonies because it warms my soul, and makes me feel that God has been good to me in giving me also a testimony of His Gospel, and testifying to my soul that His Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know that for the past six months our Father in heaven has fulfilled His promises upon the heads of the Elders laboring in the Northern States mission, and that they have been inspired in the performance of their duties. Many of them, during the past few months, look as brown as though they had been working in the harvest fields at home. I rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in the progress of the work in the mission where we are laboring. Our cry to the Presidency of the Church has been, as I understand is the case with presidents of other missions, that we have too few Elders to answer the calls of the people who desire to hear from us. From the northern to the southern part of our mission, we have calls from the people for tracts and books, and for visits from the Elders, so much so that during the last six months we have been compelled to ask the Saints to stand alone, to look to God, to read the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, to go to their Father in heaven for wisdom, and permit the Elders to go out among the strangers who have not had the privilege of hearing the gospel. The efforts of the Elders this summer have been blessed, and for the past four months, we have had an average of about fifty baptisms per month; and we have distributed 125,000 tracts, half of which are pamphlets, consisting of thirty-two pages. The Elders have sold hundreds of Books of Mormon in the last two months. Some of the big book stores in our part of the country have kindly consented to put our books upon sale along with others. We appreciate this kindly interest, it is a change ' from what has been in the past, for heretofore our books, if they have been in stores at all, have had a place among the shelf worn and second-hand stock.
There is one incident that has occurred in the Northern States mission which I believe all Latter-day Saints will be interested in, that is the conference that was held in Nauvoo last Saturday and Sunday. If I may be permitted I will relate the circumstances under which the conference was held there. About one month ago the president of the Northern Illinois conference was looking for a suitable place to hold a conference, and, having done missionary work for the past year in Hancock county, and had been blessed by a number of baptisms, and having heard it remarked that the "Reorganized church" people were contemplating holding conference in Nauvoo, he decided to hold the conference there, if possible, for he understood that they had postponed theirs for one year, because conditions were not favorable. When he wrote to us about this, we requested the Southern Illinois Elders to join the northern Elders in holding conference there on the 30th of September, and the 1st of October. In accordance with that appointment, forty-eight Elders and twenty Saints gathered at Nauvoo on the 29th of September. The people residing here unitedly opened their homes and welcomed what they termed the constructionist division of the Latter-day Saints. They said that, if the people of Nauvoo had not driven the Latter-day Saints, that beautiful location would now be one of the greatest cities in the United States. They remarked that the people who were driven out of Nauvoo had gone into a desert and had made it a desirable place, and they have not imagination enough to conceive of what would have been done in Nauvoo, had the Saints stayed in that goodly country. Some of the Saints and Elders from the Central States mission, hearing of our conference, visited us, as also some from the Southern States. The Spirit of the Lord was upon every Elder who bore witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and the hearts of the people rejoiced. We had more houses offered for our accommodation than we could occupy. Eight Elders had the privilege of rooming in President Brigham Young's old home; four, I think, in Heber C. Kimball's house; and eight or ten in the Nauvoo Mansion House. We held our fast meeting in the Riverside or Nauvoo house. The Spirit of the Lord was upon those who bore witness in that meeting, and all present were much affected. We had the pleasure of having Brother Lorin Farr with us, who formerly lived in that city, and who filled a mission to the Eastern States under the call of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Nauvoo people are anxious to have him visit them and talk of old times. Some said they had been praying for years that the Latter-day Saints, the people who had made a desert to blossom as the rose, would come back, and help them build up that city, which is now sixty years behind the times. The residents in the Nauvoo House moved into that place four months ago. They had never net any of the elders before, but the Spirit of the :Lord came upon them, and we heard that, the day after conference, that family, with others, were baptized in the Mississippi river.
I rejoice that the spirit in that country, once the home of the Latter-day Saints, has changed, and the people there deplore the fact that wicked men drove out people who were gifted with the power to build up a country, and who had within their souls a desire to beautify this earth. The mayor told us we would be always welcome. The man who owns the hall that faces east on the temple block said that we could have the use of that hall from this time forth. Heretofore we have had to hold our meetings on the streets. Our Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening meetings were attended by about five hundred people, and they expressed themselves sorry when the meetings closed, for, they said they had never witnessed anything like it since they lived in that city. The comment was made that, if fifty elders and a few saints could make them feel that good, what would ten thousand, or twenty thousand Latter-day Saints do for them? The spirit manifested in Nauvoo is also exhibited in other parts of Illinois, with the exception that a few people are still fighting the truth. The honest people, the farmers, the working people, those who earn their bread by industry, seem to desire the truth, and though they may be blinded, and feel that in fighting the Latter-day Saints they are engaged in a good cause, yet when they meet our elders and come in contact with their influence, they admire their devotion and respect the sacrifice they make in proclaiming the gospel. People of honest purpose cannot withstand the influence of the men who are out preaching the gospel, young men from eighteen to twenty-four years of age, who go hungry and footsore, who pray by the roadside that they may find the honest in heart, who stop from time to time and hold meetings, laboring faithfully until their souls and their bodies are weary. These young men, filled with the Spirit of God, plead on their knees for' God to bless the people; and they call them to repentance in a voice that would almost soften the heart of a stone. These young men, after they have notified the people of a little town that they are going to hold a meeting, and have labored all day with that end in view, are filled with the Spirit of God when the meeting is held, and the people bless them, take them home, buy their books, and invite them to come again. I know of no one better prepared to preach to the people, and to plead with them to follow Christ, than these young men are after a hard day's work of this kind. I rejoice in the work they are doing. I rejoice in the faithfulness of the Latter-day Saints. I rejoice in the spirit of this conference, and in the spirit of the Saints wherever I go. May God bless them; may He help all of us to fulfill the calling whereunto we have been called, that we may dedicate our all to the service of the Master, that we may spread the truth, to the end that all the world may feel as we do, and rejoice in the name of the Lord for the Gospel that He has restored in our day. And though our knees tremble, may our hearts rejoice in bearing this witness to the inhabitants of the earth, that when we come up in the morning of the resurrection our Master may say "Well done," and the honest in heart of the earth rise up and bless us for our labors and for the time we spent in bringing them to a knowledge of the truth. May the sacrifice and the devotion of the Latter-day Saints draw to them the honest in heart of the earth, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Horace S. Ensign sang feelingly "The Lord's Prayer."
ELDER ANTHONY W. IVINS.
(President of Juarez Stake.)
I desire, my brethren and sisters, to preface the brief remarks that 1 am about to make by reading a few paragraphs from the Book of Mormon. Six hundred years before the birth of our Savior, the Lord called His servant Lehi to come out from Jerusalem, with his family, to a land which the Lord promised to lead him to, and to give to him and to his descendants after him for an everlasting inheritance. He outlined to this man in vision the future of his posterity and of the world throughout its generations, until a time should come in the dispensation of the fullness of times when truth should triumph over error, and when God's kingdom should be established in the earth. In order that this vision might be made clearer, plainer, and more comprehensible, the Lord sent his angel to explain and enlarge upon it to Nephi, the son of Lehi. Among other things, he saw that after the descendants of this man should dwindle in unbelief, a great church should be established in the earth, a church which he called the mother of abominations, a church which should worship gold and silver, satin and fine-twined linen; and he saw that this church should dominate the entire earth. Then he saw the establishment of another church, which he called the church of the Lamb of God; and it is just a few paragraphs relating to this epoch that I desire to read—the period of time, my brethren and sisters, in which we live, and in whose events we are actual participants:
"And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters: and she had dominion over all the earth, among the nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
"And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few. because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters: nevertheless, I beheld the church of the lamb, who were the saints of God. were also upon the face of the earth: and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw."
Now, my brethren and sisters, the thing to which I wish to call your attention is this: At the time the Book of Mormon was published to the world, the church of the Lamb of God did not exist. It had not come into being in its organized form. Now, think back for a little more than seventy-five years, and let us ask ourselves whether or not the words of the Lord that He gave to Nephi more than two thousand years ago are not verified. I have always rejoiced in the fact that the Latter- day Saints are a people who live in the present. Their faith is not founded upon that which is past, although they delight to understand the past, because in contemplating it they can in a degree judge of the future. They are not a people whose hopes are founded altogether upon something that is yet future; but they are a people who live in the present. They are fulfillers of prophecy. They are a people who are enacting their part in the great work of the redemption of the human race, outlined by the ancient prophets of God. What is the condition of the Church today? I have been led to contemplate this question, because of the report which was made here by the President of the Church at the opening of the conference. The Latter-day Saints are firmly established in Canada; their possessions extend into Oregon; they are in Montana, in Idaho, in Wyoming, in California, in Arizona, in Colorado, in Utah, in New Mexico. They have gone over the wall, and are in the republic of Mexico, still further south. Not only are their possessions to be found in this district of country to which I have referred, but you may find them also in the States of the Union, in the countries of Europe, and upon the islands of the sea. The Saints of God are acquiring possessions in these countries, few it is true, if they were not few, it would not be in accordance with the written word of God.
I am very pleased to report to you the condition; of your brethren and sisters in the Juarez Stake of Zion. They are in a foreign country, a country which offers very few natural inducements to men and women who reside in the United States, a country with very little public land, a country where every inch that we have acquired we have had to do so by continuous effort. Nevertheless, there are, according to our statistics, 3,751 Latter-day Saints in that land. They are scattered over a large area. They are poor people, but industrious. God-fearing, and economical. They are exceedingly liberal with the limited means which the Lord has given them. This is illustrated in the fact that about 40 of them have come up to attend this conference, and I am certain that, taking a very conservative estimate, these people will have spent $5000 in making this trip before they return to their homes. These three thousand and odd Latter-day Saints paid $50,000 in tithing last year, which amounts to about $13.50 for every soul in the stake, including men, women, and children. But a man said to me last night, that is Mexican money, is it not? Yes, that is Mexican money, and a Mexican dollar counts with us just as much as an American dollar counts to you. until we get over the line, and they are cut in two. and call it fifty cents; but the Mexican laboring man receives no more for his work, the teamster or the freighter receives no more for his work in Mexico than he does in the United States, and at the same time we pay about three times as much for everything we consume as you do here. I said this to a broker who was down there once, and he said he didn't believe it. I simply called attention to the fact that the sugar we use to sweeten our food and preserve our fruits costs us from $15 to $17 a sack, against five or six dollars you pay here; the fruit jars we put our fruit in cost us thirty-five cents a quart jar, as against eight or ten cents you pay here; the salt we put in our food costs us five or six cents a pound, I suppose you get it for about half a cent; the flour we eat costs us from six to nine dollars per hundred as against about two and a half dollars you pay here. So I could go on indefinitely, and am certain that the average of prices we pay for that which we consume in Mexico is three times as much as it is in the United States. Notwithstanding these conditions, my brethren and sisters, we are building up thrifty and prosperous settlements. The very best rural towns of their age and size that I have ever seen are in Mexico. You will see there more good brick houses that would be creditable to any community, than in any other towns of their age or size I have ever visited. We are in a country where men can work three hundred and sixty-five days in the year. We are never idle. Men wear out their lives with hard labor.
The Mexican mission and those who have been converted to the Gospel among the native population are not included in the enumeration to which I have referred. There are several hundred people who are converts to the Church in and around the city of Mexico. They are Indians. There are about eight millions of pure blooded Indians in the republic of Mexico, and probably two millions of other people in whom the Indian blood largely predominates, while there are two or three millions of people who are foreigners. Wherever we have gone among this pure blooded people with the Gospel, they have been ready to receive it. Our greatest effort is to keep them out until the time comes when we feel prepared to take care of them. They are a good people, devoted and God-fearing, that is, those who have embraced the truth. While their skins are dark, they are a thinking people, and understand the principles of the Gospel, and are capable of discussing them with any people that I have ever come in contact with. They are people of the covenant.
The very fact that these Indians are beginning to receive the truth is of great importance to us. Have you ever stopped to contemplate, have you ever reflected upon the fact that Christ himself said to their fathers:
"Verily, I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may known the time when these things shall be about to take place [referring to the fulfillment of the promises made to the seed of that people and to the restoration of the Jews] ; * * * and behold this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign:
"For verily I say unto you, that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, shall be made known unto the Gentiles, that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come of the Father, fi-om them unto you; * * *
"When these works, and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter, shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed, which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; * * *
"And when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel."
That time has come, my brethren and sisters. The works of the Church are translated into the Spanish language. These millions of people who are south of us, and who are direct descendants of Father Lehi, heirs of the promises made to him and to his descendants, are beginning to come to a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel. It seems to me that a great responsibility rests upon us regarding them. We are indebted to them for the Book of Mormon, which contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, and which is the greatest living prophecy that stands before the world today. We are told that if a man prophecy and the things which he declares come to pass, we may know by that that he is a prophet; and I say that if the Book of Mormon stood alone as an evidence of the divine authenticity of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, it is sufficient to establish the fact that he was called of God. It has unlocked the door by which we are able to read the past. It declares to us the present, and it forecasts to us the future, by which we know that the triumph of the work of the Lord is sure. It stands, as brother Roberts has said, as a new witness for God before the nations of the earth. The fact burned into my soul in my youth that not one word of prophecy which is contained in this book will fall to the ground unfulfilled. If this is the case, we know that the destiny of this Church is very closely tied with the destiny of these dark-skinned people south of us. We cannot avoid the responsibility. We must carry the Gospel to them. They must be redeemed, they must come into the fold of Christ, they must be numbered with those who are already members of His Church before the redemption of Zion comes, and before the center stake of Zion shall be built up. Read the prophecies for yourselves, and judge whether or not I am, correct in making this assertion.
My brethren and sisters, we in Mexico are laboring, as you are, in humility and in faith for the establishment of God's kingdom in the earth. We believe that it will be established, that His purposes will be accomplished, and that despite the efforts of men or devils to stay the progress of this work, it will triumph, and Christ will come and reign in power and dominion with His Saints upon the earth. May the Lord help us to keep the covenants that we have entered into, to be true to each other, to be true to the Lord, increase our faith, our hone, our charity, our good works, and by so doing others may be led to glorify the name of our Father in heaven, and be brought into His fold. God bless you, my brethren and sisters, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
(President of Juarez Stake.)
I desire, my brethren and sisters, to preface the brief remarks that 1 am about to make by reading a few paragraphs from the Book of Mormon. Six hundred years before the birth of our Savior, the Lord called His servant Lehi to come out from Jerusalem, with his family, to a land which the Lord promised to lead him to, and to give to him and to his descendants after him for an everlasting inheritance. He outlined to this man in vision the future of his posterity and of the world throughout its generations, until a time should come in the dispensation of the fullness of times when truth should triumph over error, and when God's kingdom should be established in the earth. In order that this vision might be made clearer, plainer, and more comprehensible, the Lord sent his angel to explain and enlarge upon it to Nephi, the son of Lehi. Among other things, he saw that after the descendants of this man should dwindle in unbelief, a great church should be established in the earth, a church which he called the mother of abominations, a church which should worship gold and silver, satin and fine-twined linen; and he saw that this church should dominate the entire earth. Then he saw the establishment of another church, which he called the church of the Lamb of God; and it is just a few paragraphs relating to this epoch that I desire to read—the period of time, my brethren and sisters, in which we live, and in whose events we are actual participants:
"And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters: and she had dominion over all the earth, among the nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
"And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few. because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters: nevertheless, I beheld the church of the lamb, who were the saints of God. were also upon the face of the earth: and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw."
Now, my brethren and sisters, the thing to which I wish to call your attention is this: At the time the Book of Mormon was published to the world, the church of the Lamb of God did not exist. It had not come into being in its organized form. Now, think back for a little more than seventy-five years, and let us ask ourselves whether or not the words of the Lord that He gave to Nephi more than two thousand years ago are not verified. I have always rejoiced in the fact that the Latter- day Saints are a people who live in the present. Their faith is not founded upon that which is past, although they delight to understand the past, because in contemplating it they can in a degree judge of the future. They are not a people whose hopes are founded altogether upon something that is yet future; but they are a people who live in the present. They are fulfillers of prophecy. They are a people who are enacting their part in the great work of the redemption of the human race, outlined by the ancient prophets of God. What is the condition of the Church today? I have been led to contemplate this question, because of the report which was made here by the President of the Church at the opening of the conference. The Latter-day Saints are firmly established in Canada; their possessions extend into Oregon; they are in Montana, in Idaho, in Wyoming, in California, in Arizona, in Colorado, in Utah, in New Mexico. They have gone over the wall, and are in the republic of Mexico, still further south. Not only are their possessions to be found in this district of country to which I have referred, but you may find them also in the States of the Union, in the countries of Europe, and upon the islands of the sea. The Saints of God are acquiring possessions in these countries, few it is true, if they were not few, it would not be in accordance with the written word of God.
I am very pleased to report to you the condition; of your brethren and sisters in the Juarez Stake of Zion. They are in a foreign country, a country which offers very few natural inducements to men and women who reside in the United States, a country with very little public land, a country where every inch that we have acquired we have had to do so by continuous effort. Nevertheless, there are, according to our statistics, 3,751 Latter-day Saints in that land. They are scattered over a large area. They are poor people, but industrious. God-fearing, and economical. They are exceedingly liberal with the limited means which the Lord has given them. This is illustrated in the fact that about 40 of them have come up to attend this conference, and I am certain that, taking a very conservative estimate, these people will have spent $5000 in making this trip before they return to their homes. These three thousand and odd Latter-day Saints paid $50,000 in tithing last year, which amounts to about $13.50 for every soul in the stake, including men, women, and children. But a man said to me last night, that is Mexican money, is it not? Yes, that is Mexican money, and a Mexican dollar counts with us just as much as an American dollar counts to you. until we get over the line, and they are cut in two. and call it fifty cents; but the Mexican laboring man receives no more for his work, the teamster or the freighter receives no more for his work in Mexico than he does in the United States, and at the same time we pay about three times as much for everything we consume as you do here. I said this to a broker who was down there once, and he said he didn't believe it. I simply called attention to the fact that the sugar we use to sweeten our food and preserve our fruits costs us from $15 to $17 a sack, against five or six dollars you pay here; the fruit jars we put our fruit in cost us thirty-five cents a quart jar, as against eight or ten cents you pay here; the salt we put in our food costs us five or six cents a pound, I suppose you get it for about half a cent; the flour we eat costs us from six to nine dollars per hundred as against about two and a half dollars you pay here. So I could go on indefinitely, and am certain that the average of prices we pay for that which we consume in Mexico is three times as much as it is in the United States. Notwithstanding these conditions, my brethren and sisters, we are building up thrifty and prosperous settlements. The very best rural towns of their age and size that I have ever seen are in Mexico. You will see there more good brick houses that would be creditable to any community, than in any other towns of their age or size I have ever visited. We are in a country where men can work three hundred and sixty-five days in the year. We are never idle. Men wear out their lives with hard labor.
The Mexican mission and those who have been converted to the Gospel among the native population are not included in the enumeration to which I have referred. There are several hundred people who are converts to the Church in and around the city of Mexico. They are Indians. There are about eight millions of pure blooded Indians in the republic of Mexico, and probably two millions of other people in whom the Indian blood largely predominates, while there are two or three millions of people who are foreigners. Wherever we have gone among this pure blooded people with the Gospel, they have been ready to receive it. Our greatest effort is to keep them out until the time comes when we feel prepared to take care of them. They are a good people, devoted and God-fearing, that is, those who have embraced the truth. While their skins are dark, they are a thinking people, and understand the principles of the Gospel, and are capable of discussing them with any people that I have ever come in contact with. They are people of the covenant.
The very fact that these Indians are beginning to receive the truth is of great importance to us. Have you ever stopped to contemplate, have you ever reflected upon the fact that Christ himself said to their fathers:
"Verily, I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may known the time when these things shall be about to take place [referring to the fulfillment of the promises made to the seed of that people and to the restoration of the Jews] ; * * * and behold this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign:
"For verily I say unto you, that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, shall be made known unto the Gentiles, that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come of the Father, fi-om them unto you; * * *
"When these works, and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter, shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed, which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; * * *
"And when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel."
That time has come, my brethren and sisters. The works of the Church are translated into the Spanish language. These millions of people who are south of us, and who are direct descendants of Father Lehi, heirs of the promises made to him and to his descendants, are beginning to come to a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel. It seems to me that a great responsibility rests upon us regarding them. We are indebted to them for the Book of Mormon, which contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, and which is the greatest living prophecy that stands before the world today. We are told that if a man prophecy and the things which he declares come to pass, we may know by that that he is a prophet; and I say that if the Book of Mormon stood alone as an evidence of the divine authenticity of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, it is sufficient to establish the fact that he was called of God. It has unlocked the door by which we are able to read the past. It declares to us the present, and it forecasts to us the future, by which we know that the triumph of the work of the Lord is sure. It stands, as brother Roberts has said, as a new witness for God before the nations of the earth. The fact burned into my soul in my youth that not one word of prophecy which is contained in this book will fall to the ground unfulfilled. If this is the case, we know that the destiny of this Church is very closely tied with the destiny of these dark-skinned people south of us. We cannot avoid the responsibility. We must carry the Gospel to them. They must be redeemed, they must come into the fold of Christ, they must be numbered with those who are already members of His Church before the redemption of Zion comes, and before the center stake of Zion shall be built up. Read the prophecies for yourselves, and judge whether or not I am, correct in making this assertion.
My brethren and sisters, we in Mexico are laboring, as you are, in humility and in faith for the establishment of God's kingdom in the earth. We believe that it will be established, that His purposes will be accomplished, and that despite the efforts of men or devils to stay the progress of this work, it will triumph, and Christ will come and reign in power and dominion with His Saints upon the earth. May the Lord help us to keep the covenants that we have entered into, to be true to each other, to be true to the Lord, increase our faith, our hone, our charity, our good works, and by so doing others may be led to glorify the name of our Father in heaven, and be brought into His fold. God bless you, my brethren and sisters, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER JOSEPH E. ROBINSON.
(President of California Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, my heart is lifted up in praise and thanksgiving when I hear the testimony of my brethren in relation to the growth and advance that the Church of Christ Is making in the earth. With Balaam of old, I feel to say. "How goodly are thy tents. O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee."
The mission that I have the honor of representing is not so large as some other missions in the United States; but I believe it has as varied interests as any of them. Varied as is the state of California in its flora and fauna, so is it socially and religiously. Mt. Shasta at the north end of the state is nearly three miles above the sea. It is crowned with glaciers of everlasting ice. The only plant life near the snow line is the lichen and the moss. Then we have in the Imperial valley, at the south end of the state. 300 feet below sea level, the palms and oranges and dates of the warmer countries. Just as varied as is the growth of vegetation, and the character of animal life between the two extremes of altitude, are the religious beliefs of that people. Someone has said that there are 1,440 odd "somebodies" in the United States and 80,000,000 of "nobodies," and that California has one-third or more of these "somebodies." Though I have been there a few years, I have not come to know much about the "somebodies;" but I have learned that the "somebodies" and "nobodies" that are there have a great many different ideas of religion. During the last summer it was my privilege to attend some lectures that were delivered before the Venice Assembly—a society resort near Los Angeles. T came away from those gathering-s with a fixed and firm determination to preach Christ and Him crucified whenever opportunity offered; for I found there that the men who stood up as social reformers, as ecclesiastical leaders, as philosophers of all the ologies and isms of the day, seem to have lost sight of the fact that Jesus is the very Son of God. Many of them mouthed the same sentiment as Lyman Abbot had expressed, wherein he said, "My God is an ever-present energy, manifesting itself in all the activities of human life and in all the workings of nature. I believe," said he. "in a God that is in all things, and through all things, and of all things" — pantheistic wholly in its nature. I heard one of the most eminent clergymen offer a prayer just before the great Baba Bhareta delivered his address upon the mission of the old world to the new—the mission of the Buddhists of the eastern world to the Christians of the western world; and in his prayer he said something like this: "O Thou Great and Infinite One, from whom we emanate, and from whence all things come, who is of all things and through all things and by all things, let Thy Spirit rest down upon these Thy children this day, that whether the message be from Moses or Job, of Christ or of Buddha, or of Krishna, that all shall know that it emanates from Thee, the Fount of Love alone." I heard some of them say, in speaking of the Master, that although He was one of the greatest leaders, ethically and morally, that the world has ever produced, that He was endowed with miraculous gifts, that He was the greatest Prophet the world has ever known, yet they could not regard him as the Son of God as do orthodox Christians. Two weeks ago today, in Los Angeles, one of our little Sunday school boys, a non-"Mormon," asked why they did not make a picture of God. He said, "I have seen pictures of angels and pictures of Jesus Christ, but why don't they make a picture of God?" It brought to my mind the addresses I had heard in the Venice assembly. It was brought to my mind again yesterday, by the editorial in the Deseret News in relation to what Joseph Hamilton had said at Wilson, New York, to the effect that God is a Spirit, and at the same time he tried hard to make it out that He is a personal being as well, stating that He could at His pleasure assume a personal form.
In California, Christian Science has a great following. In fact, the religious atmosphere of that great state is abnormal. Those who are religious seem to be abnormally so. They have built up an ethereal sphere, through perverted imagination or fancy, that is wholly untenable to the matter-of-fact man. Christian Science friends and followers in that State have fructified to that extent that there are many branches of Home Love, of Faith Healing, and of Faith Cure; and it is their hope, so I have been told by some of their leaders, that it will not be long before they shall live and never taste of death, through their knowledge of Christian Science. But these people deny Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
It is a fruitful land also for Spiritualism. Many men and women there study what they call the occult sciences. They have gathered from all over the world This class of people, too, deny that Jesus is the Son of God.
We have there also headquarters of theosophy, with a temple of Isis, established for the very purpose of resurrecting the old theosophy of Egypt. They, too, deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Then there is the Unitarian church. which has a large following. In fact, this assembly that I have been speaking of was conducted and presided over by a Unitarian, although he and his followers do not call themselves Unitarians, but they are, nevertheless. They believe in one God—Love—an essence, a force; and they accept Jesus Christ, not as the Son of God, but as the expression of Love in human form.
This has made it difficult for us to proselyte after the manner of the Apostles of old, and to use the Scriptures; for they have to be converted first of all to the thought that the Bible may be the word of God, before they will listen to the scriptural passages we can quote to prove the divinity of Jesus.
In addition to those I have mentioned, there are many who are called Independent Christians. They claim, with the late Secretary John Hay, that they cannot find within the narrow creed of any of the orthodox churches a pure and full expression of their ideas of religion. Among this class of people we have greater freedom and are able to do the most good, because their minds are healthy, and they have not the vain imaginations that others have. They listen to our testimonies, encourage us, and give us the hand of fellowship. In some of their organizations we are privileged to speak, and in others we do the praying, while in others we have done the singing, and conducted burial services over their dead, because they do not attend to these things themselves; their organizations are merely for the cultivation of social virtues, and for beneficent purposes.
Not a great while ago (I believe I mentioned it here once, but it will not hurt to tell it again), a Catholic priest came to me, and after he was assured that I was the representative of om people—for he had expected to see someone with a long, white beard, venerable and dignified in appearance—he disclosed to me his identity as a Catholic priest, and told me that he had come to the conclusion that no man could live a correct life in celibacy. He had heard of the wondrous growth and progress of our people, their institutions, and their social economy, and he desired to cast his lot with us, that he might have a home and a family of his own. "But," said he, "there is one crucial point I want to be satisfied upon before I can accept your Gospel—do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?" When I answered, "Verily we do," he remarked, "Well, I expect we are all in a measure the sons and daughters of God, but do you believe that He is any different from the rest of us, because I cannot think that he Is more than the natural son of Joseph or some other man."
To my mind, it is just such doctrines as those put forth by Joseph Hamilton and Lyman Abbott that art. responsible for much of the infidelity in the world today and of the indifference towards religion. Men feel, so they express it, that they can see as far into the future as any other man. They do not care, they say, for a religion that deals with the dead past alone, and that has dead forms; they want something that is alive, that is tangible, that appeals to their material minds as well as to their emotions, and that can offer them something to do something that is reasonable and tangible.
Such are the questions that we are confronted with in that land. Therefore, we have to learn something besides the Scripture, and be enabled to bring forth strong reasons upon these matters before we can satisfy them that we have a religion that is better than other churches of the land have —something that within the very genius of it answers the demands of men’s souls, that is soul-uplifting, and that brings to men the benediction that always accompanies the truth.
I note that Mr. Hamilton speaks of the fact that God created man in His own image, male and female; that Ht. spoke to Adam in the Garden of Eden, that He reported to the council In heaven that Adam and Eve had become like unto them, knowing good from evil; that afterwards He visited Abram; that He ate and drank with him on the plains of Mamre, and, after the custom of the country, had his feet bathed; that He told Abram that He had come down to see if the reports in relation to Sodom and Gomorrah were correct; that afterwards He wrestled with Jacob, and that Jacob constrained Him, in fact, would not let Him go until He had blessed him; that He changed the name of Jacob at that time to Israel, because. He said, you have prevailed with the Lord, and Jacob rejoiced, because, said he, I have seen the Lord face to face and still live. He quotes the fact, too, that God spoke to Moses face to face, as one man speaketh to another, and not in vision nor in dark sentences; that God rebuked Miriam and Aaron for their jealousy and reminded them that He spoke to Moses as one man speaks to another, mouth to mouth. He cites the fact also that Stephen beheld the Christ, after the resurrection, sitting upon the right hand of the Father, clothed with the glory that He had prayed for before the dread night of Gethsemane, when He asked that the Father should restore unto Him all the glory that He had with Him before the world was; the fact, too, that Jesus, the Christ, was born of woman, as we are, and that He grew up as a child, like other children. If we credit the writings of the early fathers, we learn that He used to fashion animals, birds, etc., of clay; that in His father's workshop He learned to fashion the yoke for the cattle, and make tools, and' build after the manner of that day. We learn that afterwards, when John had become converted because of the Holy Ghost descending upon Him in the sign of a dove, the same bore witness to His Apostles that He was the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world; yet this same Jesus suffered hunger and thirst, and the adversary strove to tempt Him and lead Him. astray from the path of righteousness because of His hunger, fatigue and thirst.
We understand that He went to Nazareth, the home of His youth, and took up the Scriptures as was His wont upon the Sabbath day to teach them. Clad with newer and greater authority, having come into the fulness of manhood and privileged, under the law, to take up the ministry. He taught as one having authority, and they resented it and cast Him out, saying, "Is He not Joseph the carpenter's son, and have we not His brothers and sisters with us till this very day?" How sad the words of the Master as He turns from them— "a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and among his own people." They know how He was mocked by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, when, fatigued and ill with privation and with the wondrous labors he performed, they cried unto him. Physician, heal thyself. They watch Him through His course of life. They can read of it as do we. How He wept over the death of Lazarus; how He seemed as a man among men, aside from His miraculous powers of healing and divination. At the same time He promised that those who believed on Him should do the works which He did, and greater works, and that the same signs should follow the true believer unto the end of the world. We know, too, that the early Apostles did raise the dead to life, performed miracles, cast out evil spirits, opened the eyes of the blind, unstopped the ears of the deaf, and caused the lame to leap like the hart. They read of the Master as He went to Golgotha, breaking down like a weak man under the heavy cross. They read how He died as a man dies. Notwithstanding all these things they feel that He was no more than man. They lose sight of the fact that He was a perfect man, enjoying the full capabilities of man; and that because of His parentage Ho had more than manhood, that He had power inherent within Himself to break the bands of death and take his body up again. It is after the resurrection that we note the greatest difference. He appears before His disciples in the self-same body, showing the prints of the nails in His hands and feet, and the mark of the spear-thrust in His side, and asks the doubting one to come and test Him, for a spirit had not flesh and bones as He had. We see Him then partaking of food with His disciples and laboring with them for 40 days. We then read of His ascension into heaven in the same bodily form that He had while sojourning among the children of men; and angels testified to those sons of Galilee that as He ascended into heaven, in the same manner He should also descend. John says, "Beloved, when He comes we shall be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is"—not as the vain imaginations of men would make Him, but as the express image of His Father's person, in the likeness of His Father.
It seems to me that if men would study these things as they are written, and not spiritualize them, they could not help but admit the fact that we are in the image of our Father; that as He is the father of our spirits He is also the Father of Jesus, the Christ. And more, that He was the Father of Jesus, the Christ, in the flesh, the only begotten in the flesh. And so I repeat. I have felt constrained to preach more strenuously "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," and the personality of our Father, and the fact that we are indeed His children, and that we are commanded to become perfect like Him, and we may become like Him if we follow in the way which the Master hath marked out. I believe that the greatest revelation given in these the last days was the vision of Joseph the Prophet when he saw God the Father and the Son, and made statement of the fact that man is in the image of Deity. This revelation abolishes completely the theory of the men I have quoted, and annuls the Athanasian creed, which obtains in the Roman Catholic and Episcopal faiths, and Is printed in their creeds even unto this day. I believe if men would study more of Jesus, the Christ, they would come near to knowing who our Father is and what He is like. Then they might accept Jesus as the Only Begotten of the Father, and turn to Him, and love and follow Him, and rejoice in the prerogatives of the everlasting gospel.
This is why we are striving to preach to the people the divinity of Jesus, because of their disbelief in the Son of God. I pray, my brethren and sisters, that in our lives we shall emulate the example of. the Lord Jesus Christ; for then we may become joint heirs with Him to the power and the prerogatives of our Father. When men have been told these things, it has uplifted their hearts, and their minds have been exalted with the concept that the Latter-day Saints have of Jesus, the Christ. Many men have told me that they have had a new incentive to live aright, a deeper hope and a deeper faith had been implanted in their hearts because of the testimony of the Elders in relation to the personality of God the Father, and that Jesus is indeed His Son.
God bless you, my brothers and sisters. Pray for us in the mission field, as we pray for you. We have the right to expect a great deal of you, that as we are looked upon as representatives of our people, that you at home shall do your part well; that all we say in our pride and love for you shall be maintained and upheld; that you will prove you are the people of God, that our mission in the world is the uplifting of humanity, and that in the due time of the Lord we shall succeed in it; which God grant, is my prayer in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
The anthem "How beautiful upon the mountains" was sung by the choir, and the solo parts were rendered by Sister Lizzie T. Edward and Elder John Robinson.
Benediction by Elder Charles F. Middleton.
The Tabernacle was excessively crowded, and. soon after the morning meeting commenced, it was announced that an overflow meeting would be held in the Assembly hall.
(President of California Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, my heart is lifted up in praise and thanksgiving when I hear the testimony of my brethren in relation to the growth and advance that the Church of Christ Is making in the earth. With Balaam of old, I feel to say. "How goodly are thy tents. O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee."
The mission that I have the honor of representing is not so large as some other missions in the United States; but I believe it has as varied interests as any of them. Varied as is the state of California in its flora and fauna, so is it socially and religiously. Mt. Shasta at the north end of the state is nearly three miles above the sea. It is crowned with glaciers of everlasting ice. The only plant life near the snow line is the lichen and the moss. Then we have in the Imperial valley, at the south end of the state. 300 feet below sea level, the palms and oranges and dates of the warmer countries. Just as varied as is the growth of vegetation, and the character of animal life between the two extremes of altitude, are the religious beliefs of that people. Someone has said that there are 1,440 odd "somebodies" in the United States and 80,000,000 of "nobodies," and that California has one-third or more of these "somebodies." Though I have been there a few years, I have not come to know much about the "somebodies;" but I have learned that the "somebodies" and "nobodies" that are there have a great many different ideas of religion. During the last summer it was my privilege to attend some lectures that were delivered before the Venice Assembly—a society resort near Los Angeles. T came away from those gathering-s with a fixed and firm determination to preach Christ and Him crucified whenever opportunity offered; for I found there that the men who stood up as social reformers, as ecclesiastical leaders, as philosophers of all the ologies and isms of the day, seem to have lost sight of the fact that Jesus is the very Son of God. Many of them mouthed the same sentiment as Lyman Abbot had expressed, wherein he said, "My God is an ever-present energy, manifesting itself in all the activities of human life and in all the workings of nature. I believe," said he. "in a God that is in all things, and through all things, and of all things" — pantheistic wholly in its nature. I heard one of the most eminent clergymen offer a prayer just before the great Baba Bhareta delivered his address upon the mission of the old world to the new—the mission of the Buddhists of the eastern world to the Christians of the western world; and in his prayer he said something like this: "O Thou Great and Infinite One, from whom we emanate, and from whence all things come, who is of all things and through all things and by all things, let Thy Spirit rest down upon these Thy children this day, that whether the message be from Moses or Job, of Christ or of Buddha, or of Krishna, that all shall know that it emanates from Thee, the Fount of Love alone." I heard some of them say, in speaking of the Master, that although He was one of the greatest leaders, ethically and morally, that the world has ever produced, that He was endowed with miraculous gifts, that He was the greatest Prophet the world has ever known, yet they could not regard him as the Son of God as do orthodox Christians. Two weeks ago today, in Los Angeles, one of our little Sunday school boys, a non-"Mormon," asked why they did not make a picture of God. He said, "I have seen pictures of angels and pictures of Jesus Christ, but why don't they make a picture of God?" It brought to my mind the addresses I had heard in the Venice assembly. It was brought to my mind again yesterday, by the editorial in the Deseret News in relation to what Joseph Hamilton had said at Wilson, New York, to the effect that God is a Spirit, and at the same time he tried hard to make it out that He is a personal being as well, stating that He could at His pleasure assume a personal form.
In California, Christian Science has a great following. In fact, the religious atmosphere of that great state is abnormal. Those who are religious seem to be abnormally so. They have built up an ethereal sphere, through perverted imagination or fancy, that is wholly untenable to the matter-of-fact man. Christian Science friends and followers in that State have fructified to that extent that there are many branches of Home Love, of Faith Healing, and of Faith Cure; and it is their hope, so I have been told by some of their leaders, that it will not be long before they shall live and never taste of death, through their knowledge of Christian Science. But these people deny Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
It is a fruitful land also for Spiritualism. Many men and women there study what they call the occult sciences. They have gathered from all over the world This class of people, too, deny that Jesus is the Son of God.
We have there also headquarters of theosophy, with a temple of Isis, established for the very purpose of resurrecting the old theosophy of Egypt. They, too, deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Then there is the Unitarian church. which has a large following. In fact, this assembly that I have been speaking of was conducted and presided over by a Unitarian, although he and his followers do not call themselves Unitarians, but they are, nevertheless. They believe in one God—Love—an essence, a force; and they accept Jesus Christ, not as the Son of God, but as the expression of Love in human form.
This has made it difficult for us to proselyte after the manner of the Apostles of old, and to use the Scriptures; for they have to be converted first of all to the thought that the Bible may be the word of God, before they will listen to the scriptural passages we can quote to prove the divinity of Jesus.
In addition to those I have mentioned, there are many who are called Independent Christians. They claim, with the late Secretary John Hay, that they cannot find within the narrow creed of any of the orthodox churches a pure and full expression of their ideas of religion. Among this class of people we have greater freedom and are able to do the most good, because their minds are healthy, and they have not the vain imaginations that others have. They listen to our testimonies, encourage us, and give us the hand of fellowship. In some of their organizations we are privileged to speak, and in others we do the praying, while in others we have done the singing, and conducted burial services over their dead, because they do not attend to these things themselves; their organizations are merely for the cultivation of social virtues, and for beneficent purposes.
Not a great while ago (I believe I mentioned it here once, but it will not hurt to tell it again), a Catholic priest came to me, and after he was assured that I was the representative of om people—for he had expected to see someone with a long, white beard, venerable and dignified in appearance—he disclosed to me his identity as a Catholic priest, and told me that he had come to the conclusion that no man could live a correct life in celibacy. He had heard of the wondrous growth and progress of our people, their institutions, and their social economy, and he desired to cast his lot with us, that he might have a home and a family of his own. "But," said he, "there is one crucial point I want to be satisfied upon before I can accept your Gospel—do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?" When I answered, "Verily we do," he remarked, "Well, I expect we are all in a measure the sons and daughters of God, but do you believe that He is any different from the rest of us, because I cannot think that he Is more than the natural son of Joseph or some other man."
To my mind, it is just such doctrines as those put forth by Joseph Hamilton and Lyman Abbott that art. responsible for much of the infidelity in the world today and of the indifference towards religion. Men feel, so they express it, that they can see as far into the future as any other man. They do not care, they say, for a religion that deals with the dead past alone, and that has dead forms; they want something that is alive, that is tangible, that appeals to their material minds as well as to their emotions, and that can offer them something to do something that is reasonable and tangible.
Such are the questions that we are confronted with in that land. Therefore, we have to learn something besides the Scripture, and be enabled to bring forth strong reasons upon these matters before we can satisfy them that we have a religion that is better than other churches of the land have —something that within the very genius of it answers the demands of men’s souls, that is soul-uplifting, and that brings to men the benediction that always accompanies the truth.
I note that Mr. Hamilton speaks of the fact that God created man in His own image, male and female; that Ht. spoke to Adam in the Garden of Eden, that He reported to the council In heaven that Adam and Eve had become like unto them, knowing good from evil; that afterwards He visited Abram; that He ate and drank with him on the plains of Mamre, and, after the custom of the country, had his feet bathed; that He told Abram that He had come down to see if the reports in relation to Sodom and Gomorrah were correct; that afterwards He wrestled with Jacob, and that Jacob constrained Him, in fact, would not let Him go until He had blessed him; that He changed the name of Jacob at that time to Israel, because. He said, you have prevailed with the Lord, and Jacob rejoiced, because, said he, I have seen the Lord face to face and still live. He quotes the fact, too, that God spoke to Moses face to face, as one man speaketh to another, and not in vision nor in dark sentences; that God rebuked Miriam and Aaron for their jealousy and reminded them that He spoke to Moses as one man speaks to another, mouth to mouth. He cites the fact also that Stephen beheld the Christ, after the resurrection, sitting upon the right hand of the Father, clothed with the glory that He had prayed for before the dread night of Gethsemane, when He asked that the Father should restore unto Him all the glory that He had with Him before the world was; the fact, too, that Jesus, the Christ, was born of woman, as we are, and that He grew up as a child, like other children. If we credit the writings of the early fathers, we learn that He used to fashion animals, birds, etc., of clay; that in His father's workshop He learned to fashion the yoke for the cattle, and make tools, and' build after the manner of that day. We learn that afterwards, when John had become converted because of the Holy Ghost descending upon Him in the sign of a dove, the same bore witness to His Apostles that He was the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world; yet this same Jesus suffered hunger and thirst, and the adversary strove to tempt Him and lead Him. astray from the path of righteousness because of His hunger, fatigue and thirst.
We understand that He went to Nazareth, the home of His youth, and took up the Scriptures as was His wont upon the Sabbath day to teach them. Clad with newer and greater authority, having come into the fulness of manhood and privileged, under the law, to take up the ministry. He taught as one having authority, and they resented it and cast Him out, saying, "Is He not Joseph the carpenter's son, and have we not His brothers and sisters with us till this very day?" How sad the words of the Master as He turns from them— "a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and among his own people." They know how He was mocked by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, when, fatigued and ill with privation and with the wondrous labors he performed, they cried unto him. Physician, heal thyself. They watch Him through His course of life. They can read of it as do we. How He wept over the death of Lazarus; how He seemed as a man among men, aside from His miraculous powers of healing and divination. At the same time He promised that those who believed on Him should do the works which He did, and greater works, and that the same signs should follow the true believer unto the end of the world. We know, too, that the early Apostles did raise the dead to life, performed miracles, cast out evil spirits, opened the eyes of the blind, unstopped the ears of the deaf, and caused the lame to leap like the hart. They read of the Master as He went to Golgotha, breaking down like a weak man under the heavy cross. They read how He died as a man dies. Notwithstanding all these things they feel that He was no more than man. They lose sight of the fact that He was a perfect man, enjoying the full capabilities of man; and that because of His parentage Ho had more than manhood, that He had power inherent within Himself to break the bands of death and take his body up again. It is after the resurrection that we note the greatest difference. He appears before His disciples in the self-same body, showing the prints of the nails in His hands and feet, and the mark of the spear-thrust in His side, and asks the doubting one to come and test Him, for a spirit had not flesh and bones as He had. We see Him then partaking of food with His disciples and laboring with them for 40 days. We then read of His ascension into heaven in the same bodily form that He had while sojourning among the children of men; and angels testified to those sons of Galilee that as He ascended into heaven, in the same manner He should also descend. John says, "Beloved, when He comes we shall be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is"—not as the vain imaginations of men would make Him, but as the express image of His Father's person, in the likeness of His Father.
It seems to me that if men would study these things as they are written, and not spiritualize them, they could not help but admit the fact that we are in the image of our Father; that as He is the father of our spirits He is also the Father of Jesus, the Christ. And more, that He was the Father of Jesus, the Christ, in the flesh, the only begotten in the flesh. And so I repeat. I have felt constrained to preach more strenuously "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," and the personality of our Father, and the fact that we are indeed His children, and that we are commanded to become perfect like Him, and we may become like Him if we follow in the way which the Master hath marked out. I believe that the greatest revelation given in these the last days was the vision of Joseph the Prophet when he saw God the Father and the Son, and made statement of the fact that man is in the image of Deity. This revelation abolishes completely the theory of the men I have quoted, and annuls the Athanasian creed, which obtains in the Roman Catholic and Episcopal faiths, and Is printed in their creeds even unto this day. I believe if men would study more of Jesus, the Christ, they would come near to knowing who our Father is and what He is like. Then they might accept Jesus as the Only Begotten of the Father, and turn to Him, and love and follow Him, and rejoice in the prerogatives of the everlasting gospel.
This is why we are striving to preach to the people the divinity of Jesus, because of their disbelief in the Son of God. I pray, my brethren and sisters, that in our lives we shall emulate the example of. the Lord Jesus Christ; for then we may become joint heirs with Him to the power and the prerogatives of our Father. When men have been told these things, it has uplifted their hearts, and their minds have been exalted with the concept that the Latter-day Saints have of Jesus, the Christ. Many men have told me that they have had a new incentive to live aright, a deeper hope and a deeper faith had been implanted in their hearts because of the testimony of the Elders in relation to the personality of God the Father, and that Jesus is indeed His Son.
God bless you, my brothers and sisters. Pray for us in the mission field, as we pray for you. We have the right to expect a great deal of you, that as we are looked upon as representatives of our people, that you at home shall do your part well; that all we say in our pride and love for you shall be maintained and upheld; that you will prove you are the people of God, that our mission in the world is the uplifting of humanity, and that in the due time of the Lord we shall succeed in it; which God grant, is my prayer in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.
The anthem "How beautiful upon the mountains" was sung by the choir, and the solo parts were rendered by Sister Lizzie T. Edward and Elder John Robinson.
Benediction by Elder Charles F. Middleton.
The Tabernacle was excessively crowded, and. soon after the morning meeting commenced, it was announced that an overflow meeting would be held in the Assembly hall.
OVERFLOW MEETING.
An overflow session was held in the Assembly hall, commencing at 10:30 a. m. The presiding officer was Elder Rudger Clawson. and Prof. Charles J. Thomas conducted the singing, assisted by the Temple choir.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation,
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation,
And shortly the hour of redemption will come.
An overflow session was held in the Assembly hall, commencing at 10:30 a. m. The presiding officer was Elder Rudger Clawson. and Prof. Charles J. Thomas conducted the singing, assisted by the Temple choir.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation,
No longer as strangers on earth need we roam;
Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation,
And shortly the hour of redemption will come.
ELDER BENJAMIN F. GODDARD.
My brethren and sisters, I esteem it a privilege to meet with you in general conference and participate in the spirit that prevails amongst us. It is indeed gratifying to thus meet together, that we may renew our acquaintance with friends residing in different parts of our state and the surrounding states, and that we may also, listen to the instructions given unto us by our beloved leaders, and indicate unto them in general conference that we sustain them with our faith and prayers, with uplifted hands before God. I realize that our brethren, who are with us today, need the support and strength that can be given unto them by the united faith and prayers and manifestations of good-will from the Saints assembled in general conference. I rejoice in thus meeting together, but presume probably, that it may be more interesting .to refer particularly to the work that I am most closely associated with, upon the Temple block. We instituted, in 1902, the Bureau of Information. As probably very few of the Saints realize the method of our work, or what is being accomplished in this part of the Lord's -vineyard, I will say that during the past year we have entertained upon the Temple block the strangers that have come from various parts of the world, numbering over 175,000; and we have had ample opportunities of distributing to them our literature, explaining our work, the organization of the Church and the labors we are performing for the salvation of the children of men. Probably in no part of the world have we an opportunity of portraying so forcibly some of these principles as we have here upon this block, for, as we pass round with our stranger friends, and visit these buildings, and explain to them some of the distinctive features thereof, there is scarcely one moment without an opportunity of introducing something pertaining to our history or the principles of the Gospel. If we come into the Assembly Hall and explain to them why this building was erected, and its seating capacity, many of them at once observe a difference between our seating arrangement and that which is usually found in modern churches. "And, why is this?" Of course, the explanation is promptly given, that our seats are all alike for rich and poor, for strangers as well as our own members, that seats are free, that there are no collections made, no donations received. And what does it lead to, think you? Why, the question at once being asked, "How, then do you support your Church?" Immediately we have an opportunity to explain the tithing system of the Church, which contrasts so favorably with the financial systems that prevail generally in the world. Astonishment is often expressed, and portrayed upon the countenances of our visitors, when they learn how freely and cheerfully our brethren and sisters pay their tithing, in order that we may not only erect places of worship, and Temples for the salvation of the dead, but that we may be able to sustain the poor and help our brethren in times of distress. As we continue our conversation, sometimes that painting over the organ here attracts their attention, and they wonder if it is not some mysterious symbol associated with those rites that they have heard so much of in connection with the "Mormon" Church. And what does it lead to? The fact that when our pioneer fathers came here they gave to this region, that was then a desert, the name of Deseret. "Ah! what means it?" Not desert, as they sometimes imagine, but that it is a Book of Mormon term, meaning the honey-bee; and hence we attract attention to the industrious features of the "Mormon" people, and how they have been asked to emulate the bee, the bee-hive being adopted as our territorial, and since, as our state, emblem. By their industry they have developed the resources of this state; and by so doing have made Utah admired far and wide because of the industrious character of its people. "Ah! but there is something else there," they say; "what means that all-seeing eye?" And then comes the explanation that when we were driven out of the East, to the abode of the Indian, to this desert region, that we recognized that God's eye had been upon us and that He- had preserved and favored our fathers and mothers, that His watchful care had been over them, and that He had blessed and guided them; that President Young, inspired of Him, had been able to lead the people into the land that God had chosen for their dwelling place in these mountain valleys. And thus, as you will observe, while we pass through the block we have ample opportunities for introducing not only points connected with the character of the people, but some of the principles of the Gospel and the history of the Church. If we pass into the Tabernacle, again our visitors are astonished at the demonstrations that are made there. When our dear friend, brother Thomas comes up and drops the pin on the stand rail, that they may hear it at the extreme end of the gallery, they are astonished at the marvelous acoustic properties of the building. This leads to a statement of the fact that the Tabernacle was designed and erected under the direction of President Brigham Young, whom we recognize as a Prophet of God. As we view also the arrangement of our stands, the question often Is asked, "What means these three pulpits? Why not have one pulpit, as we have in our churches?" This leads to an explanation of the organization of the Church, the Melchisedek Priesthood and the Aaronic Priesthood, how they operate, why they are thus given unto us, and the special workings of the various officers of the Melchisedek Priesthood, the High Priests, Seventies, Elders, and the officers of the Aaronic Priesthood, the work that each has to perform in connection with the Saints of God, thus giving ample opportunity for explaining the various callings of the Priesthood and showing- how perfect the organization of the church of God is, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. And then, as we come beneath the shadow of our beautiful Temple, and we are asked the meaning of that figure upon the center tower at the east end of the Temple, cannot my brethren and sisters comprehend how glad we are to explain to our visiting friends that Moroni has come to the earth, bringing the everlasting Gospel, revealing unto the Prophet Joseph Smith the hiding place of the records from which we have received the Book of Mormon. How by the information contained in that record, we are able to teach the fulness of the Gospel; and how the Lord has revealed Himself in our day, the Father and the Son having appeared unto the Prophet. The Angel Moroni also having appeared unto the Prophet, the prophecy of John the Revelator has thus been verified, that "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth," and so on: this prophecy having been literally fulfilled in our day.
I do not know how closely my brethren and sisters, who come from a distance, examine that beautiful structure. As I gaze upon it day after day and month after month I learn new lessons. I am grateful unto God for the revelations of His will given unto the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Scarcely a month passes without some new thought developing in connection therewith. The three east towers representing the Melchisedek Priesthood, or the presiding officers thereof, the three west towers representing the Aaronic Priesthood. And there are other symbols. There is scarcely a day passes but we come to the west end of the Temple and many of our friends, perceiving there those seven stars, the Dipper, as they call it, Ursa Major, ask "What meaneth it? Why do you have them upon that tower facing westward?" We simply explain to them, as that constellation in the heavens is always pointing unto the north star so this Temple points unto God, and indicates to the Saints that therein they may learn more perfectly how to walk in the way of the Lord, and how to gain an exaltation in His presence. And then, "why do you have so many stars over the windows? Why a star over every window? Why that symbol of the sun over the upper stories? Why those symbols of the moon, a halfmoon, a full moon, a quarter moon?" And what does it lead to, think you? To a description of the Temple more fully. Those are signs indicating our abode. here and how we have come to fill our probation upon this earth and perfect ourselves that we may regain an exaltation in the presence of our God, "And how?" by obeying the laws that God has revealed. And then comes the thought that in the great future we are aspiring unto glories that God has prepared for the faithful. And we thus teach, that, as "there is a glory of the sun, a glory of the moon, a glory of the stars, and as one star differeth from another in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead." And thus we go on, and we have ample opportunity of showing how God has revealed His mind and will, until we lead up to that grandest of all themes, the salvation of the dead; the redemption of those who have passed away, and how, in that great Temple, as well as in others, we are able to officiate for our ancestry by being baptized for them, believing that in the spirit world the Gospel also is preached unto them that are dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh. As we have our experiences increased, day by day, we are able to lift up our hearts to God in thankfulness that He has given unto us, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, these heavenly principles; and we are prouder than ever of the Church to which we belong, and of the brethren who are called to lead and guide us as a people.
I thank God that He has given unto me a testimony of this work, that I verily know that God has restored the Gospel to the earth; that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired of Him and that through him we have not only received the Church itself with all its gifts powers and blessings and revelations for the guidance thereof, but we have received living testimonies in our hearts, and we know that all the gifts, powers and blessings pertaining to the Gospel of Christ are with us today, for the power of God is made manifest in our families. Our children are growing up to realize that God is with us as a people, that He sanctifies the ministrations of the Elders and that the power of God is amongst this people. I pray that God will bless us, that He will enable us to withstand the weaknesses of the flesh, the temptations that assail us, that we may prove valiant for the truth; and that we may assist to the utmost of our ability in building up the Church of God and sustain by our faith and prayers, by our lives, by our words, by our works, those who are called to lead and guide us in this age; and may God bless us continually. Unto this end I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
My brethren and sisters, I esteem it a privilege to meet with you in general conference and participate in the spirit that prevails amongst us. It is indeed gratifying to thus meet together, that we may renew our acquaintance with friends residing in different parts of our state and the surrounding states, and that we may also, listen to the instructions given unto us by our beloved leaders, and indicate unto them in general conference that we sustain them with our faith and prayers, with uplifted hands before God. I realize that our brethren, who are with us today, need the support and strength that can be given unto them by the united faith and prayers and manifestations of good-will from the Saints assembled in general conference. I rejoice in thus meeting together, but presume probably, that it may be more interesting .to refer particularly to the work that I am most closely associated with, upon the Temple block. We instituted, in 1902, the Bureau of Information. As probably very few of the Saints realize the method of our work, or what is being accomplished in this part of the Lord's -vineyard, I will say that during the past year we have entertained upon the Temple block the strangers that have come from various parts of the world, numbering over 175,000; and we have had ample opportunities of distributing to them our literature, explaining our work, the organization of the Church and the labors we are performing for the salvation of the children of men. Probably in no part of the world have we an opportunity of portraying so forcibly some of these principles as we have here upon this block, for, as we pass round with our stranger friends, and visit these buildings, and explain to them some of the distinctive features thereof, there is scarcely one moment without an opportunity of introducing something pertaining to our history or the principles of the Gospel. If we come into the Assembly Hall and explain to them why this building was erected, and its seating capacity, many of them at once observe a difference between our seating arrangement and that which is usually found in modern churches. "And, why is this?" Of course, the explanation is promptly given, that our seats are all alike for rich and poor, for strangers as well as our own members, that seats are free, that there are no collections made, no donations received. And what does it lead to, think you? Why, the question at once being asked, "How, then do you support your Church?" Immediately we have an opportunity to explain the tithing system of the Church, which contrasts so favorably with the financial systems that prevail generally in the world. Astonishment is often expressed, and portrayed upon the countenances of our visitors, when they learn how freely and cheerfully our brethren and sisters pay their tithing, in order that we may not only erect places of worship, and Temples for the salvation of the dead, but that we may be able to sustain the poor and help our brethren in times of distress. As we continue our conversation, sometimes that painting over the organ here attracts their attention, and they wonder if it is not some mysterious symbol associated with those rites that they have heard so much of in connection with the "Mormon" Church. And what does it lead to? The fact that when our pioneer fathers came here they gave to this region, that was then a desert, the name of Deseret. "Ah! what means it?" Not desert, as they sometimes imagine, but that it is a Book of Mormon term, meaning the honey-bee; and hence we attract attention to the industrious features of the "Mormon" people, and how they have been asked to emulate the bee, the bee-hive being adopted as our territorial, and since, as our state, emblem. By their industry they have developed the resources of this state; and by so doing have made Utah admired far and wide because of the industrious character of its people. "Ah! but there is something else there," they say; "what means that all-seeing eye?" And then comes the explanation that when we were driven out of the East, to the abode of the Indian, to this desert region, that we recognized that God's eye had been upon us and that He- had preserved and favored our fathers and mothers, that His watchful care had been over them, and that He had blessed and guided them; that President Young, inspired of Him, had been able to lead the people into the land that God had chosen for their dwelling place in these mountain valleys. And thus, as you will observe, while we pass through the block we have ample opportunities for introducing not only points connected with the character of the people, but some of the principles of the Gospel and the history of the Church. If we pass into the Tabernacle, again our visitors are astonished at the demonstrations that are made there. When our dear friend, brother Thomas comes up and drops the pin on the stand rail, that they may hear it at the extreme end of the gallery, they are astonished at the marvelous acoustic properties of the building. This leads to a statement of the fact that the Tabernacle was designed and erected under the direction of President Brigham Young, whom we recognize as a Prophet of God. As we view also the arrangement of our stands, the question often Is asked, "What means these three pulpits? Why not have one pulpit, as we have in our churches?" This leads to an explanation of the organization of the Church, the Melchisedek Priesthood and the Aaronic Priesthood, how they operate, why they are thus given unto us, and the special workings of the various officers of the Melchisedek Priesthood, the High Priests, Seventies, Elders, and the officers of the Aaronic Priesthood, the work that each has to perform in connection with the Saints of God, thus giving ample opportunity for explaining the various callings of the Priesthood and showing- how perfect the organization of the church of God is, as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. And then, as we come beneath the shadow of our beautiful Temple, and we are asked the meaning of that figure upon the center tower at the east end of the Temple, cannot my brethren and sisters comprehend how glad we are to explain to our visiting friends that Moroni has come to the earth, bringing the everlasting Gospel, revealing unto the Prophet Joseph Smith the hiding place of the records from which we have received the Book of Mormon. How by the information contained in that record, we are able to teach the fulness of the Gospel; and how the Lord has revealed Himself in our day, the Father and the Son having appeared unto the Prophet. The Angel Moroni also having appeared unto the Prophet, the prophecy of John the Revelator has thus been verified, that "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth," and so on: this prophecy having been literally fulfilled in our day.
I do not know how closely my brethren and sisters, who come from a distance, examine that beautiful structure. As I gaze upon it day after day and month after month I learn new lessons. I am grateful unto God for the revelations of His will given unto the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Scarcely a month passes without some new thought developing in connection therewith. The three east towers representing the Melchisedek Priesthood, or the presiding officers thereof, the three west towers representing the Aaronic Priesthood. And there are other symbols. There is scarcely a day passes but we come to the west end of the Temple and many of our friends, perceiving there those seven stars, the Dipper, as they call it, Ursa Major, ask "What meaneth it? Why do you have them upon that tower facing westward?" We simply explain to them, as that constellation in the heavens is always pointing unto the north star so this Temple points unto God, and indicates to the Saints that therein they may learn more perfectly how to walk in the way of the Lord, and how to gain an exaltation in His presence. And then, "why do you have so many stars over the windows? Why a star over every window? Why that symbol of the sun over the upper stories? Why those symbols of the moon, a halfmoon, a full moon, a quarter moon?" And what does it lead to, think you? To a description of the Temple more fully. Those are signs indicating our abode. here and how we have come to fill our probation upon this earth and perfect ourselves that we may regain an exaltation in the presence of our God, "And how?" by obeying the laws that God has revealed. And then comes the thought that in the great future we are aspiring unto glories that God has prepared for the faithful. And we thus teach, that, as "there is a glory of the sun, a glory of the moon, a glory of the stars, and as one star differeth from another in glory, so also is the resurrection of the dead." And thus we go on, and we have ample opportunity of showing how God has revealed His mind and will, until we lead up to that grandest of all themes, the salvation of the dead; the redemption of those who have passed away, and how, in that great Temple, as well as in others, we are able to officiate for our ancestry by being baptized for them, believing that in the spirit world the Gospel also is preached unto them that are dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh. As we have our experiences increased, day by day, we are able to lift up our hearts to God in thankfulness that He has given unto us, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, these heavenly principles; and we are prouder than ever of the Church to which we belong, and of the brethren who are called to lead and guide us as a people.
I thank God that He has given unto me a testimony of this work, that I verily know that God has restored the Gospel to the earth; that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired of Him and that through him we have not only received the Church itself with all its gifts powers and blessings and revelations for the guidance thereof, but we have received living testimonies in our hearts, and we know that all the gifts, powers and blessings pertaining to the Gospel of Christ are with us today, for the power of God is made manifest in our families. Our children are growing up to realize that God is with us as a people, that He sanctifies the ministrations of the Elders and that the power of God is amongst this people. I pray that God will bless us, that He will enable us to withstand the weaknesses of the flesh, the temptations that assail us, that we may prove valiant for the truth; and that we may assist to the utmost of our ability in building up the Church of God and sustain by our faith and prayers, by our lives, by our words, by our works, those who are called to lead and guide us in this age; and may God bless us continually. Unto this end I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER JOSEPH A. MCRAE,
(President of Colorado Mission.)
I rejoice, my brethren and sisters, with you this morning in the opportunity we have of meeting together under such favorable circumstances. I recall a conversation I had in the Bureau of Information, some few months ago, with a gentleman who claimed that this Church was on the decline, that it was not growing. I thought of this man as I came into this building, after having left the Tabernacle yonder and seen the thousands of people who are gathered there to hear the voices of the servants of the Lord, and I thought if that man could have be5n there, and then come over to this building, and then could have realized that this is only a small representation of our great Church, probably he would change his mind. I know that the Church is growing; that it is increasing, and spreading abroad, and it is having influence among the peoples of the world. My missionary work has called me in a little different line from that of the former speaker. Brother Goddard has been telling us of the work that is being accomplished among strangers visiting the Temple block, while the work which I have to perform is in the mission field abroad, in the states lying adjacent to this state. The demands for more Elders cannot be supplied. We need many more men in the mission field, energetic men, efficient men. men of experience. I feel that those who have been on missions before should prepare themselves for other missions in the near future, for there is a great work to be accomplished before the end comes. It seems to me, when I view the signs of the times and read the reports in the newspapers, that the time is near at hand when mission work must be hastened, because the time for the Gospel to be preached unto all people is drawing near to a close; therefore the number of workers must be greatly increased. I have been almost on the point of writing to the Presidency to ascertain how long we are going to continue work in the Colorado mission, for the Elders are returning home, and new ones are not being sent to fill vacancies in the mission field. I remember a remark made in a little editorial article in one of the magazines Brother Rich publishes in the south, and I thought it was very appropriate. He said in that: "We had three Elders come this month," and then followed by quoting; "Only three grains of corn, mother, only three grains of corn, to keep the little life I have till the coming of the morn." I thought this truly appropriate to the present condition of mission work. There are requests being sent to us from various parts of the mission today, soliciting us to send Elders to the people who make these requests to explain to them the Gospel, and we cannot comply; we simply do not have them to send.
I have been greatly pleased by the work that has been accomplished by cur young ladies sent into the mission field. They have been able to enter the homes of people that the Elders could not gain access to. They have been able to accomplish much in explaining the Gospel unto the people, and in teaching the women and children, where the Elders could not get a hearing. Therefore I feel that they have done a great and good work, and the end is not yet; in fact it has only begun. They go into, the world and teach the people the religion of the Saints, from the women’s' standpoint; and they tell the people of the world how the women of Utah live, and how they feel, and the people seem to appreciate it better because women teach it to them. We have heard it stated, "we like to hear what the women have to say about the 'Mormon' question." Our sisters have manifested that they can go into the world and preach the Gospel, and show that the women here are not bound and down-trodden, as the world think and represent them to be.
This work is growing and increasing. It seems that my mind is centered upon that fact, for it is being made evident more and more in the field and at home. Again I say. we need more men of experience to proclaim the Gospel of peace unto the people. I often think that I would like to take a trip through various parts of Zion. and select a few men and induce the Presidency of the Church to call them into the field. At present I am in the office myself, doing the necessary bookkeeping work of the office, for the reason that we cannot spare an efficient man to perform that labor, as all are needed in the mission field. So, we are handicapped in performing the duties devolving upon us in the missionary field. Brother Goddard has been telling us of the opportunities and enjoyment they have in the performance of their duties on the Temple block. A few months ago I spent a few hours in the building over there, the Bureau of Information, and I don't think that I ever spent a few hours more profitably than I did on that occasion, explaining the Gospel to the people; I did not act as a guide but entertained the people who came in there until the guides who could take them out arrived. I enjoyed the experience very much. I believe Brother Goddard would be thankful if he could have a few more who are able and competent to entertain the people come and labor in explaining the Gospel to those v/ho visit them and wish to have "Mormonism" explained. They come here sometimes for the purpose of finding fault, and scoffing at the Latter-day Saints, and these guides explain the Gospel unto them, and many go away pleased and benefitted. We have been performing a somewhat similar labor in Manitou, Colorado. There we have met thousands of people in the summer resorts, and we have done the best we could to enlighten them in regard to our principles. During the past summer we have distributed twenty to twenty-five thousand pamphlets that teach the articles of our faith, explain the organization of the Church, and give some idea of what we are doing. Although it has proved to be a financial burden, yet I think it has been a success in presenting the Gospel to many people. I believe that many who have heard the Elders there during the last year will ask for more information. The pamphlets and books that have gone out from Manitou this year will increase interest, and people will come to learn further of us concerning our doctrines. A gentleman came into my house last Thursday; we have been acquainted with him a long time. He has opposed us, but he has done it in a gentle manner, and from a Bible standpoint. He is a Bible student, and I have thought he has been a minister, he is so well versed in the Scripture. He has recently been reading the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he said to me. "I never thought that your people were so ill-treated as they have been. I did not think we lived in a nation that would treat anybody as your people have been treated. Why, to read of the way they have been driven, mobbed and persecuted, makes my blood boil to think of it; I am ashamed of that part of the history of this nation, and of such doings as those; my heart bleeds for what your people have suffered." When he was speaking to me, the tears ran down his cheeks. I took him into our little chapel, and showed him there the stand where we have two American flags draped, and in the center of those two flags the picture of George Washington, and I showed him that we reverence our flag. He turned to me and said, "I think you reverence this flag too much," I said, "It was not the flag that persecuted this people: it was not the Constitution that oppresses us, but it was the men who stood at the head of the mobs, and they are the men whom God will hold responsible in the life to come. They will have to account for the things that they have done in the flesh. We respect that flag, and we will do our utmost to maintain the freedom that has been guaranteed unto us and all other people under that flag."
This Gospel, my brethren and sisters, is true. It is the power of God unto salvation unto all who believe and obey it. It is making inroads among the thinking classes of all nations, and they are beginning to take notice of us. I heard one of the Apostles prophecy that all nations would yet come to us to learn various arts and sciences of peace, and the science of civil government. They would come to us to learn how to govern the nations. The things that Brother Goddard has been telling us this morning have brought these thoughts to my mind vividly. The organization of the people, the organization of the Church, has been established by divine wisdom. It is complete in every detail: and, as we heard yesterday, if three men are taken away twelve men immediately take their place, and it is an impossibility to destroy this great work. It is an impossibility to frustrate the designs of the Almighty. When any man or woman stands in the way, and undertakes to thwart the efforts that are being put forth to proclaim this Gospel unto the people, God will bring their efforts to naught, He will frustrate them. Shame will be brought upon their own heads.
This is the work of the Lord, and He will prosper it. May God bless and help us to appreciate it, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(President of Colorado Mission.)
I rejoice, my brethren and sisters, with you this morning in the opportunity we have of meeting together under such favorable circumstances. I recall a conversation I had in the Bureau of Information, some few months ago, with a gentleman who claimed that this Church was on the decline, that it was not growing. I thought of this man as I came into this building, after having left the Tabernacle yonder and seen the thousands of people who are gathered there to hear the voices of the servants of the Lord, and I thought if that man could have be5n there, and then come over to this building, and then could have realized that this is only a small representation of our great Church, probably he would change his mind. I know that the Church is growing; that it is increasing, and spreading abroad, and it is having influence among the peoples of the world. My missionary work has called me in a little different line from that of the former speaker. Brother Goddard has been telling us of the work that is being accomplished among strangers visiting the Temple block, while the work which I have to perform is in the mission field abroad, in the states lying adjacent to this state. The demands for more Elders cannot be supplied. We need many more men in the mission field, energetic men, efficient men. men of experience. I feel that those who have been on missions before should prepare themselves for other missions in the near future, for there is a great work to be accomplished before the end comes. It seems to me, when I view the signs of the times and read the reports in the newspapers, that the time is near at hand when mission work must be hastened, because the time for the Gospel to be preached unto all people is drawing near to a close; therefore the number of workers must be greatly increased. I have been almost on the point of writing to the Presidency to ascertain how long we are going to continue work in the Colorado mission, for the Elders are returning home, and new ones are not being sent to fill vacancies in the mission field. I remember a remark made in a little editorial article in one of the magazines Brother Rich publishes in the south, and I thought it was very appropriate. He said in that: "We had three Elders come this month," and then followed by quoting; "Only three grains of corn, mother, only three grains of corn, to keep the little life I have till the coming of the morn." I thought this truly appropriate to the present condition of mission work. There are requests being sent to us from various parts of the mission today, soliciting us to send Elders to the people who make these requests to explain to them the Gospel, and we cannot comply; we simply do not have them to send.
I have been greatly pleased by the work that has been accomplished by cur young ladies sent into the mission field. They have been able to enter the homes of people that the Elders could not gain access to. They have been able to accomplish much in explaining the Gospel unto the people, and in teaching the women and children, where the Elders could not get a hearing. Therefore I feel that they have done a great and good work, and the end is not yet; in fact it has only begun. They go into, the world and teach the people the religion of the Saints, from the women’s' standpoint; and they tell the people of the world how the women of Utah live, and how they feel, and the people seem to appreciate it better because women teach it to them. We have heard it stated, "we like to hear what the women have to say about the 'Mormon' question." Our sisters have manifested that they can go into the world and preach the Gospel, and show that the women here are not bound and down-trodden, as the world think and represent them to be.
This work is growing and increasing. It seems that my mind is centered upon that fact, for it is being made evident more and more in the field and at home. Again I say. we need more men of experience to proclaim the Gospel of peace unto the people. I often think that I would like to take a trip through various parts of Zion. and select a few men and induce the Presidency of the Church to call them into the field. At present I am in the office myself, doing the necessary bookkeeping work of the office, for the reason that we cannot spare an efficient man to perform that labor, as all are needed in the mission field. So, we are handicapped in performing the duties devolving upon us in the missionary field. Brother Goddard has been telling us of the opportunities and enjoyment they have in the performance of their duties on the Temple block. A few months ago I spent a few hours in the building over there, the Bureau of Information, and I don't think that I ever spent a few hours more profitably than I did on that occasion, explaining the Gospel to the people; I did not act as a guide but entertained the people who came in there until the guides who could take them out arrived. I enjoyed the experience very much. I believe Brother Goddard would be thankful if he could have a few more who are able and competent to entertain the people come and labor in explaining the Gospel to those v/ho visit them and wish to have "Mormonism" explained. They come here sometimes for the purpose of finding fault, and scoffing at the Latter-day Saints, and these guides explain the Gospel unto them, and many go away pleased and benefitted. We have been performing a somewhat similar labor in Manitou, Colorado. There we have met thousands of people in the summer resorts, and we have done the best we could to enlighten them in regard to our principles. During the past summer we have distributed twenty to twenty-five thousand pamphlets that teach the articles of our faith, explain the organization of the Church, and give some idea of what we are doing. Although it has proved to be a financial burden, yet I think it has been a success in presenting the Gospel to many people. I believe that many who have heard the Elders there during the last year will ask for more information. The pamphlets and books that have gone out from Manitou this year will increase interest, and people will come to learn further of us concerning our doctrines. A gentleman came into my house last Thursday; we have been acquainted with him a long time. He has opposed us, but he has done it in a gentle manner, and from a Bible standpoint. He is a Bible student, and I have thought he has been a minister, he is so well versed in the Scripture. He has recently been reading the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he said to me. "I never thought that your people were so ill-treated as they have been. I did not think we lived in a nation that would treat anybody as your people have been treated. Why, to read of the way they have been driven, mobbed and persecuted, makes my blood boil to think of it; I am ashamed of that part of the history of this nation, and of such doings as those; my heart bleeds for what your people have suffered." When he was speaking to me, the tears ran down his cheeks. I took him into our little chapel, and showed him there the stand where we have two American flags draped, and in the center of those two flags the picture of George Washington, and I showed him that we reverence our flag. He turned to me and said, "I think you reverence this flag too much," I said, "It was not the flag that persecuted this people: it was not the Constitution that oppresses us, but it was the men who stood at the head of the mobs, and they are the men whom God will hold responsible in the life to come. They will have to account for the things that they have done in the flesh. We respect that flag, and we will do our utmost to maintain the freedom that has been guaranteed unto us and all other people under that flag."
This Gospel, my brethren and sisters, is true. It is the power of God unto salvation unto all who believe and obey it. It is making inroads among the thinking classes of all nations, and they are beginning to take notice of us. I heard one of the Apostles prophecy that all nations would yet come to us to learn various arts and sciences of peace, and the science of civil government. They would come to us to learn how to govern the nations. The things that Brother Goddard has been telling us this morning have brought these thoughts to my mind vividly. The organization of the people, the organization of the Church, has been established by divine wisdom. It is complete in every detail: and, as we heard yesterday, if three men are taken away twelve men immediately take their place, and it is an impossibility to destroy this great work. It is an impossibility to frustrate the designs of the Almighty. When any man or woman stands in the way, and undertakes to thwart the efforts that are being put forth to proclaim this Gospel unto the people, God will bring their efforts to naught, He will frustrate them. Shame will be brought upon their own heads.
This is the work of the Lord, and He will prosper it. May God bless and help us to appreciate it, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER ANDREW JENSON.
I desire to read a few verses of Scripture, found in First Corinthians, second chapter, commencing at the first verse. It is a saying of Paul to the church in Corinth:
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the rower of God."
Yesterday afternoon we listened to very interesting discourses from brothers Penrose and Roberts in regard to the great latter-day work; and strong testimonies have been borne throughout the entire conference. The brethren have been led apparently to testify of the goodness of God toward His people, and also of the faithfulness and good character of the men who stand at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Men have endeavored to entice people away from this Church, by saying that the Lord has rejected it, and there are some who have been weak in the faith, and who are weak at the present time, that can perhaps be influenced by these men who rise against those whom the Lord has appointed. But I desire to draw your attention to these words which I have read on this occasion, not that I intend to make it a text, yet I wish to express a thought in connection with them.
When Christ sent out His Apostles in ancient days. He sent fishermen, not the Rabbis of the Jewish people, but men who were numbered among the rank and file of the Jewish people, fishermen from the sea of Galilee, publicans and sinners. The Lord chose them to be His messengers. In reading the history about these men, how they went forth after Christ had been crucified and had risen from the dead, we stand face to face with that which we find in these words of Paul. These men did not go forth in their own strength, but the power of Goa was with them. In going forth to testify to that which they had seen and heard they were not permitted to do so until they were endowed by the power of God from on high. Do you not remember how they were told to tarry in Jerusalem and not open their mouths in regard to who Jesus of Nazareth was until the Holy Ghost should come upon them, not until then were they permitted to testify of that which they knew. We follow with great interest the labors of these men, and note how strong they were. We find them commencing their labors on the day of Pentecost; these fishermen were able to speak the word of God in power and great demonstration to the multitude assembled upon that occasion. We follow them, I say, and discover that even Paul, who was, as we have learned, an educated man as compared with the others, yet he did not desire to know anything, or did not claim to know anything, except Jesus Christ and him crucified, and so he came not with enticing speech to Corinth, but he came with the power of God.
I desire to draw your attention to this fact, my brethren and sisters, that that has also been the history of this dispensation in which we are called upon to take part. Joseph Smith, the Prophet, was a farmer, unlearned, like the disciples of old, but in the power of God in the strength of his Master, and that was the secret of his success and the influence he had over his fellow men. We find that after he passed away the Church grew, and another was appointed in his stead as President of this Church. Now come some of our friends from the outside and say, he had fallen away, he was rejected, Brigham Young was not the inspired man that Joseph Smith had been.
Let us not enter into a long discussion, but let us see what it was that Brigham Young- accomplished in the world, as compared with the great work commenced ])y the Prophet Joseph. Joseph was a mighty man, and was the means of sealing the Gospel to some sections of the United States, to Canada and also to Great Britain; and in his day, also, the first foreign mission was opened, that is to a people who speak other than the English language. It was left for the days of Brigham Young to demonstrate the great powers of the Church in a missionary way. Very soon after President Brigham Young came to the front, the gospel as revealed to the Prophet Joseph was not confined to the Anglo-Saxon race of people who speak the English language on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, but was sent over to continental Europe, and there for the first time it was heard among the people dwelling in that land. It is an easy matter for us to understand that to preach the gospel to a foreign nation, or people who speak foreign languages, is not a very easy task. Sometimes we think the missionaries who are called to the various parts of this country or Great Britain have an easy time as compared with those who go abroad and have to learn new languages. Some of us who have passed through it know what it means to acquire a knowledge of a new language and speak to people in a foreign tongue. In foreign countries they have little knowledge of our country and its institutions, and do not love the flag and the institutions of this country as we do. And when these messengers went from this country and testified of angels having visited the earth, and of God's revealing Himself and sending His Son to teach the children of men, they found that men were inclined to say, "That is American humbug just like the rest we have heard coming from America!" It was no easy task for the first Elders who went to Prance, who went to Italy, and who went to the Scandinavian countries, to make those people believe that there was anything real in the message they had come across the water to bring to the people. Let me tell you now, if those men had gone forth as ordinary men do, if they had not been backed by the spirit of inspiration, the Spirit of God, they never could have opened the doors in those lands. The people would not have received them, but would have rejected their testimony, because it was so contrary to anything they had been led to expect or believe. But the fact is that these men went abroad with a double power. The facts are that the Lord did not reject His Church, or withdraw His power, but He increased His power. In the days of Brigham Young the Gospel was sent abroad not only to English speaking people, but to people who speak many other different languages, and the blessings of the Gospel followed in those lands, just on the same principle as they followed in Tennessee or in Kentucky or in New York or Boston, or any place where the first Elders of the Church preached the Gospel. And this is a great testimony to us if we reflect upon it.
Just a word in regard to the opposition. You will remember that when the first Church, the Church established by Christ and His Apostles, that when men went into unbelief and the people ceased to keep the commandments, the Lord withdrew His blessings from that Church, and the first excuse they had to make was something to satisfy the people as to why the gifts and blessings of the Gospel had ceased. There was no such outpouring of the Spirit of God upon men in the second century as in the first. And so they invented this story for the purpose of pacifying the people: These things, the gifts and blessings of the Gospel, have ceased because they are no longer necessary. Very much later, when such men as John Wesley glanced out upon the past, he said, that is not the reason. There is another reason, it was, he said, because Christians had turned heathen again, that is the true reason why the blessings and gifts of the Gospel ceased among the children of men. Now, my brethren and sisters, if the true church of Christ in this age had been rejected of God, the first thing we would have had to find an excuse for would be why the blessings and gifts of the Gospel had ceased, why there was no demonstration of the power of God as there was in the beginning. The fact that these things have continued in the Church, the fact that they have increased in the Church, the fact that there have been abundant witnesses raised up in this land as well as in every land where the Gospel has been sent, has been and ought to be in and of itself one of the grandest proofs we can have in regard to the divinity of this church and the perpetuity of it.
I feel to bear my testimony to the inspiration of these men. I know that God is with this people, and that the power of God is with His servants, not only as we see it demonstrated here at this conference, but as we go abroad in the different missions. We have heard from one mission here today, and we may hear from more. We will find that the testimony of the truth has followed, that wherever the Elders go the power of God is with them. They may not be learned men, that is, there are not so many that are learned among our people as among some other people, but the power of God is with them, the demonstration of the Holy" Spirit goes with them wherever they go, and paves the way before them, and. causes them to have success in regard' to making converts.
I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is now existing in the midst of the earth, is directed by the power of God, and that the Lord has not ceased to strive with His people, that the Lord does not withhold His power or His gifts or His blessings from those who desire to keep- His commandments and who walk in the paths of righteousness. So far a» our leaders are concerned, I wish we could sustain' President Joseph F. Smith not only as Trustee-in-Trust in a general way, but I wish from the bottom of my heart that we could sustain him also as President of the United Order, that he should direct among this people more of the material things that we need in the world. I think that it is proper and right that we should build up Zion. temporally as well as spiritually. We find sometimes that our missionaries, when they return from abroad and our emigrants when they come to us from foreign lands, cannot find employment when they come to Zion. We feel as if we are not strong enough financially. We are here to build up a sample community, a commonwealth that partakes of a temporal as well as spiritual nature. In these mountains we have been permitted to dwell in peace for a number of years, and it is the only place, up to that time, upon God's footstool where the Latter-day Saints have ever found a resting place. And I will say, if we have confidence in our leaders, if there is an accusation against them as to temporal affairs, I would prefer that our financial affairs be directed by them even more than they are at the present time, that we might prosper in temporal as well as in spiritual matters, that Zion may grow and prosper, that we may be a community that will be respected in all parts of the world. May God bless you, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I desire to read a few verses of Scripture, found in First Corinthians, second chapter, commencing at the first verse. It is a saying of Paul to the church in Corinth:
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the rower of God."
Yesterday afternoon we listened to very interesting discourses from brothers Penrose and Roberts in regard to the great latter-day work; and strong testimonies have been borne throughout the entire conference. The brethren have been led apparently to testify of the goodness of God toward His people, and also of the faithfulness and good character of the men who stand at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Men have endeavored to entice people away from this Church, by saying that the Lord has rejected it, and there are some who have been weak in the faith, and who are weak at the present time, that can perhaps be influenced by these men who rise against those whom the Lord has appointed. But I desire to draw your attention to these words which I have read on this occasion, not that I intend to make it a text, yet I wish to express a thought in connection with them.
When Christ sent out His Apostles in ancient days. He sent fishermen, not the Rabbis of the Jewish people, but men who were numbered among the rank and file of the Jewish people, fishermen from the sea of Galilee, publicans and sinners. The Lord chose them to be His messengers. In reading the history about these men, how they went forth after Christ had been crucified and had risen from the dead, we stand face to face with that which we find in these words of Paul. These men did not go forth in their own strength, but the power of Goa was with them. In going forth to testify to that which they had seen and heard they were not permitted to do so until they were endowed by the power of God from on high. Do you not remember how they were told to tarry in Jerusalem and not open their mouths in regard to who Jesus of Nazareth was until the Holy Ghost should come upon them, not until then were they permitted to testify of that which they knew. We follow with great interest the labors of these men, and note how strong they were. We find them commencing their labors on the day of Pentecost; these fishermen were able to speak the word of God in power and great demonstration to the multitude assembled upon that occasion. We follow them, I say, and discover that even Paul, who was, as we have learned, an educated man as compared with the others, yet he did not desire to know anything, or did not claim to know anything, except Jesus Christ and him crucified, and so he came not with enticing speech to Corinth, but he came with the power of God.
I desire to draw your attention to this fact, my brethren and sisters, that that has also been the history of this dispensation in which we are called upon to take part. Joseph Smith, the Prophet, was a farmer, unlearned, like the disciples of old, but in the power of God in the strength of his Master, and that was the secret of his success and the influence he had over his fellow men. We find that after he passed away the Church grew, and another was appointed in his stead as President of this Church. Now come some of our friends from the outside and say, he had fallen away, he was rejected, Brigham Young was not the inspired man that Joseph Smith had been.
Let us not enter into a long discussion, but let us see what it was that Brigham Young- accomplished in the world, as compared with the great work commenced ])y the Prophet Joseph. Joseph was a mighty man, and was the means of sealing the Gospel to some sections of the United States, to Canada and also to Great Britain; and in his day, also, the first foreign mission was opened, that is to a people who speak other than the English language. It was left for the days of Brigham Young to demonstrate the great powers of the Church in a missionary way. Very soon after President Brigham Young came to the front, the gospel as revealed to the Prophet Joseph was not confined to the Anglo-Saxon race of people who speak the English language on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, but was sent over to continental Europe, and there for the first time it was heard among the people dwelling in that land. It is an easy matter for us to understand that to preach the gospel to a foreign nation, or people who speak foreign languages, is not a very easy task. Sometimes we think the missionaries who are called to the various parts of this country or Great Britain have an easy time as compared with those who go abroad and have to learn new languages. Some of us who have passed through it know what it means to acquire a knowledge of a new language and speak to people in a foreign tongue. In foreign countries they have little knowledge of our country and its institutions, and do not love the flag and the institutions of this country as we do. And when these messengers went from this country and testified of angels having visited the earth, and of God's revealing Himself and sending His Son to teach the children of men, they found that men were inclined to say, "That is American humbug just like the rest we have heard coming from America!" It was no easy task for the first Elders who went to Prance, who went to Italy, and who went to the Scandinavian countries, to make those people believe that there was anything real in the message they had come across the water to bring to the people. Let me tell you now, if those men had gone forth as ordinary men do, if they had not been backed by the spirit of inspiration, the Spirit of God, they never could have opened the doors in those lands. The people would not have received them, but would have rejected their testimony, because it was so contrary to anything they had been led to expect or believe. But the fact is that these men went abroad with a double power. The facts are that the Lord did not reject His Church, or withdraw His power, but He increased His power. In the days of Brigham Young the Gospel was sent abroad not only to English speaking people, but to people who speak many other different languages, and the blessings of the Gospel followed in those lands, just on the same principle as they followed in Tennessee or in Kentucky or in New York or Boston, or any place where the first Elders of the Church preached the Gospel. And this is a great testimony to us if we reflect upon it.
Just a word in regard to the opposition. You will remember that when the first Church, the Church established by Christ and His Apostles, that when men went into unbelief and the people ceased to keep the commandments, the Lord withdrew His blessings from that Church, and the first excuse they had to make was something to satisfy the people as to why the gifts and blessings of the Gospel had ceased. There was no such outpouring of the Spirit of God upon men in the second century as in the first. And so they invented this story for the purpose of pacifying the people: These things, the gifts and blessings of the Gospel, have ceased because they are no longer necessary. Very much later, when such men as John Wesley glanced out upon the past, he said, that is not the reason. There is another reason, it was, he said, because Christians had turned heathen again, that is the true reason why the blessings and gifts of the Gospel ceased among the children of men. Now, my brethren and sisters, if the true church of Christ in this age had been rejected of God, the first thing we would have had to find an excuse for would be why the blessings and gifts of the Gospel had ceased, why there was no demonstration of the power of God as there was in the beginning. The fact that these things have continued in the Church, the fact that they have increased in the Church, the fact that there have been abundant witnesses raised up in this land as well as in every land where the Gospel has been sent, has been and ought to be in and of itself one of the grandest proofs we can have in regard to the divinity of this church and the perpetuity of it.
I feel to bear my testimony to the inspiration of these men. I know that God is with this people, and that the power of God is with His servants, not only as we see it demonstrated here at this conference, but as we go abroad in the different missions. We have heard from one mission here today, and we may hear from more. We will find that the testimony of the truth has followed, that wherever the Elders go the power of God is with them. They may not be learned men, that is, there are not so many that are learned among our people as among some other people, but the power of God is with them, the demonstration of the Holy" Spirit goes with them wherever they go, and paves the way before them, and. causes them to have success in regard' to making converts.
I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is now existing in the midst of the earth, is directed by the power of God, and that the Lord has not ceased to strive with His people, that the Lord does not withhold His power or His gifts or His blessings from those who desire to keep- His commandments and who walk in the paths of righteousness. So far a» our leaders are concerned, I wish we could sustain' President Joseph F. Smith not only as Trustee-in-Trust in a general way, but I wish from the bottom of my heart that we could sustain him also as President of the United Order, that he should direct among this people more of the material things that we need in the world. I think that it is proper and right that we should build up Zion. temporally as well as spiritually. We find sometimes that our missionaries, when they return from abroad and our emigrants when they come to us from foreign lands, cannot find employment when they come to Zion. We feel as if we are not strong enough financially. We are here to build up a sample community, a commonwealth that partakes of a temporal as well as spiritual nature. In these mountains we have been permitted to dwell in peace for a number of years, and it is the only place, up to that time, upon God's footstool where the Latter-day Saints have ever found a resting place. And I will say, if we have confidence in our leaders, if there is an accusation against them as to temporal affairs, I would prefer that our financial affairs be directed by them even more than they are at the present time, that we might prosper in temporal as well as in spiritual matters, that Zion may grow and prosper, that we may be a community that will be respected in all parts of the world. May God bless you, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER BEN E. RICH.
(President of Southern States Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, it is not intended that this Church shall be merely one of a Gospel of spiritual salvation, but it is intended that it shall be the Gospel of temporal salvation as well. It is the duty of the Melchisedek Priesthood to look after the Spiritual affairs of this Church, and it is the duty of the Aaronic Priesthood of this Church to look after the temporal affairs; and I hope the day will never come when this people will object to the Church dealing in temporal affairs. Just the moment that spirit takes possession of you, then you are in a very bad position. Just as soon as an individual finds fault, and begins to fight against the authorities of this Church, then he is on the road to apostasy, and he had better turn around and retrace his steps, or that disease will take hold of him, sooner or later. You know sometimes it takes a long while for an individual to apostatize. He travels on that train day and night, sometimes for years, until he finally lands at the station. I heard an individual say in this city that he had been an apostate for 15 years before he knew It.
The future would look very black to me if I did not have a knowledge that what the world calls "Mormonism" is indeed God's divine truth; that when it was set up upon the earth, it was with a promise from the Almighty that it never more would be thrown down. If you will examine the wording of the Prophet Daniel, you will see it intimated there that the work of the Lord has been upon the earth many times and been thrown down, and the Lord knew that it would be thrown down. But, in interpreting that dream of Nebuchadnezzar's, Daniel said that the little stone that the king saw cut out of the mountain without hands, represented the kingdom that God was going to set up upon the earth in the latter-days, never more to be thrown down or given to another people. Just as he saw that little stone grow and increase in strength and size until it became a great mountain and filled the whole earth, so it was the intention that the kingdom organized by the Great God in the last days would never grow less, but would continue to grow larger until it filled the whole earth with the righteousness of God.
I know there are individuals who claim that it was thrown down, became disorganized and the little stone crumbled, went into decay, for about 16 years. When an individual makes a statement of that kind, he verily says that God Almighty has been defeated by the Devil, that His words were not true, that when it came upon the earth in the last days it would stand forever but that the Almighty has been defeated by the adversary.
We have a Temple here, and I was thinking, when Brother Goddard was speaking, do we as a. people firmly believe in all that that Temple stands for, the work for which it is designed? If I could make my voice reach every wealthy man there is in the Church, I would say to them, do you believe that the work can be done in that house for which it was built, for the dead? Do you believe that on the other side of the veil missionaries are preaching the Gospel to the spirits in prison, and that a work must be done for them here, that the living must do vicarious work for the dead? You endow colleges, and different institutions, but I would like to see some of the wealthy men of this Church endow that Temple with a portion of the means God has given to them, that when they stand on the other side of the veil, and enter the missionary fields in the spirit world, they can say they were not stingy with the means the Almighty had given to them, taut that a portion of it had been left to furnish food for those who officiate in the Temple, doing work for the dead who are on the other side. I don't know that I have read the will of a single rich man yet who has thought of that, but I believe he has not been in the spirit world 15 minutes before he would see the necessity of it, and he would feel like saying, "O God, let me go back a few hours to earth again, let me go back and tell my brethren of the necessity for leaving some of these means, that food may be provided for those who must labor all one day to do the Temple work for one individual in the spirit world." I believe if a wealthy man went into the spirit world after following this advice, he would meet with hearty handshakes from those in the other world, because he had made it possible that a work might be done in the Temple, that the dead might be robed with the powers of the Priesthood on the other side of the veil, and clothed with the authority that has been given and bestowed upon those who received the truth while upon the earth.
I may be very pronounced in these matters, but I know that it is right, there is no question about it. If you give all that you have to the Church, and all that you ever expect to have in this world, and leave it for work for the dead in the Temple, you would still be in debt to the Church, for what the Church has done for you. I feel that I can never pay the debt of gratitude I owe the Church for what it has done for me.
When I was listening to Brother McRae speaking of the necessity for more workers in the missionary field, I wished that every one of you was called upon a mission. We need you. I want you to listen to a few statistics. A few years ago, in the Southern States, we had 560 missionaries. In the state of Kentucky alone we had 117, now we have only seven pairs of Elders in three conferences of that state today to keep alive the seed that was planted by the 117 Elders. In the great state of Tennessee we have eleven pairs of Elders. In the state of Florida we have eight pairs. In the state of Gorgia we have ten pairs, and in the state of Mississippi we have six pairs. In the state of North Carolina we have eight pairs. Ohio, with six millions of people, has only five pairs of Elders. And that is the way it goes. We could place all the Elders that we have in the Southern States in any one state in that mission. We have got 8,600 Saints in that mission and on account of not having Elders enough to Visit them when they move, and find their whereabouts, we have lost track of about 1,500 or 2,000 of them. Once in a while letters come from some of them, saying they have not seen an Elder for 15 to 18 months. And now I want to say, God will hold you responsible if you do not magnify the Priesthood, and make yourself an ecclesiastical warrior to go into the world and preach the Gospel of Christ wherever you have an opportunity.
We have many things to contend with in the missionary field. Our Elders are met upon the right hand and upon the left by all kinds of arguments. A great deal has been said about those who oppose us in the so-called re-organized church. There are Elders of that church in the world today claiming they are not antagonistic to any denomination in the United States excepting the Utah Mormons. They want to be in harmony with the rest of the world. They follow in the footsteps of our Elders, and, when they cease speaking, these representatives of the apostate organization will stand up and say to the people, "These men are Brighamites; no doubt they all have got more wives than one; they are representatives of the organization that was responsible for the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and they believe in blood atonement." That is the kind of doctrines they lay before the people of the world, following our missionaries. That is the kind of sentiments that prevail in their breasts. Then they come to one who has just been baptized, and say, "Do you know, brother, do you know, sister, what takes place there in Utah. If any tithing is paid, it goes for the support of these men who are living in abomination, and whisky is carried into their houses by the bucketful." That is the kind of argument. If any of the Elders of the Reorganized church don't believe this statement, I can back it up with evidence; and It they do not resent it, then they are responsible.
l know I am looked upon as very radical. In fact, it is said that brother Golden Kimball and myself swear once in a while. I .think that if Jesus would come here He would express His opinion of some people in almost similar language to that used sometimes by Brother Golden Kimball.
Once Israel was united, and then God delivered the law to Moses. But the time came when their Prophets went to sleep, and the people became disunited, Eventually they severed asunder, under the headings of Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. Then Jesus came with a revelation from God to them, and offered them the Gospel fruit, and prayed that they might be one even as the Father and He were one. After a little while the early Christian band allowed their Prophets to go to sleep, and down in the ages they became severed and eventually were known as Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Catholics, and the Lord only knows what else. Then, in the nineteenth century, God once more gave light from heaven. Once more the Gospel fruit was offered to mankind. Again it was opposed by the leaders of religious organizations, as it was opposed by the leaders of other religious organizations when Jesus brought il first.
Now then if you will not consider Jesus too radical and too harsh, I will read to you what He said about this when He was here; then you have got my opinion of just what He would say if He came to the earth again. Here it is in the 23rd chapter of Matthew:
"Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to His disciples, saying: The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; all, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do, but do not yet after their works, for they say and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they ;themselves will not move them with one of their finders. But all their works they do for to' be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts arid the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men. Rabbi, Rabbi. But be ye not called Rabbi, for one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. . . . But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you. scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made ye make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides which sa3', whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Ye fools and blind, for whether is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And whosoever shall swear by the altar it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it he is guilty. Ye fools and blind for whether is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it and by all things thereon, and whosoever shaft swear by the temple, sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth therein. And lie that shall swear by heaven sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave . the other undone. Ye blind guides which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Woe unto ye, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward; but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias whom ye slew between the temple and the altar."
Now I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that among those who stand at the head of the churches of the world there are many good, kind, conscientious gentlemen: but I will say further, that I firmly believe that those who lead the tirade of abuse against this people, and still occupy prominent seats in modern synagogues, are of the same class spoken of by Jesus of Nazareth; and if He were to come back again and speak to a congregation He would deliver the same sermon He delivered when He was here before.
If you don't know that this work comes from God, ask, and the information will be given you. Ask in faith, and then you will know, I testify, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, in fulfillment of prophecy, and I testify to it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn, "How firm a foundation," etc.
Benediction by Elder William Budge.
(President of Southern States Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, it is not intended that this Church shall be merely one of a Gospel of spiritual salvation, but it is intended that it shall be the Gospel of temporal salvation as well. It is the duty of the Melchisedek Priesthood to look after the Spiritual affairs of this Church, and it is the duty of the Aaronic Priesthood of this Church to look after the temporal affairs; and I hope the day will never come when this people will object to the Church dealing in temporal affairs. Just the moment that spirit takes possession of you, then you are in a very bad position. Just as soon as an individual finds fault, and begins to fight against the authorities of this Church, then he is on the road to apostasy, and he had better turn around and retrace his steps, or that disease will take hold of him, sooner or later. You know sometimes it takes a long while for an individual to apostatize. He travels on that train day and night, sometimes for years, until he finally lands at the station. I heard an individual say in this city that he had been an apostate for 15 years before he knew It.
The future would look very black to me if I did not have a knowledge that what the world calls "Mormonism" is indeed God's divine truth; that when it was set up upon the earth, it was with a promise from the Almighty that it never more would be thrown down. If you will examine the wording of the Prophet Daniel, you will see it intimated there that the work of the Lord has been upon the earth many times and been thrown down, and the Lord knew that it would be thrown down. But, in interpreting that dream of Nebuchadnezzar's, Daniel said that the little stone that the king saw cut out of the mountain without hands, represented the kingdom that God was going to set up upon the earth in the latter-days, never more to be thrown down or given to another people. Just as he saw that little stone grow and increase in strength and size until it became a great mountain and filled the whole earth, so it was the intention that the kingdom organized by the Great God in the last days would never grow less, but would continue to grow larger until it filled the whole earth with the righteousness of God.
I know there are individuals who claim that it was thrown down, became disorganized and the little stone crumbled, went into decay, for about 16 years. When an individual makes a statement of that kind, he verily says that God Almighty has been defeated by the Devil, that His words were not true, that when it came upon the earth in the last days it would stand forever but that the Almighty has been defeated by the adversary.
We have a Temple here, and I was thinking, when Brother Goddard was speaking, do we as a. people firmly believe in all that that Temple stands for, the work for which it is designed? If I could make my voice reach every wealthy man there is in the Church, I would say to them, do you believe that the work can be done in that house for which it was built, for the dead? Do you believe that on the other side of the veil missionaries are preaching the Gospel to the spirits in prison, and that a work must be done for them here, that the living must do vicarious work for the dead? You endow colleges, and different institutions, but I would like to see some of the wealthy men of this Church endow that Temple with a portion of the means God has given to them, that when they stand on the other side of the veil, and enter the missionary fields in the spirit world, they can say they were not stingy with the means the Almighty had given to them, taut that a portion of it had been left to furnish food for those who officiate in the Temple, doing work for the dead who are on the other side. I don't know that I have read the will of a single rich man yet who has thought of that, but I believe he has not been in the spirit world 15 minutes before he would see the necessity of it, and he would feel like saying, "O God, let me go back a few hours to earth again, let me go back and tell my brethren of the necessity for leaving some of these means, that food may be provided for those who must labor all one day to do the Temple work for one individual in the spirit world." I believe if a wealthy man went into the spirit world after following this advice, he would meet with hearty handshakes from those in the other world, because he had made it possible that a work might be done in the Temple, that the dead might be robed with the powers of the Priesthood on the other side of the veil, and clothed with the authority that has been given and bestowed upon those who received the truth while upon the earth.
I may be very pronounced in these matters, but I know that it is right, there is no question about it. If you give all that you have to the Church, and all that you ever expect to have in this world, and leave it for work for the dead in the Temple, you would still be in debt to the Church, for what the Church has done for you. I feel that I can never pay the debt of gratitude I owe the Church for what it has done for me.
When I was listening to Brother McRae speaking of the necessity for more workers in the missionary field, I wished that every one of you was called upon a mission. We need you. I want you to listen to a few statistics. A few years ago, in the Southern States, we had 560 missionaries. In the state of Kentucky alone we had 117, now we have only seven pairs of Elders in three conferences of that state today to keep alive the seed that was planted by the 117 Elders. In the great state of Tennessee we have eleven pairs of Elders. In the state of Florida we have eight pairs. In the state of Gorgia we have ten pairs, and in the state of Mississippi we have six pairs. In the state of North Carolina we have eight pairs. Ohio, with six millions of people, has only five pairs of Elders. And that is the way it goes. We could place all the Elders that we have in the Southern States in any one state in that mission. We have got 8,600 Saints in that mission and on account of not having Elders enough to Visit them when they move, and find their whereabouts, we have lost track of about 1,500 or 2,000 of them. Once in a while letters come from some of them, saying they have not seen an Elder for 15 to 18 months. And now I want to say, God will hold you responsible if you do not magnify the Priesthood, and make yourself an ecclesiastical warrior to go into the world and preach the Gospel of Christ wherever you have an opportunity.
We have many things to contend with in the missionary field. Our Elders are met upon the right hand and upon the left by all kinds of arguments. A great deal has been said about those who oppose us in the so-called re-organized church. There are Elders of that church in the world today claiming they are not antagonistic to any denomination in the United States excepting the Utah Mormons. They want to be in harmony with the rest of the world. They follow in the footsteps of our Elders, and, when they cease speaking, these representatives of the apostate organization will stand up and say to the people, "These men are Brighamites; no doubt they all have got more wives than one; they are representatives of the organization that was responsible for the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and they believe in blood atonement." That is the kind of doctrines they lay before the people of the world, following our missionaries. That is the kind of sentiments that prevail in their breasts. Then they come to one who has just been baptized, and say, "Do you know, brother, do you know, sister, what takes place there in Utah. If any tithing is paid, it goes for the support of these men who are living in abomination, and whisky is carried into their houses by the bucketful." That is the kind of argument. If any of the Elders of the Reorganized church don't believe this statement, I can back it up with evidence; and It they do not resent it, then they are responsible.
l know I am looked upon as very radical. In fact, it is said that brother Golden Kimball and myself swear once in a while. I .think that if Jesus would come here He would express His opinion of some people in almost similar language to that used sometimes by Brother Golden Kimball.
Once Israel was united, and then God delivered the law to Moses. But the time came when their Prophets went to sleep, and the people became disunited, Eventually they severed asunder, under the headings of Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. Then Jesus came with a revelation from God to them, and offered them the Gospel fruit, and prayed that they might be one even as the Father and He were one. After a little while the early Christian band allowed their Prophets to go to sleep, and down in the ages they became severed and eventually were known as Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Catholics, and the Lord only knows what else. Then, in the nineteenth century, God once more gave light from heaven. Once more the Gospel fruit was offered to mankind. Again it was opposed by the leaders of religious organizations, as it was opposed by the leaders of other religious organizations when Jesus brought il first.
Now then if you will not consider Jesus too radical and too harsh, I will read to you what He said about this when He was here; then you have got my opinion of just what He would say if He came to the earth again. Here it is in the 23rd chapter of Matthew:
"Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to His disciples, saying: The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; all, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do, but do not yet after their works, for they say and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they ;themselves will not move them with one of their finders. But all their works they do for to' be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts arid the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men. Rabbi, Rabbi. But be ye not called Rabbi, for one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. . . . But woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you. scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made ye make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you, ye blind guides which sa3', whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Ye fools and blind, for whether is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And whosoever shall swear by the altar it is nothing but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it he is guilty. Ye fools and blind for whether is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it and by all things thereon, and whosoever shaft swear by the temple, sweareth by it and by him that dwelleth therein. And lie that shall swear by heaven sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave . the other undone. Ye blind guides which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Woe unto ye, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward; but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye build the tombs of the prophets and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, if we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias whom ye slew between the temple and the altar."
Now I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that among those who stand at the head of the churches of the world there are many good, kind, conscientious gentlemen: but I will say further, that I firmly believe that those who lead the tirade of abuse against this people, and still occupy prominent seats in modern synagogues, are of the same class spoken of by Jesus of Nazareth; and if He were to come back again and speak to a congregation He would deliver the same sermon He delivered when He was here before.
If you don't know that this work comes from God, ask, and the information will be given you. Ask in faith, and then you will know, I testify, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, in fulfillment of prophecy, and I testify to it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn, "How firm a foundation," etc.
Benediction by Elder William Budge.
SECOND OVERFLOW MEETING.
In the Assembly Hall at 2 p. m.
Elder Rudger Clawson presiding.
The Temple choir, and congregation, sang the hymn, "Redeemer of Israel."
Elder Samuel A. Woolley offered the opening prayer.
The choir sang the hymn, "Love Everlasting."
In the Assembly Hall at 2 p. m.
Elder Rudger Clawson presiding.
The Temple choir, and congregation, sang the hymn, "Redeemer of Israel."
Elder Samuel A. Woolley offered the opening prayer.
The choir sang the hymn, "Love Everlasting."
ELDER THOMAS E. BASSETT.
(President of Fremont Stake.)
My heart is filled with joy, my dear brethren and sisters, at witnessing the wonderful success, the very large attendance and the most excellent spirit that has prevailed at this conference. Never, in my experience in this church, have I felt that the subjects treated upon have been more timely than they have been at the meetings of this conference. Seeing the very large attendance assures me forcibly that the evil speaking and comments derogatory to the character of our leaders, that are being indulged in by our opponents, are beneficial, bringing this people together, and demonstrating to the whole world that we are true to each other. We do not fully realize the love and affection that is down deep in the hearts of this people, toward each other and toward our leaders, until we are attacked. Then are manifested those ties of affection and love that bind our hearts together, and make us one In Christ Jesus, more than family ties. I thank my Heavenly Father for this feeling that we have in our hearts toward each other and toward our leaders, the kind and generous feeling that we enjoy when we are in the discharge of our duties. I appreciate that as much as any other blessing I have ever enjoyed. There is no joy that can come to the human heart, there is no blessing that is more appreciated, no feeling more pleasant than the love that characterizes every true Latter-day Saint. Our Savior said that the first great commandment was, "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart, with all they might, mind and strength; and the second commandment is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Upon these two great commandments hang all the law and the prophets." I have often been impressed with the fact that it would be extremely easy for us to perform every duty that is required of us, as Latter-day Saints, if we really possessed that love to the extent that we should. Of all the 'duties of the Gospel, all the requirements that are made of us, whether it be to contribute our mites for the support of the poor, for the erection of meetinghouses, or institutions of learning for our young people, for the sending of missionaries abroad to the nations of the earth to preach the Gospel, or whether it be the sacrifice of our homes and all that we possess on earth—all these things would be cheerfully given did we but love the Lord, our God, with all our mind, might and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. There would be little need of admonishing the people to attend to their prayers; and little need of admonishing them to pay their tithes and offerings, and attend their meetings and to do other things that are incumbent upon Latter-day Saints.
The burden of the instructions during this conference has been to the Latter- day Saints to banish from our hearts all feelings of animosity, bitterness, hate and enmity that we may entertain toward anyone. If we do not forgive our brother his trespasses there remains in us the greater sin. The object of the Gospel is to build up, to benefit, to strengthen and to bless and comfort the human family. That is our mission, we are here to do good, we are here to build up, we are here to extend a helping hand to any brother or sister who is oppressed, to reach out the hand of kindness to each other, to be forgiving.
We are all full of weaknesses, faults of mortality, there are none of us that are perfect. There is not one within the sound of my voice this afternoon that has not transgressed to a greater or less extent during his life. When we are inclined to find fault with our brother or sister, let us investigate our own soul and it is probable we will then find more fault with ourselves than we can with our brethren and sisters. Another admonition of the prophet of the Lord to this people for several years has been to get out of debt. These two points, as they have impressed me during this conference, have been sufficient to repay me for the time and means I have spent in coming something more than 200 miles to attend this conference. I sincerely hope that these two great principles, the importance of the Latter-day Saints loving each other, being true to each other, standing (Shoulder to shoulder, extending the hand of kindness to each other, and the other great principle that has been advocated, to get out of debt—I sincerely trust that these two great topics, may burn down deep into the heart of every person who has attended this conference.
It was a source of regret to listen to the statement of one of our brethren yesterday who rather questioned whether the Latter-day Saints were any more out of debt today than they were when the Prophet Joseph P. Smith gave this counsel two or three years ago. If we have not profited by this admonition, the responsibility rests upon our shoulders, for it has certainly come to us in no unmistakable terms, as being the mind and will of our Heavenly Father. If we continue to remain in that condition, without lifting the obligations that are resting upon our shoulders, we shall have to stand the consequences. The day may come that the people will be urgently required to pay their obligations to those that they are in debt to, and perhaps have their hemes and farms sold in consequence. It would be a fearful thing, brothers and sisters, to contemplate that, in the face of this good and wholesome counsel coming from men whom we revere as inspired of our Heavenly Father.
I hope that we will feel the importance of this, my brothers and sister?. Latter-day Saints should not be obligated to the people of the world. Our Heavenly Father has said to Israel that they should be lenders and not borrowers. Every good and perfect blessing that can come to mortal man is the right of every Latter-day Saint to enjoy. All the wealth and riches of this earth, and all other blessings that our Heavenly Father has vouchsafed, the Latter-day Saints are entitled to through faithfulness. I do not know of any greater trouble or vexation that can come to the human heart than to be burdened with a load of debt. To be thoroughly miserable a man needs only to obligate himself, to become involved in debt. If we want to hi happy let us extricate ourselves from this bondage. Let us be a free people, as our Heavenly Father has designed that we should be. He has established us here, in the midst of these rocky mountains, for a wise and glorious purpose, in fulfilment of utterances of the prophets made many hundreds of years ago. He designs to make us a great people. Let us be true to each other, and true to our file leaders, which I feel sure we will be. We will be true to our brethren who are called to lead us. We know they are men of God; we know they are humble, and that they do not seek to aggrandize themselves at the expense of their fellows, notwithstanding all the hard things that are said against them by those who are seeking to tear them down.
I bear testimony to you that I know this is the work of God; I know that our Heavenly Father has a watchful eye over this people, and all we need to do is to remain true to the covenants we have made with Him, and He will sustain us. May God be with you, and bless you, my brothers and sisters. May love abound in your homes, at your firesides, in your gatherings; may the peace of heaven be with us all, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(President of Fremont Stake.)
My heart is filled with joy, my dear brethren and sisters, at witnessing the wonderful success, the very large attendance and the most excellent spirit that has prevailed at this conference. Never, in my experience in this church, have I felt that the subjects treated upon have been more timely than they have been at the meetings of this conference. Seeing the very large attendance assures me forcibly that the evil speaking and comments derogatory to the character of our leaders, that are being indulged in by our opponents, are beneficial, bringing this people together, and demonstrating to the whole world that we are true to each other. We do not fully realize the love and affection that is down deep in the hearts of this people, toward each other and toward our leaders, until we are attacked. Then are manifested those ties of affection and love that bind our hearts together, and make us one In Christ Jesus, more than family ties. I thank my Heavenly Father for this feeling that we have in our hearts toward each other and toward our leaders, the kind and generous feeling that we enjoy when we are in the discharge of our duties. I appreciate that as much as any other blessing I have ever enjoyed. There is no joy that can come to the human heart, there is no blessing that is more appreciated, no feeling more pleasant than the love that characterizes every true Latter-day Saint. Our Savior said that the first great commandment was, "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart, with all they might, mind and strength; and the second commandment is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Upon these two great commandments hang all the law and the prophets." I have often been impressed with the fact that it would be extremely easy for us to perform every duty that is required of us, as Latter-day Saints, if we really possessed that love to the extent that we should. Of all the 'duties of the Gospel, all the requirements that are made of us, whether it be to contribute our mites for the support of the poor, for the erection of meetinghouses, or institutions of learning for our young people, for the sending of missionaries abroad to the nations of the earth to preach the Gospel, or whether it be the sacrifice of our homes and all that we possess on earth—all these things would be cheerfully given did we but love the Lord, our God, with all our mind, might and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. There would be little need of admonishing the people to attend to their prayers; and little need of admonishing them to pay their tithes and offerings, and attend their meetings and to do other things that are incumbent upon Latter-day Saints.
The burden of the instructions during this conference has been to the Latter- day Saints to banish from our hearts all feelings of animosity, bitterness, hate and enmity that we may entertain toward anyone. If we do not forgive our brother his trespasses there remains in us the greater sin. The object of the Gospel is to build up, to benefit, to strengthen and to bless and comfort the human family. That is our mission, we are here to do good, we are here to build up, we are here to extend a helping hand to any brother or sister who is oppressed, to reach out the hand of kindness to each other, to be forgiving.
We are all full of weaknesses, faults of mortality, there are none of us that are perfect. There is not one within the sound of my voice this afternoon that has not transgressed to a greater or less extent during his life. When we are inclined to find fault with our brother or sister, let us investigate our own soul and it is probable we will then find more fault with ourselves than we can with our brethren and sisters. Another admonition of the prophet of the Lord to this people for several years has been to get out of debt. These two points, as they have impressed me during this conference, have been sufficient to repay me for the time and means I have spent in coming something more than 200 miles to attend this conference. I sincerely hope that these two great principles, the importance of the Latter-day Saints loving each other, being true to each other, standing (Shoulder to shoulder, extending the hand of kindness to each other, and the other great principle that has been advocated, to get out of debt—I sincerely trust that these two great topics, may burn down deep into the heart of every person who has attended this conference.
It was a source of regret to listen to the statement of one of our brethren yesterday who rather questioned whether the Latter-day Saints were any more out of debt today than they were when the Prophet Joseph P. Smith gave this counsel two or three years ago. If we have not profited by this admonition, the responsibility rests upon our shoulders, for it has certainly come to us in no unmistakable terms, as being the mind and will of our Heavenly Father. If we continue to remain in that condition, without lifting the obligations that are resting upon our shoulders, we shall have to stand the consequences. The day may come that the people will be urgently required to pay their obligations to those that they are in debt to, and perhaps have their hemes and farms sold in consequence. It would be a fearful thing, brothers and sisters, to contemplate that, in the face of this good and wholesome counsel coming from men whom we revere as inspired of our Heavenly Father.
I hope that we will feel the importance of this, my brothers and sister?. Latter-day Saints should not be obligated to the people of the world. Our Heavenly Father has said to Israel that they should be lenders and not borrowers. Every good and perfect blessing that can come to mortal man is the right of every Latter-day Saint to enjoy. All the wealth and riches of this earth, and all other blessings that our Heavenly Father has vouchsafed, the Latter-day Saints are entitled to through faithfulness. I do not know of any greater trouble or vexation that can come to the human heart than to be burdened with a load of debt. To be thoroughly miserable a man needs only to obligate himself, to become involved in debt. If we want to hi happy let us extricate ourselves from this bondage. Let us be a free people, as our Heavenly Father has designed that we should be. He has established us here, in the midst of these rocky mountains, for a wise and glorious purpose, in fulfilment of utterances of the prophets made many hundreds of years ago. He designs to make us a great people. Let us be true to each other, and true to our file leaders, which I feel sure we will be. We will be true to our brethren who are called to lead us. We know they are men of God; we know they are humble, and that they do not seek to aggrandize themselves at the expense of their fellows, notwithstanding all the hard things that are said against them by those who are seeking to tear them down.
I bear testimony to you that I know this is the work of God; I know that our Heavenly Father has a watchful eye over this people, and all we need to do is to remain true to the covenants we have made with Him, and He will sustain us. May God be with you, and bless you, my brothers and sisters. May love abound in your homes, at your firesides, in your gatherings; may the peace of heaven be with us all, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER OLEEN L. STOHL,
(President of Boxelder Stake.)
My brothers and sisters, I most humbly desire that what I shall say to you this afternoon may be directed by the Spirit of the Lord. I have very much rejoiced in being permitted to attend this general conference of the Church; and, beginning with the first meeting and continuing to the present time, I have felt that it was never my privilege to attend a conference of the Church. where I experienced a greater outpouring of the power of God than I have done in this. We frequently hear it stated by our brethren and sisters who attend these conferences that the last conference is always the best. I believe we can testify to that truthfully, in the case of this conference; and I believe further, that this is just as it should be. If the Latter-day Saints are living their religion, as God has required of us that we should, we will be entitled to increased outpourings of His Spirit; consequently each conference we attend will appear to be the best. I have thought that I never witnessed more enthusiasm, nor did I ever notice a more hearty vote for the authorities of our Church than that which was manifest in sustaining them at the conference meeting on last Friday afternoon. It was gratifying to me to see that, when our file leaders are attacked, the rank and file of the Latter-day Saints are ready to resent those attacks by showing to their leaders their loyal support for them. They also must feel gratified in seeing the loyalty, and enthusiasm with which the Latter-day Saints have come to this conference and taken part In its proceedings. I am thankful that I can say that I was born in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that I was born here in the valleys of the mountains. Under the direction of my parents, it has been my privilege to attend the conferences and meetings which have been held In the locality where I have lived. I have had great interest in reflecting over my past life, and my experiences in connection with this Church, and in considering that which I have heard come from our leaders. It was my privilege to listen to President Brigham Young instruct the Latter-day Saints, and, though I was only a boy, I remember very distinctly a number of the discourses I heard him deliver, and the counsel I heard him give to the Latter-day Saints. Since that time I have heard all of the leaders of the Church, the presidents of the Church, and the Apostles that were associated with them, instruct the Latter-day Saints. I say to you, my brothers and sisters, that during my entire lifetime and experience-, I never heard one of those brethren enunciate a doctrine unto the people that was in any degree degrading, or that, in any respect, would tend to lower the manhood or womanhood of any son or daughter of God. On the other hand. I testify to you, sincerely, that everything I have heard them teach, the principles they have brought before the people, the counsels they have given, have been of a nature to uplift the sons and daughters of God. if they would live in accordance with them. I feel to say, thank God for the men who have stood at the head of this Church, for the leaders whom He has raised up to direct this people. I do not know that there is any greater evidence of the divinity of their work than that which we see at the present time. There never was a time in the history of the Church when it was stronger than it is today; and I believe there never was a time in the Church when we experienced more of the power of God in it than we do today.
I am pleased to say to you that, in the stake where I have the honor to preside. I have never seen a time when the presidency and the High Council of that stake were more united, or more anxious to perform their duties than they are today, anxious to labor among the people, anxious to do their duty and direct in the affairs of that part of the Lord's vineyard. I have been well pleased in noticing, during the recent month or two ,the great interest manifest in the opening of our Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement associations. We have never before seen such devotedness and zeal manifest as we have observed during the opening of this season's work. We hope and expect, to see the same earnestness in relation to the young men's M. I. associations when they begin their work, and so also with the quorums of the Priesthood. Now, this all shows to me that there is faith among the Latter-day Saints, they are not dead, they are not waning from their first love of the Gospel, but that it still burns in their hearts, and they are desirous and anxious to do all that lies in their power to perform their duty in building up the kingdom of God. How is it that we occupy this position today, that we are stronger than we ever were before? I bear my testimony that it is because God has raised up great and good men as our leaders, who have been inspired by His Spirit to lead and direct the Latter-day Saints in the way that they should go, and because of our obedience to their teachings and instructions, we have attained the growth and strength that we now witness and enjoy in the Church. How inconsistent it is. my brothers and sisters, for our enemies to say to the body of the Church, "You are all right, you people are all right; those who are wrong are the leaders of the Church. It is that body of men we are after, that we desire to pull down, because they have transgressed; but you are going in the right path, everything is well with you; the leaders are the ones that have stepped to one side." How ridiculous and inconsistent it is for anybody to make that kind of statement. We are what we are today, as the body of the Church, because we have accepted the counsels and teachings of our leaders; and, if we had only lived closer to their councils and teachings, as a Church, we would have been much stronger today even than we are. I say to you that if we will continue in the future to abide by their counsels we will become a strong and mighty people. I am. thankful for the testimony I have in relation to the divinity of this work, and for the standing T have in the Church of Christ today; and I feel that this is something every Latter-day Saint must appreciate. We certainly must admit that the Church has been a great blessing to us and that through our allegiance to that Church, and affiliation with it. we have received many great and wonderful blessings. We know that those who are living their religion today in this Church, and who are endeavoring to keep the commandments of God, are not the disgruntled ones, they are not the ones who are complaining about the authorities of the Church. We find that those who are making complaints, and expressing dissatisfaction are those who have not kept the counsels and admonitions of God that have come to the people through our leaders. Nor are they the ones who have lived in accordance with the Gospel as it has been made known to us.
We know, those of us who have obeyed the doctrine, that great blessings come to us through obedience to the law of tithing. In connection with this I say it is not they who pay their tithes who are complaining today in relation to the principle of tithing. It is not they who are fearful as to the handling of their tithing, or as to whether it is properly distributed or not. You will find, upon investigation, that those who are finding fault, who are making these complaints, are those who fail to pay their tithes. I believe this principle is attacked because our enemies think they can have more influence with some of the weak members of the Church. They have an idea that if you attack or touch the pocket of a man, you can appeal to him by virtue of that supposed fact and may thus succeed in turning hint away from the church, and get him to refuse to lend his support. Those who have tested this principle, who have; proven this doctrine, will not be influenced by that sophistry. That kind of argument will not appeal to them, because they have proven the doctrine for themselves; they know that it is true, and that blessings are poured out in obedience to that principle, as God has promised that they would be. They are blessed, not only in a spiritual way, but they are also blessed temporally. They are satisfied and contented, and acknowledge to their Father that they have been built up spiritually and temporally through obedience to that law; not only by the observance of that law but every other law pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we have accepted it. If we will thus prove the doctrine, brethren and sisters, put it to the test, we will never apostatize from the Church. They who apostatize and leave the Church are they who have failed to prove the doctrine, and who have not got faith in it. We may increase our faith by putting these principles into daily practice, thus testing them, and finding out for ourselves whether they are true or not. I testify to you, that my experience, short as it has been in the Church, is this, that whenever I have obeyed a principle of the gospel and put it to the test, I have never had any doubt in my mind in relation to the divinity of that principle. These principles are divine, and eternal, and if you practice them in humility, in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel, you will have a testimony of the divinity of the work.
As I said before I thank God for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I thank God that I am permitted to live in the day and dispensation of the world when He raised up a prophet, and when He and His Son came to earth, and visited and did commune with that boy, and counseled and instructed him, and continued to Instruct him until the result was the complete organization of the Church. I thank God for this, my brethren and sisters, and for the testimony I have that I know this is the work of God. Let us progress, let us be faithful, upright and God-fearing in that which we have to do. Let us serve the Lord. Let us uphold one another and the authorities who preside over us. I feel that when a man attacks the President of this Church he attacks me. I feel that when President Joseph F. Smith is vilified and belittled by those who are our enemies, I also am attacked and belittled, and they are trying to besmirch my character, for the reason that I am instrumental, as one of the members of the Church, in helping to support and sustain President Joseph F. Smith in his position. And I feel that when he is attacked, it is my duty, and it is your duty—or when any of his brethren are attacked, who stand close to him— it is our duty, as supporters, who have held up our hands to sustain them in positions they occupy, to lift up our voices in their defense. May the peace and blessings of heaven continue to abide with us, as Latter-day Saints; may we have strength to perform our duties; if we will do so there never will be a time in the Church but what greater blessings and greater things than we have yet experienced will be poured out upon us. And that this blessing may follow in our behalf I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang, "Speak to My Soul."
(President of Boxelder Stake.)
My brothers and sisters, I most humbly desire that what I shall say to you this afternoon may be directed by the Spirit of the Lord. I have very much rejoiced in being permitted to attend this general conference of the Church; and, beginning with the first meeting and continuing to the present time, I have felt that it was never my privilege to attend a conference of the Church. where I experienced a greater outpouring of the power of God than I have done in this. We frequently hear it stated by our brethren and sisters who attend these conferences that the last conference is always the best. I believe we can testify to that truthfully, in the case of this conference; and I believe further, that this is just as it should be. If the Latter-day Saints are living their religion, as God has required of us that we should, we will be entitled to increased outpourings of His Spirit; consequently each conference we attend will appear to be the best. I have thought that I never witnessed more enthusiasm, nor did I ever notice a more hearty vote for the authorities of our Church than that which was manifest in sustaining them at the conference meeting on last Friday afternoon. It was gratifying to me to see that, when our file leaders are attacked, the rank and file of the Latter-day Saints are ready to resent those attacks by showing to their leaders their loyal support for them. They also must feel gratified in seeing the loyalty, and enthusiasm with which the Latter-day Saints have come to this conference and taken part In its proceedings. I am thankful that I can say that I was born in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that I was born here in the valleys of the mountains. Under the direction of my parents, it has been my privilege to attend the conferences and meetings which have been held In the locality where I have lived. I have had great interest in reflecting over my past life, and my experiences in connection with this Church, and in considering that which I have heard come from our leaders. It was my privilege to listen to President Brigham Young instruct the Latter-day Saints, and, though I was only a boy, I remember very distinctly a number of the discourses I heard him deliver, and the counsel I heard him give to the Latter-day Saints. Since that time I have heard all of the leaders of the Church, the presidents of the Church, and the Apostles that were associated with them, instruct the Latter-day Saints. I say to you, my brothers and sisters, that during my entire lifetime and experience-, I never heard one of those brethren enunciate a doctrine unto the people that was in any degree degrading, or that, in any respect, would tend to lower the manhood or womanhood of any son or daughter of God. On the other hand. I testify to you, sincerely, that everything I have heard them teach, the principles they have brought before the people, the counsels they have given, have been of a nature to uplift the sons and daughters of God. if they would live in accordance with them. I feel to say, thank God for the men who have stood at the head of this Church, for the leaders whom He has raised up to direct this people. I do not know that there is any greater evidence of the divinity of their work than that which we see at the present time. There never was a time in the history of the Church when it was stronger than it is today; and I believe there never was a time in the Church when we experienced more of the power of God in it than we do today.
I am pleased to say to you that, in the stake where I have the honor to preside. I have never seen a time when the presidency and the High Council of that stake were more united, or more anxious to perform their duties than they are today, anxious to labor among the people, anxious to do their duty and direct in the affairs of that part of the Lord's vineyard. I have been well pleased in noticing, during the recent month or two ,the great interest manifest in the opening of our Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement associations. We have never before seen such devotedness and zeal manifest as we have observed during the opening of this season's work. We hope and expect, to see the same earnestness in relation to the young men's M. I. associations when they begin their work, and so also with the quorums of the Priesthood. Now, this all shows to me that there is faith among the Latter-day Saints, they are not dead, they are not waning from their first love of the Gospel, but that it still burns in their hearts, and they are desirous and anxious to do all that lies in their power to perform their duty in building up the kingdom of God. How is it that we occupy this position today, that we are stronger than we ever were before? I bear my testimony that it is because God has raised up great and good men as our leaders, who have been inspired by His Spirit to lead and direct the Latter-day Saints in the way that they should go, and because of our obedience to their teachings and instructions, we have attained the growth and strength that we now witness and enjoy in the Church. How inconsistent it is. my brothers and sisters, for our enemies to say to the body of the Church, "You are all right, you people are all right; those who are wrong are the leaders of the Church. It is that body of men we are after, that we desire to pull down, because they have transgressed; but you are going in the right path, everything is well with you; the leaders are the ones that have stepped to one side." How ridiculous and inconsistent it is for anybody to make that kind of statement. We are what we are today, as the body of the Church, because we have accepted the counsels and teachings of our leaders; and, if we had only lived closer to their councils and teachings, as a Church, we would have been much stronger today even than we are. I say to you that if we will continue in the future to abide by their counsels we will become a strong and mighty people. I am. thankful for the testimony I have in relation to the divinity of this work, and for the standing T have in the Church of Christ today; and I feel that this is something every Latter-day Saint must appreciate. We certainly must admit that the Church has been a great blessing to us and that through our allegiance to that Church, and affiliation with it. we have received many great and wonderful blessings. We know that those who are living their religion today in this Church, and who are endeavoring to keep the commandments of God, are not the disgruntled ones, they are not the ones who are complaining about the authorities of the Church. We find that those who are making complaints, and expressing dissatisfaction are those who have not kept the counsels and admonitions of God that have come to the people through our leaders. Nor are they the ones who have lived in accordance with the Gospel as it has been made known to us.
We know, those of us who have obeyed the doctrine, that great blessings come to us through obedience to the law of tithing. In connection with this I say it is not they who pay their tithes who are complaining today in relation to the principle of tithing. It is not they who are fearful as to the handling of their tithing, or as to whether it is properly distributed or not. You will find, upon investigation, that those who are finding fault, who are making these complaints, are those who fail to pay their tithes. I believe this principle is attacked because our enemies think they can have more influence with some of the weak members of the Church. They have an idea that if you attack or touch the pocket of a man, you can appeal to him by virtue of that supposed fact and may thus succeed in turning hint away from the church, and get him to refuse to lend his support. Those who have tested this principle, who have; proven this doctrine, will not be influenced by that sophistry. That kind of argument will not appeal to them, because they have proven the doctrine for themselves; they know that it is true, and that blessings are poured out in obedience to that principle, as God has promised that they would be. They are blessed, not only in a spiritual way, but they are also blessed temporally. They are satisfied and contented, and acknowledge to their Father that they have been built up spiritually and temporally through obedience to that law; not only by the observance of that law but every other law pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we have accepted it. If we will thus prove the doctrine, brethren and sisters, put it to the test, we will never apostatize from the Church. They who apostatize and leave the Church are they who have failed to prove the doctrine, and who have not got faith in it. We may increase our faith by putting these principles into daily practice, thus testing them, and finding out for ourselves whether they are true or not. I testify to you, that my experience, short as it has been in the Church, is this, that whenever I have obeyed a principle of the gospel and put it to the test, I have never had any doubt in my mind in relation to the divinity of that principle. These principles are divine, and eternal, and if you practice them in humility, in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel, you will have a testimony of the divinity of the work.
As I said before I thank God for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I thank God that I am permitted to live in the day and dispensation of the world when He raised up a prophet, and when He and His Son came to earth, and visited and did commune with that boy, and counseled and instructed him, and continued to Instruct him until the result was the complete organization of the Church. I thank God for this, my brethren and sisters, and for the testimony I have that I know this is the work of God. Let us progress, let us be faithful, upright and God-fearing in that which we have to do. Let us serve the Lord. Let us uphold one another and the authorities who preside over us. I feel that when a man attacks the President of this Church he attacks me. I feel that when President Joseph F. Smith is vilified and belittled by those who are our enemies, I also am attacked and belittled, and they are trying to besmirch my character, for the reason that I am instrumental, as one of the members of the Church, in helping to support and sustain President Joseph F. Smith in his position. And I feel that when he is attacked, it is my duty, and it is your duty—or when any of his brethren are attacked, who stand close to him— it is our duty, as supporters, who have held up our hands to sustain them in positions they occupy, to lift up our voices in their defense. May the peace and blessings of heaven continue to abide with us, as Latter-day Saints; may we have strength to perform our duties; if we will do so there never will be a time in the Church but what greater blessings and greater things than we have yet experienced will be poured out upon us. And that this blessing may follow in our behalf I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang, "Speak to My Soul."
ELDER NEPHI L. MORRIS,
(President of Salt Lake Stake.)
At the conclusion of each meeting of this conference I have felt in my heart a deep sense of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the personal assurance he has given me of His presence with the Saints in this great conference. I don't know that the Church ever saw more splendid exhibitions of unity, perfect harmony of feeling, a more magnificent display of priestly influence than that which has been exhibited during this conference. The days of small things are past. The Kingdom of God shall not again be reduced to anything like its infancy; year by year we see it moving onward, increasing in strength and power, increasing in intelligence and in the virtues of the Gospel, until it has become a light unto the world placed upon a hill top, and it cannot be hid. No matter what circumstances may surround the Church, no matter what attitude the world may maintain toward it, no matter how devoutly some work for its destruction, all the world must admit that "Mormonism" is moving steadily onward in the face of the opposition of the world.
I rejoice in this exhibition of power and progressiveness, because the work of God is dear to me. and is, in fact, the dearest thing I know. There is nothing on earth which has from me such reverence, such an abiding confidence, as this latter-day work.
I can easily conceive of institutions of 'the earth going to pieces, of nations falling, of races being annihilated or absorbed by greater nations. But it is not within the scope of my mentality to conceive of the destruction and annihilation of the work of God. Where that conviction or that feeling comes from, I leave you to judge. Whether it be from a steady growth of faith, from tradition or parental teachings, I am not, perhaps, prepared to say definitely. But there appears to me to be nothing on earth so strong, and so abiding, and so certain of triumph as the work of God. This too in the face of all the predictions that are made to the contrary.
The remarks of Elder Stohl regarding the compliment, which is paid by our friends, the enemy, to the Latter-day Saints as a people, wherein they say, "we have nothing against you Mormon people; in fact you are a very good people; you are industrious, you are honorable; you are, indeed, a good people; but your leaders are bad!" What a silly piece of sophistry this is. "Your leaders are bad, but you are good." Do you pluck grapes from thistles?" Where do these leaders come from are they not the fruit and the product of the people? When we desire to Install one in any quorum to preside, do we go outside of the Church to find him? Invariably they are taken from the rank and file of the priesthood, from the people, and they are the fruit, the outgrowth of the people. What gives me great encouragement is that the people and the leaders are one, and that the people are like the leaders; if the leaders are corrupt and bad, then ' so are the people. If the people are good, then so are the leaders, they are the same kith and kin. The same spirit characterizes them that characterizes the people as a whole. What finer compliment could be paid to men than to say, that the great body of industrious, honest people known as the Latter-day Saints have unlimited confidence in their leaders? This is the compliment which the opposition pay to the leaders, when they say they are bad, for the people, four hundred thousand strong, represented by leading men from every ward and quorum in Zion, assemble and lift their hands, 10,000 strong, to support those leaders whom the world say are corrupt. I wonder if as much could be said of the leaders of the opposition, if there are people who have confidence in them to trust their tithes, and if necessary their lives, in the hands of those leaders? From my personal acquaintanceship with some of these men, I doubt if anybody on earth has confidence in them; I know I have not. I have traveled with them, corresponded with them, conversed with them, and have had business associations with some of them for years, but I have absolutely no confidence in them, and I know whereof I speak. Among us things are altogether different. It is the most inconsistent proposition I ever heard made that a people have bad leaders when those leaders are taken from and out of the people. Now to a stranger, and perhaps to some of our old members, these compliments which we pay to ourselves may be a little offensive. I admit we might go to the extreme in defending ourselves, but we must not forget, my brethren and sisters, that we are put on the defensive. The war which is waged against the Latter-day Saints compels there to speak in their own defense, or they stand condemned in silence; and since it is their right to speak no one can object to their speaking if they wish to. We do not look upon our leaders as being without blemish and perfect. We know they have weaknesses, and for their weaknesses we have sympathy and charity, because like weaknesses exist in us. If the leaders and the people were perfect there would be no use for the Gospel, so far as we are concerned, for the Gospel is the power of God unto perfection, or salvation. It is a means to an end. and it has imperfect beings to deal with, and that is why we have the Gospel to correct our evils and improve our lives. We do not admit, however, that the leaders of our people, or that the people themselves, are in the slightest degree below the average of Christian morality and discipleship. I was thinking while the brethren were speaking of a familiar passage found in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. There are a few of the sentences which fell from the Savior's lips while delivering His great sermon on the mount. Let me read three verses:
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
"Blessed are ye when men revile you, and persecute you." Have we not been taught throughout this conference, and throughout our lives for that matter, the principles of forgiveness and charity and loving kindness? If the world did not persecute us and revile us we would have nothing to forgive, and we would suffer a great loss if we had no one to offend or oppose us. "Blessed are ye when men persecute you," because you then may exercise the highest virtues in the human soul, the virtues of forgiveness and charity. Our blessed Savior, the man of sorrows, came to earth to teach us how to live that we might live more abundantly, that life might be made large and beautiful in its nature, that it might be progressive in its course; and His life above all other lives teaches us the sublime principle of forgiveness. He, however, was not always meek and submissive. Not always did he seem to allow evil and sin and iniquity to pass by unrebuked. Sometimes His soul was stirred to indignation, and in nobility, yea sublimity of character did he denounce the hypocrite, and all who loved iniquity and unrighteousness, calling them hypocrites who garnished the sepulchres and so on, made the external look clean and white and beautiful, but within they were full of dead men's bones, and their hearts were corrupt and their inner lives unholy. They were not what they seemed or professed to be. But as we reach the climax in His sublime career, I fancy He almost needed this quality of denunciation and rebuke, and in the Garden of Gethsemane, on Golgotha's hill, He opened not His mouth but to utter the sublime words which made Him very God, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." This Is no doubt the highest ideal ever given to the world, and every true disciple of Christ must strive to attain to that beautiful holy type of discipleship, to forgive when offended, to be longsuffering and charitable, not only with offending brothers, but with the enemies who avow their wrath and hatred for you. Then in this light, for a moment, contemplate the unique position which the Latter-day Saints occupy in this world. Where is there such a people, who have an opportunity of forgiving and blessing those who revile and who would persecute. There is only one thing upon which the Christian world are united, and that is in persecuting and denouncing the Latter-day Saints. The love of God has been unable to unite the Christian world for two thousand years, but the hate of the work of Christ has at last united them. Now, this is rather strange doctrine, but that is how it appears to a Latter-day Saint, and we claim the right to speak as we feel, so long as we respect other people in the same capacity.
I am reminded of an incident, or rather of a few remarks made by President Smith not many months ago, during the recent tirade of slander, of which he has been the extreme object. He came into a convention of Sunday school workers, was weary and exhausted from his day's toil, but was asked to speak to the convention, and during his address he gave expression to these thoughts, these feelings, rather: "To answer our enemies in the same angry spirit with which they attack us, would be to take the poison of the adder into our own hearts, and thereby debase ourselves to their level. It is better for us to say, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' But," he added, "I know that they do know what they are doing." Now, President Smith (since we are not in his presence, we may speak freely of him, for among the other virtues which he possesses is the virtue of modesty, and in his presence I should not feel free to speak of him in this light; knowing him to some degree at least as I do, I thought I saw in such an expression as this a splendid triumph in his character, for he is not a man like our friends cut in alabaster: he is a man whose blood is warm within, filled with impulses, passions, strong in intent in his nature, and after he had endured the most furious assault which had been made, carried on for months together, he could arise in public and speak with such meekness of spirit, I thought what a splendid victory he has gained over himself. How blessed is he in being able to say, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," and he would not debase himself to answer back in the same angry spirit which characterized the assault made upon him. And then, as this is his experience, so it is the experience of every Latter-day Saint, for we are one, and we all have similar splendid opportunities of exhibiting these true marks of discipleship, forgiveness and charity.
There is still another phase of this opposition, which is developing quite a philosophy among us, the philosophy concerning opposition, for the Book of Mormon has told us that there must be opposition in all things. We begin to appreciate the benefits of opposition. We now see that the curse that seeming curse, which was pronounced upon Father Adam and Mother Eve, was a blessing in disguise, and today the disguise is removed and we see it plainly. The. Lord, when He cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, told them to subdue the earth and conquer it, and have dominion. That was no curse. That was the greatest blessing which ever came to the human race, when He told them to get to work, to conquer and subdue the earth, He showed them the pathway to dominion, to sovereignty, to power. What a splendid journey mankind has traveled from that day to this! How the earth is his, and serves his purpose; how the beasts of the field and all the creatures of the earth are a service to man, because he has conquered the earth and made it his. So down through al! the vicissitudes of human life, opposition, resistance has been a cause of development in men of powers and faculties which they would not have known had it not been for this opposition. Does not the eagle dash his beak harshly on a rock before the Igneuman comes; but with the fight he takes on new life, increased powers are developed, and he is made stronger and heroic for the vicissitudes through which he has passed. In national life the same principle holds. Where will you go for your ideals as American citizens, to which particular period will you appeal for the highest types of American citizenship, for the finest samples of patriotism? You will not go to the long period of prosperity. You will go back to the dark days, to the crisis in national history to a Nathan Hale, or an Ethan Allen, who, when being led to the scaffold and asked if he had anything to say, his words were, "My only regret is that I have but one life to give to my country." You will go back to Washington who, with his sons at Valley Forge, faced the thrills and difficulties of adverse wintry elements, scantily clad, foraging for food, but forced his way to victorious deliverance. You will go back to the critical period of Lincoln for another ideal. And so we must always go to the dark hour, the day of adversity, to discover our real strength, and see the development of the highest principles and virtues within us. And with us as a people does not the same principle hold? Since we have endured the hardships of expulsion from Missouri and Illinois we could be no more paralyzed or frightened by such things, because the work of God has triumphed over these things, and grown stronger withal. In fact, I believe we may lay down as a fundamental principle in human experience, one which history will bear out satisfactorily, that men seldom do great things voluntarily, that the greatest achievements in the world have come out of necessity. Men do things because they have to; at least that has been our experience. Locally, what has been our history in this respect. We have spoken of the increased number, the increase of territory which is occupied by our people. We speak with pleasure and pride of the vast expanse of territory occupied by the Saints of God. We point to Mexico on the south and to Canada on the north, and the splendid stretch of land between that is more or less within the domain of Mormonism. How did we happen to acquire our foothold and standing In Mexico? Not because we wanted to, but because we were compelled to, because things were uncomfortable in Utah, and we had to go to Mexico. How did we discover and acquire our foothold and promising commonwealths and prosperity in the Gem state on the north? Not because we wanted to go to Idaho, but because under peculiar existing circumstances we had to go to Idaho, and the same thing may be said of Canada as well. So that opposition and necessity have brought to us the greatest blessings we know; and if we ever move from here, in part or in whole, (I don't see how that will be) history suggests that we thereby might move another step forward because it will be conformable for us to do it. So that we have nothing to fear in opposition, but we need to rejoice and be exceeding glad because of the blessings which come to us by reason thereof.
I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Joseph, which let me read in conclusion, because they are a source of encouragement to me, and they will be to all Latter-day Saints; and if he who had passed through the trying ordeals that he experienced, if he could speak this way, surely we, seventy years later with all the splendid achievements passed before us, we may also echo his words. Said he:
"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may vent her venom, but the truth will go forth, nobly, boldly and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done." Amen.
(President of Salt Lake Stake.)
At the conclusion of each meeting of this conference I have felt in my heart a deep sense of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for the personal assurance he has given me of His presence with the Saints in this great conference. I don't know that the Church ever saw more splendid exhibitions of unity, perfect harmony of feeling, a more magnificent display of priestly influence than that which has been exhibited during this conference. The days of small things are past. The Kingdom of God shall not again be reduced to anything like its infancy; year by year we see it moving onward, increasing in strength and power, increasing in intelligence and in the virtues of the Gospel, until it has become a light unto the world placed upon a hill top, and it cannot be hid. No matter what circumstances may surround the Church, no matter what attitude the world may maintain toward it, no matter how devoutly some work for its destruction, all the world must admit that "Mormonism" is moving steadily onward in the face of the opposition of the world.
I rejoice in this exhibition of power and progressiveness, because the work of God is dear to me. and is, in fact, the dearest thing I know. There is nothing on earth which has from me such reverence, such an abiding confidence, as this latter-day work.
I can easily conceive of institutions of 'the earth going to pieces, of nations falling, of races being annihilated or absorbed by greater nations. But it is not within the scope of my mentality to conceive of the destruction and annihilation of the work of God. Where that conviction or that feeling comes from, I leave you to judge. Whether it be from a steady growth of faith, from tradition or parental teachings, I am not, perhaps, prepared to say definitely. But there appears to me to be nothing on earth so strong, and so abiding, and so certain of triumph as the work of God. This too in the face of all the predictions that are made to the contrary.
The remarks of Elder Stohl regarding the compliment, which is paid by our friends, the enemy, to the Latter-day Saints as a people, wherein they say, "we have nothing against you Mormon people; in fact you are a very good people; you are industrious, you are honorable; you are, indeed, a good people; but your leaders are bad!" What a silly piece of sophistry this is. "Your leaders are bad, but you are good." Do you pluck grapes from thistles?" Where do these leaders come from are they not the fruit and the product of the people? When we desire to Install one in any quorum to preside, do we go outside of the Church to find him? Invariably they are taken from the rank and file of the priesthood, from the people, and they are the fruit, the outgrowth of the people. What gives me great encouragement is that the people and the leaders are one, and that the people are like the leaders; if the leaders are corrupt and bad, then ' so are the people. If the people are good, then so are the leaders, they are the same kith and kin. The same spirit characterizes them that characterizes the people as a whole. What finer compliment could be paid to men than to say, that the great body of industrious, honest people known as the Latter-day Saints have unlimited confidence in their leaders? This is the compliment which the opposition pay to the leaders, when they say they are bad, for the people, four hundred thousand strong, represented by leading men from every ward and quorum in Zion, assemble and lift their hands, 10,000 strong, to support those leaders whom the world say are corrupt. I wonder if as much could be said of the leaders of the opposition, if there are people who have confidence in them to trust their tithes, and if necessary their lives, in the hands of those leaders? From my personal acquaintanceship with some of these men, I doubt if anybody on earth has confidence in them; I know I have not. I have traveled with them, corresponded with them, conversed with them, and have had business associations with some of them for years, but I have absolutely no confidence in them, and I know whereof I speak. Among us things are altogether different. It is the most inconsistent proposition I ever heard made that a people have bad leaders when those leaders are taken from and out of the people. Now to a stranger, and perhaps to some of our old members, these compliments which we pay to ourselves may be a little offensive. I admit we might go to the extreme in defending ourselves, but we must not forget, my brethren and sisters, that we are put on the defensive. The war which is waged against the Latter-day Saints compels there to speak in their own defense, or they stand condemned in silence; and since it is their right to speak no one can object to their speaking if they wish to. We do not look upon our leaders as being without blemish and perfect. We know they have weaknesses, and for their weaknesses we have sympathy and charity, because like weaknesses exist in us. If the leaders and the people were perfect there would be no use for the Gospel, so far as we are concerned, for the Gospel is the power of God unto perfection, or salvation. It is a means to an end. and it has imperfect beings to deal with, and that is why we have the Gospel to correct our evils and improve our lives. We do not admit, however, that the leaders of our people, or that the people themselves, are in the slightest degree below the average of Christian morality and discipleship. I was thinking while the brethren were speaking of a familiar passage found in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. There are a few of the sentences which fell from the Savior's lips while delivering His great sermon on the mount. Let me read three verses:
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
"Blessed are ye when men revile you, and persecute you." Have we not been taught throughout this conference, and throughout our lives for that matter, the principles of forgiveness and charity and loving kindness? If the world did not persecute us and revile us we would have nothing to forgive, and we would suffer a great loss if we had no one to offend or oppose us. "Blessed are ye when men persecute you," because you then may exercise the highest virtues in the human soul, the virtues of forgiveness and charity. Our blessed Savior, the man of sorrows, came to earth to teach us how to live that we might live more abundantly, that life might be made large and beautiful in its nature, that it might be progressive in its course; and His life above all other lives teaches us the sublime principle of forgiveness. He, however, was not always meek and submissive. Not always did he seem to allow evil and sin and iniquity to pass by unrebuked. Sometimes His soul was stirred to indignation, and in nobility, yea sublimity of character did he denounce the hypocrite, and all who loved iniquity and unrighteousness, calling them hypocrites who garnished the sepulchres and so on, made the external look clean and white and beautiful, but within they were full of dead men's bones, and their hearts were corrupt and their inner lives unholy. They were not what they seemed or professed to be. But as we reach the climax in His sublime career, I fancy He almost needed this quality of denunciation and rebuke, and in the Garden of Gethsemane, on Golgotha's hill, He opened not His mouth but to utter the sublime words which made Him very God, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." This Is no doubt the highest ideal ever given to the world, and every true disciple of Christ must strive to attain to that beautiful holy type of discipleship, to forgive when offended, to be longsuffering and charitable, not only with offending brothers, but with the enemies who avow their wrath and hatred for you. Then in this light, for a moment, contemplate the unique position which the Latter-day Saints occupy in this world. Where is there such a people, who have an opportunity of forgiving and blessing those who revile and who would persecute. There is only one thing upon which the Christian world are united, and that is in persecuting and denouncing the Latter-day Saints. The love of God has been unable to unite the Christian world for two thousand years, but the hate of the work of Christ has at last united them. Now, this is rather strange doctrine, but that is how it appears to a Latter-day Saint, and we claim the right to speak as we feel, so long as we respect other people in the same capacity.
I am reminded of an incident, or rather of a few remarks made by President Smith not many months ago, during the recent tirade of slander, of which he has been the extreme object. He came into a convention of Sunday school workers, was weary and exhausted from his day's toil, but was asked to speak to the convention, and during his address he gave expression to these thoughts, these feelings, rather: "To answer our enemies in the same angry spirit with which they attack us, would be to take the poison of the adder into our own hearts, and thereby debase ourselves to their level. It is better for us to say, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' But," he added, "I know that they do know what they are doing." Now, President Smith (since we are not in his presence, we may speak freely of him, for among the other virtues which he possesses is the virtue of modesty, and in his presence I should not feel free to speak of him in this light; knowing him to some degree at least as I do, I thought I saw in such an expression as this a splendid triumph in his character, for he is not a man like our friends cut in alabaster: he is a man whose blood is warm within, filled with impulses, passions, strong in intent in his nature, and after he had endured the most furious assault which had been made, carried on for months together, he could arise in public and speak with such meekness of spirit, I thought what a splendid victory he has gained over himself. How blessed is he in being able to say, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," and he would not debase himself to answer back in the same angry spirit which characterized the assault made upon him. And then, as this is his experience, so it is the experience of every Latter-day Saint, for we are one, and we all have similar splendid opportunities of exhibiting these true marks of discipleship, forgiveness and charity.
There is still another phase of this opposition, which is developing quite a philosophy among us, the philosophy concerning opposition, for the Book of Mormon has told us that there must be opposition in all things. We begin to appreciate the benefits of opposition. We now see that the curse that seeming curse, which was pronounced upon Father Adam and Mother Eve, was a blessing in disguise, and today the disguise is removed and we see it plainly. The. Lord, when He cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, told them to subdue the earth and conquer it, and have dominion. That was no curse. That was the greatest blessing which ever came to the human race, when He told them to get to work, to conquer and subdue the earth, He showed them the pathway to dominion, to sovereignty, to power. What a splendid journey mankind has traveled from that day to this! How the earth is his, and serves his purpose; how the beasts of the field and all the creatures of the earth are a service to man, because he has conquered the earth and made it his. So down through al! the vicissitudes of human life, opposition, resistance has been a cause of development in men of powers and faculties which they would not have known had it not been for this opposition. Does not the eagle dash his beak harshly on a rock before the Igneuman comes; but with the fight he takes on new life, increased powers are developed, and he is made stronger and heroic for the vicissitudes through which he has passed. In national life the same principle holds. Where will you go for your ideals as American citizens, to which particular period will you appeal for the highest types of American citizenship, for the finest samples of patriotism? You will not go to the long period of prosperity. You will go back to the dark days, to the crisis in national history to a Nathan Hale, or an Ethan Allen, who, when being led to the scaffold and asked if he had anything to say, his words were, "My only regret is that I have but one life to give to my country." You will go back to Washington who, with his sons at Valley Forge, faced the thrills and difficulties of adverse wintry elements, scantily clad, foraging for food, but forced his way to victorious deliverance. You will go back to the critical period of Lincoln for another ideal. And so we must always go to the dark hour, the day of adversity, to discover our real strength, and see the development of the highest principles and virtues within us. And with us as a people does not the same principle hold? Since we have endured the hardships of expulsion from Missouri and Illinois we could be no more paralyzed or frightened by such things, because the work of God has triumphed over these things, and grown stronger withal. In fact, I believe we may lay down as a fundamental principle in human experience, one which history will bear out satisfactorily, that men seldom do great things voluntarily, that the greatest achievements in the world have come out of necessity. Men do things because they have to; at least that has been our experience. Locally, what has been our history in this respect. We have spoken of the increased number, the increase of territory which is occupied by our people. We speak with pleasure and pride of the vast expanse of territory occupied by the Saints of God. We point to Mexico on the south and to Canada on the north, and the splendid stretch of land between that is more or less within the domain of Mormonism. How did we happen to acquire our foothold and standing In Mexico? Not because we wanted to, but because we were compelled to, because things were uncomfortable in Utah, and we had to go to Mexico. How did we discover and acquire our foothold and promising commonwealths and prosperity in the Gem state on the north? Not because we wanted to go to Idaho, but because under peculiar existing circumstances we had to go to Idaho, and the same thing may be said of Canada as well. So that opposition and necessity have brought to us the greatest blessings we know; and if we ever move from here, in part or in whole, (I don't see how that will be) history suggests that we thereby might move another step forward because it will be conformable for us to do it. So that we have nothing to fear in opposition, but we need to rejoice and be exceeding glad because of the blessings which come to us by reason thereof.
I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Joseph, which let me read in conclusion, because they are a source of encouragement to me, and they will be to all Latter-day Saints; and if he who had passed through the trying ordeals that he experienced, if he could speak this way, surely we, seventy years later with all the splendid achievements passed before us, we may also echo his words. Said he:
"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecution may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may vent her venom, but the truth will go forth, nobly, boldly and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done." Amen.
ELDER J. GOLDEN KIMBALL.
Arising to speak to you at this time puts me in mind of a story I read not long ago. It was during the late war, when some soldiers were around a camp fire, trying to keep themselves from freezing to death, a preacher came along to hold services. He looker" around among the soldiers, and said, "I will take for my text Chilblains." So he instructed the soldiers what to do, which was to put soft soap in their shoes, place them on their feet and wait till their feet were healed, and . then he would talk to them about the Lord the next time he came. You can't talk to people when they are uneasy, not if you are like I am. You can't preach to people when they want to go home. Now if any of you want to go, please go. and the rest of us will stay till we get through.
I am not going to announce any blood and thunder doctrine to you today. I have not been radical for four long months, not since I had appendicitis. I came very nearly being operated upon. I thought I was going to die for a few hours. People said to me, "Why, brother Kimball, you needn't be afraid, you'll get justice." "Well," I said, "that is what I am afraid of." Well now, the Latter-day Saints need not get frightened; they will get justice. You have been fed on a rich diet during this conference, and now I will give you a little coarse food to, help you out.
I am not exercised about the triumph of this work. I am not lying awake nights any more, wondering how the Lord is going to do it. Notwithstanding the fact that I am laboring in the Church, I don't know what the Lord wants in all things, if I did I would be willing to try and carry it out. The Lord's ways are not as man's ways, and He does things so differently from the way we want to do them that many of us are oftentimes surprised, and it requires constant faith to stay in this Church. I believe it is the hardest church to stay in that there is on earth, because you have always got to keep exercising faith. I remember hearing of a man that apostatized from the Church, and he was asked what was the matter. He said, "Well' I have got tired of exercising faith." That is true. Some people that called themselves Latter-day Saints would have destroyed this Church long ago if they had had the power, but they couldn't do it. I will tell you something, brethren: Don't get too much exercised about the outside people. I feel a good deal, I think, like my father did one time when he was praying. You know he was rather peculiar, and prayed in his own way. He was praying about someone, and he stopped in his prayer and laughed very heartily, and then said, "O Lord, forgive me, it makes me laugh to pray about some men." Now it makes me laugh sometimes when I think about the puny efforts of men to destroy this work, how feeble they are, and how utterly they do fail. They can't hurt the work; it is absolutely impossible. I thank the Lord I have a testimony that this is the Joseph Smith Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love the authorities of the Church; I tell you, though, the poorest way in the world to show that you love them is to be always talking about it. I will tell you how to prove you love the authorities of the Church; help them by working for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Work like Elder Ben E. Rich and others, who have been in the missionary field for seven years without any possible hope of remuneration as far as earthly things are concerned. All they get is blessings. That is the way to manifest love for this work. The Lord told my father, when He sent him off to preach the Gospel: "Trouble not thyself about thy family, for they are in my hands, and I will see that they have fathers and mothers, brethren and sisters and friends, and they shall not want for food or raiment, if you will preach my Gospel." Now if any of you love this work devotedly, go out in the world and preach it, there are many millions of people that have never heard the Gospel.
I don't think we need spend very much time troubling over our enemies, and I don't believe in sticking pins in them. Take no more notice of them than you would of a fice dog. One time, in the south, it was my companion's turn to ask for entertainment, and he stood on a platform nearly as high as my head, and knocked on the door; just then one of those little flee dogs bounded out the doorway, ran right between my companion's legs and landed on top of my head. That is the only time I ever was frightened by a fice dog, and I never have been frightened since.
I say, we need not be anxious about the triumph of this work; we need not be so exercised about it that we will lay awake nights. But I tell you, every man and woman in this church should be exercised and anxious about the salvation of the souls of the children of men, and about the preaching of this Gospel. Loot at our Savior, thing of the anxiety He had for the souls of men. Just think of the sleepless nights He must have spent. I cannot be converted to the idea that the Savior sweat great drops of blood because they were going to crucify Him. But, He so loved the souls of the children of men, and His sorrow was so great for them that He sweat great drops of blood. Now you need to get a little bit anxious, and go home and get a little healthful exercise, and not sleep too much; lie awake a little and think about this work. Now, I am not exercised about the sectarian ministers. I wish they would take a little fatherly advice from me, but they won't do it. But I wish they would take my advice, and stop making false charges against the Church authorities. Why don't they adopt the plan of the "Mormon" Church. Our Elders in California, in the Southern States, in the Eastern States, and all over the world, follow the instructions of the Prophet Joseph, a command in fact, that they should not tear down other churches. I confess I deserved a good licking quite a number of times in the south, it is so easy to tear down, and it is so difficult to build up. See what it has cost this Church; see the number of lives that have been lost in preaching the Gospel. See the hundreds of Elders that have been broken down in their constitutions, absolutely and utterly, in the Southern States. O. how I pity some of those Elders in the South, their blood is poisoned by malaria that nothing but the power of God will ever heal them. Why. you don't realize what it costs to build up this Church.
I am proud of this work. I am proud of the authorities, and God being my helper. I will show my integrity to them, by following their instructions, and when they want me to go to work, to work I'll go.
Now, brethren, the Lord bless you. You shouldn't get yourselves tied up by debt. Of these Seventies 8,000 men . I am sorry there is not more than one out of a hundred that is prepared to go on a mission, because of debt, or infirmities. When a man claims that he would lay down his life for this work, that he would place all that he has and all that the Lord has given him on the altar, and you invite him to go on a mission, you sometimes find him full of sorrow, and trouble and in debt. It is the most inconsistent thing in the world.
Now, brethren, the Seventies are not all that way; among them are a lot of aged men, too old to go on missions, it is not wise they should. These old men ought to be ordained High Priests, and allowed to labor at home. And then there are a lot of physically disabled Seventies, good faithful men; but they are not suited for missionary work, they also ought to be ordained High Priests. And I pray God that we may in time have an army of Seventies like the soldiers of the government of the United States, young, able-bodied, qualified to go to the south and to the north and all over the world. We ought to have an army of men prepared to go out and preach the Gospel, so that these brethren, presidents of missions, can have efficient and capable men to assist them.
I believe there was a time in the history of this church when it was necessary to send all kinds of men! God magnified them, and made them marvelous; but I tell you He does not look upon ignorance now with any degree of allowance. There is no need of our Priesthood being ignorant; there is no need of our Priesthood going out as ''the fishermen went out. They ought to go out well equipped and fitted for the work of the Lord as special witnesses ' of Christ. I know what the Lord wants in this respect, just as well as if He gave me a direct revelation. When missionaries are wanted they should be found in the Seventies quorums instead of any other. The Lord bless you. Amen.
The choir rendered the anthem, "Jubilate."
Benediction by Elder T. A. Clawson.
Arising to speak to you at this time puts me in mind of a story I read not long ago. It was during the late war, when some soldiers were around a camp fire, trying to keep themselves from freezing to death, a preacher came along to hold services. He looker" around among the soldiers, and said, "I will take for my text Chilblains." So he instructed the soldiers what to do, which was to put soft soap in their shoes, place them on their feet and wait till their feet were healed, and . then he would talk to them about the Lord the next time he came. You can't talk to people when they are uneasy, not if you are like I am. You can't preach to people when they want to go home. Now if any of you want to go, please go. and the rest of us will stay till we get through.
I am not going to announce any blood and thunder doctrine to you today. I have not been radical for four long months, not since I had appendicitis. I came very nearly being operated upon. I thought I was going to die for a few hours. People said to me, "Why, brother Kimball, you needn't be afraid, you'll get justice." "Well," I said, "that is what I am afraid of." Well now, the Latter-day Saints need not get frightened; they will get justice. You have been fed on a rich diet during this conference, and now I will give you a little coarse food to, help you out.
I am not exercised about the triumph of this work. I am not lying awake nights any more, wondering how the Lord is going to do it. Notwithstanding the fact that I am laboring in the Church, I don't know what the Lord wants in all things, if I did I would be willing to try and carry it out. The Lord's ways are not as man's ways, and He does things so differently from the way we want to do them that many of us are oftentimes surprised, and it requires constant faith to stay in this Church. I believe it is the hardest church to stay in that there is on earth, because you have always got to keep exercising faith. I remember hearing of a man that apostatized from the Church, and he was asked what was the matter. He said, "Well' I have got tired of exercising faith." That is true. Some people that called themselves Latter-day Saints would have destroyed this Church long ago if they had had the power, but they couldn't do it. I will tell you something, brethren: Don't get too much exercised about the outside people. I feel a good deal, I think, like my father did one time when he was praying. You know he was rather peculiar, and prayed in his own way. He was praying about someone, and he stopped in his prayer and laughed very heartily, and then said, "O Lord, forgive me, it makes me laugh to pray about some men." Now it makes me laugh sometimes when I think about the puny efforts of men to destroy this work, how feeble they are, and how utterly they do fail. They can't hurt the work; it is absolutely impossible. I thank the Lord I have a testimony that this is the Joseph Smith Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love the authorities of the Church; I tell you, though, the poorest way in the world to show that you love them is to be always talking about it. I will tell you how to prove you love the authorities of the Church; help them by working for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Work like Elder Ben E. Rich and others, who have been in the missionary field for seven years without any possible hope of remuneration as far as earthly things are concerned. All they get is blessings. That is the way to manifest love for this work. The Lord told my father, when He sent him off to preach the Gospel: "Trouble not thyself about thy family, for they are in my hands, and I will see that they have fathers and mothers, brethren and sisters and friends, and they shall not want for food or raiment, if you will preach my Gospel." Now if any of you love this work devotedly, go out in the world and preach it, there are many millions of people that have never heard the Gospel.
I don't think we need spend very much time troubling over our enemies, and I don't believe in sticking pins in them. Take no more notice of them than you would of a fice dog. One time, in the south, it was my companion's turn to ask for entertainment, and he stood on a platform nearly as high as my head, and knocked on the door; just then one of those little flee dogs bounded out the doorway, ran right between my companion's legs and landed on top of my head. That is the only time I ever was frightened by a fice dog, and I never have been frightened since.
I say, we need not be anxious about the triumph of this work; we need not be so exercised about it that we will lay awake nights. But I tell you, every man and woman in this church should be exercised and anxious about the salvation of the souls of the children of men, and about the preaching of this Gospel. Loot at our Savior, thing of the anxiety He had for the souls of men. Just think of the sleepless nights He must have spent. I cannot be converted to the idea that the Savior sweat great drops of blood because they were going to crucify Him. But, He so loved the souls of the children of men, and His sorrow was so great for them that He sweat great drops of blood. Now you need to get a little bit anxious, and go home and get a little healthful exercise, and not sleep too much; lie awake a little and think about this work. Now, I am not exercised about the sectarian ministers. I wish they would take a little fatherly advice from me, but they won't do it. But I wish they would take my advice, and stop making false charges against the Church authorities. Why don't they adopt the plan of the "Mormon" Church. Our Elders in California, in the Southern States, in the Eastern States, and all over the world, follow the instructions of the Prophet Joseph, a command in fact, that they should not tear down other churches. I confess I deserved a good licking quite a number of times in the south, it is so easy to tear down, and it is so difficult to build up. See what it has cost this Church; see the number of lives that have been lost in preaching the Gospel. See the hundreds of Elders that have been broken down in their constitutions, absolutely and utterly, in the Southern States. O. how I pity some of those Elders in the South, their blood is poisoned by malaria that nothing but the power of God will ever heal them. Why. you don't realize what it costs to build up this Church.
I am proud of this work. I am proud of the authorities, and God being my helper. I will show my integrity to them, by following their instructions, and when they want me to go to work, to work I'll go.
Now, brethren, the Lord bless you. You shouldn't get yourselves tied up by debt. Of these Seventies 8,000 men . I am sorry there is not more than one out of a hundred that is prepared to go on a mission, because of debt, or infirmities. When a man claims that he would lay down his life for this work, that he would place all that he has and all that the Lord has given him on the altar, and you invite him to go on a mission, you sometimes find him full of sorrow, and trouble and in debt. It is the most inconsistent thing in the world.
Now, brethren, the Seventies are not all that way; among them are a lot of aged men, too old to go on missions, it is not wise they should. These old men ought to be ordained High Priests, and allowed to labor at home. And then there are a lot of physically disabled Seventies, good faithful men; but they are not suited for missionary work, they also ought to be ordained High Priests. And I pray God that we may in time have an army of Seventies like the soldiers of the government of the United States, young, able-bodied, qualified to go to the south and to the north and all over the world. We ought to have an army of men prepared to go out and preach the Gospel, so that these brethren, presidents of missions, can have efficient and capable men to assist them.
I believe there was a time in the history of this church when it was necessary to send all kinds of men! God magnified them, and made them marvelous; but I tell you He does not look upon ignorance now with any degree of allowance. There is no need of our Priesthood being ignorant; there is no need of our Priesthood going out as ''the fishermen went out. They ought to go out well equipped and fitted for the work of the Lord as special witnesses ' of Christ. I know what the Lord wants in this respect, just as well as if He gave me a direct revelation. When missionaries are wanted they should be found in the Seventies quorums instead of any other. The Lord bless you. Amen.
The choir rendered the anthem, "Jubilate."
Benediction by Elder T. A. Clawson.
OUTDOOR MEETING.
Hundreds who were unable to obtain admission to the Tabernacle or Assembly hall, congregated in front of the Bureau of Information building, and an outdoor meeting was held there. Elder Benjamin F. Goddard presided.
The congregation sang, "High on the mountain top."
Elder Louis A. Kelsch offered prayer, after which the great throng joined in the hymn, "Now let us rejoice."
Hundreds who were unable to obtain admission to the Tabernacle or Assembly hall, congregated in front of the Bureau of Information building, and an outdoor meeting was held there. Elder Benjamin F. Goddard presided.
The congregation sang, "High on the mountain top."
Elder Louis A. Kelsch offered prayer, after which the great throng joined in the hymn, "Now let us rejoice."
Elder J. G. McQuarrie,
president of the Eastern States mission,
was the first speaker introduced. He dwelt on the subject of "True Liberty," and showed by striking illustrations from both ancient and modern history that those whose ambitions led them to the worship of false gods were slaves to their unworthy ambitions. That the truest, safest, and only true liberty comes from obeying God's eternal laws. Those who acquire wealth and political power are never contented with it. The Gospel alone gives that peace of mind and contentedness, which Saints of God enjoy. We should seek first the kingdom of heaven and trust to the Lord to add the promised blessings.
president of the Eastern States mission,
was the first speaker introduced. He dwelt on the subject of "True Liberty," and showed by striking illustrations from both ancient and modern history that those whose ambitions led them to the worship of false gods were slaves to their unworthy ambitions. That the truest, safest, and only true liberty comes from obeying God's eternal laws. Those who acquire wealth and political power are never contented with it. The Gospel alone gives that peace of mind and contentedness, which Saints of God enjoy. We should seek first the kingdom of heaven and trust to the Lord to add the promised blessings.
President Nephi Pratt
of the Northwestern States mission
spoke on the restoration of the Gospel, and showed that there is taut one Gospel, and that it is essentially and eternally unchangeable; hence the Gospel today must be the same as that which the Master established. He compared the principles taught by the former day Saints with those enunciated by Latter-day Saints showing them to be the same. Also the organization of the primitive Church with that of Christ's church today was emphasized as to their similarity. Even the mode of preaching the Gospel is identical with that of early days, and the same bitterness towards the true followers of the lowly Nazarene is ever unchanged. The Gospel has been restored by an angel to Joseph Smith in fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
of the Northwestern States mission
spoke on the restoration of the Gospel, and showed that there is taut one Gospel, and that it is essentially and eternally unchangeable; hence the Gospel today must be the same as that which the Master established. He compared the principles taught by the former day Saints with those enunciated by Latter-day Saints showing them to be the same. Also the organization of the primitive Church with that of Christ's church today was emphasized as to their similarity. Even the mode of preaching the Gospel is identical with that of early days, and the same bitterness towards the true followers of the lowly Nazarene is ever unchanged. The Gospel has been restored by an angel to Joseph Smith in fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
President William H. Smart
of the Wasatch stake
spoke of the good work accomplished by the Bureau of Information. He told of a conversation he had with a broad-minded and intelligent tourist. The stranger had heard ridiculous and misleading reports about Utah and the "Mormons" but found them to be false and was happily astonished at the wonderful works accomplished by the pioneers, and the splendid showing made by the Latter- day Saints in an educational and moral line. President Smart rejoiced that the "Mormons" are becoming better known and consequently better liked as a people. He bore a strong testimony that the Gospel has been restored in its originality with all its gifts and blessings. That the mission of the people of God is to declare the Gospel to all the world, to bring peace and love in place of strife and hatred, and to bless humanity both in temporal and spiritual ways.
of the Wasatch stake
spoke of the good work accomplished by the Bureau of Information. He told of a conversation he had with a broad-minded and intelligent tourist. The stranger had heard ridiculous and misleading reports about Utah and the "Mormons" but found them to be false and was happily astonished at the wonderful works accomplished by the pioneers, and the splendid showing made by the Latter- day Saints in an educational and moral line. President Smart rejoiced that the "Mormons" are becoming better known and consequently better liked as a people. He bore a strong testimony that the Gospel has been restored in its originality with all its gifts and blessings. That the mission of the people of God is to declare the Gospel to all the world, to bring peace and love in place of strife and hatred, and to bless humanity both in temporal and spiritual ways.
John W. Rigdon,
son of Sidney Rigdon,
was the closing speaker. He told of being baptized in 1839 by the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, while the Prophet Joseph and his father stood on the banks of the Mississippi river, and beheld the ceremony. On account of his father going to Washington with the Prophet to present their grievances to the president of the United States, and not returning for a year, his confirmation had never taken place, and he did not become a member of the Church until one year ago, when he was baptized in New York.
He said it had been claimed that Joseph Smith being an unlearned man, could not have written the Book of Mormon, but that his father was the real author of that book. Elder Rigdon denied most emphatically that his father had written that sacred volume.
After many years of practice as an attorney and without the slightest idea of ever becoming a "Mormon" he questioned his aged father, who was then nigh unto death concerning the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. His father was emphatic in his claim that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, that an angel had delivered to the boy Prophet the Book of Mormon plates, and that, notwithstanding he felt he had been ill-treated by some Church leaders, he knew, nevertheless, that the work they represented was in very deed the Gospel of Christ.
The speaker said that his father was present at the meeting held immediately after the death of the Prophet, and that Brigham Young was the chosen successor of the martyred president.
The congregation sang, "Our God, we raise to Thee, Thanks for Thy Blessings Free," after which the meeting adjourned with benediction by Elder J. H. Felt.
son of Sidney Rigdon,
was the closing speaker. He told of being baptized in 1839 by the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, while the Prophet Joseph and his father stood on the banks of the Mississippi river, and beheld the ceremony. On account of his father going to Washington with the Prophet to present their grievances to the president of the United States, and not returning for a year, his confirmation had never taken place, and he did not become a member of the Church until one year ago, when he was baptized in New York.
He said it had been claimed that Joseph Smith being an unlearned man, could not have written the Book of Mormon, but that his father was the real author of that book. Elder Rigdon denied most emphatically that his father had written that sacred volume.
After many years of practice as an attorney and without the slightest idea of ever becoming a "Mormon" he questioned his aged father, who was then nigh unto death concerning the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. His father was emphatic in his claim that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, that an angel had delivered to the boy Prophet the Book of Mormon plates, and that, notwithstanding he felt he had been ill-treated by some Church leaders, he knew, nevertheless, that the work they represented was in very deed the Gospel of Christ.
The speaker said that his father was present at the meeting held immediately after the death of the Prophet, and that Brigham Young was the chosen successor of the martyred president.
The congregation sang, "Our God, we raise to Thee, Thanks for Thy Blessings Free," after which the meeting adjourned with benediction by Elder J. H. Felt.
CLOSING SESSION.
In the Tabernacle, at 2 p. m.
The choir sang the hymn:
O my Father, Thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain Thy presence.
And again behold Thy face?
Prayer was offered by Elder Charles D. Evans.
A new hymn by Prof. Evan Stephens, entitled "True to the Faith," was rendered by the choir,
In the Tabernacle, at 2 p. m.
The choir sang the hymn:
O my Father, Thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place!
When shall I regain Thy presence.
And again behold Thy face?
Prayer was offered by Elder Charles D. Evans.
A new hymn by Prof. Evan Stephens, entitled "True to the Faith," was rendered by the choir,
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN.
I esteem it a very great privilege, my brethren and sisters, to be with you in this gathering this afternoon, and I also feel it a privilege to speak a few words here by way of testimony in behalf of the wonderful work in which we are engaged. I have felt during the meetings of this conference much as the brethren who have addressed you have felt. All seem to have had a spirit of joy and thanksgiving for the light of the glorious Gospel, and all have been filled with a desire to bear testimony to the truth of the great work which the Lord has established. 1 believe that the Latter-day Saints who have assembled together during this conference have felt in very deed, as suggested in the words of the opening prayer this afternoon, to glorify the Lord of heaven. There has been no spirit manifested that would indicate in the slightest degree that there was any lack of faith in the hearts of the brethren, or any lack of confidence as to the outcome of the work that our Father has established upon the earth. I do not suppose that any of those who have spoken understand in detail how God's work is to be wrought out, or how it is to be made victorious, and overcome the opposition with which it will have to contend. We only know that the Lord of heaven has spoken; that He has revealed the authority of the Holy Priesthood; that He has made promises in connection with the powers of the Priesthood, and decreed the ultimate triumph of the work which He has introduced. It certainly is a very great thing to be blessed with this spirit of confidence, and to feel in one's soul that the work will be successful. As one of the speakers closed his remarks this morning, a brother patted the knee of his associate and said, "We are going to win out." He felt so impressed by the remarks that were made by Brother Ellsworth regarding the spirit manifested by the people of the city of Nauvoo— people who had once looked with contempt upon the Latter-day Saints and entirely misunderstood their motives, now were beginning to change their opinion, and to feel that there was a something about them that was most commendable and desirable.
When we look back over the history of the people for the past 75 years we discover there has been a steady and wonderful growth. We realize that the promises that have been made, through the voice of inspiration and revelation, concerning the growth and development of the work of the Lord, have all been verified as far as we have advanced in our history. If some of the aged men and women who had part in this great work in the early days were to give their testimony, I imagine that that testimony would be to the effect that the condition of the Latter-day Saints at the present time was beyond what they anticipated in the inception of the work. In those days the lives of the leaders of the people were constantly sought. They were hounded from place to place, their homes were broken up time after time, and they were compelled to be almost constantly upon the move, seeking new locations where they might establish themselves. I very much doubt if those heroes and heroines of the past ever saw, while looking into the future, the mighty growth and strength of the people as we see it today. Surely the promises of the Lord have been marvelously fulfilled, and the efforts of those who have so strenuously sought the destruction of the Latter-day Saints have been brought to naught in a most wonderful way. Our course has been an upward course. We have been constantly advancing. In spite of the misrepresentations so widely circulated regarding us, there are many thousands of people who are beginning to be acquainted with the Latter-day Saints. Many of those who journey through our country, and who come in contact with the people in their homes, go away impressed with the feeling that there is a power, a strength, a goodness, and a virtue, connected with the work of the Latter-day Saints that they little dreamed of. It is my faith that this growth will still continue, and that the promises made by our Father in heaven will be accomplished. I take a great deal of comfort in reading some of these promises, and I would like to read to this great congregation a few words of revelation given in the early days of the Church. It has been written in the Old Scriptures that where there is no vision the people perish. When the Lord does not reveal His will to the inhabitants of the earth they are in a perishing condition.
Our Father in heaven, because of the love He has for His creatures, has manifested His will in all ages of the world, and has spoken to the prophets. The testimony of the Holy Scriptures is, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets to His servants the prophets." When we have a promise of this character, that has been given by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we can understand and know that the great and marvelous work, spoken of by all the prophets, will not be accomplished without the Lord revealing to the prophets of the latter times, what He intends to do. Our Father has always raised up men and filled them with the power of the Holy Ghost, that they might communicate His will to the people. As God in times past has looked in compassion upon mankind, and has raised up men who were filled with the Holy Ghost to deliver His words, so in these latter times He has manifested the same manner of love for His children here below, and He has declared:
"Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and spoke unto him from heaven and gave him commandments;
"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world, and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets.
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh.
"But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
"That faith also might increase in the earth:
"That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
"That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."
The reason the Lord called upon Joseph Smith was that all the children of men, the great and mighty as well as the humble, might have the truth of the everlasting Gospel proclaimed unto them, that through hearing the Gospel, through repenting of their sins and turning to the Lord of heaven, they might escape the judgments and calamities that are coming upon the inhabitants of the earth. The mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his fellow laborers is a mission of peace, glad tidings of good things, the preaching of the Gospel of the Redeemer of the world. There is no spirit in connection with the preaching of this gospel that will do injury to any man that lives. The Lord has said:
"And again, the Elders, priests and teachers of this Church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel;
"And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit;
"And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach."
The commandment that was given in the very beginning was that the Gospel should be preached by those who were called and authorized, as it is contained in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon; and the men who were authorized to preach the Gospel and to call men to repentance have been commanded by the Lord that if they do not have the Spirit they shall not preach. It is evident from this great concourse of people, and the great gathering in the Assembly Hall, and the hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints who are not able to come unto this conference, that the Spirit of the living God has been upon those who have been crying repentance among the nations of the earth. It is also apparent that that same spirit has taken possession of the men and women who have hearkened to the testimonies of those who have been chosen and commissioned of the Lord to cry repentance. A more stupendous testimony concerning the power given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Spirit of the Lord resting upon him and upon those who have been commissioned from that day to the present, could not be imagined than is witnessed in this great Tabernacle this afternoon, and witnessed still more wonderfully in these mountain valleys from Canada to Mexico. God has taken possession of the hearts of the people in every land. He has drawn them together by the power of the Holy Ghost, and He has revealed unto them the truth of the everlasting gospel. Men in the world imagine that we are not free, that we are priest-ridden; but the truth is that by the power of the Holy Spirit men have been drawn from the east and from the west, from the north, and from the south to this land of Zion. They have come here thirsting for the word of God, thirsting for information concerning the purposes of the Almighty, and their souls have been filled, they have been established in the truth, and they cannot be moved. This is impressed upon us by this gathering. It is still more evident from the mighty gathering of the Saints from the nations of the world. The predictions made by the prophets are surely being fulfilled when they declared that it should "come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house should be established in the top of the mountains and many people should say: "Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob, that we may learn more fully of His ways and walk more perfectly in His paths." If the prophets have written by the power of the Holy Ghost and their words are to be fulfilled, then there must transpire in the latter times just what has taken place since the commencement of the preaching of the Gospel introduced in this dispensation by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Who is there in all the religious world today who believes in the fulfillment of these predictions of the prophets? Who is there calling the attention of the people to these great prophecies pertaining to the latter times? As far as I know, we are the only people who seem to understand these predictions, and the only ones who are laboring to accomplish them. We are the only people who are possessed of that power and spirit that was to characterize God's work in the last dispensation. It was to be a marvelous work and a wonder. Surely this work has been a marvel; in the eyes of the world it is a marvel today. We can rejoice when we look into the future and read of God's promise relating thereto. This is the promise:
"And the warning shall be unto all people by the mouths of my disciples whom I have chosen in these last days; and they shall go forth, and none shall stay them; for I, the Lord, have commanded them."
If this be a revelation from the Almighty. there is no power that can stay the preaching of the everlasting gospel, or that can prevent God's servants from delivering the message that has been committed to the earth; not because of the might of the preachers of "Mormonism." not because of the strength of the Latter-day Saints, but because the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has decreed that this warning voice shall be carried to all the inhabitants of the earth, and that none shall have the power to stay it. We believe in the power of our Father in heaven. We believe His arm is not shortened. We believe that He can accomplish His decrees. And .while we do not know what means He will use in the accomplishment of His purposes, we do know within our souls that this promise will be verified, that this Gospel will be preached in all the world, and that the hearts of honest men and women, and the hearts of wicked men and women as well, will be pricked by the power of God, their feelings softened, and they will be turned from darkness and error to the Lord of heaven, and from all the points of the compass, as has been the case in the past, so in the future, the Israel of God will be gathered, and His mighty purposes will be accomplished. Well may our great choir sing, and well may the preachers cry out. "Rouse, O ye mortals, and hearken to the message of truth." May God help us to bear our responsibility well and faithfully, is my prayer through. Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "The Restoration," sister Judith Anderson rendering the solo part.
I esteem it a very great privilege, my brethren and sisters, to be with you in this gathering this afternoon, and I also feel it a privilege to speak a few words here by way of testimony in behalf of the wonderful work in which we are engaged. I have felt during the meetings of this conference much as the brethren who have addressed you have felt. All seem to have had a spirit of joy and thanksgiving for the light of the glorious Gospel, and all have been filled with a desire to bear testimony to the truth of the great work which the Lord has established. 1 believe that the Latter-day Saints who have assembled together during this conference have felt in very deed, as suggested in the words of the opening prayer this afternoon, to glorify the Lord of heaven. There has been no spirit manifested that would indicate in the slightest degree that there was any lack of faith in the hearts of the brethren, or any lack of confidence as to the outcome of the work that our Father has established upon the earth. I do not suppose that any of those who have spoken understand in detail how God's work is to be wrought out, or how it is to be made victorious, and overcome the opposition with which it will have to contend. We only know that the Lord of heaven has spoken; that He has revealed the authority of the Holy Priesthood; that He has made promises in connection with the powers of the Priesthood, and decreed the ultimate triumph of the work which He has introduced. It certainly is a very great thing to be blessed with this spirit of confidence, and to feel in one's soul that the work will be successful. As one of the speakers closed his remarks this morning, a brother patted the knee of his associate and said, "We are going to win out." He felt so impressed by the remarks that were made by Brother Ellsworth regarding the spirit manifested by the people of the city of Nauvoo— people who had once looked with contempt upon the Latter-day Saints and entirely misunderstood their motives, now were beginning to change their opinion, and to feel that there was a something about them that was most commendable and desirable.
When we look back over the history of the people for the past 75 years we discover there has been a steady and wonderful growth. We realize that the promises that have been made, through the voice of inspiration and revelation, concerning the growth and development of the work of the Lord, have all been verified as far as we have advanced in our history. If some of the aged men and women who had part in this great work in the early days were to give their testimony, I imagine that that testimony would be to the effect that the condition of the Latter-day Saints at the present time was beyond what they anticipated in the inception of the work. In those days the lives of the leaders of the people were constantly sought. They were hounded from place to place, their homes were broken up time after time, and they were compelled to be almost constantly upon the move, seeking new locations where they might establish themselves. I very much doubt if those heroes and heroines of the past ever saw, while looking into the future, the mighty growth and strength of the people as we see it today. Surely the promises of the Lord have been marvelously fulfilled, and the efforts of those who have so strenuously sought the destruction of the Latter-day Saints have been brought to naught in a most wonderful way. Our course has been an upward course. We have been constantly advancing. In spite of the misrepresentations so widely circulated regarding us, there are many thousands of people who are beginning to be acquainted with the Latter-day Saints. Many of those who journey through our country, and who come in contact with the people in their homes, go away impressed with the feeling that there is a power, a strength, a goodness, and a virtue, connected with the work of the Latter-day Saints that they little dreamed of. It is my faith that this growth will still continue, and that the promises made by our Father in heaven will be accomplished. I take a great deal of comfort in reading some of these promises, and I would like to read to this great congregation a few words of revelation given in the early days of the Church. It has been written in the Old Scriptures that where there is no vision the people perish. When the Lord does not reveal His will to the inhabitants of the earth they are in a perishing condition.
Our Father in heaven, because of the love He has for His creatures, has manifested His will in all ages of the world, and has spoken to the prophets. The testimony of the Holy Scriptures is, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets to His servants the prophets." When we have a promise of this character, that has been given by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we can understand and know that the great and marvelous work, spoken of by all the prophets, will not be accomplished without the Lord revealing to the prophets of the latter times, what He intends to do. Our Father has always raised up men and filled them with the power of the Holy Ghost, that they might communicate His will to the people. As God in times past has looked in compassion upon mankind, and has raised up men who were filled with the Holy Ghost to deliver His words, so in these latter times He has manifested the same manner of love for His children here below, and He has declared:
"Wherefore I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and spoke unto him from heaven and gave him commandments;
"And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world, and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets.
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh.
"But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
"That faith also might increase in the earth:
"That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
"That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."
The reason the Lord called upon Joseph Smith was that all the children of men, the great and mighty as well as the humble, might have the truth of the everlasting Gospel proclaimed unto them, that through hearing the Gospel, through repenting of their sins and turning to the Lord of heaven, they might escape the judgments and calamities that are coming upon the inhabitants of the earth. The mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his fellow laborers is a mission of peace, glad tidings of good things, the preaching of the Gospel of the Redeemer of the world. There is no spirit in connection with the preaching of this gospel that will do injury to any man that lives. The Lord has said:
"And again, the Elders, priests and teachers of this Church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel;
"And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit;
"And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith, and if ye receive not the Spirit, ye shall not teach."
The commandment that was given in the very beginning was that the Gospel should be preached by those who were called and authorized, as it is contained in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon; and the men who were authorized to preach the Gospel and to call men to repentance have been commanded by the Lord that if they do not have the Spirit they shall not preach. It is evident from this great concourse of people, and the great gathering in the Assembly Hall, and the hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints who are not able to come unto this conference, that the Spirit of the living God has been upon those who have been crying repentance among the nations of the earth. It is also apparent that that same spirit has taken possession of the men and women who have hearkened to the testimonies of those who have been chosen and commissioned of the Lord to cry repentance. A more stupendous testimony concerning the power given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Spirit of the Lord resting upon him and upon those who have been commissioned from that day to the present, could not be imagined than is witnessed in this great Tabernacle this afternoon, and witnessed still more wonderfully in these mountain valleys from Canada to Mexico. God has taken possession of the hearts of the people in every land. He has drawn them together by the power of the Holy Ghost, and He has revealed unto them the truth of the everlasting gospel. Men in the world imagine that we are not free, that we are priest-ridden; but the truth is that by the power of the Holy Spirit men have been drawn from the east and from the west, from the north, and from the south to this land of Zion. They have come here thirsting for the word of God, thirsting for information concerning the purposes of the Almighty, and their souls have been filled, they have been established in the truth, and they cannot be moved. This is impressed upon us by this gathering. It is still more evident from the mighty gathering of the Saints from the nations of the world. The predictions made by the prophets are surely being fulfilled when they declared that it should "come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house should be established in the top of the mountains and many people should say: "Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob, that we may learn more fully of His ways and walk more perfectly in His paths." If the prophets have written by the power of the Holy Ghost and their words are to be fulfilled, then there must transpire in the latter times just what has taken place since the commencement of the preaching of the Gospel introduced in this dispensation by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Who is there in all the religious world today who believes in the fulfillment of these predictions of the prophets? Who is there calling the attention of the people to these great prophecies pertaining to the latter times? As far as I know, we are the only people who seem to understand these predictions, and the only ones who are laboring to accomplish them. We are the only people who are possessed of that power and spirit that was to characterize God's work in the last dispensation. It was to be a marvelous work and a wonder. Surely this work has been a marvel; in the eyes of the world it is a marvel today. We can rejoice when we look into the future and read of God's promise relating thereto. This is the promise:
"And the warning shall be unto all people by the mouths of my disciples whom I have chosen in these last days; and they shall go forth, and none shall stay them; for I, the Lord, have commanded them."
If this be a revelation from the Almighty. there is no power that can stay the preaching of the everlasting gospel, or that can prevent God's servants from delivering the message that has been committed to the earth; not because of the might of the preachers of "Mormonism." not because of the strength of the Latter-day Saints, but because the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has decreed that this warning voice shall be carried to all the inhabitants of the earth, and that none shall have the power to stay it. We believe in the power of our Father in heaven. We believe His arm is not shortened. We believe that He can accomplish His decrees. And .while we do not know what means He will use in the accomplishment of His purposes, we do know within our souls that this promise will be verified, that this Gospel will be preached in all the world, and that the hearts of honest men and women, and the hearts of wicked men and women as well, will be pricked by the power of God, their feelings softened, and they will be turned from darkness and error to the Lord of heaven, and from all the points of the compass, as has been the case in the past, so in the future, the Israel of God will be gathered, and His mighty purposes will be accomplished. Well may our great choir sing, and well may the preachers cry out. "Rouse, O ye mortals, and hearken to the message of truth." May God help us to bear our responsibility well and faithfully, is my prayer through. Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "The Restoration," sister Judith Anderson rendering the solo part.
PATRIARCH S. W. RICHARDS.
My brethren, sisters and friends, quite unexpected to me prior to coming into this meeting, I have been requested to say a few words to you on some matters touching my history and experience with the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am thankful that I can say E was quite intimate with him while he was living upon the earth. There is a little experience I had with him that perhaps no other person living today could relate. In the winter of 1843-4, about six months prior to the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, a messenger was sent to me from Nauvoo to ask me if I would be one of a company of pioneers to explore the Rocky Mountains and to find a place for the Church to go to. That request came from the Prophet Joseph Smith. At the time I thought it a little strange that I should be called upon for a mission of this kind, as I was but a young- man, in my teens; but my acquaintance up to that time with the Prophet Joseph was such that I could not say no. I replied, Yes; I will do anything that the Prophet Joseph wants me to do, that is in my power to do. Consequently I gave my name in to be one of a company of twenty-four young men, who were selected to travel and explore the Rocky Mountains and find a place for the Church to go to, because the persecution was getting so strong then in Nauvoo that the Prophet Joseph foresaw that the Church would have to leave, retire from the civilized world, and go into the mountains. This was then a wild country.
I am reminded that when I was in Europe, in the early fifties, it was reported to the British government that I was emigrating many people from Great Britain into a wild country, where they were liable to perish, and it was thought that this emigration ought to be stopped. Because of this I was ordered to appear in London and give an account of what I was doing. I was then presiding over the British mission, and emigrated many people to this country. I responded to this call, and spent about five hours before a committee of 16 members of Parliament, telling them what I was doing. I had been to this valley myself and knew what it was. I told them that I was sending people to a country where they could own a farm and be as independent in their living as the lords and peers were there. I satisfied them, and they all shook hands with me at the end of our interview and wished me well, and I was invited by a number of them, to come again to London and spend some time with them. I speak of this to show that the feeling of the people at that time was that this was a wild country, and we were coming here to perish.
It was the purpose of the Prophet Joseph to come here and locate with his people. He organized this company and held weekly meetings with them for several weeks in Nauvoo, and when he had them sufficiently instructed, as he thought, to properly understand what was to be the character of their mission and fit-out, he went across the river and made a start to go toward the mountains. It was his intention to go to the mountains with us, as a company of pioneers. But he was followed by those that did not like the idea of his leaving, and while they were pleading with, him to return, he told them, "If I go back. I go as a lamb to the slaughter." Nevertheless, they determined he should return, and he went back to Nauvoo. From there he went to Carthage, and we all know the history of what followed.
Suffice it to say, I attended four meetings of this company, and at one of them, which was in charge of Hyrum Smith, and three or four of the Twelve were also present, it was said that Joseph the Prophet had remarked that he wanted young men for that mission who could go upon the mountains and talk with God face to face, as Moses did upon Mount Sinai. When I heard that statement. I felt in my soul that I was not the one to go; and just before the meeting closed I got up out of my seat for the purpose of going to Brother Hyrum Smith and telling him I was not the one to go. for I did not feel that I could meet the conditions, but as I got up there was a voice came to me, and I heard it distinctly as from one standing by my side, saying, "Stop; rest awhile." I took my seat again, and instead of telling the Prophet Hyrum that I did not feel I could go. I went home, and before retiring I knelt by my bedside and prayed to my heavenly Father. If I ever prayed in earnest, it was then, that I might know before morning whether I was a suitable one to go on that expedition, under the terms specified. The idea of going into the mountains and talking with God face to face, as Moses did upon Mount Sinai, was more than I, as a boy, could think of encountering.
No one perhaps need wonder that I should shrink from such a consideration. I retired to my bed and remained there about four hours, and during that four hours I got the answer to my prayer, and when I awoke I was prepared to go upon that journey and do just as the Prophet wanted me to do. During that four hours I saw all that I expect to see if I should live a thousand years. Someone came to me and told me where to go, and I performed that journey that night while I lay upon my bed. I came to this valley first. I don't know how I got here, but I went down through these valleys and into Southern California. It had been stated that possibly we might have to go that far. When I came here 1 had to pass four sentinels, and in passing them I .gave a countersign, which I got direct from heaven at the time it was needed. I passed them all, and went on down into Southern California. Then I was prompted to go farther, and I went into the northern part of Mexico. I returned from there to Jackson County, Missouri, -and there I stayed and helped build the temple. I saw that temple thoroughly completed; in fact, I labored upon it until it was completed. When this was done, the vision continued, and I went and laid down my body in the ground, and my spirit left this tabernacle. Then I traversed this continent from end to end. I saw the Garden of Eden as it was in the beginning and as it will be restored again. It was a land filled with verdure and vegetation, and with -all manner of fruits, on which man was living. I saw it filled with cities, towns and villages, and people happy, living under the administration of divine providence. It was a Garden of Eden in very deed.
Now, all this I saw while I was sleeping, and it was so impressed upon me that it can never be forgotten. I saw that this was the result of the Latter-day Saints coming to these valleys of the mountains and following the direction that the Prophet Joseph indicated. I could tell a long story about this matter if I had the time to do it, but it is not best that I should. I wish, however, to make the statement distinctly, that this coming to the mountains of the Saints of God and establishing themselves here was under the special direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Although there are those who say to the contrary, this is my testimony. The Prophet Joseph Smith had all this planned, and if he had been allowed to have had his way, I believe he might have been with us even today. He would certainly have gone with that company to these mountains and have located the people. I was one of that company, and I think I have the names of the rest. However, the conditions became so severe at Nauvoo that the people had to pick up and leave in a body, before there was time for this company to make the proposed exploration. .The Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred in Carthage, and the mob would not let the people remain in Nauvoo.
These are the facts in regard to this matter, and I am proud and thankful that I know of these things, and am glad that the Saints are building up these valleys of the mountains as I saw them built up in vision. If the people of God will only go on and keep His commandments, the time will come when this whole land will be filled with towns, cities and villages, and the earth will bring forth all that is necessary for the support and sustenance of the people thereof. Amen.
A quartet selection. "One Hundred Tears," was sung by Lottie Owen, Mabel Cooper, George D. Pyper and Horace S. Ensign. This is a composition by Prof. Evan Stephens in commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and was splendidly rendered by these well-known singers.
My brethren, sisters and friends, quite unexpected to me prior to coming into this meeting, I have been requested to say a few words to you on some matters touching my history and experience with the Prophet Joseph Smith. I am thankful that I can say E was quite intimate with him while he was living upon the earth. There is a little experience I had with him that perhaps no other person living today could relate. In the winter of 1843-4, about six months prior to the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, a messenger was sent to me from Nauvoo to ask me if I would be one of a company of pioneers to explore the Rocky Mountains and to find a place for the Church to go to. That request came from the Prophet Joseph Smith. At the time I thought it a little strange that I should be called upon for a mission of this kind, as I was but a young- man, in my teens; but my acquaintance up to that time with the Prophet Joseph was such that I could not say no. I replied, Yes; I will do anything that the Prophet Joseph wants me to do, that is in my power to do. Consequently I gave my name in to be one of a company of twenty-four young men, who were selected to travel and explore the Rocky Mountains and find a place for the Church to go to, because the persecution was getting so strong then in Nauvoo that the Prophet Joseph foresaw that the Church would have to leave, retire from the civilized world, and go into the mountains. This was then a wild country.
I am reminded that when I was in Europe, in the early fifties, it was reported to the British government that I was emigrating many people from Great Britain into a wild country, where they were liable to perish, and it was thought that this emigration ought to be stopped. Because of this I was ordered to appear in London and give an account of what I was doing. I was then presiding over the British mission, and emigrated many people to this country. I responded to this call, and spent about five hours before a committee of 16 members of Parliament, telling them what I was doing. I had been to this valley myself and knew what it was. I told them that I was sending people to a country where they could own a farm and be as independent in their living as the lords and peers were there. I satisfied them, and they all shook hands with me at the end of our interview and wished me well, and I was invited by a number of them, to come again to London and spend some time with them. I speak of this to show that the feeling of the people at that time was that this was a wild country, and we were coming here to perish.
It was the purpose of the Prophet Joseph to come here and locate with his people. He organized this company and held weekly meetings with them for several weeks in Nauvoo, and when he had them sufficiently instructed, as he thought, to properly understand what was to be the character of their mission and fit-out, he went across the river and made a start to go toward the mountains. It was his intention to go to the mountains with us, as a company of pioneers. But he was followed by those that did not like the idea of his leaving, and while they were pleading with, him to return, he told them, "If I go back. I go as a lamb to the slaughter." Nevertheless, they determined he should return, and he went back to Nauvoo. From there he went to Carthage, and we all know the history of what followed.
Suffice it to say, I attended four meetings of this company, and at one of them, which was in charge of Hyrum Smith, and three or four of the Twelve were also present, it was said that Joseph the Prophet had remarked that he wanted young men for that mission who could go upon the mountains and talk with God face to face, as Moses did upon Mount Sinai. When I heard that statement. I felt in my soul that I was not the one to go; and just before the meeting closed I got up out of my seat for the purpose of going to Brother Hyrum Smith and telling him I was not the one to go. for I did not feel that I could meet the conditions, but as I got up there was a voice came to me, and I heard it distinctly as from one standing by my side, saying, "Stop; rest awhile." I took my seat again, and instead of telling the Prophet Hyrum that I did not feel I could go. I went home, and before retiring I knelt by my bedside and prayed to my heavenly Father. If I ever prayed in earnest, it was then, that I might know before morning whether I was a suitable one to go on that expedition, under the terms specified. The idea of going into the mountains and talking with God face to face, as Moses did upon Mount Sinai, was more than I, as a boy, could think of encountering.
No one perhaps need wonder that I should shrink from such a consideration. I retired to my bed and remained there about four hours, and during that four hours I got the answer to my prayer, and when I awoke I was prepared to go upon that journey and do just as the Prophet wanted me to do. During that four hours I saw all that I expect to see if I should live a thousand years. Someone came to me and told me where to go, and I performed that journey that night while I lay upon my bed. I came to this valley first. I don't know how I got here, but I went down through these valleys and into Southern California. It had been stated that possibly we might have to go that far. When I came here 1 had to pass four sentinels, and in passing them I .gave a countersign, which I got direct from heaven at the time it was needed. I passed them all, and went on down into Southern California. Then I was prompted to go farther, and I went into the northern part of Mexico. I returned from there to Jackson County, Missouri, -and there I stayed and helped build the temple. I saw that temple thoroughly completed; in fact, I labored upon it until it was completed. When this was done, the vision continued, and I went and laid down my body in the ground, and my spirit left this tabernacle. Then I traversed this continent from end to end. I saw the Garden of Eden as it was in the beginning and as it will be restored again. It was a land filled with verdure and vegetation, and with -all manner of fruits, on which man was living. I saw it filled with cities, towns and villages, and people happy, living under the administration of divine providence. It was a Garden of Eden in very deed.
Now, all this I saw while I was sleeping, and it was so impressed upon me that it can never be forgotten. I saw that this was the result of the Latter-day Saints coming to these valleys of the mountains and following the direction that the Prophet Joseph indicated. I could tell a long story about this matter if I had the time to do it, but it is not best that I should. I wish, however, to make the statement distinctly, that this coming to the mountains of the Saints of God and establishing themselves here was under the special direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Although there are those who say to the contrary, this is my testimony. The Prophet Joseph Smith had all this planned, and if he had been allowed to have had his way, I believe he might have been with us even today. He would certainly have gone with that company to these mountains and have located the people. I was one of that company, and I think I have the names of the rest. However, the conditions became so severe at Nauvoo that the people had to pick up and leave in a body, before there was time for this company to make the proposed exploration. .The Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum were martyred in Carthage, and the mob would not let the people remain in Nauvoo.
These are the facts in regard to this matter, and I am proud and thankful that I know of these things, and am glad that the Saints are building up these valleys of the mountains as I saw them built up in vision. If the people of God will only go on and keep His commandments, the time will come when this whole land will be filled with towns, cities and villages, and the earth will bring forth all that is necessary for the support and sustenance of the people thereof. Amen.
A quartet selection. "One Hundred Tears," was sung by Lottie Owen, Mabel Cooper, George D. Pyper and Horace S. Ensign. This is a composition by Prof. Evan Stephens in commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and was splendidly rendered by these well-known singers.
BISHOP ORSON F. WHITNEY.
The honor of addressing a general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one that I very much appreciate; though I feel somewhat strange in responding to the call that has been made upon me, realizing as I do that these are occasions when the people of God assemble for the purpose of listening to their leaders, and that it is more a time for exhortation and testimony than for doctrinal discourses. Where the time is so limited, and the speakers are so many, it is not to be expected that the privilege can be extended very far. Therefore it is not one that I have anticipated; at least I did not anticipate it until notified by President Smith that he intended to call me. And this is only one of many courtesies, many acts of kindness and consideration that I have received at his hands.
The main reason, I presume, why he has asked me to speak, is because I happen to represent, in a way, one of the general institutions of the Church. Since the opening of the year 1899 I have been connected with the Church historian's office. While I have not been asked to make any report, I will say that that institution, during the period of which I am qualified to speak, has kept pace with the general progress of the Church. It is not my purpose to draw any invidious comparisons between the present and the past. There is no need to do so. We all understand that the Lord's work is progressive, and that it was intended to be. It is no reflection upon the past to say that the present overtops it, that we are in advance today as a people over any former period in our history. When I express the belief that the Church of God, now presided over by President Joseph F. Smith, is in a better condition, spiritually and temporally, than ever before, I do not cast any reflection upon the Prophet Joseph Smith, who founded the Church, nor upon President Brigham Young, his worthy and lawful successor, nor upon any of the servants of God who have in turn presided over this great latter-day work. It is simply a recognition of the general principle of progress, that is inherent in the work of God, and is among the things predestined. So, also, when I say that the Historian's office is in a better condition than it has ever been, I do not cast any reflection upon the faithful services of former historians. But it gives me pleasure to testify to the wisdom, ability and energy manifested by President Anthon H. Lund, the present historian. He has watched over the institution with all the care and anxiety of a father for his favorite child. He has given it what time he could spare from his duties, as one of the First Presidency. He has come early and remained late, and has put in more hours of willing and cheerful toil than any of his subordinates. I attribute much of the present good condition of the office to him and to those who have directed his labors.
I wish I could say all that is in my heart to say. I wish I could utter the thoughts that arise in me as I gaze upon this great congregation. I see men and women from the north, from the south, from the east, and from the west, assembled here for the purpose of being instructed, counseled, strengthened and renewed, that they may go forth from this conference with the spirit of it upon them and within them, to carry the same to the remotest parts of the Church. While contemplating the scene I have mentally compared this multitude to the waters of the ocean, that are taken up into the clouds and sprinkled over the earth, to moisten and refresh the dry places; rivulets becoming- streams, streams flowing into rivers, and the waters, through the rivers, finding their way back to the ocean. Why do they continually thus return? Why this eternal round of renewal and progression? It is because it is necessary, in the processes of nature, in the great plan of God, that it should be so that these waters, which become stagnant and turbid by remaining too long upon the surface of the earth, may be cleansed, revivified, and sent forth again over the face of the globe, to make it bloom with verdure and blossom with beauty. As often as they are scattered, they are gathered again, to pass through the bosom of the "self-purifying, unpolluted sea."
It seems to me that we can Learn something from this lesson, written by the God of nature in the great book of nature. The Latter-day Saints are gathered together periodically in general conference. "My people shall meet together often," the Lord says, to partake of the sacrament, to receive instruction, to be reminded of their duties as Saints, and to have their spiritual strength renewed. When the call goes forth from the First Presidency, "Come to the general conference," it is the duty of the Saints not only in Utah, but also in Idaho, Arizona, in Canada, in Mexico, and throughout the intervening region, to lay aside their everyday labors, and come, as many as possibly can, to these gatherings of God's people, where the stagnant waters of their souls may be purified and set in motion, where they may receive new strength, new energy, and go hence to moisten with the Spirit they here imbibe the dry and barren places; to stir up the people of God, rouse the indifferent, reform the erring, and bless all with whom they come in contact, by imparting to them the good things they have here obtained. "Freely ye have received, freely give."
What has been the purpose of the scattering and the gathering of the House of Israel? What is the significance of sending into the world a chosen race of spirits, called upon earth the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but known to us to have been the children of God before Abraham was born? They were chosen in the heavens, before they came in the flesh, and were sent forth from the presence of God with a mission. We who call ourselves Latter-day Saints are a branch of the house of Israel, gathered out from among the Gentiles; we are a portion of that martyred nation, chosen of God and sent upon earth to suffer and endure for His sake and for the sake of all mankind; to bear the oracles of God, and be His representatives in the midst of the human race. Read what Moses says in the eighth verse of the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, if you doubt that Israel had an existence before the earthly days of Father Abraham. The passage runs as follows: "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel." This was before the birth of Abraham. The Lord had nations upon the earth before that time, and he set their bounds according to the number of the children of Israel . What does this mean, if not that Israel was a pre-existent race, ordained before the world was to perform the great and important mission that has rested upon them all down the ages, and a portion of which is now being performed by the Latter-day Saints, the gathered children of Ephraim.
If this be true of the whole house of Israel, how much more true of those mighty ones who have risen in the midst of the people of God, who have been called to be His prophets and apostles. His spiritual ministers to mankind? If it be true of the Latter-day Saints as a body, how much more true of those whom we sustain as our leaders? What should be our conduct towards them I know what the Prophet Joseph said: "Brethren, in all your kickings and flounderings, see to. it that you do not betray the servants of God; there is no sin that can be compared to it. "Touch not mine anointed, do my prophets no harm,” is the warning word of the Lord that has come down through the centuries. A great lesson is taught, .one that all men would do well to heed, in the Savior's description of the last judgment:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall He sit upon the throne of his glory:
"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them; one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
"I was a stranger, and ye took me not in naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
"Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
"Then shall he answer them, saying. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal"—Matthew 25: 31-46.
I learn from these solemn words that God will judge the world by this standard: "How have you treated my servants?" I say it to the friends of these men who sit upon this stand, and I say it to their foes: How will you stand the issue when this test is applied, Inasmuch as ye did it, or did it not, unto these my servants, ye did it, or did it not, unto me?
I bear my testimony that these are indeed the servants of God. I do not need to laud the virtues of President Joseph F. Smith; that has been well done already. But I can say Amen to all that has been said. He knows what I think of him. He knows that I love and honor him and he knows too, I trust, that I do not love and honor him simply because he has been good and kind to me. I love and honor him because God loves and honors him. I hold it to be my duty to sustain any man whom God has chosen to fill any position in His Church, whether that man loves me or loves me not. That has nothing to do with the principle involved. I must be loyal, independently of anyone 's feelings toward me. Doctor Bernhisel was a great friend of the Prophet Joseph. He lived with him in the Mansion House at Nauvoo, and whenever the Prophet came into the dining room, if the doctor was there first, he would arise and remain standing until the Prophet had taken his seat. Joseph asked him why he did this, for he sometimes felt embarrassed by it. The answer was immortal: "Brother Joseph, I love to honor the man whom God has honored." That is the principle upon which we should love these men who stand at our head — because God has honored them, and they are His servants. It does not matter whether they love us or not (though I believe they do); they are the Lord's servants, and it is our duty to stand by them, to defend them, and to lay down our lives for them if necessary.
I have a testimony that President Joseph F. Smith is the right man in the right place; and this not because he is the nephew of the Prophet Joseph Smith, or the son of the martyred Hyrum Smith. It is in his own right that he presides over this people. He is God's man, and has been chosen upon his own merits to hold this exalted position. That is my conviction; and the same with regard to his Counselors, and the Twelve Apostles, and all the leaders of the Church. No mistakes are ever made in the selection of such men. "When the Servants of God, filled with the Holy Ghost, nominate a man, and the Holy Ghost in the hearts of the people testifies that that is the choice of God, it is His choice. It is impossible for a mistake to be made. Every man that has been called to preside over this Church, or to stand among the leaders thereof, has been pointed out by the finger of God. There was no possibility of a mistake, for the Spirit of Truth does not lie. These men come to the earth with the mission upon them to be prophets, apostles, ministers of life and salvation. They were chosen before the world was to hold these positions; and they were eligible for thes3 offices; it does not matter what their names are here.
I believe with all my heart that when men are chosen to be servants of God, it is because of their own worth and integrity, and not because of their names and connections. I remember hearing a brother say that he thought his promotion in the Church was due to the fact that his father, or grandfather, who had passed behind the veil, had exerted an influence for him .there. That may be. but I do not believe it "was the main reason. The teachings of the Prophet Alma, in the Book of Mormon, give the real reason why men are chosen to bear the Holy Priesthood. They were ordained, he says, to these sacred offices and callings, by the Lord God, "that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption. And this is the manner after which they were ordained: being called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they, having chosen good, and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling." That, I believe, is the principle upon which these men were chosen. They came into the world with the ordination of God upon their heads; and there are others who have been ordained in like manner, High Priests after the Order of Melchisedek, though it may never be theirs to sit among the leaders of Israel. But they are numbered with those whose mission it is to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goeth, and they are here to help prepare the way before the glorious coming of the Son of God.
It is said that without the Melchisedek Priesthood no man can look upon the face of God and live. And yet, Joseph Smith, when a boy of fourteen years, gazed upon the Father and the Son, and it was nine years before he held the Priesthood in the flesh. I once asked President Lorenzo Snow concerning this matter: "Why is it, if a man without the Melchisedek Priesthood cannot look upon God's face and live, that Joseph Smith could see the Father and the Son, and live, when he held no priesthood at all?" President Snow replied: "Joseph did hold the priesthood; he came with it into the world." I believed it before he said it, but I wanted him to say it first. Joseph Smith, as much as any Prophet that ever lived, was ordained a prophet before he came into this mortal life. He held the Melchisedek priesthood in the spirit, when he came here, or he could never have received what he did from God. And these men who have followed in his footsteps are spirits of the same class. The Prophet Joseph declared that every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, was ordained to that very purpose before that world was.
Then I ask you again, brethren and sisters, can you afford to treat lightly these men, these representatives of God, these ambassadors from the courts of heaven? And I say to those who are attacking them and assailing them. In what plight will you stand, at the day of judgment, when it is said unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, my servants, ye did it unto me? Amen.
The honor of addressing a general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one that I very much appreciate; though I feel somewhat strange in responding to the call that has been made upon me, realizing as I do that these are occasions when the people of God assemble for the purpose of listening to their leaders, and that it is more a time for exhortation and testimony than for doctrinal discourses. Where the time is so limited, and the speakers are so many, it is not to be expected that the privilege can be extended very far. Therefore it is not one that I have anticipated; at least I did not anticipate it until notified by President Smith that he intended to call me. And this is only one of many courtesies, many acts of kindness and consideration that I have received at his hands.
The main reason, I presume, why he has asked me to speak, is because I happen to represent, in a way, one of the general institutions of the Church. Since the opening of the year 1899 I have been connected with the Church historian's office. While I have not been asked to make any report, I will say that that institution, during the period of which I am qualified to speak, has kept pace with the general progress of the Church. It is not my purpose to draw any invidious comparisons between the present and the past. There is no need to do so. We all understand that the Lord's work is progressive, and that it was intended to be. It is no reflection upon the past to say that the present overtops it, that we are in advance today as a people over any former period in our history. When I express the belief that the Church of God, now presided over by President Joseph F. Smith, is in a better condition, spiritually and temporally, than ever before, I do not cast any reflection upon the Prophet Joseph Smith, who founded the Church, nor upon President Brigham Young, his worthy and lawful successor, nor upon any of the servants of God who have in turn presided over this great latter-day work. It is simply a recognition of the general principle of progress, that is inherent in the work of God, and is among the things predestined. So, also, when I say that the Historian's office is in a better condition than it has ever been, I do not cast any reflection upon the faithful services of former historians. But it gives me pleasure to testify to the wisdom, ability and energy manifested by President Anthon H. Lund, the present historian. He has watched over the institution with all the care and anxiety of a father for his favorite child. He has given it what time he could spare from his duties, as one of the First Presidency. He has come early and remained late, and has put in more hours of willing and cheerful toil than any of his subordinates. I attribute much of the present good condition of the office to him and to those who have directed his labors.
I wish I could say all that is in my heart to say. I wish I could utter the thoughts that arise in me as I gaze upon this great congregation. I see men and women from the north, from the south, from the east, and from the west, assembled here for the purpose of being instructed, counseled, strengthened and renewed, that they may go forth from this conference with the spirit of it upon them and within them, to carry the same to the remotest parts of the Church. While contemplating the scene I have mentally compared this multitude to the waters of the ocean, that are taken up into the clouds and sprinkled over the earth, to moisten and refresh the dry places; rivulets becoming- streams, streams flowing into rivers, and the waters, through the rivers, finding their way back to the ocean. Why do they continually thus return? Why this eternal round of renewal and progression? It is because it is necessary, in the processes of nature, in the great plan of God, that it should be so that these waters, which become stagnant and turbid by remaining too long upon the surface of the earth, may be cleansed, revivified, and sent forth again over the face of the globe, to make it bloom with verdure and blossom with beauty. As often as they are scattered, they are gathered again, to pass through the bosom of the "self-purifying, unpolluted sea."
It seems to me that we can Learn something from this lesson, written by the God of nature in the great book of nature. The Latter-day Saints are gathered together periodically in general conference. "My people shall meet together often," the Lord says, to partake of the sacrament, to receive instruction, to be reminded of their duties as Saints, and to have their spiritual strength renewed. When the call goes forth from the First Presidency, "Come to the general conference," it is the duty of the Saints not only in Utah, but also in Idaho, Arizona, in Canada, in Mexico, and throughout the intervening region, to lay aside their everyday labors, and come, as many as possibly can, to these gatherings of God's people, where the stagnant waters of their souls may be purified and set in motion, where they may receive new strength, new energy, and go hence to moisten with the Spirit they here imbibe the dry and barren places; to stir up the people of God, rouse the indifferent, reform the erring, and bless all with whom they come in contact, by imparting to them the good things they have here obtained. "Freely ye have received, freely give."
What has been the purpose of the scattering and the gathering of the House of Israel? What is the significance of sending into the world a chosen race of spirits, called upon earth the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but known to us to have been the children of God before Abraham was born? They were chosen in the heavens, before they came in the flesh, and were sent forth from the presence of God with a mission. We who call ourselves Latter-day Saints are a branch of the house of Israel, gathered out from among the Gentiles; we are a portion of that martyred nation, chosen of God and sent upon earth to suffer and endure for His sake and for the sake of all mankind; to bear the oracles of God, and be His representatives in the midst of the human race. Read what Moses says in the eighth verse of the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, if you doubt that Israel had an existence before the earthly days of Father Abraham. The passage runs as follows: "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel." This was before the birth of Abraham. The Lord had nations upon the earth before that time, and he set their bounds according to the number of the children of Israel . What does this mean, if not that Israel was a pre-existent race, ordained before the world was to perform the great and important mission that has rested upon them all down the ages, and a portion of which is now being performed by the Latter-day Saints, the gathered children of Ephraim.
If this be true of the whole house of Israel, how much more true of those mighty ones who have risen in the midst of the people of God, who have been called to be His prophets and apostles. His spiritual ministers to mankind? If it be true of the Latter-day Saints as a body, how much more true of those whom we sustain as our leaders? What should be our conduct towards them I know what the Prophet Joseph said: "Brethren, in all your kickings and flounderings, see to. it that you do not betray the servants of God; there is no sin that can be compared to it. "Touch not mine anointed, do my prophets no harm,” is the warning word of the Lord that has come down through the centuries. A great lesson is taught, .one that all men would do well to heed, in the Savior's description of the last judgment:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall He sit upon the throne of his glory:
"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them; one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
"For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
"I was a stranger, and ye took me not in naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
"Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
"Then shall he answer them, saying. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal"—Matthew 25: 31-46.
I learn from these solemn words that God will judge the world by this standard: "How have you treated my servants?" I say it to the friends of these men who sit upon this stand, and I say it to their foes: How will you stand the issue when this test is applied, Inasmuch as ye did it, or did it not, unto these my servants, ye did it, or did it not, unto me?
I bear my testimony that these are indeed the servants of God. I do not need to laud the virtues of President Joseph F. Smith; that has been well done already. But I can say Amen to all that has been said. He knows what I think of him. He knows that I love and honor him and he knows too, I trust, that I do not love and honor him simply because he has been good and kind to me. I love and honor him because God loves and honors him. I hold it to be my duty to sustain any man whom God has chosen to fill any position in His Church, whether that man loves me or loves me not. That has nothing to do with the principle involved. I must be loyal, independently of anyone 's feelings toward me. Doctor Bernhisel was a great friend of the Prophet Joseph. He lived with him in the Mansion House at Nauvoo, and whenever the Prophet came into the dining room, if the doctor was there first, he would arise and remain standing until the Prophet had taken his seat. Joseph asked him why he did this, for he sometimes felt embarrassed by it. The answer was immortal: "Brother Joseph, I love to honor the man whom God has honored." That is the principle upon which we should love these men who stand at our head — because God has honored them, and they are His servants. It does not matter whether they love us or not (though I believe they do); they are the Lord's servants, and it is our duty to stand by them, to defend them, and to lay down our lives for them if necessary.
I have a testimony that President Joseph F. Smith is the right man in the right place; and this not because he is the nephew of the Prophet Joseph Smith, or the son of the martyred Hyrum Smith. It is in his own right that he presides over this people. He is God's man, and has been chosen upon his own merits to hold this exalted position. That is my conviction; and the same with regard to his Counselors, and the Twelve Apostles, and all the leaders of the Church. No mistakes are ever made in the selection of such men. "When the Servants of God, filled with the Holy Ghost, nominate a man, and the Holy Ghost in the hearts of the people testifies that that is the choice of God, it is His choice. It is impossible for a mistake to be made. Every man that has been called to preside over this Church, or to stand among the leaders thereof, has been pointed out by the finger of God. There was no possibility of a mistake, for the Spirit of Truth does not lie. These men come to the earth with the mission upon them to be prophets, apostles, ministers of life and salvation. They were chosen before the world was to hold these positions; and they were eligible for thes3 offices; it does not matter what their names are here.
I believe with all my heart that when men are chosen to be servants of God, it is because of their own worth and integrity, and not because of their names and connections. I remember hearing a brother say that he thought his promotion in the Church was due to the fact that his father, or grandfather, who had passed behind the veil, had exerted an influence for him .there. That may be. but I do not believe it "was the main reason. The teachings of the Prophet Alma, in the Book of Mormon, give the real reason why men are chosen to bear the Holy Priesthood. They were ordained, he says, to these sacred offices and callings, by the Lord God, "that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption. And this is the manner after which they were ordained: being called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they, having chosen good, and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling." That, I believe, is the principle upon which these men were chosen. They came into the world with the ordination of God upon their heads; and there are others who have been ordained in like manner, High Priests after the Order of Melchisedek, though it may never be theirs to sit among the leaders of Israel. But they are numbered with those whose mission it is to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goeth, and they are here to help prepare the way before the glorious coming of the Son of God.
It is said that without the Melchisedek Priesthood no man can look upon the face of God and live. And yet, Joseph Smith, when a boy of fourteen years, gazed upon the Father and the Son, and it was nine years before he held the Priesthood in the flesh. I once asked President Lorenzo Snow concerning this matter: "Why is it, if a man without the Melchisedek Priesthood cannot look upon God's face and live, that Joseph Smith could see the Father and the Son, and live, when he held no priesthood at all?" President Snow replied: "Joseph did hold the priesthood; he came with it into the world." I believed it before he said it, but I wanted him to say it first. Joseph Smith, as much as any Prophet that ever lived, was ordained a prophet before he came into this mortal life. He held the Melchisedek priesthood in the spirit, when he came here, or he could never have received what he did from God. And these men who have followed in his footsteps are spirits of the same class. The Prophet Joseph declared that every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, was ordained to that very purpose before that world was.
Then I ask you again, brethren and sisters, can you afford to treat lightly these men, these representatives of God, these ambassadors from the courts of heaven? And I say to those who are attacking them and assailing them. In what plight will you stand, at the day of judgment, when it is said unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, my servants, ye did it unto me? Amen.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
(Closing Address.)
Love, goodwill, and devotion manifest by the people.—Blessings pronounced upon all the faithful, Priesthood and Saints.—Words of blessing, commendation, and encouragement for the singers, their leader, the organist, etc. — The Apostles, Patriarch, and veteran workers for Zion blessed.—Earnest prayer for mercy upon his slanderers and enemies of the Church—Appeal to the Saints to be living witnesses, that "Mormonism" is God's work.
I desire, very briefly, as the time is already spent, on behalf of myself and my counselors, and also on behalf of the Quorum of the Apostles, the Presiding Patriarch, the Presiding Bishopric and others of the general Authorities of the Church represented at this conference, to offer to you, ye men and women of Israel. Our most sincere thanks and gratitude, both to you and to our Father in heaven, for your prompt, faithful and numerous attendance at this conference, for the splendid spirit you have manifested, for the union that has characterized all our assemblies, for the love and goodwill shown by an who have met here in the name of the Lord; and I say, in the name of the Lord, be ye blessed, in your basket and in your store, in your outgoing and in your incoming, in the labor of your hands and in the labor of your minds, and m your prayers and your devotion to the cause of Zion. May the Spirit and power and light of the living God shine upon you, and move you to acts of righteousness, of truth, of union, of strength and of power in the Priesthood of God which you hold, and which blessings have been pronounced upon you in sacred places by those who had the keys and authority to bless on earth and you will be blessed in heaven, to bind on earth and it will be bound in heaven, and to loose on earth and it will be loosed in heaven. God bless you. These mighty men who sit before this stand, clothed with power from Almighty God, they are not self-called. They have not been chosen by man. They have not chosen themselves, but they have been called by the power of the Almighty to stand in high places in the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as Presidents, as fathers to the people, as counselors, as judges, and as leaders, walking in the way that the people of God should follow them into all truth and into the possession of greater light, greater power and wisdom and understanding. God bless you, my brethren. And while you stand united, as you have stood in the past, and as you have manifested your union here during this conference, so God will magnify you before your flocks and in the midst of your people, ana win increase your power and your strength to do good and to accomplish His purposes, until you shall be satisfied with your labors and have exceeding great joy therein; and your people win rise up and call you blessed, they will pray for you and sustain you by their faith and good works. Let us go home strengthened, built up, encouraged, and more determined than ever before to serve God and Him obey. No matter what the world thinks or anybody says, let us do our duty; and in the language of Joshua let us say, "as tor me and my house, we will serve God." Let this be the sentiment of every heart represented at this vast conference.
In behalf of you who are assembled here, my brethren and sisters, I desire to extend thanks and gratitude to Evan Stephens—a man gifted of God, talented in music, in poetry and in song, and above and beyond all that, a man gifted with humility and with faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who is not only diligent in his labors here with this great choir, but who is faithful in his soul to the cause of Zion. He bears testimony to the truth in song and praise. I want to say, in behalf of this vast assembly, Brother Evan Stephens, God bless you and keep you long in the service in which you are engaged for the people of God and for the cause of Zion, and in behalf of this great choir. And then, in behalf of this congregation, too, I extend our appreciation una our gratitude to Brother John J. McClellan, and his assistants. We thank God that He has given us boys and girls, born and reared in our midst, that possess talent equal to that possessed by any men or women born in the world. We will not admit that they are second to any. I thank God also, in your behalf, for this choir, who have devoted hours, days, weeks and months, days, and years, in the service of the people; who have won a name that is enviable, not only among the Latter-day Saints and the people of Utah, but a name that has extended beyond our borders to the uttermost parts of the earth. God bless you [speaking to the choir], you men and boys of Israel and you daughters of Zion. Peace be unto you. May your voices ever ring clear aim true In the songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God for His mercies and kindnesses unto His people. The Lord preserve you. Be not discouraged easily. Attend to your duty, follow your file leaders, be united, and peek to make melody in the worship of Almighty God, who has given to you your precious voices and has put it into your hearts to labor in the capacity of a choir for the benefit of Zion. The Lord bless you, and He will bless you; and in the name of Israel's God, as a servant of the Lord. I bless you.
Again, in my own behalf, and in behalf of my counselors. President Winder and President Lund, I want to thank these my fellow-servants in the Apostleship. They are true men. They are honest men. They are God's servants, and I know it. I am intimate with them, I live with them, I labor with them, and I know their hearts and their works. Their lives are open unto me, and unto the living God; they are true men, and I bless them. God bless these my brethren. They are true to the Father, and 1 know that so long as they are true to Him they will be true to all the interests or His people, and true to His servants, and no power can turn them from God's cause.
God bless and preserve his brother, the Presiding Patriarch of the Church. May the Lord lend unto Him the enlightening, invigorating power of the Holy Ghost, that in his administrations as a Patriarch to the people he may speak the truth, and only the truth, and that his words may be words of soberness and knowledge, words of comfort and consolation to those on whom he lays his hands, that they may go away from his administration blessed in very deed.
I want to bless some of my veteran friends who are here. I say, God bless you. brethren. You and I have grown grey in the cause of Zion. You have ever been on the frontiers of danger, as protectors of the rights of the people and as protectors of the servants of the Lord from those who would injure and do them harm. I say, God bless you, and He will bless you, and I bless you in the name of Israel's God.
Let the Lord God have mercy upon those, that seek to hurt the cause of Zion. O God, pity the misguided, the erring, the foolish, the unwise. Put Thy Spirit in their hearts, turn them from the error of their ways and from their follies, and bring them back into the way of righteousness and into Thy favor. I ask mercy lor my enemies — those that lie about me and slander me, and that speak all manner of evil against me falsely. In return, I beseech God my Heavenly Father to nave mercy upon them; for those who do it not knowing what they are doing are only misguided, and those who are doing it with their eyes open certainly need, most of all, the mercy, compassion and pity of God. May God pity them. May He have mercy upon them. I would not harm a hair of their head, for all I am worth in the world. I would not throw a block in their way to prosperity. No; and I beseech my brethren that they keep hands off the enemies of our people and those who are paving their own road to destruction and will not repent, who are sinning with their eyes open, who know that they are transgressing the laws of God and vilifying and lying against the servants of the Lord. Have mercy upon them. Do not touch them; for that is just what they would like. Let them alone. Let them go. Give them the liberty of speech they want. Let them tell their own story, and write their own doom. We can afford it. They do not hurt us, and if it affords them any amusement, I am sure they are welcome to it.
I feel like blessing the quorums of the Priesthood, every one of them, from the High Priests to the Deacons. I pray God, my Heavenly Father to remember them In their organizations, to help them, that they may magnify the Priesthood they hold and do the will of the Father; that the Seventies may be minute men, instant in season and out of season, ready and willing to respond to the calls that are made upon them to go and preach the Gospel to the world. Gather in from the Elders quorums those who have proven themselves worthy and who have gained experience, and make Seventies of them, so that the quorum of the Seventies may be replenished; and the aged ones, whose physical condition will not permit them any longer to do missionary duty in the world, let them be ordained High Priests and Patriarchs, to bless the people and to minister at home. Gather in the strong, the vigorous, the young, the able-bodied, who have the spirit of the Gospel in their Hearts, to fill up the ranks of the Seventies, that we may have ministers to preach the Gospel to the world. They are needed. We cannot now meet the demand.
I feel like blessing the auxiliary organizations, which are so powerful in wielding influences for good among the youth of Zion. May the Lord bless them, one and all, and make chem to continue to be useful in their callings, that they may be able to magnify them in honor before God in all the world. Peace be unto those that preside In all these organizations, that they may be equal to the duties that devolve upon them.
God bless you all. May peace abound with you. Let this assembly of His people come up as a witness unto God and unto the world that "Mormonism" is a living, moving entity; that it is not dead nor sleeping, but that it is alive and awake, growing and advancing in the land; and let the world know it. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "When Thou Comest to the Judgment," Sister Lizzie T. Edward rendering the solo parts beautifully.
Benediction was pronounced by President John R. Winder.
The conference adjourned for six months.
The stenographic report of these proceedings was taken by Elders Arthur Winter and F. E. Barker.
JOHN NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
(Closing Address.)
Love, goodwill, and devotion manifest by the people.—Blessings pronounced upon all the faithful, Priesthood and Saints.—Words of blessing, commendation, and encouragement for the singers, their leader, the organist, etc. — The Apostles, Patriarch, and veteran workers for Zion blessed.—Earnest prayer for mercy upon his slanderers and enemies of the Church—Appeal to the Saints to be living witnesses, that "Mormonism" is God's work.
I desire, very briefly, as the time is already spent, on behalf of myself and my counselors, and also on behalf of the Quorum of the Apostles, the Presiding Patriarch, the Presiding Bishopric and others of the general Authorities of the Church represented at this conference, to offer to you, ye men and women of Israel. Our most sincere thanks and gratitude, both to you and to our Father in heaven, for your prompt, faithful and numerous attendance at this conference, for the splendid spirit you have manifested, for the union that has characterized all our assemblies, for the love and goodwill shown by an who have met here in the name of the Lord; and I say, in the name of the Lord, be ye blessed, in your basket and in your store, in your outgoing and in your incoming, in the labor of your hands and in the labor of your minds, and m your prayers and your devotion to the cause of Zion. May the Spirit and power and light of the living God shine upon you, and move you to acts of righteousness, of truth, of union, of strength and of power in the Priesthood of God which you hold, and which blessings have been pronounced upon you in sacred places by those who had the keys and authority to bless on earth and you will be blessed in heaven, to bind on earth and it will be bound in heaven, and to loose on earth and it will be loosed in heaven. God bless you. These mighty men who sit before this stand, clothed with power from Almighty God, they are not self-called. They have not been chosen by man. They have not chosen themselves, but they have been called by the power of the Almighty to stand in high places in the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as Presidents, as fathers to the people, as counselors, as judges, and as leaders, walking in the way that the people of God should follow them into all truth and into the possession of greater light, greater power and wisdom and understanding. God bless you, my brethren. And while you stand united, as you have stood in the past, and as you have manifested your union here during this conference, so God will magnify you before your flocks and in the midst of your people, ana win increase your power and your strength to do good and to accomplish His purposes, until you shall be satisfied with your labors and have exceeding great joy therein; and your people win rise up and call you blessed, they will pray for you and sustain you by their faith and good works. Let us go home strengthened, built up, encouraged, and more determined than ever before to serve God and Him obey. No matter what the world thinks or anybody says, let us do our duty; and in the language of Joshua let us say, "as tor me and my house, we will serve God." Let this be the sentiment of every heart represented at this vast conference.
In behalf of you who are assembled here, my brethren and sisters, I desire to extend thanks and gratitude to Evan Stephens—a man gifted of God, talented in music, in poetry and in song, and above and beyond all that, a man gifted with humility and with faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who is not only diligent in his labors here with this great choir, but who is faithful in his soul to the cause of Zion. He bears testimony to the truth in song and praise. I want to say, in behalf of this vast assembly, Brother Evan Stephens, God bless you and keep you long in the service in which you are engaged for the people of God and for the cause of Zion, and in behalf of this great choir. And then, in behalf of this congregation, too, I extend our appreciation una our gratitude to Brother John J. McClellan, and his assistants. We thank God that He has given us boys and girls, born and reared in our midst, that possess talent equal to that possessed by any men or women born in the world. We will not admit that they are second to any. I thank God also, in your behalf, for this choir, who have devoted hours, days, weeks and months, days, and years, in the service of the people; who have won a name that is enviable, not only among the Latter-day Saints and the people of Utah, but a name that has extended beyond our borders to the uttermost parts of the earth. God bless you [speaking to the choir], you men and boys of Israel and you daughters of Zion. Peace be unto you. May your voices ever ring clear aim true In the songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God for His mercies and kindnesses unto His people. The Lord preserve you. Be not discouraged easily. Attend to your duty, follow your file leaders, be united, and peek to make melody in the worship of Almighty God, who has given to you your precious voices and has put it into your hearts to labor in the capacity of a choir for the benefit of Zion. The Lord bless you, and He will bless you; and in the name of Israel's God, as a servant of the Lord. I bless you.
Again, in my own behalf, and in behalf of my counselors. President Winder and President Lund, I want to thank these my fellow-servants in the Apostleship. They are true men. They are honest men. They are God's servants, and I know it. I am intimate with them, I live with them, I labor with them, and I know their hearts and their works. Their lives are open unto me, and unto the living God; they are true men, and I bless them. God bless these my brethren. They are true to the Father, and 1 know that so long as they are true to Him they will be true to all the interests or His people, and true to His servants, and no power can turn them from God's cause.
God bless and preserve his brother, the Presiding Patriarch of the Church. May the Lord lend unto Him the enlightening, invigorating power of the Holy Ghost, that in his administrations as a Patriarch to the people he may speak the truth, and only the truth, and that his words may be words of soberness and knowledge, words of comfort and consolation to those on whom he lays his hands, that they may go away from his administration blessed in very deed.
I want to bless some of my veteran friends who are here. I say, God bless you. brethren. You and I have grown grey in the cause of Zion. You have ever been on the frontiers of danger, as protectors of the rights of the people and as protectors of the servants of the Lord from those who would injure and do them harm. I say, God bless you, and He will bless you, and I bless you in the name of Israel's God.
Let the Lord God have mercy upon those, that seek to hurt the cause of Zion. O God, pity the misguided, the erring, the foolish, the unwise. Put Thy Spirit in their hearts, turn them from the error of their ways and from their follies, and bring them back into the way of righteousness and into Thy favor. I ask mercy lor my enemies — those that lie about me and slander me, and that speak all manner of evil against me falsely. In return, I beseech God my Heavenly Father to nave mercy upon them; for those who do it not knowing what they are doing are only misguided, and those who are doing it with their eyes open certainly need, most of all, the mercy, compassion and pity of God. May God pity them. May He have mercy upon them. I would not harm a hair of their head, for all I am worth in the world. I would not throw a block in their way to prosperity. No; and I beseech my brethren that they keep hands off the enemies of our people and those who are paving their own road to destruction and will not repent, who are sinning with their eyes open, who know that they are transgressing the laws of God and vilifying and lying against the servants of the Lord. Have mercy upon them. Do not touch them; for that is just what they would like. Let them alone. Let them go. Give them the liberty of speech they want. Let them tell their own story, and write their own doom. We can afford it. They do not hurt us, and if it affords them any amusement, I am sure they are welcome to it.
I feel like blessing the quorums of the Priesthood, every one of them, from the High Priests to the Deacons. I pray God, my Heavenly Father to remember them In their organizations, to help them, that they may magnify the Priesthood they hold and do the will of the Father; that the Seventies may be minute men, instant in season and out of season, ready and willing to respond to the calls that are made upon them to go and preach the Gospel to the world. Gather in from the Elders quorums those who have proven themselves worthy and who have gained experience, and make Seventies of them, so that the quorum of the Seventies may be replenished; and the aged ones, whose physical condition will not permit them any longer to do missionary duty in the world, let them be ordained High Priests and Patriarchs, to bless the people and to minister at home. Gather in the strong, the vigorous, the young, the able-bodied, who have the spirit of the Gospel in their Hearts, to fill up the ranks of the Seventies, that we may have ministers to preach the Gospel to the world. They are needed. We cannot now meet the demand.
I feel like blessing the auxiliary organizations, which are so powerful in wielding influences for good among the youth of Zion. May the Lord bless them, one and all, and make chem to continue to be useful in their callings, that they may be able to magnify them in honor before God in all the world. Peace be unto those that preside In all these organizations, that they may be equal to the duties that devolve upon them.
God bless you all. May peace abound with you. Let this assembly of His people come up as a witness unto God and unto the world that "Mormonism" is a living, moving entity; that it is not dead nor sleeping, but that it is alive and awake, growing and advancing in the land; and let the world know it. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "When Thou Comest to the Judgment," Sister Lizzie T. Edward rendering the solo parts beautifully.
Benediction was pronounced by President John R. Winder.
The conference adjourned for six months.
The stenographic report of these proceedings was taken by Elders Arthur Winter and F. E. Barker.
JOHN NICHOLSON,
Clerk of Conference.
DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
Its Semi-Annual Conference, Held in the Tabernacle, Sunday Evening, October 8, 1905.
The conference of the Deseret Sunday- School Union was called to order by General Superintendent Joseph F. Smith, at 7:30 p. m.
Present: of the general superintendency, President Joseph F. Smith, George Reynolds and Joseph M. Tanner; of the members of the board. Elders Joseph W. Summerhays, Levi W. Richards, Seymour B. Young, John M. Mills. John F. Bennett, James E. Talmage, George M. Cannon, Horace Cummings, Josiah Burrows, George D. Pyper. William A. Morton and Horace S. Ensign.
The congregation filled the Tabernacle to its capacity. The singing during the evening was done by the entire congregation led by Elder George D. Pyper, The opening hymn was "Gather round the Standard Bearer."
Prayer was offered by Apostle John Henry Smith.
Singing. "If there's Sunshine in your Heart."
Secretary Geo. D. Pyper called the roll of Stakes and Missions, showing all the Stakes represented except Uintah, Wayne and Parowan. Nine missions were also represented.
Assistant Superintendent George Reynolds stated that at these conferences the General Superintendency wish to hear reports, a few on each occasion, from the various stakes and missions; and called upon Elder Horace S. Ensign, late president of the Japanese mission, ta give the meeting an idea of the condition of the Sunday schools in that land.
Its Semi-Annual Conference, Held in the Tabernacle, Sunday Evening, October 8, 1905.
The conference of the Deseret Sunday- School Union was called to order by General Superintendent Joseph F. Smith, at 7:30 p. m.
Present: of the general superintendency, President Joseph F. Smith, George Reynolds and Joseph M. Tanner; of the members of the board. Elders Joseph W. Summerhays, Levi W. Richards, Seymour B. Young, John M. Mills. John F. Bennett, James E. Talmage, George M. Cannon, Horace Cummings, Josiah Burrows, George D. Pyper. William A. Morton and Horace S. Ensign.
The congregation filled the Tabernacle to its capacity. The singing during the evening was done by the entire congregation led by Elder George D. Pyper, The opening hymn was "Gather round the Standard Bearer."
Prayer was offered by Apostle John Henry Smith.
Singing. "If there's Sunshine in your Heart."
Secretary Geo. D. Pyper called the roll of Stakes and Missions, showing all the Stakes represented except Uintah, Wayne and Parowan. Nine missions were also represented.
Assistant Superintendent George Reynolds stated that at these conferences the General Superintendency wish to hear reports, a few on each occasion, from the various stakes and missions; and called upon Elder Horace S. Ensign, late president of the Japanese mission, ta give the meeting an idea of the condition of the Sunday schools in that land.
ELDER HORACE S. ENSIGN.
My brethren, and sisters, I am indeed greatly surprised in being called to occupy this position tonight. I rejoice, however, in being present to associate with you in this Sunday School conference. It has been more than four years since I enjoyed this privilege, and I assure you that I appreciate it.
Two years ago the 29th of last November, the first Sunday school of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Tokyo, Japan. Previous to that time the Elders had been laboring among the adults, endeavoring to teach them the plan of life and salvation as it has come to us in this day and dispensation. As you are all aware, we were compelled to labor among those who know not God, and who have no conception of the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. We found that our labors were not altogether a success among the adults of Japan. We discovered that they had bowed so long before graven images that they had become absorbed in the superstitions of Buddha and Shinto, and the pure light of the Gospel had but little effect upon them. Realizing these conditions, the Elders laboring in Japan made it a matter of fasting and prayer before the Lord, imploring Him to give them light and inspiration with regard to the dissemination of the Gospel in that foreign land. The inspiration of the Lord unto His servants was, that we should organize Sunday Schools, that we should invite the children to come to our home and to the homes where the Elders were residing, that we might teach them in their early lives the plan of salvation, teach them the beautiful story of the life of Christ, and of the restoration of the Gospel in this day and dispensation.
It pleases me to be able to say that God has magnified His servants in their work with the children. At our first Sunday school in the city of Tokyo we had more than 90 children present. Many of them came out of mere curiosity; some of them because they were sent by their parents: and I am happy to say that many of them have continued to come, and have learned much with regard to the mission of the Lord Jesus. Immediately surrounding our headquarters, we found many families in which were a number of children. and from those families we have received the greatest support in our Sabbath school. We realized that it would be impossible for him to entertain the children by telling them. over and over again the life and mission of Christ, so we found it necessary to begin the translation of our Sunday school hymns and to set music to the translations. This, too, was an inspiration from our Heavenly Father, and it has proved very effectual. In the Yotsuya district of Tokyo, where the Latter-day Saints' headquarters is located, we hear almost every day our Sunday school songs being sung in the street by our Sunday School children.
The children love to come to our headquarters to be taught the songs which have been arranged for them, and we find in going to their homes that their parents are happy indeed that the Latter-day Saints have organized a Sunday school in their midst.
And thus it is that one of the greatest joys that the children have is to attend their Sunday school, every Sabbath morning and be taught the stories with regard to the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Not only do they love to hear these stories, not only do they enjoy relating them as best they can to their parents, but they do take delight in singing our songs. And you, my brethren and sisters, would rejoice could you hear their little voices raised in singing the songs of Zion as they have been translated into the Japanese tongue. At headquarters we have a large swing, and the little children come there to play, and as they swing through the air we hear them singing our little Sunday school songs, and they do sing them with spirit, just as our children sing them here at home. And we know that much good will be the result of our work with the children.
The Japanese themselves are not of a spiritual nature. They are materialists. We have discovered in talking with them, that if we can show them where they can benefit themselves materially by accepting the Gospel they will listen with interest to our story; but when they learn that the only benefit derived from the acceptance of the Gospel is a spiritual blessing, then they have but little to say, and manifest but little interest in that which we endeavor to teach them. But we do have faith in the youth of Japan, and I feel sure that our efforts with the children will ,eventually result in good, that we shall see many in the land of Japan strong and stalwart in the faith, who have been taught the Gospel In the Sabbath schools.
My brethren and sisters, the Elders in Japan are doing grand work, especially among the children, I received a letter a short time ago from the Elders laboring there now. Two Elders had gone into a new district, and as soon as they found quarters, they went among the people and invited them to send their children to the home where the Elders were living. They did so. The last report that 1 heard was that they were having now an attendance of 83 children at their Sabbath school every Sunday morning, and the Elders have been instructed to organize Sunday schools in all parts of Japan where: they are laboring; to let this be their first thought, because we feel that we shall be able to impress the young minds, while we find that it is almost an impossibility to impress the minds of the older people.
I rejoice exceedingly in having the privilege of being with you tonight, and I rejoice in being associated with you in the Sabbath school, I sincerely pray that God will bless the officers of the Sabbath school, that He will bless the teachers who are teaching the youth of Zion. And I ask you to remember the Elders away in Japan endeavoring to teach that people the Gospel of life and salvation. God is remembering them and sustaining them, and I know it is in accordance with your faith and your prayers. The Elders have been wonderfully blessed in acquiring the language. Most of them speak it fluently, and it has been through the grace of God unto them. The natives tell us that our Elders, who have been there only a little more than four years, speak with greater freedom and greater fluency than missionaries of other denominations and others who have been there for 20 years. So you see that they are enjoying the gifts of the Gospel, and that God is sustaining them in their work there.
May God bless us in our work, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
My brethren, and sisters, I am indeed greatly surprised in being called to occupy this position tonight. I rejoice, however, in being present to associate with you in this Sunday School conference. It has been more than four years since I enjoyed this privilege, and I assure you that I appreciate it.
Two years ago the 29th of last November, the first Sunday school of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in Tokyo, Japan. Previous to that time the Elders had been laboring among the adults, endeavoring to teach them the plan of life and salvation as it has come to us in this day and dispensation. As you are all aware, we were compelled to labor among those who know not God, and who have no conception of the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. We found that our labors were not altogether a success among the adults of Japan. We discovered that they had bowed so long before graven images that they had become absorbed in the superstitions of Buddha and Shinto, and the pure light of the Gospel had but little effect upon them. Realizing these conditions, the Elders laboring in Japan made it a matter of fasting and prayer before the Lord, imploring Him to give them light and inspiration with regard to the dissemination of the Gospel in that foreign land. The inspiration of the Lord unto His servants was, that we should organize Sunday Schools, that we should invite the children to come to our home and to the homes where the Elders were residing, that we might teach them in their early lives the plan of salvation, teach them the beautiful story of the life of Christ, and of the restoration of the Gospel in this day and dispensation.
It pleases me to be able to say that God has magnified His servants in their work with the children. At our first Sunday school in the city of Tokyo we had more than 90 children present. Many of them came out of mere curiosity; some of them because they were sent by their parents: and I am happy to say that many of them have continued to come, and have learned much with regard to the mission of the Lord Jesus. Immediately surrounding our headquarters, we found many families in which were a number of children. and from those families we have received the greatest support in our Sabbath school. We realized that it would be impossible for him to entertain the children by telling them. over and over again the life and mission of Christ, so we found it necessary to begin the translation of our Sunday school hymns and to set music to the translations. This, too, was an inspiration from our Heavenly Father, and it has proved very effectual. In the Yotsuya district of Tokyo, where the Latter-day Saints' headquarters is located, we hear almost every day our Sunday school songs being sung in the street by our Sunday School children.
The children love to come to our headquarters to be taught the songs which have been arranged for them, and we find in going to their homes that their parents are happy indeed that the Latter-day Saints have organized a Sunday school in their midst.
And thus it is that one of the greatest joys that the children have is to attend their Sunday school, every Sabbath morning and be taught the stories with regard to the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Not only do they love to hear these stories, not only do they enjoy relating them as best they can to their parents, but they do take delight in singing our songs. And you, my brethren and sisters, would rejoice could you hear their little voices raised in singing the songs of Zion as they have been translated into the Japanese tongue. At headquarters we have a large swing, and the little children come there to play, and as they swing through the air we hear them singing our little Sunday school songs, and they do sing them with spirit, just as our children sing them here at home. And we know that much good will be the result of our work with the children.
The Japanese themselves are not of a spiritual nature. They are materialists. We have discovered in talking with them, that if we can show them where they can benefit themselves materially by accepting the Gospel they will listen with interest to our story; but when they learn that the only benefit derived from the acceptance of the Gospel is a spiritual blessing, then they have but little to say, and manifest but little interest in that which we endeavor to teach them. But we do have faith in the youth of Japan, and I feel sure that our efforts with the children will ,eventually result in good, that we shall see many in the land of Japan strong and stalwart in the faith, who have been taught the Gospel In the Sabbath schools.
My brethren and sisters, the Elders in Japan are doing grand work, especially among the children, I received a letter a short time ago from the Elders laboring there now. Two Elders had gone into a new district, and as soon as they found quarters, they went among the people and invited them to send their children to the home where the Elders were living. They did so. The last report that 1 heard was that they were having now an attendance of 83 children at their Sabbath school every Sunday morning, and the Elders have been instructed to organize Sunday schools in all parts of Japan where: they are laboring; to let this be their first thought, because we feel that we shall be able to impress the young minds, while we find that it is almost an impossibility to impress the minds of the older people.
I rejoice exceedingly in having the privilege of being with you tonight, and I rejoice in being associated with you in the Sabbath school, I sincerely pray that God will bless the officers of the Sabbath school, that He will bless the teachers who are teaching the youth of Zion. And I ask you to remember the Elders away in Japan endeavoring to teach that people the Gospel of life and salvation. God is remembering them and sustaining them, and I know it is in accordance with your faith and your prayers. The Elders have been wonderfully blessed in acquiring the language. Most of them speak it fluently, and it has been through the grace of God unto them. The natives tell us that our Elders, who have been there only a little more than four years, speak with greater freedom and greater fluency than missionaries of other denominations and others who have been there for 20 years. So you see that they are enjoying the gifts of the Gospel, and that God is sustaining them in their work there.
May God bless us in our work, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER SAMUEL E. WOOLLEY.
My brethren and sisters, I rejoice tonight to meet in this capacity and to report the Sabbath Schools of the Hawaiian Mission. According to our report we lead in Sabbath School work in the Missions outside of Zion. We have more engaged and more schools than any other Mission on the earth. We have sixty-five schools, organized with superintendents, with their assistants, secretaries and treasurers, together with their aids; and we have over 2,700 members of the Sabbath Schools. The children of that land rejoice in singing the songs of Zion, and the most of them sing in the English tongue, and we feel that the Sunday School work is growing in that land, and we are proud that we stand in the lead. It is true the gospel has been preached in that land for fifty-five years, and Sunday Schools have been organized for many, many years, but the work is growing there. And the Sunday Schools send greetings to the Sunday Schools in Zion and especially to the General Superintendent, even President Joseph F. Smith, for the people look upon him as their father, he having labored among them so many years. The work in the Mission is prospering and we are adding to the Church each year. We now have upwards of 7,000 souls, and, as I said we are still gathering into the fold, and we feel that we have not laborers enough for the harvest. We are now a part of the United States, and we feel quite at home. We used to think that the Sandwich Islands were almost out of the world, but today we hear, twice a day, all the important events of the globe, as we are now connected by cable. The work of the Lord is growing and increasing in that land and we rejoice in it. We rejoice m the Sabbath School work, especially, for we are trying to teach the young people as well as the older ones (for we have many aged ones who belong to the schools) the principles of the gospel, the plan o& life and salvation; and I pray that the blessings of the Lord may be upon that nation, upon the Sunday Schools on those islands, together with all other lands wheresoever the gospel is being preached. May the Lord help us who are engaged in this work, both at home and abroad, that we may be true to the covenants that we have made with our Father and with one another, and that the Sunday Schools may grow and increase, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
My brethren and sisters, I rejoice tonight to meet in this capacity and to report the Sabbath Schools of the Hawaiian Mission. According to our report we lead in Sabbath School work in the Missions outside of Zion. We have more engaged and more schools than any other Mission on the earth. We have sixty-five schools, organized with superintendents, with their assistants, secretaries and treasurers, together with their aids; and we have over 2,700 members of the Sabbath Schools. The children of that land rejoice in singing the songs of Zion, and the most of them sing in the English tongue, and we feel that the Sunday School work is growing in that land, and we are proud that we stand in the lead. It is true the gospel has been preached in that land for fifty-five years, and Sunday Schools have been organized for many, many years, but the work is growing there. And the Sunday Schools send greetings to the Sunday Schools in Zion and especially to the General Superintendent, even President Joseph F. Smith, for the people look upon him as their father, he having labored among them so many years. The work in the Mission is prospering and we are adding to the Church each year. We now have upwards of 7,000 souls, and, as I said we are still gathering into the fold, and we feel that we have not laborers enough for the harvest. We are now a part of the United States, and we feel quite at home. We used to think that the Sandwich Islands were almost out of the world, but today we hear, twice a day, all the important events of the globe, as we are now connected by cable. The work of the Lord is growing and increasing in that land and we rejoice in it. We rejoice m the Sabbath School work, especially, for we are trying to teach the young people as well as the older ones (for we have many aged ones who belong to the schools) the principles of the gospel, the plan o& life and salvation; and I pray that the blessings of the Lord may be upon that nation, upon the Sunday Schools on those islands, together with all other lands wheresoever the gospel is being preached. May the Lord help us who are engaged in this work, both at home and abroad, that we may be true to the covenants that we have made with our Father and with one another, and that the Sunday Schools may grow and increase, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER WILLIAM HANSON.
We have nineteen Sabbath Schools in the Summit Stake of Zion, scattered along the banks of the Weber and Provo Rivers. We have an enrollment of about 2,300, 250 officers and teachers, that we think are .about as good as any of the children of the Lord engaged in the Sabbath School work. We have nearly completed holding our local ward Sunday School conferences. At each of these conferences we take an opportunity to meet with the local officers and the teachers of the respective schools and to question them as to how they are living, if they are living in harmony with the requirements that were made of them when they accepted the office of Sunday School workers. In almost every instance we have been very g-lad to learn that nearly every hand is raised, and nearly every voice is prepared to say that they keep the Word of Wisdom, they all pay their tithes, are observing the Sabbath day and are living up to the requirements that have been asked of them by our worthy Stake President and his associates. We have the assistance of many other associations in our Stake. We are probably more closely connected than almost any other Stake. We all meet once a month in what is known as our auxiliary meetings. At these meetings the parents meet with every association, and their children can also join and meet at one place in the Stake, where they can all go to their different departments and there be instructed along the lines that have been laid out for them.
We have very good Sunday Schools as a whole, and we are very pleased with them. We often have to drive quite a distance, sometimes thirty or thirty-seven miles, to be in attendance at the 9:45 prayer meeting. This is quite a task, as most of us are engaged in business at home, and cannot leave before Sunday morning. There are only one or two schools that we can visit by the railroad, most of it has to be done by team, and we travel on an average of between five and six hundred miles each month in our Stake visits.
I desire to say that the young people in the Summit Stake of Zion are doing, I believe, the very best that they can. We have all classes. We have a very healthy Sunday School In Park City, a mining camp; and in that school especially there is great energy manifested in trying to get the visiting brethren who come into that camp interested in the Sabbath School, until now it has become so popular that the building is scarcely able to hold them.
I pray God to add His blessings to our work, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The congregation then sang, "Hope of Israel."
We have nineteen Sabbath Schools in the Summit Stake of Zion, scattered along the banks of the Weber and Provo Rivers. We have an enrollment of about 2,300, 250 officers and teachers, that we think are .about as good as any of the children of the Lord engaged in the Sabbath School work. We have nearly completed holding our local ward Sunday School conferences. At each of these conferences we take an opportunity to meet with the local officers and the teachers of the respective schools and to question them as to how they are living, if they are living in harmony with the requirements that were made of them when they accepted the office of Sunday School workers. In almost every instance we have been very g-lad to learn that nearly every hand is raised, and nearly every voice is prepared to say that they keep the Word of Wisdom, they all pay their tithes, are observing the Sabbath day and are living up to the requirements that have been asked of them by our worthy Stake President and his associates. We have the assistance of many other associations in our Stake. We are probably more closely connected than almost any other Stake. We all meet once a month in what is known as our auxiliary meetings. At these meetings the parents meet with every association, and their children can also join and meet at one place in the Stake, where they can all go to their different departments and there be instructed along the lines that have been laid out for them.
We have very good Sunday Schools as a whole, and we are very pleased with them. We often have to drive quite a distance, sometimes thirty or thirty-seven miles, to be in attendance at the 9:45 prayer meeting. This is quite a task, as most of us are engaged in business at home, and cannot leave before Sunday morning. There are only one or two schools that we can visit by the railroad, most of it has to be done by team, and we travel on an average of between five and six hundred miles each month in our Stake visits.
I desire to say that the young people in the Summit Stake of Zion are doing, I believe, the very best that they can. We have all classes. We have a very healthy Sunday School In Park City, a mining camp; and in that school especially there is great energy manifested in trying to get the visiting brethren who come into that camp interested in the Sabbath School, until now it has become so popular that the building is scarcely able to hold them.
I pray God to add His blessings to our work, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The congregation then sang, "Hope of Israel."
ELDER GEORGE M. CANNON.
My brethren and sisters, I desire that while I speak to you I may be guided by the Spirit of the Lord in that which I say. I have ever had in my heart a desire to not say anything at any time that would be contrary to the Spirit of the Lord; and I have no desire to speak sentiments that are not pleasing unto our Heavenly Father; nor do I desire to give voice to any sentiment in which I myself do not sincerely believe. I feel that one of the greatest duties that we have as Sunday school workers is to let our lives be of such a character that our deeds and our acts will speak more loudly than our words. I am an emphatic believer in the fact that we cannot teach by word if our actions do not conform to that which we preach. I believe that Sunday school teachers and officers should set such an example before their pupils that they will not be ashamed of their lives—that they will not be ashamed to have their children know that which they have done.
I remember a few years ago attending a missionary farewell, and the occasion was that of the departure of the first son of a man upon a mission. He was not the brother's oldest son, but he was the first son to be called upon a mission; and his father, speaking to that assembly, said: "My son will probably go into my old missionary field: he will visit the people whom I visited twenty years ago, but I feel iii my heart I have no fear that wherever he goes he will find anything that will cause the blush of shame to come to his cheek. I am not afraid to have him go to the people whom I have visited. I am not afraid to have him tread in the paths in which I walked, and I am satisfied that there he will find that I have left behind me a record of which I need not be ashamed."
I thought this was a glorious testimony; and I feel, in my own heart, that if every one of us could say the same to our sons and daughters that we are not ashamed to have them go into the fields in which we have walked, meet the people among whom we labored. and listen to their testimony of that which we did—if we could live in such a way that we could say this to them. and say it truthfully, we need not be afraid to go back into the presence of our Eternal Father. Little children are keen observers of that which we do, and while they may not say, with a great writer, they feel the sentiment which he expressed when he said, "How can I hear your words when your deeds speak a different language?"
In my visits among the people, I have occasionally found some who have been disturbed a little by the comments of those who are not favorable to the work of the Lord, and have occasionally found some who were a little bit afraid that the Latter-day Saints are failing to an extent in their mission. I want to say to all such, that you are the ones who should be careful, that you may not be led astray by that which the enemies of the truth are seeking to circulate concerning our people. You know that we are told that if we saw the truth about our leaders, that we are simply seeking to flatter them, that we are seeking to build ourselves up in their estimation. In my own heart I have the utmost contempt for a man who, in order to build himself up, will flatter any other individual. While I feel they are worthy only of contempt, because they themselves are of such a caliber that they will not amount to much, yet while I feel that this is true, there is another thing that is equally true, and which other people should remember, and that is, that there are those who willfully bear false witness against their neighbors, who willfully disseminate doctrines which they know to be untrue.
We find that in any conflict that takes place, the shafts of the enemy are directed at the leaders of any great cause. Those who follow are of comparatively small importance, and the aim of the enemy is always to cripple those who lead. It is their aim, if possible, to weaken the confidence of their followers in them; and that is the aim of the opposers of the work of God today. They seek to lead away the people and weaken their confidence in those whom God has placed at their head, but I am glad to know that their efforts in this respect signally fail. I am glad to know that they cannot take from the people of God the confidence which they have in those whom God has placed to lead them; and I feel that one thing we should do, as parents and as teachers and officers of the Sabbath school, is to teach our little children to pray for all those who are engaged in the work of the Lord.
I have no fear in my heart of a child being led away who is taught in his infancy to pray for the missionaries, that they may be able to reach the honest in heart, and that they may be preserved and brought home in safety and in purity, and who is also taught to pray for those who are placed in authority in our midst, for the Bishop in the ward, for his father and his mother, for the presiding authorities; and I am satisfied that those who are taught in this way will grow up with the Spirit of the Lord in their hearts, and that they cannot be led astray by that which the enemy may say about us.
I have a testimony in my own heart of the truth of the Gospel, and it has been my fortune to know many, of those who presided over us as Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a boy I knew President Brigham Young, but only as a child would know one whom he would see upon the stand. But as I grew older I was brought into close contact with those who succeeded President Brigham Young. I was a teacher upon the block upon which President John Taylor lived, and visited him in that capacity in his home. I was closely connected in various capacities with President Wilford Woodruff, and I also knew President Lorenzo Snow, and also his successor, President Joseph P. Smith. And I bear my testimony to the youth of Zion that I know that all these men have had the Spirit of God resting upon them, and they have been actuated by the same spirit; that they have sought to carry on the work of God in the same way. Each of these men, perhaps, had his special gifts, his special qualification for the work that was needed at the time that he presided over the Church. But I testify to the youth of Zion that their purpose has been alike; and I know that the purpose of those who lead us today is not different from the purpose of those who presided before them.
I know that all of them have been men who sought to teach their children to earn that which they used, and to support themselves by their own efforts. I bear this testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, and I feel that as Sunday school workers it is our duty to teach the youth of Zion the truth concerning these matters, that they may not be led astray by the foolishness of men and by that which is said by those who are willfully seeking to cast reflections upon the work of God. "We find that today they bear testimony to a certain extent to that which was good in the past, but we should find that if they had lived in the past they would have fought those who led the work of God then as they fight those who lead the work of God now. It is not the individual they are fighting, but the Lord through His living oracles. They seem to exemplify that which our Savior said when He declared that they stoned the living prophets, while they garnished the sepulchres of the dead. I know the work in which we are engaged is the work of the Lord.
I know, also, that there are among our opponents thousands who are honest in their convictions, and who oppose the work of the Lord because of a lack of understanding, and because they do not know the purpose of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But I also know that there are among them men who simply oppose the work of God because they could not have their own way, and because they could not do that which they had a desire to do, and could not get the support of the leaders of the Church in that respect; and I know that they would not be now opposing us if it were not for the fact that they have not been able to influence those who preside today to do that which they desire to have done.
I pray that the spirit of truth may be in our hearts, that the spirit of love may exist with us. that we may be sustained in that which we do, and that we may be found at all times willing to honor and sustain those who do right, and that we may not let our selfishness at any time lead us to such an extent that we shall be blind to the truths of the Gospel. If any be so foolish as to leave the cause, it will simply be their own loss, not the loss of the work of the Lord, because this work will not be taken from this people nor given to another people, but it will be carried on to a successful conclusion. And may we ourselves be faithful to the end, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
My brethren and sisters, I desire that while I speak to you I may be guided by the Spirit of the Lord in that which I say. I have ever had in my heart a desire to not say anything at any time that would be contrary to the Spirit of the Lord; and I have no desire to speak sentiments that are not pleasing unto our Heavenly Father; nor do I desire to give voice to any sentiment in which I myself do not sincerely believe. I feel that one of the greatest duties that we have as Sunday school workers is to let our lives be of such a character that our deeds and our acts will speak more loudly than our words. I am an emphatic believer in the fact that we cannot teach by word if our actions do not conform to that which we preach. I believe that Sunday school teachers and officers should set such an example before their pupils that they will not be ashamed of their lives—that they will not be ashamed to have their children know that which they have done.
I remember a few years ago attending a missionary farewell, and the occasion was that of the departure of the first son of a man upon a mission. He was not the brother's oldest son, but he was the first son to be called upon a mission; and his father, speaking to that assembly, said: "My son will probably go into my old missionary field: he will visit the people whom I visited twenty years ago, but I feel iii my heart I have no fear that wherever he goes he will find anything that will cause the blush of shame to come to his cheek. I am not afraid to have him go to the people whom I have visited. I am not afraid to have him tread in the paths in which I walked, and I am satisfied that there he will find that I have left behind me a record of which I need not be ashamed."
I thought this was a glorious testimony; and I feel, in my own heart, that if every one of us could say the same to our sons and daughters that we are not ashamed to have them go into the fields in which we have walked, meet the people among whom we labored. and listen to their testimony of that which we did—if we could live in such a way that we could say this to them. and say it truthfully, we need not be afraid to go back into the presence of our Eternal Father. Little children are keen observers of that which we do, and while they may not say, with a great writer, they feel the sentiment which he expressed when he said, "How can I hear your words when your deeds speak a different language?"
In my visits among the people, I have occasionally found some who have been disturbed a little by the comments of those who are not favorable to the work of the Lord, and have occasionally found some who were a little bit afraid that the Latter-day Saints are failing to an extent in their mission. I want to say to all such, that you are the ones who should be careful, that you may not be led astray by that which the enemies of the truth are seeking to circulate concerning our people. You know that we are told that if we saw the truth about our leaders, that we are simply seeking to flatter them, that we are seeking to build ourselves up in their estimation. In my own heart I have the utmost contempt for a man who, in order to build himself up, will flatter any other individual. While I feel they are worthy only of contempt, because they themselves are of such a caliber that they will not amount to much, yet while I feel that this is true, there is another thing that is equally true, and which other people should remember, and that is, that there are those who willfully bear false witness against their neighbors, who willfully disseminate doctrines which they know to be untrue.
We find that in any conflict that takes place, the shafts of the enemy are directed at the leaders of any great cause. Those who follow are of comparatively small importance, and the aim of the enemy is always to cripple those who lead. It is their aim, if possible, to weaken the confidence of their followers in them; and that is the aim of the opposers of the work of God today. They seek to lead away the people and weaken their confidence in those whom God has placed at their head, but I am glad to know that their efforts in this respect signally fail. I am glad to know that they cannot take from the people of God the confidence which they have in those whom God has placed to lead them; and I feel that one thing we should do, as parents and as teachers and officers of the Sabbath school, is to teach our little children to pray for all those who are engaged in the work of the Lord.
I have no fear in my heart of a child being led away who is taught in his infancy to pray for the missionaries, that they may be able to reach the honest in heart, and that they may be preserved and brought home in safety and in purity, and who is also taught to pray for those who are placed in authority in our midst, for the Bishop in the ward, for his father and his mother, for the presiding authorities; and I am satisfied that those who are taught in this way will grow up with the Spirit of the Lord in their hearts, and that they cannot be led astray by that which the enemy may say about us.
I have a testimony in my own heart of the truth of the Gospel, and it has been my fortune to know many, of those who presided over us as Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a boy I knew President Brigham Young, but only as a child would know one whom he would see upon the stand. But as I grew older I was brought into close contact with those who succeeded President Brigham Young. I was a teacher upon the block upon which President John Taylor lived, and visited him in that capacity in his home. I was closely connected in various capacities with President Wilford Woodruff, and I also knew President Lorenzo Snow, and also his successor, President Joseph P. Smith. And I bear my testimony to the youth of Zion that I know that all these men have had the Spirit of God resting upon them, and they have been actuated by the same spirit; that they have sought to carry on the work of God in the same way. Each of these men, perhaps, had his special gifts, his special qualification for the work that was needed at the time that he presided over the Church. But I testify to the youth of Zion that their purpose has been alike; and I know that the purpose of those who lead us today is not different from the purpose of those who presided before them.
I know that all of them have been men who sought to teach their children to earn that which they used, and to support themselves by their own efforts. I bear this testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, and I feel that as Sunday school workers it is our duty to teach the youth of Zion the truth concerning these matters, that they may not be led astray by the foolishness of men and by that which is said by those who are willfully seeking to cast reflections upon the work of God. "We find that today they bear testimony to a certain extent to that which was good in the past, but we should find that if they had lived in the past they would have fought those who led the work of God then as they fight those who lead the work of God now. It is not the individual they are fighting, but the Lord through His living oracles. They seem to exemplify that which our Savior said when He declared that they stoned the living prophets, while they garnished the sepulchres of the dead. I know the work in which we are engaged is the work of the Lord.
I know, also, that there are among our opponents thousands who are honest in their convictions, and who oppose the work of the Lord because of a lack of understanding, and because they do not know the purpose of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But I also know that there are among them men who simply oppose the work of God because they could not have their own way, and because they could not do that which they had a desire to do, and could not get the support of the leaders of the Church in that respect; and I know that they would not be now opposing us if it were not for the fact that they have not been able to influence those who preside today to do that which they desire to have done.
I pray that the spirit of truth may be in our hearts, that the spirit of love may exist with us. that we may be sustained in that which we do, and that we may be found at all times willing to honor and sustain those who do right, and that we may not let our selfishness at any time lead us to such an extent that we shall be blind to the truths of the Gospel. If any be so foolish as to leave the cause, it will simply be their own loss, not the loss of the work of the Lord, because this work will not be taken from this people nor given to another people, but it will be carried on to a successful conclusion. And may we ourselves be faithful to the end, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT JOSEPH M. TANNER.
This has certainly been a great conference, the greatest in the history of the Church; and those who have been present have undoubtedly been impressed by the spirit of the times and of the work of God in this dispensation. We are here tonight, if possible, to focus upon the Sabbath school work the spirit that has characterized this conference, and The question naturally arises. What shall we take home with us as a guide to help us in our efforts in instructing the youth of Israel? Of late my mind has been impressed by the thought that perhaps many of the fathers and mothers among the Latter-day Saints were misconceiving the work of the Sabbath school, and I fear that in some instances there has arisen a belief that our children get all the instruction they need in religion in the Sunday school, and that the parents are excused from that duty in the home. Perhaps many have an idea that the Sunday school teachers are trained for the work. They believe that these young teachers who have perchance been schooled for years in our Church educational institutions, know more about the Gospel than they, the fathers and mothers, know; and that, in consequence of what the Sabbath school and other auxiliary organizations , of the Church are doing, they may be excused if they fail to teach religion to their children in the home. I want to say to you. my brethren and sisters, that no organization in the Church can take the place of the home. Not one can be substituted for the home. There is something about religious teaching in the home that is not paralleled elsewhere. There is something in religious teaching in the home that has such force and such conviction to the minds of our young people that it ought never to be neglected. In the first place, in the home can be found the greatest love. There is nothing like the love of a father and mother, and there is no quality in teaching like the quality of love, and nothing makes its impress upon the heart of childhood like the affection and the devotion of father and mother. And so, when we rob our children of religious teachings in the home, we deprive them of that love and that affection that helps them to be devoted to the cause of God; and there is no place in the world where our heavenly Father is such a reality to childhood as He is in the home. The children see Him there as they see Him nowhere else. They comprehend Him in the home as they cannot comprehend Him in the Sabbath school or in any other organization of the Church, and hence the importance of home religious training. Let me, therefore, admonish you, my brethren and sisters, not to imagine for a moment that the Sabbath school is a substitute of the home in the matter of the religious training of our children. And again, there is something about the authority of the home that comes to the hearts of the young people. They recognize power in the authority of father and mother, that is akin to the authority of God, the Eternal Father. Somehow or other, children feel that they must be obedient to their parents, next to the obedience and allegiance which they owe to God. Indeed, they feel that they cannot be loyal and give their allegiance to one without giving it to the other, and so that authority comes into the love of our children, and I say to you tonight that the two fundamental principles in inculcating religion in the lives of our children are love and authority. And they are stronger in the home than they are elsewhere. We should, therefore, admonish our teachers to do all that they can to encourage the parents to help them In the work of the Sabbath school. I care not how humble a home may be, I care not how little the father and the mother may know about theology how little they may be familiar with the history of the Church, how untrained they are in the Bible, I care not what their natural or theological qualifications may be, you cannot take their place away from them in the matter of the religious training of their children. And so parents should not feel that because they are not learned in theology that they ought not to teach their children religion. They should not only bear their testimony to their children, they should not only admonish them, but they should use their own experience to impress upon the minds of the youth of Israel the purpose and aim of the Lord in this day and age. I have not infrequently heard parents say that they are leaving the instruction of their children to their teachers in the Sabbath school and other organizations, and that they are relieved of that labor. Now the Sabbath school does not relieve the parents. It should encourage them. The work of the Sabbath school should cause the parents to keep pace with their children in the matter of reading the Scriptures; and in every way the Sabbath school has a tendency to support the home, just as the home has to support the Sabbath school.
Now, I would like to ask you, my brethren and sisters, what are you to take home as the result of this conference? What is your understanding of the spirit of this occasion? What does it mean to you tonight, as you reflect upon what has passed during the last three days that this people have been assembled Within the walls of this building? Many of you will remember, some years ago, twenty or twenty-five, that an effort was made to win our children away from the faith. Missionary schools were established in our midst, and it was frequently said abroad that there was a prospect of winning the children of the Latter-day Saints from the religion of their fathers. And when we found that the faith of our children was to be attacked, when we discovered an attempt to make an inroad upon their religion, upon their allegiance and their loyalty to the faith of their parents, we set to with all our heart to counteract that influence. We were more diligent in our organizations. We sought out our children. Church schools were established. The songs of Zion were sung in the home and in the Sabbath School: and you know what the result of al! that effort has been. It has been a system of education among our young people that I don't think has a parallel among all the sects of the world. I don't believe there is a denomination in all the world today that is giving that devotion, that energy and- that attention to the education of their children that the Latter-day Saints are giving. Perhaps we needed a scare; perhaps we needed a warning. But the threat, the fight that was made against the faith of our children, led us to that energy we are now displaying, and it is beautiful to see this great army of Sabbath School workers doing all in their power to inculcate faith, the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the hearts of the youth of Zion.
Now we have come to another peculiar period in the history of our Church, when the respect for the leading authority is attacked, when an effort is being made to undermine him whom we sustain as the mouthpiece of God. And what will the result be? We need not be prophets when we predict that in every home and in every Sabbath School there will from this time forward be a renewed effort to inculcate in the hearts of our children that allegiance which we owe to the leaders of Zion, to the Prophet and the mouthpiece of God in this dispensation. For I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that once that authority is undermined, once you permit the youth of Israel to question God's purpose in calling some one of His children to preside over the destinies of modern Israel, and you have weakened every authority in the Church; and if it were possible to destroy our loyalty to that authority it would not be long before our respect for every other authority in the Church would crumble. What would become of the authority of a Stake President? It would crumble away. What would become of the authority of a Bishop? It would crumble away. What of the authority of the home? It would be undermined. Hence our effort to support the authority of God is a question of the protection of our homes, the protection of our societies, of our wards, of our stakes, and all the authority that exists throughout the Church. Men are badly mistaken when they think it is merely an action of personal agitation, when they think that we are endeavoring to exalt some individual to prominence. That is not it. It is a question of principle, and he who stands at the head of the Church understands the matter. If it were a mere personal agitation he would be embarrassed as much as any man in the world could be embarrassed. And so the lesson of this conference, I think, will be, a renewed effort among the teachers of our Sabbath Schools to inculcate love and respect for the authority of God here upon the earth; and it will grow. And then think of what the results will be! Suppose that the Lord had something precious to give us through His Prophet; suppose He had something by which a reformation was to be worked in our midst, and It was to be done through, the voice of God, through His mouthpiece. If we are indifferent to that authority, if we are mistaken about that authority, if we are not sensitive to that authority, pray tell me, how we should receive these new revelations? Tell me how we should comprehend the purposes of God, how we should understand the spirit of these times? So that with us it is a matter of self-preservation. It is a matter of our individual testimony. It is a matter of protection and safety to our homes. It is simple enough to see why we should be loyal and why we cannot be otherwise if we would maintain our position, the position of our standing' in the Church, and the position of our homes in the midst of Zion. Well now, perhaps we needed this. I have wondered whether the Latter-day Saints had grown somewhat indifferent to the authority of God. I have wondered in contemplating' the present situation, whether or not this trouble has not arisen in consequence of the very needs of the people of God, that they might be stirred up, that they might be enlightened as to their duties, and place themselves in a position where they will be in touch with the light and communication of Heaven. It is true that the lesson is a hard one. It is true that it is severe, and it may appear to us that it is severest upon those who need it least. Did you ever think what these personal sacrifices in these times, mean? They mean a blessing' to Israel. They are for Israel; they are not for individuals, not for single persons. And so I say we should be thankful to God that we are stirred up in a manner that will do most to make us attentive to our duties, make us attentive to the authority of God. And so I believe that the authority of God will grow from this conference henceforth, that it will be respected, and that by reason of these conditions the authority of the Bishop, of the President of the Stake, of every man in the Church carrying responsibilities to God, will be stronger than ever before; and we shall respond in the Sabbath Schools throughout the world to the spirit of this conference, and we shall be the recipients of that divine benediction that fell from the lips of our President upon the conference in its closing hour. I suppose it will never be forgotten in Zion, and the Sabbath School teachers will tell it to their pupils, that it will be a lesson to us all, and that Israel will be better by reason of the spirit that has characterized this conference.
God bless you, my fellow workers. May the peace of Heaven be upon you. This work is a grand one. We love it. We know it is true, and we desire to be faithful in all things before God and His servants, and be in the line of our duty and respect the authority that He has given us, because it is of Him. And in respecting that authority, we are honoring God and our position in His Church, and who wins the gratitude which we feel to Him that He has given us these blessing's. And may the peace of God be upon the Sabbath School workers everywhere, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Horace S. Ensign then sang, "Kind words are sweet tones of the heart," the congregation joining' in the chorus.
This has certainly been a great conference, the greatest in the history of the Church; and those who have been present have undoubtedly been impressed by the spirit of the times and of the work of God in this dispensation. We are here tonight, if possible, to focus upon the Sabbath school work the spirit that has characterized this conference, and The question naturally arises. What shall we take home with us as a guide to help us in our efforts in instructing the youth of Israel? Of late my mind has been impressed by the thought that perhaps many of the fathers and mothers among the Latter-day Saints were misconceiving the work of the Sabbath school, and I fear that in some instances there has arisen a belief that our children get all the instruction they need in religion in the Sunday school, and that the parents are excused from that duty in the home. Perhaps many have an idea that the Sunday school teachers are trained for the work. They believe that these young teachers who have perchance been schooled for years in our Church educational institutions, know more about the Gospel than they, the fathers and mothers, know; and that, in consequence of what the Sabbath school and other auxiliary organizations , of the Church are doing, they may be excused if they fail to teach religion to their children in the home. I want to say to you. my brethren and sisters, that no organization in the Church can take the place of the home. Not one can be substituted for the home. There is something about religious teaching in the home that is not paralleled elsewhere. There is something in religious teaching in the home that has such force and such conviction to the minds of our young people that it ought never to be neglected. In the first place, in the home can be found the greatest love. There is nothing like the love of a father and mother, and there is no quality in teaching like the quality of love, and nothing makes its impress upon the heart of childhood like the affection and the devotion of father and mother. And so, when we rob our children of religious teachings in the home, we deprive them of that love and that affection that helps them to be devoted to the cause of God; and there is no place in the world where our heavenly Father is such a reality to childhood as He is in the home. The children see Him there as they see Him nowhere else. They comprehend Him in the home as they cannot comprehend Him in the Sabbath school or in any other organization of the Church, and hence the importance of home religious training. Let me, therefore, admonish you, my brethren and sisters, not to imagine for a moment that the Sabbath school is a substitute of the home in the matter of the religious training of our children. And again, there is something about the authority of the home that comes to the hearts of the young people. They recognize power in the authority of father and mother, that is akin to the authority of God, the Eternal Father. Somehow or other, children feel that they must be obedient to their parents, next to the obedience and allegiance which they owe to God. Indeed, they feel that they cannot be loyal and give their allegiance to one without giving it to the other, and so that authority comes into the love of our children, and I say to you tonight that the two fundamental principles in inculcating religion in the lives of our children are love and authority. And they are stronger in the home than they are elsewhere. We should, therefore, admonish our teachers to do all that they can to encourage the parents to help them In the work of the Sabbath school. I care not how humble a home may be, I care not how little the father and the mother may know about theology how little they may be familiar with the history of the Church, how untrained they are in the Bible, I care not what their natural or theological qualifications may be, you cannot take their place away from them in the matter of the religious training of their children. And so parents should not feel that because they are not learned in theology that they ought not to teach their children religion. They should not only bear their testimony to their children, they should not only admonish them, but they should use their own experience to impress upon the minds of the youth of Israel the purpose and aim of the Lord in this day and age. I have not infrequently heard parents say that they are leaving the instruction of their children to their teachers in the Sabbath school and other organizations, and that they are relieved of that labor. Now the Sabbath school does not relieve the parents. It should encourage them. The work of the Sabbath school should cause the parents to keep pace with their children in the matter of reading the Scriptures; and in every way the Sabbath school has a tendency to support the home, just as the home has to support the Sabbath school.
Now, I would like to ask you, my brethren and sisters, what are you to take home as the result of this conference? What is your understanding of the spirit of this occasion? What does it mean to you tonight, as you reflect upon what has passed during the last three days that this people have been assembled Within the walls of this building? Many of you will remember, some years ago, twenty or twenty-five, that an effort was made to win our children away from the faith. Missionary schools were established in our midst, and it was frequently said abroad that there was a prospect of winning the children of the Latter-day Saints from the religion of their fathers. And when we found that the faith of our children was to be attacked, when we discovered an attempt to make an inroad upon their religion, upon their allegiance and their loyalty to the faith of their parents, we set to with all our heart to counteract that influence. We were more diligent in our organizations. We sought out our children. Church schools were established. The songs of Zion were sung in the home and in the Sabbath School: and you know what the result of al! that effort has been. It has been a system of education among our young people that I don't think has a parallel among all the sects of the world. I don't believe there is a denomination in all the world today that is giving that devotion, that energy and- that attention to the education of their children that the Latter-day Saints are giving. Perhaps we needed a scare; perhaps we needed a warning. But the threat, the fight that was made against the faith of our children, led us to that energy we are now displaying, and it is beautiful to see this great army of Sabbath School workers doing all in their power to inculcate faith, the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the hearts of the youth of Zion.
Now we have come to another peculiar period in the history of our Church, when the respect for the leading authority is attacked, when an effort is being made to undermine him whom we sustain as the mouthpiece of God. And what will the result be? We need not be prophets when we predict that in every home and in every Sabbath School there will from this time forward be a renewed effort to inculcate in the hearts of our children that allegiance which we owe to the leaders of Zion, to the Prophet and the mouthpiece of God in this dispensation. For I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that once that authority is undermined, once you permit the youth of Israel to question God's purpose in calling some one of His children to preside over the destinies of modern Israel, and you have weakened every authority in the Church; and if it were possible to destroy our loyalty to that authority it would not be long before our respect for every other authority in the Church would crumble. What would become of the authority of a Stake President? It would crumble away. What would become of the authority of a Bishop? It would crumble away. What of the authority of the home? It would be undermined. Hence our effort to support the authority of God is a question of the protection of our homes, the protection of our societies, of our wards, of our stakes, and all the authority that exists throughout the Church. Men are badly mistaken when they think it is merely an action of personal agitation, when they think that we are endeavoring to exalt some individual to prominence. That is not it. It is a question of principle, and he who stands at the head of the Church understands the matter. If it were a mere personal agitation he would be embarrassed as much as any man in the world could be embarrassed. And so the lesson of this conference, I think, will be, a renewed effort among the teachers of our Sabbath Schools to inculcate love and respect for the authority of God here upon the earth; and it will grow. And then think of what the results will be! Suppose that the Lord had something precious to give us through His Prophet; suppose He had something by which a reformation was to be worked in our midst, and It was to be done through, the voice of God, through His mouthpiece. If we are indifferent to that authority, if we are mistaken about that authority, if we are not sensitive to that authority, pray tell me, how we should receive these new revelations? Tell me how we should comprehend the purposes of God, how we should understand the spirit of these times? So that with us it is a matter of self-preservation. It is a matter of our individual testimony. It is a matter of protection and safety to our homes. It is simple enough to see why we should be loyal and why we cannot be otherwise if we would maintain our position, the position of our standing' in the Church, and the position of our homes in the midst of Zion. Well now, perhaps we needed this. I have wondered whether the Latter-day Saints had grown somewhat indifferent to the authority of God. I have wondered in contemplating' the present situation, whether or not this trouble has not arisen in consequence of the very needs of the people of God, that they might be stirred up, that they might be enlightened as to their duties, and place themselves in a position where they will be in touch with the light and communication of Heaven. It is true that the lesson is a hard one. It is true that it is severe, and it may appear to us that it is severest upon those who need it least. Did you ever think what these personal sacrifices in these times, mean? They mean a blessing' to Israel. They are for Israel; they are not for individuals, not for single persons. And so I say we should be thankful to God that we are stirred up in a manner that will do most to make us attentive to our duties, make us attentive to the authority of God. And so I believe that the authority of God will grow from this conference henceforth, that it will be respected, and that by reason of these conditions the authority of the Bishop, of the President of the Stake, of every man in the Church carrying responsibilities to God, will be stronger than ever before; and we shall respond in the Sabbath Schools throughout the world to the spirit of this conference, and we shall be the recipients of that divine benediction that fell from the lips of our President upon the conference in its closing hour. I suppose it will never be forgotten in Zion, and the Sabbath School teachers will tell it to their pupils, that it will be a lesson to us all, and that Israel will be better by reason of the spirit that has characterized this conference.
God bless you, my fellow workers. May the peace of Heaven be upon you. This work is a grand one. We love it. We know it is true, and we desire to be faithful in all things before God and His servants, and be in the line of our duty and respect the authority that He has given us, because it is of Him. And in respecting that authority, we are honoring God and our position in His Church, and who wins the gratitude which we feel to Him that He has given us these blessing's. And may the peace of God be upon the Sabbath School workers everywhere, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Horace S. Ensign then sang, "Kind words are sweet tones of the heart," the congregation joining' in the chorus.
ELDER JAMES E. TALMAGE.
At every gathering of this kind, at each succeeding Sunday school conference, I am the more deeply impressed with a sense or a realization of the genuine greatness of the organization here represented. I refer not only to its colossal proportions as to membership, its hosts of officers, teachers, and pupils, but more particularly to the power and influence exercised by this great army, and to the good effect thereof, inevitably manifest throughout the Church and beyond its numbers.
This is one of the biggest Sunday schools known to me by experience or through report; and when we consider the fact that the thousands here present constitute but a small part of the big Sunday school, our wonder and grateful pleasure must surely increase.
With great joy have I watched the growth and development of this organization; and I feel assured, not only through the testimony of the Gospel, which is mine as a gift from God, but also by the ordinary exercise of the faculties of observation and reasoning that the spirit of life is in this Sunday school organization.
There is no perfunctory service represented by this assembly; our work is not done by rote; we manifest no spiritless service in the Lord's cause, but instead a living interest in His Church and in the Sunday school organization as part thereof.
I wish that those who have made it their business to malign and defame the Latter-day Saints, those who are afraid of our strength and yet endeavor to make it appear that ours is a dying cause, were here tonight.
This is a magnificent organization, splendidly officered. To declare that such an army as that now marshaled under our Sunday school banners, is directed by officers whose purpose is sinister and corrupt, is to speak foolishness and to invite ridicule. There is unity in this great organization, and this fact is proof of unity among those who lead and direct.
It is to our Sunday school officers particularly I speak for the few minutes allotted to me on the program of the evening. One reason why we respect our leaders Is this—they respect themselves. In general there is no false humility among them, neither is there false pride. A man who is sustained in any office or position by the uplifted hands of the hosts of Israel must feel himself worthy of respect if he would win respect. When you find a ward Sunday school whose superintendent does not realize the dignity of his calling, you have found a school that is weak. A stake superintendent who does not feel honored by the office he holds, who has no righteous pride in the authority conferred upon him — a humble pride that inspires obedience and yet renders his words and acts authoritative—such a man is a man out of place.
I am not enthusiastic or eager to sustain men who won't sustain themselves. The officers of our Sunday school organization are trying to sustain themselves; are seeking to discharge with honor the duties of their high calling. And the result appears in the ever-increasing efficiency of our Sunday school system. Such reports as those to which we have listened tonight— reports from the stakes near home, and others from distant continents and from the isles of the seas. must be an inspiration to us all.
Our success should make further improvement easier. We are not yet perfect in plan or in execution. In the course of regular appointment and assigned duty I have visited some wards and stakes wherein I have found convincing evidence that the officers, though they do well, ought to do much better. Some of them are found wanting in true regard for and in proper estimation of themselves and their office; they should develop within themselves a little more of that righteous pride that goes hand in hand with true humility.
When a man is chosen, sustained by vote, and ordained or set apart authoritatively to any office in the Church, let him be zealous for—jealous of—the power and prerogatives belonging to that office; let him seek to discharge the same in the fear of the living God. Let him become neither servile, nor indifferent; the authority vested in him he cannot of his own action pass on to another: it is his to exercise, but not his to give away. The special illustration I have in mind is that shown by a custom followed in many of our wards and stakes, a habit that is spreading and fast becoming common. I refer to the mistake of regarding counselors and assistants in presiding quorums as being equal in authority with the officer to whose aid they have been called; and the resulting practice of a strict rotation in the active duties of conducting the exercises in Sunday schools and other gatherings. Each of the three, the principal as well as his counselors or assistants, has his place and his duty. Yet some of our superintendents, presumably in a spirit of kindness and through a desire to honor their associates, virtually vacate their place of presidency and temporarily permit the first or the second assistant to assume full authority, and this without due cause or excuse. I don't believe in this custom and rule of rotation, fixed and binding, as to the duties of presiding officer. There are wards in which exists a general understanding, a rule of action, in fact, regarded as having practically the force of a law, that on one Sunday the superintendent shall actively perform the duties of a presiding officer; and that on the next Sunday he must give way to the first assistant, whose turn it is to preside, and on the next Sabbath the second assistant is in power. Thus, once, a month the superintendent himself appears in his place, when he ought to be there every Sunday. I attended a ward Sunday school conference not long ago, and found the superintendent officiating as the door-keeper. Now, it is a good thing to have some officer near the entrance to welcome those, who come; but the superintendent has other duties to perform. On this occasion I asked an explanation from the superintendent. He said, "It is the. second assistant's day today." Though it was conference day, the chief officer could not officiate it was the second assistant's turn; he was the man of the hour, and the superintendent was down at the door. I ventured to say to him, "Please go up and take your place, let the people see you, let them know who you are."
This instance is no isolated case. I have in mind another ward, where I found the first assistant really presiding, to all appearances never consulting the superintendent. Some few irregularities appeared, and I took the superintendent aside for a confidential consultation after dismissal. He desired to make no complaint, but he admitted that it had become quite the habit with his assistants to introduce innovations on the. days of their respective turns in conducting the school, on which occasions the superintendent was practically out of office. Now, I believe that counselors and assistants in our various organizations have their place; but they are not the principals in the quorum. Two assistant superintendents don't make one superintendent, any more than two counselors multiplied together would constitute a Bishop.
In a gathering such as this it is not my prerogative, to speak of other organizations than the Sunday schools, but I shall venture to make a comparison; and if I express incorrect views I have full confidence that those whom I have lifted my hand in solemn promise to sustain in their exalted positions, will see to it that you do not go away with false doctrine uncorrected.
I have observed that in many wards a similar practice is followed, in ward affairs generally. The Bishop conducts the services at one ward meeting, and at the next meeting the first counselor appears as the man in power; then the second counselor takes his turn. That may be right if the Bishop wishes to call upon one of them at any time to actively discharge the duties of making announcements, and so forth, in the meetings; but when the Bishop is present, the Bishop presides, if I understand the order of the Church; and if he be there no one else can in fact preside in that ward gathering. I don't understand that the President of a Stake can sit as one of the congregation simply and let one of his counselors take charge in the strict sense of the term. The authority of presiding is not placed upon us as a coat to put on — to be taken off at pleasure and put on the shoulders of another. The Priesthood cannot be so laid aside.
I would admonish the superintendents to remember that they are superintendents. Strive to secure in full measure the spirit of your calling, then you won't ignore your assistants and cause them to feel out of place. You will give them every opportunity to magnify their calling. You will be guided by their advice, suggestions and counsel, for they are counselors unto you, and have a right to suggest and advise, just as the counselors to a Bishop in a ward have a right to expect that the spirit of counsel shall rest upon them. If the superintendent of a Sabbath School be absent and the first assistant is there actually presiding, he exercises for the time the powers of the superintendency; and he ought to follow the course of his superior officer and avoid introducing changes in procedure. Indeed if unusual circumstances arise that day, lie will make it a point to take time to consult the superintendent as well as his associate assistant; and so a counselor should consult his Bishop. Where the counselor or the assistant is trying to get ahead of his chief, the spirit of the Lord is restrained and does not operate in a free and untrammeled way.
Our presiding quorums, by direction of the Lord, usually consist of three members. There is a presiding officer and there are two others who in turn represent him in his absence, and who are ever ready to help him, standing, if they have the spirit of their office with them, like Aaron and Hur on either side of Moses to hold up his hands and support him in his work, not to pull him down or push him back that they may take his place. On a recent visit to one of the missions of the Church beyond the organized stakes, I found that that same rules of rotation was regarded as having the force of law in the Sunday school. If it so happens the first or second assistant's turn came on a day of special importance, such as the occasion of a conference, the superintendent was really superseded. He had simply to step aside, and give his assistant the full control of affairs.
I believe that we should seek to discharge the duties of our place with humble pride, and with proper dignity. When I go into a Sunday school, I want to see the superintendent in his place. I have to inquire around sometimes to find who he is, and then have to search around to find where he is.
Nevertheless, whenever he deems it wise and proper whenever by any consultation or agreement with his counselors or assistants, it is decided that one of the assistants shall actively represent the superintendent on any day, all well and good. Do that as often as you Ike, my brethren, the superintendents; only don't think that you have to follow the course as a rigid rule, or that at any time you may temporarily relinquish the responsibilities of your office.
I said that our Sunday schools are splendidly officered. So is the Church as a whole, or it never would have been able to survive the assaults that have been made upon it. I have no fears even when I consider the evil schemes laid by the enemy against us; for I know what kind of officers we have.
From the President of the Church down, we have men who, in general, are discharging their duties pleasingly, acceptably, and efficiently before the Lord; and as I realize what our leaders have to stand and withstand in this day, my heart is full of prayer for them, and I wish it were possible for me to do something in the way of helping them, something more than I seem able to do.
The remark has been made here tonight that each succeeding president of the Church has been the man of the time, qualified for just those particular experiences of the Church at the time. I add my testimony to the truth of that statement; I know that this Church has been and is being led by men of God, men who are able to commune with the powers above and bring great forces into action. As I think that of them, one by one, I think of our living Prophet. Seer and Revelator to the Church, who stands at the head. I thought as I sat here tonight of Goldsmith's splendid simile, which slightly changed, is strictly applicable to our living prophet:
"Like some proud cliff that lifts its noble form,
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm;
Though round his brow the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine rests upon his head."
We have men who rise above the clouds, even as the peaks of yon majestic range sun crowned through winds and clouds begird them lower down.
Let us try to rise above the storms of petty trouble. Though I know that there are some weaklings amongst us, who will be influenced by the misrepresentations that are made, I know also that this organization is charged with guarding them, watching them, doing all that can be done to prevent them from following in the path of the traitor, watching over them till they are able to realize for themselves what a despicable thing it is to be a traitor. I have confidence in my people. True, there are a few amongst us who have bowed the knee to Baal, but the great army of Israel is in readiness to take the field whenever the word shall come. They are sending forth their power, in faith and prayer, for the support of those who are charged more especially with the direction of affairs, be it the affairs of the Church as a whole, of a stake or of a ward, or of a Sunday school or any other organization.
Brethren and sisters, the funeral of the Sunday school cause has been unavoidably postponed. (Laughter.) We have been invited, again and again, to attend the obsequies of the Church, for its burial has been repeatedly announced. I never had much interest in that kind of an invitation; for I know that there is a spirit of virility, of life, of strength, of God-given power, in the organization which you represent, in those who preside over it, and throughout the Church of the living God.
There is strength in Israel. The "Hope of Israel," of whom we have been singing, may well be called Israel's certainty. Amen.
At every gathering of this kind, at each succeeding Sunday school conference, I am the more deeply impressed with a sense or a realization of the genuine greatness of the organization here represented. I refer not only to its colossal proportions as to membership, its hosts of officers, teachers, and pupils, but more particularly to the power and influence exercised by this great army, and to the good effect thereof, inevitably manifest throughout the Church and beyond its numbers.
This is one of the biggest Sunday schools known to me by experience or through report; and when we consider the fact that the thousands here present constitute but a small part of the big Sunday school, our wonder and grateful pleasure must surely increase.
With great joy have I watched the growth and development of this organization; and I feel assured, not only through the testimony of the Gospel, which is mine as a gift from God, but also by the ordinary exercise of the faculties of observation and reasoning that the spirit of life is in this Sunday school organization.
There is no perfunctory service represented by this assembly; our work is not done by rote; we manifest no spiritless service in the Lord's cause, but instead a living interest in His Church and in the Sunday school organization as part thereof.
I wish that those who have made it their business to malign and defame the Latter-day Saints, those who are afraid of our strength and yet endeavor to make it appear that ours is a dying cause, were here tonight.
This is a magnificent organization, splendidly officered. To declare that such an army as that now marshaled under our Sunday school banners, is directed by officers whose purpose is sinister and corrupt, is to speak foolishness and to invite ridicule. There is unity in this great organization, and this fact is proof of unity among those who lead and direct.
It is to our Sunday school officers particularly I speak for the few minutes allotted to me on the program of the evening. One reason why we respect our leaders Is this—they respect themselves. In general there is no false humility among them, neither is there false pride. A man who is sustained in any office or position by the uplifted hands of the hosts of Israel must feel himself worthy of respect if he would win respect. When you find a ward Sunday school whose superintendent does not realize the dignity of his calling, you have found a school that is weak. A stake superintendent who does not feel honored by the office he holds, who has no righteous pride in the authority conferred upon him — a humble pride that inspires obedience and yet renders his words and acts authoritative—such a man is a man out of place.
I am not enthusiastic or eager to sustain men who won't sustain themselves. The officers of our Sunday school organization are trying to sustain themselves; are seeking to discharge with honor the duties of their high calling. And the result appears in the ever-increasing efficiency of our Sunday school system. Such reports as those to which we have listened tonight— reports from the stakes near home, and others from distant continents and from the isles of the seas. must be an inspiration to us all.
Our success should make further improvement easier. We are not yet perfect in plan or in execution. In the course of regular appointment and assigned duty I have visited some wards and stakes wherein I have found convincing evidence that the officers, though they do well, ought to do much better. Some of them are found wanting in true regard for and in proper estimation of themselves and their office; they should develop within themselves a little more of that righteous pride that goes hand in hand with true humility.
When a man is chosen, sustained by vote, and ordained or set apart authoritatively to any office in the Church, let him be zealous for—jealous of—the power and prerogatives belonging to that office; let him seek to discharge the same in the fear of the living God. Let him become neither servile, nor indifferent; the authority vested in him he cannot of his own action pass on to another: it is his to exercise, but not his to give away. The special illustration I have in mind is that shown by a custom followed in many of our wards and stakes, a habit that is spreading and fast becoming common. I refer to the mistake of regarding counselors and assistants in presiding quorums as being equal in authority with the officer to whose aid they have been called; and the resulting practice of a strict rotation in the active duties of conducting the exercises in Sunday schools and other gatherings. Each of the three, the principal as well as his counselors or assistants, has his place and his duty. Yet some of our superintendents, presumably in a spirit of kindness and through a desire to honor their associates, virtually vacate their place of presidency and temporarily permit the first or the second assistant to assume full authority, and this without due cause or excuse. I don't believe in this custom and rule of rotation, fixed and binding, as to the duties of presiding officer. There are wards in which exists a general understanding, a rule of action, in fact, regarded as having practically the force of a law, that on one Sunday the superintendent shall actively perform the duties of a presiding officer; and that on the next Sunday he must give way to the first assistant, whose turn it is to preside, and on the next Sabbath the second assistant is in power. Thus, once, a month the superintendent himself appears in his place, when he ought to be there every Sunday. I attended a ward Sunday school conference not long ago, and found the superintendent officiating as the door-keeper. Now, it is a good thing to have some officer near the entrance to welcome those, who come; but the superintendent has other duties to perform. On this occasion I asked an explanation from the superintendent. He said, "It is the. second assistant's day today." Though it was conference day, the chief officer could not officiate it was the second assistant's turn; he was the man of the hour, and the superintendent was down at the door. I ventured to say to him, "Please go up and take your place, let the people see you, let them know who you are."
This instance is no isolated case. I have in mind another ward, where I found the first assistant really presiding, to all appearances never consulting the superintendent. Some few irregularities appeared, and I took the superintendent aside for a confidential consultation after dismissal. He desired to make no complaint, but he admitted that it had become quite the habit with his assistants to introduce innovations on the. days of their respective turns in conducting the school, on which occasions the superintendent was practically out of office. Now, I believe that counselors and assistants in our various organizations have their place; but they are not the principals in the quorum. Two assistant superintendents don't make one superintendent, any more than two counselors multiplied together would constitute a Bishop.
In a gathering such as this it is not my prerogative, to speak of other organizations than the Sunday schools, but I shall venture to make a comparison; and if I express incorrect views I have full confidence that those whom I have lifted my hand in solemn promise to sustain in their exalted positions, will see to it that you do not go away with false doctrine uncorrected.
I have observed that in many wards a similar practice is followed, in ward affairs generally. The Bishop conducts the services at one ward meeting, and at the next meeting the first counselor appears as the man in power; then the second counselor takes his turn. That may be right if the Bishop wishes to call upon one of them at any time to actively discharge the duties of making announcements, and so forth, in the meetings; but when the Bishop is present, the Bishop presides, if I understand the order of the Church; and if he be there no one else can in fact preside in that ward gathering. I don't understand that the President of a Stake can sit as one of the congregation simply and let one of his counselors take charge in the strict sense of the term. The authority of presiding is not placed upon us as a coat to put on — to be taken off at pleasure and put on the shoulders of another. The Priesthood cannot be so laid aside.
I would admonish the superintendents to remember that they are superintendents. Strive to secure in full measure the spirit of your calling, then you won't ignore your assistants and cause them to feel out of place. You will give them every opportunity to magnify their calling. You will be guided by their advice, suggestions and counsel, for they are counselors unto you, and have a right to suggest and advise, just as the counselors to a Bishop in a ward have a right to expect that the spirit of counsel shall rest upon them. If the superintendent of a Sabbath School be absent and the first assistant is there actually presiding, he exercises for the time the powers of the superintendency; and he ought to follow the course of his superior officer and avoid introducing changes in procedure. Indeed if unusual circumstances arise that day, lie will make it a point to take time to consult the superintendent as well as his associate assistant; and so a counselor should consult his Bishop. Where the counselor or the assistant is trying to get ahead of his chief, the spirit of the Lord is restrained and does not operate in a free and untrammeled way.
Our presiding quorums, by direction of the Lord, usually consist of three members. There is a presiding officer and there are two others who in turn represent him in his absence, and who are ever ready to help him, standing, if they have the spirit of their office with them, like Aaron and Hur on either side of Moses to hold up his hands and support him in his work, not to pull him down or push him back that they may take his place. On a recent visit to one of the missions of the Church beyond the organized stakes, I found that that same rules of rotation was regarded as having the force of law in the Sunday school. If it so happens the first or second assistant's turn came on a day of special importance, such as the occasion of a conference, the superintendent was really superseded. He had simply to step aside, and give his assistant the full control of affairs.
I believe that we should seek to discharge the duties of our place with humble pride, and with proper dignity. When I go into a Sunday school, I want to see the superintendent in his place. I have to inquire around sometimes to find who he is, and then have to search around to find where he is.
Nevertheless, whenever he deems it wise and proper whenever by any consultation or agreement with his counselors or assistants, it is decided that one of the assistants shall actively represent the superintendent on any day, all well and good. Do that as often as you Ike, my brethren, the superintendents; only don't think that you have to follow the course as a rigid rule, or that at any time you may temporarily relinquish the responsibilities of your office.
I said that our Sunday schools are splendidly officered. So is the Church as a whole, or it never would have been able to survive the assaults that have been made upon it. I have no fears even when I consider the evil schemes laid by the enemy against us; for I know what kind of officers we have.
From the President of the Church down, we have men who, in general, are discharging their duties pleasingly, acceptably, and efficiently before the Lord; and as I realize what our leaders have to stand and withstand in this day, my heart is full of prayer for them, and I wish it were possible for me to do something in the way of helping them, something more than I seem able to do.
The remark has been made here tonight that each succeeding president of the Church has been the man of the time, qualified for just those particular experiences of the Church at the time. I add my testimony to the truth of that statement; I know that this Church has been and is being led by men of God, men who are able to commune with the powers above and bring great forces into action. As I think that of them, one by one, I think of our living Prophet. Seer and Revelator to the Church, who stands at the head. I thought as I sat here tonight of Goldsmith's splendid simile, which slightly changed, is strictly applicable to our living prophet:
"Like some proud cliff that lifts its noble form,
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the storm;
Though round his brow the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine rests upon his head."
We have men who rise above the clouds, even as the peaks of yon majestic range sun crowned through winds and clouds begird them lower down.
Let us try to rise above the storms of petty trouble. Though I know that there are some weaklings amongst us, who will be influenced by the misrepresentations that are made, I know also that this organization is charged with guarding them, watching them, doing all that can be done to prevent them from following in the path of the traitor, watching over them till they are able to realize for themselves what a despicable thing it is to be a traitor. I have confidence in my people. True, there are a few amongst us who have bowed the knee to Baal, but the great army of Israel is in readiness to take the field whenever the word shall come. They are sending forth their power, in faith and prayer, for the support of those who are charged more especially with the direction of affairs, be it the affairs of the Church as a whole, of a stake or of a ward, or of a Sunday school or any other organization.
Brethren and sisters, the funeral of the Sunday school cause has been unavoidably postponed. (Laughter.) We have been invited, again and again, to attend the obsequies of the Church, for its burial has been repeatedly announced. I never had much interest in that kind of an invitation; for I know that there is a spirit of virility, of life, of strength, of God-given power, in the organization which you represent, in those who preside over it, and throughout the Church of the living God.
There is strength in Israel. The "Hope of Israel," of whom we have been singing, may well be called Israel's certainty. Amen.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REYNOLDS
then announced that Brother Ensign would sing a sample of the Japanese Sunday school hymns.
Elder H. S. Ensign said:
My brethren and sisters, I would rejoice if you could join with me in singing this song. However, you do know it very well, that is, in English. I will sing one verse of our Sunday school song. "Love at Home." In translating this into .Japanese we found it impossible to use the music as we have it in our Sunday school song book, and it has been necessary for us to write new music for our translation as it is in Japanese. I will now sing the first verse.
Brother Ensign then sang in the Japanese language a stanza of "Love at Home."
then announced that Brother Ensign would sing a sample of the Japanese Sunday school hymns.
Elder H. S. Ensign said:
My brethren and sisters, I would rejoice if you could join with me in singing this song. However, you do know it very well, that is, in English. I will sing one verse of our Sunday school song. "Love at Home." In translating this into .Japanese we found it impossible to use the music as we have it in our Sunday school song book, and it has been necessary for us to write new music for our translation as it is in Japanese. I will now sing the first verse.
Brother Ensign then sang in the Japanese language a stanza of "Love at Home."
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT, PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
We have now been assembled here for about two hours, and I feel that it would be improper for us to prolong our meeting.
I would like, however, to add my testimony to all the testimonies that have been borne this evening, but more particularly to endorse and emphasize the remarks made by Dr. Talmage in relation to the duty of presiding officers. Of course we should follow in our Mutual Improvement associations and in our quorum capacities, and in every way where we have organizations in the Church, auxiliary or otherwise, the pattern, as nearly as we can, that the Lord has given us. A Bishop is the presiding officer of his ward, and where the Bishop is in the ward, his counselors and those who are members of his ward are subject to his presidency. He cannot yield it up. He cannot give it to another; or, if he does, he violates one of the sacred principles of the government of the priesthood. He may direct his counselors, the first or the second, to do his will, to carry out his wishes, to execute his desires, or his commands; but in so doing the counselor does not act as the Bishop, but he acts under the direction of the presiding authority. He does not act independently of the Bishop, but subordinate to the Bishop, and is subject entirely to the Bishop's direction. This principle prevails, or should prevail, in the Sunday school organization of the Church. We can commission and appoint; that is, those who preside, can call upon their aids for assistance, they can direct them to accomplish labors, but in every instance when they do, it is by and with and under the consent of the presiding authority, and by his advice, but not independently. Our missions have not always been organized strictly according to the pattern that the Lord has given. In a great many instances the presiding Elder has been the sole presiding officer of the mission.
But in recent years, in many instances, it has been deemed wise, not only to have a presiding Elder in the mission, but ,also assistants to the president, or counselors, that they may render him such assistance and counsel as he may need. In all these things the presiding officer is the head, should be regarded in his place, and his place should be held sacred in the minds of his associates. And no man possessing a correct understanding of the spirit of the Gospel and of the authority and law of the holy priesthood will attempt for a moment to run before his fila leader or to do anything—assume to do anything that is not strictly in harmony with his wish and the authority that belongs to him. The moment a man in subordinate position begins to usurp the authority of his file leader, that moment he is out of his place, and proves by his conduct that he does not comprehend his duty, that he is not acting in the line of his calling, and la a dangerous character. He will set bad examples, he will mislead, he will lead others into error having fallen into error himself; indeed, he is in error the moment he acts contrary to and independent of the direction of his presiding officer; and if he continues in that course he will go astray entirely, and those who follow him will follow him astray. I endorse what Brother Talmage has said. We all understand that principle, I think, and I would like to see my brethren and sisters who are connected with the Sunday school work observe it strictly, but in the true spirit; not with any kind of stiff formality or set ways, but in the true spirit of presidency, lovingly subject to divine authority, the authority that God has Instituted, that we may emulate, the example of the Son Himself, who came to earth, and while He possessed majestic power to heal the sick, to restore sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and bring the dead to life, and to accomplish wonderful things, walking upon the waves, stilling the storms, casting out devils, and multiplying the loaves- and fishes, by which he fed the multitudes of people, yet in accomplishing all this he declared, over and over again, this great principle, that He came not to do His own will but the will of Him that sent Him, recognizing in every feature of His message and ministry in the world that God was at the head, and that He did nothing of Himself, but only that which the Father sent Him to do. Thus He was acting under the authority of His president or file leader—of Him who sent Him and commissioned Him to accomplish the work He was sent to do. Let us follow that spirit and example, and adopt that principle, in our lives, then we shall never have presiding Elders and officers in the Church at loggerheads with each other, contending with each other, and at cross purposes. They will always be one. They will see eye to eye, they will understand better the principles of divine government, the principles of the Gospel and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
When I came into the house this evening and saw the multitudes of people here, I felt in my heart what a testimony this is to the Lord of the integrity of this people, of you, my brethren and sisters, who are connected with the Sunday school work, and of our fathers and mothers that are here with us tonight. What a witness, what evidence, what a testimony to the Lord of your integrity to and love for the Church. You have not come here out of mere curiosity. I believe you have come here in the line of duty, you are here because you are engaged in the work of the Lord, that you have a deep interest in it, and not because there is some curious attraction to draw you here. I congratulate you and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the manifestation of union, love and devotion to duty that is evinced here tonight by the presence of this vast multitude of people. I thank you for your presence, for the interest that you have taken in this work, and may God bless you and continue to preserve your lives, your faith and your love for the truth, from this time, henceforth and forever, which is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
We have now been assembled here for about two hours, and I feel that it would be improper for us to prolong our meeting.
I would like, however, to add my testimony to all the testimonies that have been borne this evening, but more particularly to endorse and emphasize the remarks made by Dr. Talmage in relation to the duty of presiding officers. Of course we should follow in our Mutual Improvement associations and in our quorum capacities, and in every way where we have organizations in the Church, auxiliary or otherwise, the pattern, as nearly as we can, that the Lord has given us. A Bishop is the presiding officer of his ward, and where the Bishop is in the ward, his counselors and those who are members of his ward are subject to his presidency. He cannot yield it up. He cannot give it to another; or, if he does, he violates one of the sacred principles of the government of the priesthood. He may direct his counselors, the first or the second, to do his will, to carry out his wishes, to execute his desires, or his commands; but in so doing the counselor does not act as the Bishop, but he acts under the direction of the presiding authority. He does not act independently of the Bishop, but subordinate to the Bishop, and is subject entirely to the Bishop's direction. This principle prevails, or should prevail, in the Sunday school organization of the Church. We can commission and appoint; that is, those who preside, can call upon their aids for assistance, they can direct them to accomplish labors, but in every instance when they do, it is by and with and under the consent of the presiding authority, and by his advice, but not independently. Our missions have not always been organized strictly according to the pattern that the Lord has given. In a great many instances the presiding Elder has been the sole presiding officer of the mission.
But in recent years, in many instances, it has been deemed wise, not only to have a presiding Elder in the mission, but ,also assistants to the president, or counselors, that they may render him such assistance and counsel as he may need. In all these things the presiding officer is the head, should be regarded in his place, and his place should be held sacred in the minds of his associates. And no man possessing a correct understanding of the spirit of the Gospel and of the authority and law of the holy priesthood will attempt for a moment to run before his fila leader or to do anything—assume to do anything that is not strictly in harmony with his wish and the authority that belongs to him. The moment a man in subordinate position begins to usurp the authority of his file leader, that moment he is out of his place, and proves by his conduct that he does not comprehend his duty, that he is not acting in the line of his calling, and la a dangerous character. He will set bad examples, he will mislead, he will lead others into error having fallen into error himself; indeed, he is in error the moment he acts contrary to and independent of the direction of his presiding officer; and if he continues in that course he will go astray entirely, and those who follow him will follow him astray. I endorse what Brother Talmage has said. We all understand that principle, I think, and I would like to see my brethren and sisters who are connected with the Sunday school work observe it strictly, but in the true spirit; not with any kind of stiff formality or set ways, but in the true spirit of presidency, lovingly subject to divine authority, the authority that God has Instituted, that we may emulate, the example of the Son Himself, who came to earth, and while He possessed majestic power to heal the sick, to restore sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and bring the dead to life, and to accomplish wonderful things, walking upon the waves, stilling the storms, casting out devils, and multiplying the loaves- and fishes, by which he fed the multitudes of people, yet in accomplishing all this he declared, over and over again, this great principle, that He came not to do His own will but the will of Him that sent Him, recognizing in every feature of His message and ministry in the world that God was at the head, and that He did nothing of Himself, but only that which the Father sent Him to do. Thus He was acting under the authority of His president or file leader—of Him who sent Him and commissioned Him to accomplish the work He was sent to do. Let us follow that spirit and example, and adopt that principle, in our lives, then we shall never have presiding Elders and officers in the Church at loggerheads with each other, contending with each other, and at cross purposes. They will always be one. They will see eye to eye, they will understand better the principles of divine government, the principles of the Gospel and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
When I came into the house this evening and saw the multitudes of people here, I felt in my heart what a testimony this is to the Lord of the integrity of this people, of you, my brethren and sisters, who are connected with the Sunday school work, and of our fathers and mothers that are here with us tonight. What a witness, what evidence, what a testimony to the Lord of your integrity to and love for the Church. You have not come here out of mere curiosity. I believe you have come here in the line of duty, you are here because you are engaged in the work of the Lord, that you have a deep interest in it, and not because there is some curious attraction to draw you here. I congratulate you and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the manifestation of union, love and devotion to duty that is evinced here tonight by the presence of this vast multitude of people. I thank you for your presence, for the interest that you have taken in this work, and may God bless you and continue to preserve your lives, your faith and your love for the truth, from this time, henceforth and forever, which is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ASSISTANT SUPT. GEORGE REYNOLDS.
I take the liberty as the treasurer of the union to ask the superintendents and all the officers to remember nickel day. I ask you to attend to this matter promptly and faithfully, and let the local treasurers be prompt in sending the money collected to the stake treasurer, and that those officers in turn, forward the proper amounts to the general treasurer, at the earliest possible date. We ask but one donation in the year, and its value is much increased by early remittance.
Singing by the congregation, "A Parting Hymn."
Benediction by Elder Joseph W. Summerhays.
GEORGE D. PYPER,
General Secretary.
F. E. BARKER
I take the liberty as the treasurer of the union to ask the superintendents and all the officers to remember nickel day. I ask you to attend to this matter promptly and faithfully, and let the local treasurers be prompt in sending the money collected to the stake treasurer, and that those officers in turn, forward the proper amounts to the general treasurer, at the earliest possible date. We ask but one donation in the year, and its value is much increased by early remittance.
Singing by the congregation, "A Parting Hymn."
Benediction by Elder Joseph W. Summerhays.
GEORGE D. PYPER,
General Secretary.
F. E. BARKER