April 1909
The 79th Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (1909). Report of Discourses. Salt Lake City: The Deseret News.
THE 79th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Man's insignificant individuality compared with God' great work
PRESIDENT JOHN R. WINDER
Determination to be diligent in duties, notwithstanding advanced age
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND
The Church and Kingdom of God to be universal
OVERFLOW MEETING
ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY
Significance of an Overflow Meeting—The Growth of the Church
ELDER CHARLES A. CALLIS
(President of Southern States Mission)
ELDER CHARLES H. HART
ELDER JAMES G. DUFFIN
(Former President of Central States Mission)
ELDER NEPHI PRATT
(President of Northwestern States Mission)
Second Overflow Meeting
ELDER THOMAS E. BASSETT
(President of Fremont Stake)
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN
ELDER RULON S. WELLS
ELDER J. GOLDEN KIMBALL
ELDER GEORGE F. RICHARDS
God's Kingdom on earth to unite with the Heavenly Kingdom
OUTDOOR MEETING
ELDER BENJAMIN GODDARD
ELDER GERMAN E. ELLSWORTH
(President of Northern States Mission)
ELDER BEN E. RICH
(President of Eastern States Mission)
ELDER JOHN G. M'QUARRIE
(Late President of Eastern States Mission)
SISTER LILLIAN V. JONES
(Of the Southern States Mission)
ELDER MELVIN J. BALLARD
(President of Northwestern States Mission)
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER ANTHONY W. IVINS
Mr. Ferris' anti-Mormon book reviewed
ELDER DAVID O. MCKAY
Two classes of mankind, builders and murmurers
ELDER CHARLES H. HART
SECOND DAY
ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY
The equality of man
ELDER SERGE L. BALIFF
(Late President of Swiss and German Mission)
ELDER GEORGE F. RICHARDS
The law of tithing a temporary substitute for consecration
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER HYRUM M. SMITH
Fulfillment of prediction concerning great and marvelous work
ELDER RUDGER CLAWSON
Remarkable fact that Christian nations need to have the Gospel preached to them
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN
THIRD DAY
BISHOP CHARLES W. NIBLEY
PATRIARCH JOHN SMITH
The people enjoined to be true Latter-day Saints
ELDER SOREN RASMUSSEN
(Late President of Scandinavian Mission)
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT
Zeal and faithfulness of missionaries commended
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
Tribute to strong, honest character of President Roosevelt
PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN
Some who have the Gospel Spirit possess worldly spirit also
AUDITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT
AUTHORITIES SUSTAINED
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Faithful Elders who have died recently in mission fields
THE 79th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Man's insignificant individuality compared with God' great work
PRESIDENT JOHN R. WINDER
Determination to be diligent in duties, notwithstanding advanced age
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND
The Church and Kingdom of God to be universal
OVERFLOW MEETING
ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY
Significance of an Overflow Meeting—The Growth of the Church
ELDER CHARLES A. CALLIS
(President of Southern States Mission)
ELDER CHARLES H. HART
ELDER JAMES G. DUFFIN
(Former President of Central States Mission)
ELDER NEPHI PRATT
(President of Northwestern States Mission)
Second Overflow Meeting
ELDER THOMAS E. BASSETT
(President of Fremont Stake)
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN
ELDER RULON S. WELLS
ELDER J. GOLDEN KIMBALL
ELDER GEORGE F. RICHARDS
God's Kingdom on earth to unite with the Heavenly Kingdom
OUTDOOR MEETING
ELDER BENJAMIN GODDARD
ELDER GERMAN E. ELLSWORTH
(President of Northern States Mission)
ELDER BEN E. RICH
(President of Eastern States Mission)
ELDER JOHN G. M'QUARRIE
(Late President of Eastern States Mission)
SISTER LILLIAN V. JONES
(Of the Southern States Mission)
ELDER MELVIN J. BALLARD
(President of Northwestern States Mission)
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER ANTHONY W. IVINS
Mr. Ferris' anti-Mormon book reviewed
ELDER DAVID O. MCKAY
Two classes of mankind, builders and murmurers
ELDER CHARLES H. HART
SECOND DAY
ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY
The equality of man
ELDER SERGE L. BALIFF
(Late President of Swiss and German Mission)
ELDER GEORGE F. RICHARDS
The law of tithing a temporary substitute for consecration
AFTERNOON SESSION
ELDER HYRUM M. SMITH
Fulfillment of prediction concerning great and marvelous work
ELDER RUDGER CLAWSON
Remarkable fact that Christian nations need to have the Gospel preached to them
ELDER JOSEPH W. MCMURRIN
THIRD DAY
BISHOP CHARLES W. NIBLEY
PATRIARCH JOHN SMITH
The people enjoined to be true Latter-day Saints
ELDER SOREN RASMUSSEN
(Late President of Scandinavian Mission)
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT
Zeal and faithfulness of missionaries commended
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH
Tribute to strong, honest character of President Roosevelt
PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN
Some who have the Gospel Spirit possess worldly spirit also
AUDITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT
AUTHORITIES SUSTAINED
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH
Faithful Elders who have died recently in mission fields
THE 79th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Held in the Tabernacle and Assembly Hall,
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1909,
with a Full Report of the Discourses
Published by The D e s e r e t N e w s
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
FIRST DAY.
The Seventy-ninth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Sunday, April 4th, 1909, President Joseph F. Smith presiding.
AUTHORITIES PRESENT.
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, Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. Mc- Kay and Anthony W. Ivins; Presiding Patriarch John Smith; of the First Council of Seventies, Seymour B. Young, Brigham H. Roberts, J. Golden Kimball, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin and Charles H. Hart; of the Presiding Bishopric, Charles W. Nibley, Orrin P. Miller, and David A. Smith ; Assistant Historians, A. Milton Musser and Joseph F. Smith, Jr. There were also a large number of Presidents of Stakes and Missions, with their Counselors, Bishops of Wards, Patriarchs, and numerous other prominent men and women representing various organizations of the Church.
President Joseph F. Smith called the assembly to order, and announced that it had been decided to open the adjoining Assembly Hall for overflow meetings of the Conference, to accommodate many who cannot be admitted to the Tabernacle. He recommended mothers to take their small children to the day nursery, that has been comfortably prepared for them, in the Lion House.
The services were commenced by the choir singing the hymn:
All hail the glorious day,
By Prophets long foretold,
When with harmonious lay,
The sheep of Israel's fold
On Zion's hill His praise proclaim,
And shout hosanna to His name.
The opening prayer was offered by Patriarch Joseph E. Taylor.
The choir sang the hymn:
Though deep'ning trials throng your way,
Press on, press on, ye Saints of God!
Ere long the resurrection day
Will spread its life and light abroad.
Held in the Tabernacle and Assembly Hall,
Salt Lake City, Utah, April 4th, 5th, and 6th, 1909,
with a Full Report of the Discourses
Published by The D e s e r e t N e w s
GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
FIRST DAY.
The Seventy-ninth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, at 10 a. m. on Sunday, April 4th, 1909, President Joseph F. Smith presiding.
AUTHORITIES PRESENT.
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, Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. Mc- Kay and Anthony W. Ivins; Presiding Patriarch John Smith; of the First Council of Seventies, Seymour B. Young, Brigham H. Roberts, J. Golden Kimball, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin and Charles H. Hart; of the Presiding Bishopric, Charles W. Nibley, Orrin P. Miller, and David A. Smith ; Assistant Historians, A. Milton Musser and Joseph F. Smith, Jr. There were also a large number of Presidents of Stakes and Missions, with their Counselors, Bishops of Wards, Patriarchs, and numerous other prominent men and women representing various organizations of the Church.
President Joseph F. Smith called the assembly to order, and announced that it had been decided to open the adjoining Assembly Hall for overflow meetings of the Conference, to accommodate many who cannot be admitted to the Tabernacle. He recommended mothers to take their small children to the day nursery, that has been comfortably prepared for them, in the Lion House.
The services were commenced by the choir singing the hymn:
All hail the glorious day,
By Prophets long foretold,
When with harmonious lay,
The sheep of Israel's fold
On Zion's hill His praise proclaim,
And shout hosanna to His name.
The opening prayer was offered by Patriarch Joseph E. Taylor.
The choir sang the hymn:
Though deep'ning trials throng your way,
Press on, press on, ye Saints of God!
Ere long the resurrection day
Will spread its life and light abroad.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
OPENING ADDRESS.
Man's insignificant individuality compared with God' great work.—Nothing to lose, everything to gain by faithfulness.— True Saints can not be- led by false shepherds.—Friends of righteousness are not enemies of Zion.—-"Whatsoever the Lord requireth of me, that will I do."—Christ's Church will stand, and its power increase henceforth. — Integrity of early members of the Church a worthy example to the Saints now.
It is with feelings of gratitude to the Lord that I stand before you this morning, at the opening of our 79th Annual General Conference. I thank the Lord for all His mercies and loving kindness toward all His people and, for that matter, for His continued mercy and kindness unto all men. I am very grateful that we have the privilege of meeting together this morning under so favorable circumstances, possessing as we seem to do, many if not all of the blessings of life, health and strength, peace, and the desire in our hearts to honor the Lord by our presence, manifesting our faith by gathering here on this occasion. This is a witness of our devotion to the cause of Zion. My heart is full of gratitude to the Lord, and of love for the Latter-day Saints, and for the Church of Jesus Christ throughout all the world.
To me there is nothing in life that can compare with the great work that the Lord is doing in the midst of the children of men, in these latter days. While it may be said, and it is in a measure true, that we are but a handful in comparison to our fellow men in the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, that will eventually leaven the whole world. We have ample assurance of the fulfillment of this thought in the growth and development of the cause from its incipiency until the present, for it has steadily and increasingly progressed and developed in the earth, from a mere half dozen of men 79 years ago, until today the members of the Church may be numbered by hundreds of thousands We have passed through the stages of infancy and of irresponsible childhood, and are indeed approaching the condition of manhood and womanhood in our experience in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in all the conditions incident to, and that are connected with, the growth of the Church and the people of God, thus far in the cause of Zion, and also the necessity the people of God are under to uphold and sustain principles of righteousness and of truth against all prejudices of the world, as well as against their own prejudices, and individual likes, dislikes and preferences. We are learning the great truth that man is insignificant in his individuality in comparison with the mighty cause which involves the salvation of the children of men, living and dead, and those who will yet live in the earth. Men must set aside their own prejudices, their own personal desires, wishes and preferences, and pay deference to the great cause of truth that is spreading abroad in the world.
To my mind there is nothing in all the world so great and so glorious as the work that the Lord Almighty is doing in these latter days. I feel grateful that I have been permitted as an individual to take part, in a humble way, in helping to promote the interests of Zion, and to spread its cause abroad in the world, from the days of my youth until now. I sincerely hope and pray that I may be able to endure faithful throughout the remaining portion of my life. I have lived too long to think of faltering in the least now. I have put my hand to the plow and it is too late to turn or to look back; and, for that matter, there has never appeared to me to be any reason at all why I should look back, or why I should slacken my efforts or my earnest desire to spread the cause of truth and help to build up Zion. Everything has pointed to the great good that has been and will be accomplished. Everything has pointed to the justness and righteousness of the cause and made my duty clear to me, assuring me of advancement and growth in knowledge and understanding by pursuing the cause that I have been pursuing,- and that I still intend to pursue, by the help of God to the end. I see nothing to lose by following this course but I think I can see that everything is to be gained by it. I am determined, therefore, to go on and continue as faithful as I can be to my duty, to the trusts that are imposed in me. As far as it lies in my power, I want to be faithful to the work of the Lord, that at last I may be able to give an account of my life and stewardship that will at least be acceptable to the Great Judge of the quick and the dead.
As it has been said many times in the past, "I am for the kingdom of God, or nothing." Zion, first and foremost. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that all other thing's may be added in the due time of the Lord, and in accordance with His pleasure. These are principles that should pervade the minds and hearts of all the Latter-day Saints. We should have gained sufficient experience by this time to realize that no man, no individual, no clique, and no secret organization can combine with force and power sufficient to overturn, the purposes of the Almighty, or to change the course of His work. Many and many an individual has arisen in times past, and these individuals have been falsely impressed with the idea that they were going to work a wonderful reformation in the Church; they anticipated that in a very short time the whole people would desert their standard, the standard of truth to which they had gathered and around which they had rallied from the beginning of the Church until then. These persons thought the people would follow the "new shepherds," but the people of God Know the voice of the true shepherd, and the stranger's voice they will not heed, nor the counsels of him who assumes authority that does not belong to him. None such will they ever follow. The Latter-day Saints know the spirit of the Gospel; they understand the spirit of truth. They have learned their duty, and they will stand by the truth, no matter what may come. From the beginning until now, we have had to face the entire world; and the whole world, comparatively, is or has been arrayed against the work of the Lord, not all on account of hatred, not solely with the intent or desire in their hearts to do evil or to fight the truth, but because they were ignorant of the truth, and because they knew not what they were doing. Many are deceived by the voice of false shepherds, and are misled by false influences. They are deceived; they know not the truth; they understand not what they do and, therefore, they are arrayed, as it were, against the truth, against the work of the Lord; so it has been from the beginning. From the day that the Prophet Joseph Smith first declared his vision until now, the enemy of all righteousness, the enemy of truth, of virtue, of honor, uprightness, and purity of life; the enemy to the only true God, the enemy to direct revelation from God and to the inspirations that come from the heavens to man, has been arrayed against this work. You have never found the friend' to righteousness, the friend to revelation, the friend to God, the friend to truth, the friend to righteous living and purity of life, or he who is devoted to righteousness and is broad enough to comprehend truth from error and light from darkness—I say you have never found such as these arrayed against the cause of Zion. To be arrayed against the cause of Zion is to be arrayed against God, against revelation from God, against that spirit that leads men into all truth that cometh from the source of light and intelligence, against that principle that brings men together and causes them to forsake their sins, to seek righteousness, to love God with all their hearts, mind and strength, and to love their neighbors as themselves.
The spirit of the Gospel leads men to righteousness: to love their fellow men and to labor for their salvation and exaltation ; it inspires them to do good and not evil, to avoid even the appearance of sin, much more to avoid sin itself. This is indeed the spirit of the Gospel, which is the spirit of this latter-day work, and also the spirit that possesses those who have embraced it; and the aim and purpose of this work is the salvation, the exaltation, and the eternal happiness of man both in this life and in the life to come. Will any man, or any set of men who really love righteousness, love God, love purity of life, and who are seeking for the truth, I ask, will such men array themselves against the work whose very object is that which they themselves seek? Those who fight against Zion, or against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are fighting against God, against His truth, against light and knowledge, and revelation from the heavens to man, which we know man has received of God in the day in which we live. What shall we do? Our plain duty —so plain that none should misunderstand it, none can misunderstand it unless they allow their prejudices and human weaknesses to prevail over their better judgment; our plain duty is to live in the spirit of forgiveness, in the spirit of humility before the Lord, in the love of the truth more than the love of ourselves and our personal interests.
The Lord told the young man who loved the world, that if he desired to be perfect, he should sell all that he had and give it to the poor, then said the Lord, "Come and follow me." This may be a very simple manner of expression, but there is a great deal of truth in it, there is an essential principle involved in it. It is the putting of that which is sacred and divine, that which is of God, that which makes for the peace and happiness of the souls of men, before our riches, before all our earthly honors and possessions. The Lord Almighty requires this of the Latter-day Saints; and every man and woman who has embraced the Gospel ought to feel in his and in her heart today, and in their souls always, that "whatsoever the Lord requireth of me, that will I do," or that will I give, no matter what it is. To a certain extent we have reached that point, to the extent at least that we can forego the pleasures of home, the opportunity of making means, of devoting our time to labors and industries that will bring great profit to us. We are willing to leave these things, and for years consecrate our time and our efforts to the preaching of the Gospel to the nations of the earth, and remain proclaiming the Gospel in the world until it shall be said to us "it is enough," and we receive an honorable release to return to our homes. This is, of course, a step in the right direction. Many of us can do this, and many are doing it from time to time. Occasionally we come across an individual who thinks he could not do it. He thinks he could not sacrifice his home interests, and the profits of his business, which need his personal attention. He thinks he could not leave these interests to go out into the world to preach the Gospel, and he asks to be excused from being called to such labor as this. I fear that in such cases, if he were called upon to make a sacrifice of a portion of that which he possessed, of a worldly character, for the building up of Zion, or for the spread of truth, or for the defense of the people of God, that he would be found wanting in his willingness to comply with such requirements also. For my own part, I would like to so live that with open heart and mind, before God and all men, if I were required to go to the ends of the earth and remain there proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, that I would be willing to do it; or if I were asked to give up what I possess in the world, for the building up of Zion, for some special necessary purpose, for advancing the cause of Zion in the world, that I would be prepared and ready to say, Father, here is all that I have ; I place it upon the altar freely and give it for the benefit of Thy kingdom upon the earth and for the advancement of Thy cause. I would like to live so that this would indeed be my determination and that I would be able, if the requirement were made, to carry it out not only without regret but with pleasure. But this I earnestly desire — I want to live so that, no matter what any other man in the world may do or say, so far as I am concerned there is but this one thing for me to do, and that is to be true to the covenants I have made with God and my brethren, to stand firm and steadfast for the advancement of Zion and for the building up of the kingdom of God in the earth. I want to so live that I can have in me the spirit and determination to forgive my brother his trespasses, as I would desire him to forgive my trespasses against him. We should all live so that the spirit of reconciliation, the spirit of peace, the spirit of love and of union may rise above the passions and feelings of anger and resentment that may be aroused in the hearts of men, in consequence of circumstances which might arise from time to time. Our lives should be such that these worldly things may sink into insignificance, and that the love of God in the hearts of brethren might rise above all other things, no matter what condition or circumstance may be brought to bear upon us to provoke or wound our feelings.
There is no salvation but in the way God has pointed out. There is no hope of everlasting life but through obedience to the law that has been affixed by the Father of Life, "with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning;" and there is no other way by which we may obtain that light and exaltation. These matters are beyond peradventure, beyond all doubt in my mind; I know them to be true. Therefore, I bear my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, that He lives and that His Son lives, even He who died for the sins of the world, and that He rose from the dead; that He sits upon the right hand of the Father; that all power is given unto Him; that we are directed to call upon God in the name of Jesus Christ. We are told that we should remember Him in our homes, keep His holy name fresh in our minds, and revere Him in our hearts; we should call upon him from time to time, from day to day, and in fact, every moment of our lives we should live so that the desires of our hearts will be a prayer unto God for righteousness, for truth and for the salvation of the human family. Let us guard ourselves so that there may not come into our souls a single drop of bitterness, by which our whole being might be corroded and poisoned with anger, with hatred, envy or malice, or any sort of evil. We should be free from all these evil things, that we may be filled with the love of God, the love of truth the love of our fellow men, that we may seek to do good unto all men all the days of our lives, and above all things be true to our covenants in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I know that this is Christ's Church. I know that the principles we have received are true, as far as I have been able to comprehend them. I need not1 enter into a lengthy talk or discourse in relation to these principles, for you are familiar with them; but I do know that every principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been revealed through Joseph Smith, the prophet, in these last days is of God and is true, and will stand for ever—that is, on its merit, as to its truth; it can never be overthrown. I know this with all my being. God has made me doubly assured by the presence and influence of His Spirit, and by the inspiration awakened in my soul to love that which is good, and to desire to forsake that which is evil. I know, too, that the Lord Almighty will accomplish His purposes; no matter about me, no matter what individuals may do or scores of individuals, for that matter or hundreds of them, or perchance thousands of them that may turn away from the truth, or who may fall by the way, stumbling over their own weaknesses as a result of the little strifes and bitternesses that arise in their hearts, one against another. Hundreds or thousands may fall by the way, but the kingdom of God will never fall. The work of the Lord will never stop, nor cease, for God has decreed that it shall continue to progress in the earth until His purposes are accomplished. This being true, no power beneath the Celestial Kingdom can hinder its progress. It can't be done, for God has decreed it. I see in the progress of this latter-day work, from its inception, that mighty, irresistible power, that wonderful Divine providence that makes for righteousness and for truth and for the advancement of the cause of Zion; working in and under and all around this Church, until it has brought it to where it is. That same power will become stronger and stronger and will work with greater rapidity and greater impetus in the future than it has done in the past, in proportion to the growth and development of the faith, knowledge and fidelity of the people of God in the earth. The kingdom of God and the work of the Lord will spread more and more; it will progress more rapidly in the world in the future than it has done in the past. The Lord has said it, and the Spirit beareth record; and I bear my testimony to this, for I do know that it is true.
We believe in righteousness. We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. No sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure. No man's faith, no man's religion, no religious organization in all the world can ever rise above the truth. The truth must be at the foundation of religion, or it is in vain and it will fail of its purpose. I say that the truth is at the foundation, at the bottom and top of—and it entirely permeates this great work of the Lord that was established through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, the prophet. God is with it; it is His work, not that of man; and it will succeed no matter what the opposition may be. We look now at the opposition arrayed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and smile, so to speak, with feelings of confidence doubly assured by the experience of the past, in comparison to the feelings that possessed the souls of our fathers and mothers in the early days of the Church, when they were but a handful, with all the world arrayed against them ; just a few poor, homeless people, driven from their possessions, cast out from the communities in which they sought to establish themselves and build their homes. When I think of our people, thrust into the wilderness, wandering and seeking for a place where the soles of their feet might rest, and see, then, the world arrayed against them, and think of the little chance that appeared before them for success and the accomplishment of their purposes, I wonder that more of them did not tremble and falter than did; but some of them were true in the midst of it all, even unto death. If it had been necessary for them to have been martyred for the truth, willingly would they have given their lives, as they gave all else that they possessed in the world, for the knowledge they had of the divinity of the work in which they were engaged. Are we as faithful today? Are we as devout as our fathers were Oh, my God, help me to be as true as they were Help me to stand as they stood, upon the pedestal of eternal truth, that no power on earth, or in hell, may remove me from that foundation. This is my prayer to the Lord for my own sake, and it is my prayer to Him for every Latter-day Saint throughout the length and breadth of the world.
God bless you, my brethren and sisters. May He continue to prosper us, and help us to increase in righteousness and faith, in union, and in love, one for another and for God our Father, and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom we owe the hope and promise of redemption from death and from the power of endless banishment from the presence of God. This is my prayer for you, my brethren and sisters, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A bass solo, "Fear God, Oh Israel," was rendered by Alexander C. Crawford.
OPENING ADDRESS.
Man's insignificant individuality compared with God' great work.—Nothing to lose, everything to gain by faithfulness.— True Saints can not be- led by false shepherds.—Friends of righteousness are not enemies of Zion.—-"Whatsoever the Lord requireth of me, that will I do."—Christ's Church will stand, and its power increase henceforth. — Integrity of early members of the Church a worthy example to the Saints now.
It is with feelings of gratitude to the Lord that I stand before you this morning, at the opening of our 79th Annual General Conference. I thank the Lord for all His mercies and loving kindness toward all His people and, for that matter, for His continued mercy and kindness unto all men. I am very grateful that we have the privilege of meeting together this morning under so favorable circumstances, possessing as we seem to do, many if not all of the blessings of life, health and strength, peace, and the desire in our hearts to honor the Lord by our presence, manifesting our faith by gathering here on this occasion. This is a witness of our devotion to the cause of Zion. My heart is full of gratitude to the Lord, and of love for the Latter-day Saints, and for the Church of Jesus Christ throughout all the world.
To me there is nothing in life that can compare with the great work that the Lord is doing in the midst of the children of men, in these latter days. While it may be said, and it is in a measure true, that we are but a handful in comparison to our fellow men in the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, that will eventually leaven the whole world. We have ample assurance of the fulfillment of this thought in the growth and development of the cause from its incipiency until the present, for it has steadily and increasingly progressed and developed in the earth, from a mere half dozen of men 79 years ago, until today the members of the Church may be numbered by hundreds of thousands We have passed through the stages of infancy and of irresponsible childhood, and are indeed approaching the condition of manhood and womanhood in our experience in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in all the conditions incident to, and that are connected with, the growth of the Church and the people of God, thus far in the cause of Zion, and also the necessity the people of God are under to uphold and sustain principles of righteousness and of truth against all prejudices of the world, as well as against their own prejudices, and individual likes, dislikes and preferences. We are learning the great truth that man is insignificant in his individuality in comparison with the mighty cause which involves the salvation of the children of men, living and dead, and those who will yet live in the earth. Men must set aside their own prejudices, their own personal desires, wishes and preferences, and pay deference to the great cause of truth that is spreading abroad in the world.
To my mind there is nothing in all the world so great and so glorious as the work that the Lord Almighty is doing in these latter days. I feel grateful that I have been permitted as an individual to take part, in a humble way, in helping to promote the interests of Zion, and to spread its cause abroad in the world, from the days of my youth until now. I sincerely hope and pray that I may be able to endure faithful throughout the remaining portion of my life. I have lived too long to think of faltering in the least now. I have put my hand to the plow and it is too late to turn or to look back; and, for that matter, there has never appeared to me to be any reason at all why I should look back, or why I should slacken my efforts or my earnest desire to spread the cause of truth and help to build up Zion. Everything has pointed to the great good that has been and will be accomplished. Everything has pointed to the justness and righteousness of the cause and made my duty clear to me, assuring me of advancement and growth in knowledge and understanding by pursuing the cause that I have been pursuing,- and that I still intend to pursue, by the help of God to the end. I see nothing to lose by following this course but I think I can see that everything is to be gained by it. I am determined, therefore, to go on and continue as faithful as I can be to my duty, to the trusts that are imposed in me. As far as it lies in my power, I want to be faithful to the work of the Lord, that at last I may be able to give an account of my life and stewardship that will at least be acceptable to the Great Judge of the quick and the dead.
As it has been said many times in the past, "I am for the kingdom of God, or nothing." Zion, first and foremost. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that all other thing's may be added in the due time of the Lord, and in accordance with His pleasure. These are principles that should pervade the minds and hearts of all the Latter-day Saints. We should have gained sufficient experience by this time to realize that no man, no individual, no clique, and no secret organization can combine with force and power sufficient to overturn, the purposes of the Almighty, or to change the course of His work. Many and many an individual has arisen in times past, and these individuals have been falsely impressed with the idea that they were going to work a wonderful reformation in the Church; they anticipated that in a very short time the whole people would desert their standard, the standard of truth to which they had gathered and around which they had rallied from the beginning of the Church until then. These persons thought the people would follow the "new shepherds," but the people of God Know the voice of the true shepherd, and the stranger's voice they will not heed, nor the counsels of him who assumes authority that does not belong to him. None such will they ever follow. The Latter-day Saints know the spirit of the Gospel; they understand the spirit of truth. They have learned their duty, and they will stand by the truth, no matter what may come. From the beginning until now, we have had to face the entire world; and the whole world, comparatively, is or has been arrayed against the work of the Lord, not all on account of hatred, not solely with the intent or desire in their hearts to do evil or to fight the truth, but because they were ignorant of the truth, and because they knew not what they were doing. Many are deceived by the voice of false shepherds, and are misled by false influences. They are deceived; they know not the truth; they understand not what they do and, therefore, they are arrayed, as it were, against the truth, against the work of the Lord; so it has been from the beginning. From the day that the Prophet Joseph Smith first declared his vision until now, the enemy of all righteousness, the enemy of truth, of virtue, of honor, uprightness, and purity of life; the enemy to the only true God, the enemy to direct revelation from God and to the inspirations that come from the heavens to man, has been arrayed against this work. You have never found the friend' to righteousness, the friend to revelation, the friend to God, the friend to truth, the friend to righteous living and purity of life, or he who is devoted to righteousness and is broad enough to comprehend truth from error and light from darkness—I say you have never found such as these arrayed against the cause of Zion. To be arrayed against the cause of Zion is to be arrayed against God, against revelation from God, against that spirit that leads men into all truth that cometh from the source of light and intelligence, against that principle that brings men together and causes them to forsake their sins, to seek righteousness, to love God with all their hearts, mind and strength, and to love their neighbors as themselves.
The spirit of the Gospel leads men to righteousness: to love their fellow men and to labor for their salvation and exaltation ; it inspires them to do good and not evil, to avoid even the appearance of sin, much more to avoid sin itself. This is indeed the spirit of the Gospel, which is the spirit of this latter-day work, and also the spirit that possesses those who have embraced it; and the aim and purpose of this work is the salvation, the exaltation, and the eternal happiness of man both in this life and in the life to come. Will any man, or any set of men who really love righteousness, love God, love purity of life, and who are seeking for the truth, I ask, will such men array themselves against the work whose very object is that which they themselves seek? Those who fight against Zion, or against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are fighting against God, against His truth, against light and knowledge, and revelation from the heavens to man, which we know man has received of God in the day in which we live. What shall we do? Our plain duty —so plain that none should misunderstand it, none can misunderstand it unless they allow their prejudices and human weaknesses to prevail over their better judgment; our plain duty is to live in the spirit of forgiveness, in the spirit of humility before the Lord, in the love of the truth more than the love of ourselves and our personal interests.
The Lord told the young man who loved the world, that if he desired to be perfect, he should sell all that he had and give it to the poor, then said the Lord, "Come and follow me." This may be a very simple manner of expression, but there is a great deal of truth in it, there is an essential principle involved in it. It is the putting of that which is sacred and divine, that which is of God, that which makes for the peace and happiness of the souls of men, before our riches, before all our earthly honors and possessions. The Lord Almighty requires this of the Latter-day Saints; and every man and woman who has embraced the Gospel ought to feel in his and in her heart today, and in their souls always, that "whatsoever the Lord requireth of me, that will I do," or that will I give, no matter what it is. To a certain extent we have reached that point, to the extent at least that we can forego the pleasures of home, the opportunity of making means, of devoting our time to labors and industries that will bring great profit to us. We are willing to leave these things, and for years consecrate our time and our efforts to the preaching of the Gospel to the nations of the earth, and remain proclaiming the Gospel in the world until it shall be said to us "it is enough," and we receive an honorable release to return to our homes. This is, of course, a step in the right direction. Many of us can do this, and many are doing it from time to time. Occasionally we come across an individual who thinks he could not do it. He thinks he could not sacrifice his home interests, and the profits of his business, which need his personal attention. He thinks he could not leave these interests to go out into the world to preach the Gospel, and he asks to be excused from being called to such labor as this. I fear that in such cases, if he were called upon to make a sacrifice of a portion of that which he possessed, of a worldly character, for the building up of Zion, or for the spread of truth, or for the defense of the people of God, that he would be found wanting in his willingness to comply with such requirements also. For my own part, I would like to so live that with open heart and mind, before God and all men, if I were required to go to the ends of the earth and remain there proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, that I would be willing to do it; or if I were asked to give up what I possess in the world, for the building up of Zion, for some special necessary purpose, for advancing the cause of Zion in the world, that I would be prepared and ready to say, Father, here is all that I have ; I place it upon the altar freely and give it for the benefit of Thy kingdom upon the earth and for the advancement of Thy cause. I would like to live so that this would indeed be my determination and that I would be able, if the requirement were made, to carry it out not only without regret but with pleasure. But this I earnestly desire — I want to live so that, no matter what any other man in the world may do or say, so far as I am concerned there is but this one thing for me to do, and that is to be true to the covenants I have made with God and my brethren, to stand firm and steadfast for the advancement of Zion and for the building up of the kingdom of God in the earth. I want to so live that I can have in me the spirit and determination to forgive my brother his trespasses, as I would desire him to forgive my trespasses against him. We should all live so that the spirit of reconciliation, the spirit of peace, the spirit of love and of union may rise above the passions and feelings of anger and resentment that may be aroused in the hearts of men, in consequence of circumstances which might arise from time to time. Our lives should be such that these worldly things may sink into insignificance, and that the love of God in the hearts of brethren might rise above all other things, no matter what condition or circumstance may be brought to bear upon us to provoke or wound our feelings.
There is no salvation but in the way God has pointed out. There is no hope of everlasting life but through obedience to the law that has been affixed by the Father of Life, "with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning;" and there is no other way by which we may obtain that light and exaltation. These matters are beyond peradventure, beyond all doubt in my mind; I know them to be true. Therefore, I bear my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, that He lives and that His Son lives, even He who died for the sins of the world, and that He rose from the dead; that He sits upon the right hand of the Father; that all power is given unto Him; that we are directed to call upon God in the name of Jesus Christ. We are told that we should remember Him in our homes, keep His holy name fresh in our minds, and revere Him in our hearts; we should call upon him from time to time, from day to day, and in fact, every moment of our lives we should live so that the desires of our hearts will be a prayer unto God for righteousness, for truth and for the salvation of the human family. Let us guard ourselves so that there may not come into our souls a single drop of bitterness, by which our whole being might be corroded and poisoned with anger, with hatred, envy or malice, or any sort of evil. We should be free from all these evil things, that we may be filled with the love of God, the love of truth the love of our fellow men, that we may seek to do good unto all men all the days of our lives, and above all things be true to our covenants in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I know that this is Christ's Church. I know that the principles we have received are true, as far as I have been able to comprehend them. I need not1 enter into a lengthy talk or discourse in relation to these principles, for you are familiar with them; but I do know that every principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been revealed through Joseph Smith, the prophet, in these last days is of God and is true, and will stand for ever—that is, on its merit, as to its truth; it can never be overthrown. I know this with all my being. God has made me doubly assured by the presence and influence of His Spirit, and by the inspiration awakened in my soul to love that which is good, and to desire to forsake that which is evil. I know, too, that the Lord Almighty will accomplish His purposes; no matter about me, no matter what individuals may do or scores of individuals, for that matter or hundreds of them, or perchance thousands of them that may turn away from the truth, or who may fall by the way, stumbling over their own weaknesses as a result of the little strifes and bitternesses that arise in their hearts, one against another. Hundreds or thousands may fall by the way, but the kingdom of God will never fall. The work of the Lord will never stop, nor cease, for God has decreed that it shall continue to progress in the earth until His purposes are accomplished. This being true, no power beneath the Celestial Kingdom can hinder its progress. It can't be done, for God has decreed it. I see in the progress of this latter-day work, from its inception, that mighty, irresistible power, that wonderful Divine providence that makes for righteousness and for truth and for the advancement of the cause of Zion; working in and under and all around this Church, until it has brought it to where it is. That same power will become stronger and stronger and will work with greater rapidity and greater impetus in the future than it has done in the past, in proportion to the growth and development of the faith, knowledge and fidelity of the people of God in the earth. The kingdom of God and the work of the Lord will spread more and more; it will progress more rapidly in the world in the future than it has done in the past. The Lord has said it, and the Spirit beareth record; and I bear my testimony to this, for I do know that it is true.
We believe in righteousness. We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. No sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure. No man's faith, no man's religion, no religious organization in all the world can ever rise above the truth. The truth must be at the foundation of religion, or it is in vain and it will fail of its purpose. I say that the truth is at the foundation, at the bottom and top of—and it entirely permeates this great work of the Lord that was established through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, the prophet. God is with it; it is His work, not that of man; and it will succeed no matter what the opposition may be. We look now at the opposition arrayed against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and smile, so to speak, with feelings of confidence doubly assured by the experience of the past, in comparison to the feelings that possessed the souls of our fathers and mothers in the early days of the Church, when they were but a handful, with all the world arrayed against them ; just a few poor, homeless people, driven from their possessions, cast out from the communities in which they sought to establish themselves and build their homes. When I think of our people, thrust into the wilderness, wandering and seeking for a place where the soles of their feet might rest, and see, then, the world arrayed against them, and think of the little chance that appeared before them for success and the accomplishment of their purposes, I wonder that more of them did not tremble and falter than did; but some of them were true in the midst of it all, even unto death. If it had been necessary for them to have been martyred for the truth, willingly would they have given their lives, as they gave all else that they possessed in the world, for the knowledge they had of the divinity of the work in which they were engaged. Are we as faithful today? Are we as devout as our fathers were Oh, my God, help me to be as true as they were Help me to stand as they stood, upon the pedestal of eternal truth, that no power on earth, or in hell, may remove me from that foundation. This is my prayer to the Lord for my own sake, and it is my prayer to Him for every Latter-day Saint throughout the length and breadth of the world.
God bless you, my brethren and sisters. May He continue to prosper us, and help us to increase in righteousness and faith, in union, and in love, one for another and for God our Father, and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom we owe the hope and promise of redemption from death and from the power of endless banishment from the presence of God. This is my prayer for you, my brethren and sisters, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A bass solo, "Fear God, Oh Israel," was rendered by Alexander C. Crawford.
PRESIDENT JOHN R. WINDER.
Determination to be diligent in duties, notwithstanding advanced age.
I am delighted, my brethren and sisters, to have one more opportunity of meeting with you in general conference. President Smith asked the question, "What shall we do?" Answering that for myself, what shall I do? I propose to serve the Lord with all my might, mind and strength while I shall be permitted to remain here upon the earth; this is my determination. Every day that I live I feel that I am under renewed obligations to my Heavenly Father for His continued mercies and blessings to me. I often think there is no person, that I know of, who is under greater obligations to the Lord than I am for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me during my entire life; and for extending my days until the present time. He has been so kind and merciful to me that I could not, for one moment, be so ungrateful as to fail to acknowledge the hand of the Lord. I expect to occupy only a few moments, but I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing to you my determination to continue in this work, and especially to keep sacred and holy the covenants I have made up to the present time, and seek to discharge and fulfill every duty that devolves upon me, with greater faithfulness in the future than I have done in the past. This morning, as I listened to the words of our President, my soul was filled with delist, and with a renewed determination to perform my duties, just so far as I am able to do so.
It may not be necessary for me to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that this is the eighty-eighth year of my life. Do you not think that the Lord has been good to me? I certainly would be ungrateful did I not serve Him through the remainder of my days, with all my might, mind and strength. I expect to stand by my President, to be on hand to assist him, in my humble way, to the extent of my ability, and as the Lord will give me strength.
While the choir was singing the hymn this "morning, this verse attracted my attention:
Lift up your hearts in praise to God;
Let your rejoicings never cease;
Though tribulations rage abroad,
Christ says, "In me ye shall have peace."
May the Lord bless the people of Israel in all their abidings. God bless you all, my brethren and sisters, and may He help me to carry out the determination which I have expressed this morning, to the fullest extent, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Determination to be diligent in duties, notwithstanding advanced age.
I am delighted, my brethren and sisters, to have one more opportunity of meeting with you in general conference. President Smith asked the question, "What shall we do?" Answering that for myself, what shall I do? I propose to serve the Lord with all my might, mind and strength while I shall be permitted to remain here upon the earth; this is my determination. Every day that I live I feel that I am under renewed obligations to my Heavenly Father for His continued mercies and blessings to me. I often think there is no person, that I know of, who is under greater obligations to the Lord than I am for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me during my entire life; and for extending my days until the present time. He has been so kind and merciful to me that I could not, for one moment, be so ungrateful as to fail to acknowledge the hand of the Lord. I expect to occupy only a few moments, but I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing to you my determination to continue in this work, and especially to keep sacred and holy the covenants I have made up to the present time, and seek to discharge and fulfill every duty that devolves upon me, with greater faithfulness in the future than I have done in the past. This morning, as I listened to the words of our President, my soul was filled with delist, and with a renewed determination to perform my duties, just so far as I am able to do so.
It may not be necessary for me to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that this is the eighty-eighth year of my life. Do you not think that the Lord has been good to me? I certainly would be ungrateful did I not serve Him through the remainder of my days, with all my might, mind and strength. I expect to stand by my President, to be on hand to assist him, in my humble way, to the extent of my ability, and as the Lord will give me strength.
While the choir was singing the hymn this "morning, this verse attracted my attention:
Lift up your hearts in praise to God;
Let your rejoicings never cease;
Though tribulations rage abroad,
Christ says, "In me ye shall have peace."
May the Lord bless the people of Israel in all their abidings. God bless you all, my brethren and sisters, and may He help me to carry out the determination which I have expressed this morning, to the fullest extent, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRESIDENT ANTHON H. LUND.
The Church and Kingdom of God to be universal.—Saints should be zealous in God's work.—Encouraging progress in the missions.—Importance of Priesthood, and attendance at meetings.—Failure to pass Temperance and Sunday laws entails extra care.—Splendid work of Betterment Committee.—Gratifying results in Church Schools.
I have been very much interested this morning in listening to the strong testimonies borne by President Smith and President Winder. I have also a testimony of the truth of this work. As far as lies in my power, it is my determination to keep the covenants I have made with the Lord and with my brethren, and try to carry out in my every day life that which I understand to be the will of the Lord. The Lord commenced this work, the Lord has sustained it, and the Lord will continue to uphold it until it fills its mission, until it shall become, as it is destined to be, the universal Church of Christ upon the earth, and merge into the universal kingdom of God.
The President asked himself and us the question, "Do we feel the same zeal and enthusiasm manifested by our fathers, those whom the Lord used to establish this work?" I hope we do, though I find that there is more indifference and carelessness among us as a people than there ought to be. It would be well for all Israel to reflect upon their conduct, examine the condition in which they find themselves, and learn whether they have the same love for the truth as they had when they first received the Gospel. It should be greater by this time, for they have seen that the Lord has extended His hand to protect them, they have seen His hand-dealings with the people; and they know that without His help and aid this work could not have progressed as it has done. Besides, since receiving the Gospel the Saints have learned many things of which they were ignorant before. Light has been shed upon their path, and they have been able to see the way that leads to eternal life. Passages of scripture that were dark unto them before, have been made clear and plain through the Spirit of God. They have, indeed, reason to be thankful to God for what they have received, and they have reason to make the same declaration as Brother Winder, that they will try to show their gratitude in their lives, and be determined to live such lives as shall be in accord with the will of the Father.
On next Tuesday it will be seventy- nine years since the Church was organized. How wonderful is the history of the Church! It is of great interest, and I would encourage our people to study it. It has been very remarkable, and on every page we see that the Lord has overruled for good what the enemies of the Church have devised for its overthrow. The President said that this work will prevail, that nothing can overthrow the truth. "Truth," it has been said, "though crushed to earth, will rise again." Another author says that truth is tough; it may be buffeted and kicked about all day like a football, but at night it will come out full and round, not having taken the least injury from the treatment it has received. The treatment of "Mormonism" proves it possesses the same qualities, for it has been buffeted, kicked and grossly misrepresented, yet it has passed through every ordeal unscathed. We thank the Lord that He has revealed the truth unto us. And now, my brethren and sisters, the Lord having done so much for us shall we be indifferent and negligent in regard to the duties that devolve upon us as His people? Shall we not feel that there is a great responsibility resting upon us? We do not want to tear down the religion of others, we simply want to show unto the world what we have received. We believe in truth, and if others have truths, we believe in them; and we claim them also. We want to enlighten our fellow-men in regard to our faith, for we know that it is of inestimable value.
What is greater than the salvation of souls? To each and every one of us our souls are worth more than all the world. We cannot afford to let the things of the world draw our attention away from that which is of greater value. Every one of us should feel that he must do something for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God, whether it be at home or abroad. Our missionaries who have gone out to preach the gospel amongst the nations show their love for their fellowmen. They go without expecting temporal reward. They go because they feel it is their duty to preach the gospel unto others and let them know what the Lord has done, and what is necessary for them to do to obtain salvation. The Lord has been with them. During the past year we have seen more baptisms into the Church than for many years before. Our elders have been more energetic in reaching the people, and they have seen the fruits of their labors, and a great deal of prejudice has been allayed. As men become acquainted with us they see us in a different light. We hope the day will soon come when freedom, in regard to religion, will be given to the nations who are now under laws that prevent them from worshiping God according to the dictates of their conscience. We are grateful to learn that even in such countries the gospel is making great progress.
Lately there has been an agitation in Norway to have the legislature there do something to hinder the Latter-day Saint elders from preaching the gospel to the people. They say that our elders are so zealous to spread their doctrines that something must be done to stop it. Those who were agitating this question wrote to the different bishops and priests of the country, and wanted their opinions on the question of passing a law against "Mormon" propaganda. I am pleased to say that a couple of the bishops answered that, while it would be a desirable thing to stop the propaganda of the "Mormons," no other than spiritual weapons should be used ; and that they were not in favor of passing laws against the "Mormons." But there were a great many who were in favor of doing this. I hope that the representatives of the Norwegian people will have independence enough to act in conformity with the spirit of freedom. There are many good people in that land, many have emigrated from there and have made good citizens of our state. In Sweden, as in Norway, they have not entire religious liberty; still, we have not been molested very much. Some time ago two of our Elders were cast into prison, and fined, but they appealed their case. When it was found that the appeal was from the priests' court to the Bishops' Council in Stockholm, they knew there would be no change in the decision, so they got the case into the civil courts, and it was appealed to the higher courts, but, while the fine was reduced, the case went against them. One of our brethren brought it before the king, who gave it as his decision that there was no cause of action. This, I hope, will give our brethren liberty to preach what they know to be true, and give the people liberty to accept that which the spirit of truth indicates to them to be God's will and purpose.
In Germany some of our brethren have been put in prison and banished, yet the work progresses there in a very satisfactory manner. In the Netherlands there is great progress; in Switzerland, likewise, and our brethren are working into the French-speaking parts, and are succeeding there also. In the United States the Elders have been very busily employed scattering the Word and bringing souls unto Christ. On the islands of the sea it is the same; and in Japan our brethren are seeing fruits of their labors; converts have been made and the Sunday schools are well attended. The Book of Mormon will soon be published in the difficult language of that land, and we honor our brethren who are laboring there. Brother Alma O. Taylor has been there nearly eight years. He and the Elders with him are working hard to reach the hearts of the people, and they are performing a good work. In Greece we are also making progress and will soon have the Book of Mormon published in the Greek language, and thus that people can have access to the great truths that it contains.
At home our brethren in the Priesthood, who are laboring among the people, have been energetic, and they rejoice that the new movement to have all the quorums of the priesthood meet on Monday evenings has so far proved a success. It is hoped that all holding the Priesthood will help to make those meetings interesting. Summer is coming, and out in the rural districts it may be doubtful whether they can keep them up or not, but "where there's a will there's a way," I believe if the people would be determined to meet on that evening they can do so and much good be obtained from the Priesthood meetings.
We must remember what an important thing it is to hold the Priesthood of God. We must not get cold and indifferent and think, "Let others go ahead in spiritual work, we will mind our own business." Our own business is to support the kingdom of God and build it up. The Lord did not give us life and being here upon the earth just to accumulate worldly things. He gave it to us, as we sing in the hymn, "for a wise and glorious purpose," and that purpose is that we learn His will and do that which we know He has commanded, and try to make others know it also; then this existence upon the earth will bring unto us eternal life—the great joy and privilege of returning to our heavenly Father.
We want to be on our guard, not only for ourselves, but we must be on guard to protect others also and promote their salvation. Parents must look after their children. There are so many temptations, and we want, if we can, to put a shield between them and these temptations. If we know a house where there is smallpox we would not let our children enter there; and the law also steps in to protect us from the spread of epidemics, by quarantining infected places. For the good of ourselves and our children we ought to be on our guard. We should not go where there is moral infection, where the morals of ourselves and our children are exposed to corruption. We have tried, during the past winter, to have such legislation passed as might shield our youth from the temptations of intemperance. We want to get the liquor evil stopped, if possible. Our people should never be seen entering saloons or places where liquors are sold. This has been the teaching for years. Now that we did not succeed in getting such a law to help us, we are more urgently required to guard our children, our young people, that they shall not be exposed to temptations of that kind.
We were also in hopes of getting a Sunday law passed, so that amusements on the Sunday evening might have been stopped, that the Sunday might have been what the Lord intended it to be—a day of rest and of worship. We did not get it, but let us fry to influence our children to keep the Sunday holy, and warn them against going to pleasure resorts and places of amusement on Sunday evenings. We should make our homes as pleasant and attractive as possible, so our children will feel that there is no better place than the home. We want them to go to the evening meetings. They are held early enough so that after meeting there is time to go home, or visit friends, and in social intercourse, in that which is upbuilding, spend the Sunday evening. We do not believe in the Puritan doctrine that you cannot smile on the Sunday. We believe that serving the Lord gives joy, and that it does not take it away. We do not believe in the long-faced kind of religion, but we do believe that the Sunday should be used as the Lord has commanded, namely, to go to His house to be built up and strengthened in our holy faith, to go to His table, renew our covenants in partaking of the sacrament, and make our resolves to serve God so firm and so strong that they will carry us through not only the Sunday but every day of the week. We want the Sunday used thus, and then we are not opposed to our young people coming together and enjoying themselves in our homes; but we do object to their being in the street, especially after the curfew hour has been rung. They ought to be at home with their friends and parents, or at least their parents ought to know where they have gone.
I want to say that the brethren who have been appointed by the different stakes as a betterment committee have done magnificent work on the streets, among our young people. Many boys and girls who were just starting out, and, perhaps, would have taken a wrong road, have been helped by these brethren, who have so unselfishly spent the evening hours, until late into the night, for the sole purpose of saving the youth. I say that all commendation is due unto them for their zeal and energy in this good work, and, like them, I hope that we all will feel an interest in this great work of stopping the flood of wickedness that is threatening to inundate the young. What a great work there is before us in this direction!
The Church, during the past year, has done more for the church schools than ever before, and we rejoice in the good work that the Church schools are doing in our midst; they build up the character of our young people, make them understand how valuable the Gospel is, and make them love it. When they go out from the schools we hope the Gospel influence will go with them, so that they may become a power for good among their comrades. I am also glad to see that our Sunday schools, our Primaries and our Religion classes have increased their enrollment during the past year, showing that these institutions are growing in favor with the people. Don't let us for a moment think that we have too many institutions, that we are doing too much in trying to draw the attention of our children to the saving principles of the Gospel, and to living a correct life. We are not doing too much in this regard. Our children, if they have the right opportunity, will love these things. Many young people, when they left home to attend the Church schools, thought that religion as taught there would be a most tedious course, but they have borne testimony afterwards that it is a most delightful study, and that they love it. They feel that here is something that they want to know, something that builds up and strengthens, and does not interfere with their success in school. Some have thought that if they studied theology they would not be able to keep up in their other studies, but they have found, as a general thing, that the study of theology inspires them with more energy and more diligence in their other studies.
I am pleased that the Church has been able to do as much as it has in this regard, but there is a limit to what can be done, even in this. I believe that the Church, at present, has gone as far as it can in sustaining schools with Church means, as the Church members are also sustaining the State institutions of learning with their taxes. They feel, however, that the means so expended is bringing good results, for the work done in the Church schools is of great value, and it will make young men and women better able to bear the great responsibilities that will rest upon their shoulders in years to come.
I want to say in regard to religion classes, which are a part of the Church school system, that they ought to be encouraged. We want our children taught the principles of the Gospel, we want to encourage them in living correct lives, according to the precepts given by the Great Master, and teach them to follow His example. That is all the object we have in the religion classes. Where there are Church schools, we hope that the Church school teachers will be interested in the religion class work. We cannot commend too highly the Brigham Young University Faculty for what they have done in this direction; and we hope that all our Church school teachers will feel it incumbent upon them to take part in teaching the religion classes, especially the higher grades of the religion classes.
Now, brethren and sisters, my testimony to you is that this work will continue to grow; that the Lord will be with it, and that at last we will see it conquer.
May the Lord bless the people, and bless His servants wherever they go, that they may find the good and the honest and be able to convert them to the truth; and may those who receive the truth be able to be faithful, and help to build up the work. God bless you all. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "I waited for the Lord."
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch Angus M. Cannon.
Conference was adjourned until 2 p. m.
The Church and Kingdom of God to be universal.—Saints should be zealous in God's work.—Encouraging progress in the missions.—Importance of Priesthood, and attendance at meetings.—Failure to pass Temperance and Sunday laws entails extra care.—Splendid work of Betterment Committee.—Gratifying results in Church Schools.
I have been very much interested this morning in listening to the strong testimonies borne by President Smith and President Winder. I have also a testimony of the truth of this work. As far as lies in my power, it is my determination to keep the covenants I have made with the Lord and with my brethren, and try to carry out in my every day life that which I understand to be the will of the Lord. The Lord commenced this work, the Lord has sustained it, and the Lord will continue to uphold it until it fills its mission, until it shall become, as it is destined to be, the universal Church of Christ upon the earth, and merge into the universal kingdom of God.
The President asked himself and us the question, "Do we feel the same zeal and enthusiasm manifested by our fathers, those whom the Lord used to establish this work?" I hope we do, though I find that there is more indifference and carelessness among us as a people than there ought to be. It would be well for all Israel to reflect upon their conduct, examine the condition in which they find themselves, and learn whether they have the same love for the truth as they had when they first received the Gospel. It should be greater by this time, for they have seen that the Lord has extended His hand to protect them, they have seen His hand-dealings with the people; and they know that without His help and aid this work could not have progressed as it has done. Besides, since receiving the Gospel the Saints have learned many things of which they were ignorant before. Light has been shed upon their path, and they have been able to see the way that leads to eternal life. Passages of scripture that were dark unto them before, have been made clear and plain through the Spirit of God. They have, indeed, reason to be thankful to God for what they have received, and they have reason to make the same declaration as Brother Winder, that they will try to show their gratitude in their lives, and be determined to live such lives as shall be in accord with the will of the Father.
On next Tuesday it will be seventy- nine years since the Church was organized. How wonderful is the history of the Church! It is of great interest, and I would encourage our people to study it. It has been very remarkable, and on every page we see that the Lord has overruled for good what the enemies of the Church have devised for its overthrow. The President said that this work will prevail, that nothing can overthrow the truth. "Truth," it has been said, "though crushed to earth, will rise again." Another author says that truth is tough; it may be buffeted and kicked about all day like a football, but at night it will come out full and round, not having taken the least injury from the treatment it has received. The treatment of "Mormonism" proves it possesses the same qualities, for it has been buffeted, kicked and grossly misrepresented, yet it has passed through every ordeal unscathed. We thank the Lord that He has revealed the truth unto us. And now, my brethren and sisters, the Lord having done so much for us shall we be indifferent and negligent in regard to the duties that devolve upon us as His people? Shall we not feel that there is a great responsibility resting upon us? We do not want to tear down the religion of others, we simply want to show unto the world what we have received. We believe in truth, and if others have truths, we believe in them; and we claim them also. We want to enlighten our fellow-men in regard to our faith, for we know that it is of inestimable value.
What is greater than the salvation of souls? To each and every one of us our souls are worth more than all the world. We cannot afford to let the things of the world draw our attention away from that which is of greater value. Every one of us should feel that he must do something for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God, whether it be at home or abroad. Our missionaries who have gone out to preach the gospel amongst the nations show their love for their fellowmen. They go without expecting temporal reward. They go because they feel it is their duty to preach the gospel unto others and let them know what the Lord has done, and what is necessary for them to do to obtain salvation. The Lord has been with them. During the past year we have seen more baptisms into the Church than for many years before. Our elders have been more energetic in reaching the people, and they have seen the fruits of their labors, and a great deal of prejudice has been allayed. As men become acquainted with us they see us in a different light. We hope the day will soon come when freedom, in regard to religion, will be given to the nations who are now under laws that prevent them from worshiping God according to the dictates of their conscience. We are grateful to learn that even in such countries the gospel is making great progress.
Lately there has been an agitation in Norway to have the legislature there do something to hinder the Latter-day Saint elders from preaching the gospel to the people. They say that our elders are so zealous to spread their doctrines that something must be done to stop it. Those who were agitating this question wrote to the different bishops and priests of the country, and wanted their opinions on the question of passing a law against "Mormon" propaganda. I am pleased to say that a couple of the bishops answered that, while it would be a desirable thing to stop the propaganda of the "Mormons," no other than spiritual weapons should be used ; and that they were not in favor of passing laws against the "Mormons." But there were a great many who were in favor of doing this. I hope that the representatives of the Norwegian people will have independence enough to act in conformity with the spirit of freedom. There are many good people in that land, many have emigrated from there and have made good citizens of our state. In Sweden, as in Norway, they have not entire religious liberty; still, we have not been molested very much. Some time ago two of our Elders were cast into prison, and fined, but they appealed their case. When it was found that the appeal was from the priests' court to the Bishops' Council in Stockholm, they knew there would be no change in the decision, so they got the case into the civil courts, and it was appealed to the higher courts, but, while the fine was reduced, the case went against them. One of our brethren brought it before the king, who gave it as his decision that there was no cause of action. This, I hope, will give our brethren liberty to preach what they know to be true, and give the people liberty to accept that which the spirit of truth indicates to them to be God's will and purpose.
In Germany some of our brethren have been put in prison and banished, yet the work progresses there in a very satisfactory manner. In the Netherlands there is great progress; in Switzerland, likewise, and our brethren are working into the French-speaking parts, and are succeeding there also. In the United States the Elders have been very busily employed scattering the Word and bringing souls unto Christ. On the islands of the sea it is the same; and in Japan our brethren are seeing fruits of their labors; converts have been made and the Sunday schools are well attended. The Book of Mormon will soon be published in the difficult language of that land, and we honor our brethren who are laboring there. Brother Alma O. Taylor has been there nearly eight years. He and the Elders with him are working hard to reach the hearts of the people, and they are performing a good work. In Greece we are also making progress and will soon have the Book of Mormon published in the Greek language, and thus that people can have access to the great truths that it contains.
At home our brethren in the Priesthood, who are laboring among the people, have been energetic, and they rejoice that the new movement to have all the quorums of the priesthood meet on Monday evenings has so far proved a success. It is hoped that all holding the Priesthood will help to make those meetings interesting. Summer is coming, and out in the rural districts it may be doubtful whether they can keep them up or not, but "where there's a will there's a way," I believe if the people would be determined to meet on that evening they can do so and much good be obtained from the Priesthood meetings.
We must remember what an important thing it is to hold the Priesthood of God. We must not get cold and indifferent and think, "Let others go ahead in spiritual work, we will mind our own business." Our own business is to support the kingdom of God and build it up. The Lord did not give us life and being here upon the earth just to accumulate worldly things. He gave it to us, as we sing in the hymn, "for a wise and glorious purpose," and that purpose is that we learn His will and do that which we know He has commanded, and try to make others know it also; then this existence upon the earth will bring unto us eternal life—the great joy and privilege of returning to our heavenly Father.
We want to be on our guard, not only for ourselves, but we must be on guard to protect others also and promote their salvation. Parents must look after their children. There are so many temptations, and we want, if we can, to put a shield between them and these temptations. If we know a house where there is smallpox we would not let our children enter there; and the law also steps in to protect us from the spread of epidemics, by quarantining infected places. For the good of ourselves and our children we ought to be on our guard. We should not go where there is moral infection, where the morals of ourselves and our children are exposed to corruption. We have tried, during the past winter, to have such legislation passed as might shield our youth from the temptations of intemperance. We want to get the liquor evil stopped, if possible. Our people should never be seen entering saloons or places where liquors are sold. This has been the teaching for years. Now that we did not succeed in getting such a law to help us, we are more urgently required to guard our children, our young people, that they shall not be exposed to temptations of that kind.
We were also in hopes of getting a Sunday law passed, so that amusements on the Sunday evening might have been stopped, that the Sunday might have been what the Lord intended it to be—a day of rest and of worship. We did not get it, but let us fry to influence our children to keep the Sunday holy, and warn them against going to pleasure resorts and places of amusement on Sunday evenings. We should make our homes as pleasant and attractive as possible, so our children will feel that there is no better place than the home. We want them to go to the evening meetings. They are held early enough so that after meeting there is time to go home, or visit friends, and in social intercourse, in that which is upbuilding, spend the Sunday evening. We do not believe in the Puritan doctrine that you cannot smile on the Sunday. We believe that serving the Lord gives joy, and that it does not take it away. We do not believe in the long-faced kind of religion, but we do believe that the Sunday should be used as the Lord has commanded, namely, to go to His house to be built up and strengthened in our holy faith, to go to His table, renew our covenants in partaking of the sacrament, and make our resolves to serve God so firm and so strong that they will carry us through not only the Sunday but every day of the week. We want the Sunday used thus, and then we are not opposed to our young people coming together and enjoying themselves in our homes; but we do object to their being in the street, especially after the curfew hour has been rung. They ought to be at home with their friends and parents, or at least their parents ought to know where they have gone.
I want to say that the brethren who have been appointed by the different stakes as a betterment committee have done magnificent work on the streets, among our young people. Many boys and girls who were just starting out, and, perhaps, would have taken a wrong road, have been helped by these brethren, who have so unselfishly spent the evening hours, until late into the night, for the sole purpose of saving the youth. I say that all commendation is due unto them for their zeal and energy in this good work, and, like them, I hope that we all will feel an interest in this great work of stopping the flood of wickedness that is threatening to inundate the young. What a great work there is before us in this direction!
The Church, during the past year, has done more for the church schools than ever before, and we rejoice in the good work that the Church schools are doing in our midst; they build up the character of our young people, make them understand how valuable the Gospel is, and make them love it. When they go out from the schools we hope the Gospel influence will go with them, so that they may become a power for good among their comrades. I am also glad to see that our Sunday schools, our Primaries and our Religion classes have increased their enrollment during the past year, showing that these institutions are growing in favor with the people. Don't let us for a moment think that we have too many institutions, that we are doing too much in trying to draw the attention of our children to the saving principles of the Gospel, and to living a correct life. We are not doing too much in this regard. Our children, if they have the right opportunity, will love these things. Many young people, when they left home to attend the Church schools, thought that religion as taught there would be a most tedious course, but they have borne testimony afterwards that it is a most delightful study, and that they love it. They feel that here is something that they want to know, something that builds up and strengthens, and does not interfere with their success in school. Some have thought that if they studied theology they would not be able to keep up in their other studies, but they have found, as a general thing, that the study of theology inspires them with more energy and more diligence in their other studies.
I am pleased that the Church has been able to do as much as it has in this regard, but there is a limit to what can be done, even in this. I believe that the Church, at present, has gone as far as it can in sustaining schools with Church means, as the Church members are also sustaining the State institutions of learning with their taxes. They feel, however, that the means so expended is bringing good results, for the work done in the Church schools is of great value, and it will make young men and women better able to bear the great responsibilities that will rest upon their shoulders in years to come.
I want to say in regard to religion classes, which are a part of the Church school system, that they ought to be encouraged. We want our children taught the principles of the Gospel, we want to encourage them in living correct lives, according to the precepts given by the Great Master, and teach them to follow His example. That is all the object we have in the religion classes. Where there are Church schools, we hope that the Church school teachers will be interested in the religion class work. We cannot commend too highly the Brigham Young University Faculty for what they have done in this direction; and we hope that all our Church school teachers will feel it incumbent upon them to take part in teaching the religion classes, especially the higher grades of the religion classes.
Now, brethren and sisters, my testimony to you is that this work will continue to grow; that the Lord will be with it, and that at last we will see it conquer.
May the Lord bless the people, and bless His servants wherever they go, that they may find the good and the honest and be able to convert them to the truth; and may those who receive the truth be able to be faithful, and help to build up the work. God bless you all. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "I waited for the Lord."
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch Angus M. Cannon.
Conference was adjourned until 2 p. m.
OVERFLOW MEETING.
An overflow session of the Conference was held in the Assembly Hall at 10 a. m. Elder Orson F. Whitney presided, and Professor Charles J. Thomas conducted the singing.
The congregation sang the hymn, "Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation."
Prayer was offered by Elder Nephi Pratt.
The congregation sang the hymn, "Guide us, O Thou great Jehovah."
An overflow session of the Conference was held in the Assembly Hall at 10 a. m. Elder Orson F. Whitney presided, and Professor Charles J. Thomas conducted the singing.
The congregation sang the hymn, "Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation."
Prayer was offered by Elder Nephi Pratt.
The congregation sang the hymn, "Guide us, O Thou great Jehovah."
ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY.
Significance of an Overflow Meeting. —The Growth of the Church.—No building large enough to accommodate the Saints.—The Spirit of God in all their Assemblies.
My dear brethren and sisters, it gives me great pleasure to meet with you this morning in general conference, and in this overflow meeting of the conference. There is something in an overflow meeting that suggests prosperity and increase, and it seems to me that the most appropriate hymns for such an occasion are those beginning, "Zion is growing," and "Give us Room that We May Dwell." There was a time in the history of the Church when its entire membership could have been accommodated in one little room, or we might almost say, upon one of these benches; for when the Church was organized, on the 6th of April, 1830, six humble men composed the membership, that is, six men participated in the act of organization. One of these was the Prophet Joseph Smith.
It is true that there were others who believed in the principles of Mormonism, which Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had been preaching—(the doctrines found upon the golden plates of the Book of Mormon, the principles of faith in God, repentance from sin, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, some of which doctrines were entirely new to that generation. While there were many who believed in faith and repentance, the world had lost sight of the fact that baptism was for the remission of sins, and they had changed the mode instituted by the Savior and His apostles. They were practicing different kinds of baptism. Instead of immersing the whole body in water, as we do, some practiced baptism by sprinkling or pouring water upon the head, and none believed that baptism was anything more than "the outward sign of an inward grace." It was not regarded as necessary to salvation, and as having been instituted for the remission of sins. But the Book of Mormon, like the Bible, declared this to be its purpose and Joseph and Oliver, while translating the plates, when they came upon this doctrine, which was new to them also, marveled over it, and they went into the woods and prayed, asking the Lord for light upon the subject. It was then that John the Baptist, as an angel from heaven descended and laid his hands upon their heads, ordaining them to the Aaronic Priesthood, which holds the keys of the ministering' of angels. This ordination empowered them to preach faith and repentance and to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins.
But this was as far as that authority extended. It did not empower them to bestow the Holy Ghost. They had to receive a higher ordination— to the priesthood of Melchisedek, before they could lay hands upon those baptized, and confer upon them the Holy Ghost. When they had received this higher priesthood, as they did some months later under the hands of Peter, James and John, they were authorized not only to baptize their converts, but to confirm them by the laying on of hands and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost. It was under the authority of the Aaronic and the Melchisedek priesthoods that this Church was organized. At the time of the initial meeting, thirty-six persons, men and women, were all that believed in the doctrines that Joseph Smith had proclaimed. This was the number of the original congregation, and six of these organized the Church. The reason there were six was because the laws of the State of New York required no less than six persons to form a religious society; and doubtless it would have been inconvenient to have chosen any more to perform the initial act.
At that time the converts to Mormonism, so called, could all have been gathered, and as a matter of fact, were gathered, in one small room of a humble farm house in the little village of Fayette, Seneca County, New York. The membership of the Church could all have been seated on one of these forms, or in one of these stands. But how is it at the present time? Why, "Zion is Growing." Her children have called, and are still calling aloud, "Give us room that we may dwell." Today, in all the world, there are between 300,000 and 400,000 Latter-day Saints. Ten thousand of them are assembled in yonder Tabernacle at this moment, and still there is not sufficient room, and hundreds are gathered here in this overflow meeting who could not be accommodated in the Tabernacle.
Never will all the Latter-day Saints be able to congregate at one time' in the same building. King Benjamin built a tower, it is written, that he might speak to all his people, and they came 'and pitched their tents around about the tower that they might hear his instructions. They held a great open-air meeting, because they had no building large enough for the purpose. It would have to be so today, if the -President of the Church should attempt to address all the Latter-day Saints. They could 'scarcely be got together within a compass that would render it possible for him to make himself 'heard and understood by all. This is a good sign. I rejoice in the fact that the members of the Church cannot all get into the Tabernacle, nor into any other building. It is a sign of increase, of .prosperity. It is a sign of zeal, of interest and enthusiasm in the work of the Lord, when overflow meetings must be held in order to accommodate His people.
I rejoice in being with you today. There is no reason why we should not have the Spirit of God in this meeting, the same as in any meeting where, true, honest, sincere pure-hearer! Latter-day Saints assemble. The Lord says that where even two or three are met together in (His name, there He will be in the midst of them. We claim this blessing. We have a right to the Spirit, just as if we were in yonder Tabernacle; and the Lord is ready, according to our willingness to receive, to bestow that blessing upon us, and to cause our hearts to rejoice, with the rest of the Saints, in this His glorious work. We are here to be fed—to be built up and strengthened spiritually; the Holy Spirit is here, and whoever rises in this stand and desires to voice the word of the Lord, shall have it, and the Lord will speak through him to the edification and enlightenment of the people. May God bless us in the purpose for which we have assembled; and I feel to bless you, my brethren and sisters, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Significance of an Overflow Meeting. —The Growth of the Church.—No building large enough to accommodate the Saints.—The Spirit of God in all their Assemblies.
My dear brethren and sisters, it gives me great pleasure to meet with you this morning in general conference, and in this overflow meeting of the conference. There is something in an overflow meeting that suggests prosperity and increase, and it seems to me that the most appropriate hymns for such an occasion are those beginning, "Zion is growing," and "Give us Room that We May Dwell." There was a time in the history of the Church when its entire membership could have been accommodated in one little room, or we might almost say, upon one of these benches; for when the Church was organized, on the 6th of April, 1830, six humble men composed the membership, that is, six men participated in the act of organization. One of these was the Prophet Joseph Smith.
It is true that there were others who believed in the principles of Mormonism, which Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had been preaching—(the doctrines found upon the golden plates of the Book of Mormon, the principles of faith in God, repentance from sin, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, some of which doctrines were entirely new to that generation. While there were many who believed in faith and repentance, the world had lost sight of the fact that baptism was for the remission of sins, and they had changed the mode instituted by the Savior and His apostles. They were practicing different kinds of baptism. Instead of immersing the whole body in water, as we do, some practiced baptism by sprinkling or pouring water upon the head, and none believed that baptism was anything more than "the outward sign of an inward grace." It was not regarded as necessary to salvation, and as having been instituted for the remission of sins. But the Book of Mormon, like the Bible, declared this to be its purpose and Joseph and Oliver, while translating the plates, when they came upon this doctrine, which was new to them also, marveled over it, and they went into the woods and prayed, asking the Lord for light upon the subject. It was then that John the Baptist, as an angel from heaven descended and laid his hands upon their heads, ordaining them to the Aaronic Priesthood, which holds the keys of the ministering' of angels. This ordination empowered them to preach faith and repentance and to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins.
But this was as far as that authority extended. It did not empower them to bestow the Holy Ghost. They had to receive a higher ordination— to the priesthood of Melchisedek, before they could lay hands upon those baptized, and confer upon them the Holy Ghost. When they had received this higher priesthood, as they did some months later under the hands of Peter, James and John, they were authorized not only to baptize their converts, but to confirm them by the laying on of hands and the bestowal of the Holy Ghost. It was under the authority of the Aaronic and the Melchisedek priesthoods that this Church was organized. At the time of the initial meeting, thirty-six persons, men and women, were all that believed in the doctrines that Joseph Smith had proclaimed. This was the number of the original congregation, and six of these organized the Church. The reason there were six was because the laws of the State of New York required no less than six persons to form a religious society; and doubtless it would have been inconvenient to have chosen any more to perform the initial act.
At that time the converts to Mormonism, so called, could all have been gathered, and as a matter of fact, were gathered, in one small room of a humble farm house in the little village of Fayette, Seneca County, New York. The membership of the Church could all have been seated on one of these forms, or in one of these stands. But how is it at the present time? Why, "Zion is Growing." Her children have called, and are still calling aloud, "Give us room that we may dwell." Today, in all the world, there are between 300,000 and 400,000 Latter-day Saints. Ten thousand of them are assembled in yonder Tabernacle at this moment, and still there is not sufficient room, and hundreds are gathered here in this overflow meeting who could not be accommodated in the Tabernacle.
Never will all the Latter-day Saints be able to congregate at one time' in the same building. King Benjamin built a tower, it is written, that he might speak to all his people, and they came 'and pitched their tents around about the tower that they might hear his instructions. They held a great open-air meeting, because they had no building large enough for the purpose. It would have to be so today, if the -President of the Church should attempt to address all the Latter-day Saints. They could 'scarcely be got together within a compass that would render it possible for him to make himself 'heard and understood by all. This is a good sign. I rejoice in the fact that the members of the Church cannot all get into the Tabernacle, nor into any other building. It is a sign of increase, of .prosperity. It is a sign of zeal, of interest and enthusiasm in the work of the Lord, when overflow meetings must be held in order to accommodate His people.
I rejoice in being with you today. There is no reason why we should not have the Spirit of God in this meeting, the same as in any meeting where, true, honest, sincere pure-hearer! Latter-day Saints assemble. The Lord says that where even two or three are met together in (His name, there He will be in the midst of them. We claim this blessing. We have a right to the Spirit, just as if we were in yonder Tabernacle; and the Lord is ready, according to our willingness to receive, to bestow that blessing upon us, and to cause our hearts to rejoice, with the rest of the Saints, in this His glorious work. We are here to be fed—to be built up and strengthened spiritually; the Holy Spirit is here, and whoever rises in this stand and desires to voice the word of the Lord, shall have it, and the Lord will speak through him to the edification and enlightenment of the people. May God bless us in the purpose for which we have assembled; and I feel to bless you, my brethren and sisters, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER CHARLES A. CALLIS.
(President of Southern States Mission).
The remarkable growth of the Church is a splendid tribute to its leaders. We testify that our leaders are prophets, seers and revelators. The members of the church are entitled to be guided by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, if they live their religion. When men act under the influence of the Spirit of God they do not go astray in doctrine, or in their daily walk and conduct. I rejoice in the glorious truth that the work of the Lord is growing. It is being strengthened in the stakes of Zion, and in the world, in the missions. It is growing daily. Hundreds are being added to the Church, and are receiving the same blessings and gifts that you, my brethren and sisters, received and enjoyed when you entered the Church of Jesus Christ.
The work of the Lord, which the world designates as Mormonism, is constructive in its nature. It is man only that has drawn the line between things temporal and things spiritual; all things belong unto God our Heavenly Father. Jesus said that God was not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live unto him. The Latter-day Saints are taught that in their temporal affairs they should serve the Lord, on the farm, in the mill, in the mountains, and wherever men are called to labor. By an exemplary life they can proclaim the gospel; their good works glorify their Father in heaven.
Last year there were baptized into the Church, in the Southern States Mission, 842 souls. Many of the people in the beautiful south land are rejoicing in the work of God. School houses and churches are being thrown open to the elders, and people are calling for the messengers of life and salvation. We cannot furnish elders enough so that all may hear the glad tidings of great joy. Thus, you see, there is a great work mapped out for the members of this Church to equip themselves for the important mission to preach the gospel unto every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
As I said, the gospel is constructive in its nature and teaching. In South Carolina, there dwells the remnant of a once powerful tribe of Indians, the Catawbas. But vice and wickedness which, unfortunately too often follow in the wake of civilization, invaded their peaceful abodes and, from a tribe of 6,000 they have dwindled down to 100 in number. Two-thirds of this remnant now belong to the Mormon Church, and we have established a day-school and a night-school in which to teach them, both old and young. We have organized a primary class, religion class, relief society, and Sunday school, in which those people and their children in whose veins flows the blood of Israel, may be taught more fully in the ways pertaining to life and salvation.
I am reminded of a saying of Alma, which is recorded on page 319 of the Book of Mormon. It seems to foreshadow, as it were, the scope of the glorious work of this dispensation. It seems to indicate to the Latter-day Saints that their work is not to be confined to one city, nor to one country. It is true that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a descendant of forefathers who fought in the Revolutionary war; that the founders of this Church were patriots and Americans; that the gospel was restored upon American soil, and that this restored gospel may be called an American religion. But it is also true that it is more than American, it is worldwide, because our message is to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. Alma says:
"O that I were an angel and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people; yea, I would declare unto every soul as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto God that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. But, behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish: for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me. * * * Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? Why should I desire that I was an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? for, behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations of their own nation and tongue to teach his word; yea, in wisdom, all that He seeth fit that they should have; therefore, we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true."
It is the destiny of this gospel to be preached on the islands of the sea, and this is being done today on many of them, by faithful servants of Christ The Lord has de creed that of every nation there should be men who would preach the word of God in the nation's tongue, in language that their people could understand. We are living in the day of the fulfillment of prophecy, in an age when the glorious truths of the Book of Mormon are being confirmed and proven to be true. The Prophet Joseph Smith was only 25 years of age when the translation of this book was completed. How did he know that the gospel was to be preached unto every nation, in their own tongue? How did he know, except by the spirit of revelation, that you Latter-day Saints would raise up sons unto the Lord who would be instructed in foreign languages and, leaving their mountain home, would go forth and preach the gospel in Germany, Russia, Scandinavia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and on the isles of the sea preaching in the tongue of the people to whom they are sent? This prophecy is being fulfilled. There are now in the Southern States Mission more than a dozen young men who were born in the sunny South, who, after they were baptized into the Church, came up to the "mountain of the house of the Lord " and after being more fully instructed in the words of the God of Jacob, they went back to the land of their birth, where they were received with gladness and their labors have been effective. They have preached the gospel with ability, and in faith, with great success. I believe that from Japan, Germany, Russia, and all countries on the face of the earth will come, forth men who, having obeyed the gospel, will preach the glad tidings of great joy unto the people of their respective countries, and bring many souls unto a knowledge of the gospel. This is a reason why the Latter-day Saints have cause for rejoicing. We are living in the dispensation of the fullness of times. O how our hearts should rejoice to know that the divine mission of Joseph Smith is being proclaimed every day of our lives, and in almost every country on the earth.
Now, have we something to do? Yes. I believe that the most precious treasures God has given unto us are our children. Without children life would be dreary, it would be deprived of one of its greatest pleasures and one of its greatest responsibilities. I believe that joy and responsibility are closely associated, they cannot be separated. The man and woman who shirk responsibility, are heedless to the call of duty and humanity, are not living up to the high ideals God has placed before them.
I was reading an incident, a short time ago, of a woman who had been shipwrecked, and in the storm her two little children were swept away and drowned, and she was rendered unconscious by being struck on the head by a piece of wood. She was taken to a hospital, and when she came to consciousness, in response to the queries of her friends, she sent this telegram: "I am saved, but saved alone." She was saved alone. How will parents feel if they are saved alone? If a man and his wife are saved, and they have neglected to teach their children the principles of the gospel, how will they feel? Is it possible for a father and mother to enjoy the felicity of heaven when they realize that by their indifference, and neglect of parental duty, their sons and daughters, untaught in the principles of the gospel, and in some cases not baptized for the remission of sins, have taken a downward path? I repeat, can a lather or mother feel happy in heaven if their children are not with them?
I rejoice in the glorious associations which the gospel brings to us. We hear people say sometimes that, if we love God we will be saved in the day of judgment. But, love is the fulfilling of the law. The truest evidence of loving our children is that we teach them the principles of the gospel, and bring them up in the fear of the Lord. The deepest anguish and sorrow comes when men and women see their children going astray. The saddest cry is that which is wrung from the hearts of many mothers in this fair country: "O where is my wandering boy tonight?"
God is not going to be mocked. If He established the gospel for the salvation of men, as we testify, then it is the only thing that will bring us unto eternal life. If a man fails to obey the principles of the gospel, how can he say that he loves God? Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." What other church teaches the glorious doctrine that man is made in the personal image of God? What other church proclaims that faith, repentance, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, are essential unto salvation? Jesus said: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Man has no authority to cut off from the gospel the principle of baptism; he cannot deny the gift of the Holy Ghost. He has not the right to say to his fellow creature you may obey one principle of the gospel and discard another. The Redeemer said that we should live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." This is the gospel that the Lord enjoins us to teach unto our children, and that we are taking unto the nations of the earth.
The Lord inspired Luther, Calvin, Knox, and all other great reformers, to teach the children of men that measure of truth which He designed they should have; but today the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, and we are basking in its glorious sunlight. Some people say, "Is not the religion of my father and mother good enough for me? They were good people, and if I can live to be as good as my father and mother, I am satisfied." But, in that, men and women deceive themselves. Our fathers and mothers lived up to the best light they had before the gospel was restored. They obeyed God to the best of their ability, when they lived up to the measure of truth He gave unto them. But the Lord in this day hath spoken unto the people and commanded that they should obey the fullness of the everlasting gospel. This gospel means much more to you and me. It teaches the eternity of the marriage covenant; that father, mother, and children shall be reunited in heaven, if they live pure lives and work for the salvation of their fellow creatures. And so, I say it is essential to obey the gospel that has this glorious power. At the last day it will be well for us to be able to say that we belong to the Church of the Son of God, that has and exercises the power of uniting husband and wife for time and all eternity, cementing family ties so that they will exist for ever. When I think of these glorious blessings, I say, Thank God for the gospel. I want to live up to its teachings, so as to gain the exaltation which it will surely bring unto the faithful.
Brethren and sisters, let us not be discouraged. Despair cometh from beneath, but hope cometh from above. The Lord is our Father. He is carrying this work on to a glorious consummation. God grant that you and I may not fall by the wayside, but that when the end comes, when we pass to that sleep from which the Lord, in His own due time, will awaken us, God grant that we may all meet together, firm in the faith, rejoicing in the true gospel and the reward of the righteous; which is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(President of Southern States Mission).
The remarkable growth of the Church is a splendid tribute to its leaders. We testify that our leaders are prophets, seers and revelators. The members of the church are entitled to be guided by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, if they live their religion. When men act under the influence of the Spirit of God they do not go astray in doctrine, or in their daily walk and conduct. I rejoice in the glorious truth that the work of the Lord is growing. It is being strengthened in the stakes of Zion, and in the world, in the missions. It is growing daily. Hundreds are being added to the Church, and are receiving the same blessings and gifts that you, my brethren and sisters, received and enjoyed when you entered the Church of Jesus Christ.
The work of the Lord, which the world designates as Mormonism, is constructive in its nature. It is man only that has drawn the line between things temporal and things spiritual; all things belong unto God our Heavenly Father. Jesus said that God was not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live unto him. The Latter-day Saints are taught that in their temporal affairs they should serve the Lord, on the farm, in the mill, in the mountains, and wherever men are called to labor. By an exemplary life they can proclaim the gospel; their good works glorify their Father in heaven.
Last year there were baptized into the Church, in the Southern States Mission, 842 souls. Many of the people in the beautiful south land are rejoicing in the work of God. School houses and churches are being thrown open to the elders, and people are calling for the messengers of life and salvation. We cannot furnish elders enough so that all may hear the glad tidings of great joy. Thus, you see, there is a great work mapped out for the members of this Church to equip themselves for the important mission to preach the gospel unto every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
As I said, the gospel is constructive in its nature and teaching. In South Carolina, there dwells the remnant of a once powerful tribe of Indians, the Catawbas. But vice and wickedness which, unfortunately too often follow in the wake of civilization, invaded their peaceful abodes and, from a tribe of 6,000 they have dwindled down to 100 in number. Two-thirds of this remnant now belong to the Mormon Church, and we have established a day-school and a night-school in which to teach them, both old and young. We have organized a primary class, religion class, relief society, and Sunday school, in which those people and their children in whose veins flows the blood of Israel, may be taught more fully in the ways pertaining to life and salvation.
I am reminded of a saying of Alma, which is recorded on page 319 of the Book of Mormon. It seems to foreshadow, as it were, the scope of the glorious work of this dispensation. It seems to indicate to the Latter-day Saints that their work is not to be confined to one city, nor to one country. It is true that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a descendant of forefathers who fought in the Revolutionary war; that the founders of this Church were patriots and Americans; that the gospel was restored upon American soil, and that this restored gospel may be called an American religion. But it is also true that it is more than American, it is worldwide, because our message is to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. Alma says:
"O that I were an angel and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people; yea, I would declare unto every soul as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto God that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. But, behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish: for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me. * * * Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? Why should I desire that I was an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? for, behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations of their own nation and tongue to teach his word; yea, in wisdom, all that He seeth fit that they should have; therefore, we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true."
It is the destiny of this gospel to be preached on the islands of the sea, and this is being done today on many of them, by faithful servants of Christ The Lord has de creed that of every nation there should be men who would preach the word of God in the nation's tongue, in language that their people could understand. We are living in the day of the fulfillment of prophecy, in an age when the glorious truths of the Book of Mormon are being confirmed and proven to be true. The Prophet Joseph Smith was only 25 years of age when the translation of this book was completed. How did he know that the gospel was to be preached unto every nation, in their own tongue? How did he know, except by the spirit of revelation, that you Latter-day Saints would raise up sons unto the Lord who would be instructed in foreign languages and, leaving their mountain home, would go forth and preach the gospel in Germany, Russia, Scandinavia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and on the isles of the sea preaching in the tongue of the people to whom they are sent? This prophecy is being fulfilled. There are now in the Southern States Mission more than a dozen young men who were born in the sunny South, who, after they were baptized into the Church, came up to the "mountain of the house of the Lord " and after being more fully instructed in the words of the God of Jacob, they went back to the land of their birth, where they were received with gladness and their labors have been effective. They have preached the gospel with ability, and in faith, with great success. I believe that from Japan, Germany, Russia, and all countries on the face of the earth will come, forth men who, having obeyed the gospel, will preach the glad tidings of great joy unto the people of their respective countries, and bring many souls unto a knowledge of the gospel. This is a reason why the Latter-day Saints have cause for rejoicing. We are living in the dispensation of the fullness of times. O how our hearts should rejoice to know that the divine mission of Joseph Smith is being proclaimed every day of our lives, and in almost every country on the earth.
Now, have we something to do? Yes. I believe that the most precious treasures God has given unto us are our children. Without children life would be dreary, it would be deprived of one of its greatest pleasures and one of its greatest responsibilities. I believe that joy and responsibility are closely associated, they cannot be separated. The man and woman who shirk responsibility, are heedless to the call of duty and humanity, are not living up to the high ideals God has placed before them.
I was reading an incident, a short time ago, of a woman who had been shipwrecked, and in the storm her two little children were swept away and drowned, and she was rendered unconscious by being struck on the head by a piece of wood. She was taken to a hospital, and when she came to consciousness, in response to the queries of her friends, she sent this telegram: "I am saved, but saved alone." She was saved alone. How will parents feel if they are saved alone? If a man and his wife are saved, and they have neglected to teach their children the principles of the gospel, how will they feel? Is it possible for a father and mother to enjoy the felicity of heaven when they realize that by their indifference, and neglect of parental duty, their sons and daughters, untaught in the principles of the gospel, and in some cases not baptized for the remission of sins, have taken a downward path? I repeat, can a lather or mother feel happy in heaven if their children are not with them?
I rejoice in the glorious associations which the gospel brings to us. We hear people say sometimes that, if we love God we will be saved in the day of judgment. But, love is the fulfilling of the law. The truest evidence of loving our children is that we teach them the principles of the gospel, and bring them up in the fear of the Lord. The deepest anguish and sorrow comes when men and women see their children going astray. The saddest cry is that which is wrung from the hearts of many mothers in this fair country: "O where is my wandering boy tonight?"
God is not going to be mocked. If He established the gospel for the salvation of men, as we testify, then it is the only thing that will bring us unto eternal life. If a man fails to obey the principles of the gospel, how can he say that he loves God? Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." What other church teaches the glorious doctrine that man is made in the personal image of God? What other church proclaims that faith, repentance, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, are essential unto salvation? Jesus said: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Man has no authority to cut off from the gospel the principle of baptism; he cannot deny the gift of the Holy Ghost. He has not the right to say to his fellow creature you may obey one principle of the gospel and discard another. The Redeemer said that we should live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." This is the gospel that the Lord enjoins us to teach unto our children, and that we are taking unto the nations of the earth.
The Lord inspired Luther, Calvin, Knox, and all other great reformers, to teach the children of men that measure of truth which He designed they should have; but today the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, and we are basking in its glorious sunlight. Some people say, "Is not the religion of my father and mother good enough for me? They were good people, and if I can live to be as good as my father and mother, I am satisfied." But, in that, men and women deceive themselves. Our fathers and mothers lived up to the best light they had before the gospel was restored. They obeyed God to the best of their ability, when they lived up to the measure of truth He gave unto them. But the Lord in this day hath spoken unto the people and commanded that they should obey the fullness of the everlasting gospel. This gospel means much more to you and me. It teaches the eternity of the marriage covenant; that father, mother, and children shall be reunited in heaven, if they live pure lives and work for the salvation of their fellow creatures. And so, I say it is essential to obey the gospel that has this glorious power. At the last day it will be well for us to be able to say that we belong to the Church of the Son of God, that has and exercises the power of uniting husband and wife for time and all eternity, cementing family ties so that they will exist for ever. When I think of these glorious blessings, I say, Thank God for the gospel. I want to live up to its teachings, so as to gain the exaltation which it will surely bring unto the faithful.
Brethren and sisters, let us not be discouraged. Despair cometh from beneath, but hope cometh from above. The Lord is our Father. He is carrying this work on to a glorious consummation. God grant that you and I may not fall by the wayside, but that when the end comes, when we pass to that sleep from which the Lord, in His own due time, will awaken us, God grant that we may all meet together, firm in the faith, rejoicing in the true gospel and the reward of the righteous; which is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER CHARLES H. HART.
I sincerely trust, my brethren and sisters, that I may be blessed with your sustaining faith and prayers, to the end that the purpose of this meeting, as suggested by Elder Whitney in his remarks to us this morning, may be realized. I experience comfort in the promise he made, that any one standing in this pulpit, sincerely desiring to sneak the word of the Lord, should be blessed to that end.
I have been edified and instructed, with you, in the remarks that Elder Callis has just delivered to us. I feel proud of the disinterested service that such men as Elder Callis is performing. Winston Churchill, the rising- man in England, said some months ago to a congregation assembled: "We who are gathered here this afternoon know well, that no empire and no nation can long endure in power and fame in this world unless it labors not only for its own social interests, but is a faithful servant of high forces and works for the good of the whole human family." That, too, is the mission of Mormonism; and in the work that these elders are performing, they labor not alone for the welfare of the people, but their services are high forces and works for the good of the whole human race. One has but to visit one of our gatherings where nationalities are represented in costume and the like, as they sometimes are, to realize how cosmopolitan this people is. One has but to pick up one of our journals giving an account of our Sunday schools organized from Alaska to South Africa, from Iceland to Samoa, to realize that this religion of ours is world-wide. I have been impressed of late with the far-reaching consequences and effects of the labors of our missionaries. An elder sometimes returns home and expresses himself that he does not know what good he was able to accomplish, that he sowed some good seeds, perhaps, but there were no particular evidences of fruitage from his sowing. Yet I am persuaded that the efforts of these elders, no matter how humble those efforts may be are by no means in vain. An elder may visit the home of an individual who will spurn him from his door, threaten him with the dog or with his gun. The elder may leave feeling that no impression whatever has been made upon that individual, that his mission, so far as the visit to that home is concerned, was, wholly in vain. But not so. Other elders perhaps ten years later, may report that that same individual walked ten or fifteen miles to seek them, to explain the change that has come over him, and extend to them an invitation to go to his home and partake of his hospitality, saying that, during all those years since he had spurned the Mormon elders from his door, he had not had peace of conscience, and he desired an opportunity of cancelling, so far as generous acts to others of the same sect might, his ungenerous conduct towards the other missionaries. The man who refuses to purchase a Book of Mormon from the elders, and on whom the elders may seem to have made no impression, may be the first to purchase the book when opportunity is presented, years later, by other Mormon elders. I have sometimes thought, in connection with the labors of those who had faith sufficient to look out over their hand-cart and face the setting sun and an almost trackless desert a thousand miles in extent, that the labor and sufferings of those people were not in vain by any means.
While traveling through Colorado, some months ago, a report was given by one of the missionaries that, in recounting something of the labors of these pioneers in- the hand-cart company, the expression of one rough cow boy was, after hearing the story: "There must have been something to their d— d religion or they would not have undergone trials like that." I thought that there was a reward and a compensation to the parents who engaged in those expeditions in the impress it has left upon their posterity. I have heard individuals say, who were actively engaged- in the ministry, and had been many years endeavoring, as best they could, to accomplish good for their fellow men, that they felt that if they labored all their lives as diligently as they might, in the service of the Lord they would never be worthy of being the children of their fathers and mothers who had endured those hardships in connection with the handcart companies. So with the individual who may make only a single convert, he may feel that it is spending much of his time to go abroad, leaving profitable employment, his family and loved ones, and devoting years of his time abroad in the ministry, perhaps to realize that only a single individual has been. converted. But how far-reaching in its results upon the Church and upon the world, for good, may be the single convert that he is able to make. Some one, perhaps, had similar thoughts in making the early converts to the Church, some of whom became great characters in Mormon history, men like President John Taylor, President Brigham Young. President Wilford Woodruff and others of that type, who were able to leave such an impress for good upon Mormonism and upon the world. Perhaps some missionary devoting months Or years of time in making such convert felt that his time was not very profitably occupied, yet subsequent results show how rich was the harvest and the fruitage of his labors.
I have been impressed, of late, in reading the work of Dr. Paley on the Evidences of Christianity. How largely the arguments and reasonings that he presents in behalf of Christianity can be applied in support of the cause of Mormonism. He lays down one proposition, to which he devotes in support several hundred pages of his excellent treatise: "That there is satisfactory evidence that many persons professing to be original witnesses of the Christian miracles passed their lives in labors, dangers and sufferings voluntarily undergone in attestation of the account which they delivered, and solely on account of their belief in that account, and that they also submitted, from the same motives, to a change in the rules of their own conduct." He devotes, as I say, several hundred pages of his work in giving historical incidents and proofs in support of that proposition. The same may be said in reference to Mormonism, because Mormonism is, like Christianity, founded largely upon miracles; and the individuals who testified of those miracles passed their lives in labors, dangers and sufferings, voluntarily undergone, in attestation of the account which they gave of the divine origin of Mormonism and the ushering in of this Latter-day dispensation. It had an effect upon their conduct in the abandoning of ideas and ways of the world that they had been indoctrinated in up to that time, and in adopting new modes of conduct in conformity with the teachings of the newly revealed religion. Dr. Paley also lays down a counter proposition to the one just stated, that "There is not satisfactory evidence that persons professing to be original witnesses of any other similar miracles have acted in the same manner in attestation of the accounts which they delivered and solely in consequence of their belief of the truth of those accounts. Mormonism, which is not taken into account by him, would have to be excluded from that exception here made, for, as I suggested before, nearly all the arguments that he adduces in support of the proposition that I first stated, as being laid down by him, can be put forth in support of Mormonism. He enters into a consideration of so-called pagan miracles, or miracles other than those in support of Christianity, and suggests that it is not necessary to accept 'the statements that can be accounted for on the ground of delusion or hallucination or a diseased condition of the mind; and he points out the fact that many so-called pagan miracles will not bear the test of a close scrutiny. Many of them, for instance, are accounts given in one country of something that happened at some place far remote from where the account was written. In many instances it is the history of some anterior event, a century or more before the time of the writing of the account. He says that, in most of these instances, it is upon the statement of only one individual, the hearing of a voice or the seeing of something by a single individual, and not by a group of individuals ; and further, that generally there is an appeal to one sense only of the individual, as that of sight or hearing alone, and that the so-called vision scarcely ever consents or submits to being handled ; that the reality or verity of the vision is in no wise substantiated by the sense of touch as well as of sight.
You may apply all of the rules and tests that he lays down for considering and verifying the genuineness of miracles to the history we have of the coming forth and the institution of Mormonism, and you shall find that the evidences we have, in support of the divine origin of Mormonism, differ very largely and very widely from those so-called voices or visions that he speaks of as being recorded as coming from pagan lands, or given in support of incidents otherwise than in connection with the establishment and coming forth of Christianity. The fact that Joseph Smith received revelation in reference to there being golden plates is supported by the presentation of those plates, and there are at least eleven besides himself who saw the plates. Three of the number testify not only to seeing the plates but to hearing the voice declare that the record had been translated by the gift and power of God, and that the work was therefore true. Here is the sense of sight, supported by the sense of hearing. The eight witnesses not only saw the plates but handled them. There was also muscular sense of weight verifying the sense of sight and touch. Then again, it was not brought to a single individual, but to a group of individuals; and Dr. Paley points out the improbability of the senses of several individuals being diseased and deranged in the same way at the same time. So I say, you can apply all these tests in certification of the reality of these spiritual manifestations to Joseph Smith, and the early leaders of the Church, and you shall find that the evidences given to Joseph Smith bear the scrutiny and the application of those tests, and one cannot, in any psychological manner, explain away the attestation of those truths to these men. It is equally futile to undertake to explain these miracles upon the ground that there was any fraud or collusion involved in them. If you reason that these things must be true because the sense of sight of twelve men would not be deluded in the same way, that their sense of hearing could not be deluded in the same way, and that their sense of touch could not be imposed upon or deceived in the same' way, all at the same identical time, you reach the conclusion that either those individuals saw, and heard, and felt what they say they did, or that there was collusion among them. Then, if you examine the account on the theory that there was collusion, your premises utterly fail, because there is not the slightest evidence of there being any connivance or collusion among these men to foist upon the world any false account. The very fact that some of the number departed from the fellowship of the Church, but never varied one iota in the account that they gave of these divine miracles with which Mormonism was instituted, sweeps away at one stroke the theory that there was possibly any connivance or collusion in connection with this account. I pray that the blessings of the Lord may be upon you all, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The congregation sang the hymn, "We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
I sincerely trust, my brethren and sisters, that I may be blessed with your sustaining faith and prayers, to the end that the purpose of this meeting, as suggested by Elder Whitney in his remarks to us this morning, may be realized. I experience comfort in the promise he made, that any one standing in this pulpit, sincerely desiring to sneak the word of the Lord, should be blessed to that end.
I have been edified and instructed, with you, in the remarks that Elder Callis has just delivered to us. I feel proud of the disinterested service that such men as Elder Callis is performing. Winston Churchill, the rising- man in England, said some months ago to a congregation assembled: "We who are gathered here this afternoon know well, that no empire and no nation can long endure in power and fame in this world unless it labors not only for its own social interests, but is a faithful servant of high forces and works for the good of the whole human family." That, too, is the mission of Mormonism; and in the work that these elders are performing, they labor not alone for the welfare of the people, but their services are high forces and works for the good of the whole human race. One has but to visit one of our gatherings where nationalities are represented in costume and the like, as they sometimes are, to realize how cosmopolitan this people is. One has but to pick up one of our journals giving an account of our Sunday schools organized from Alaska to South Africa, from Iceland to Samoa, to realize that this religion of ours is world-wide. I have been impressed of late with the far-reaching consequences and effects of the labors of our missionaries. An elder sometimes returns home and expresses himself that he does not know what good he was able to accomplish, that he sowed some good seeds, perhaps, but there were no particular evidences of fruitage from his sowing. Yet I am persuaded that the efforts of these elders, no matter how humble those efforts may be are by no means in vain. An elder may visit the home of an individual who will spurn him from his door, threaten him with the dog or with his gun. The elder may leave feeling that no impression whatever has been made upon that individual, that his mission, so far as the visit to that home is concerned, was, wholly in vain. But not so. Other elders perhaps ten years later, may report that that same individual walked ten or fifteen miles to seek them, to explain the change that has come over him, and extend to them an invitation to go to his home and partake of his hospitality, saying that, during all those years since he had spurned the Mormon elders from his door, he had not had peace of conscience, and he desired an opportunity of cancelling, so far as generous acts to others of the same sect might, his ungenerous conduct towards the other missionaries. The man who refuses to purchase a Book of Mormon from the elders, and on whom the elders may seem to have made no impression, may be the first to purchase the book when opportunity is presented, years later, by other Mormon elders. I have sometimes thought, in connection with the labors of those who had faith sufficient to look out over their hand-cart and face the setting sun and an almost trackless desert a thousand miles in extent, that the labor and sufferings of those people were not in vain by any means.
While traveling through Colorado, some months ago, a report was given by one of the missionaries that, in recounting something of the labors of these pioneers in- the hand-cart company, the expression of one rough cow boy was, after hearing the story: "There must have been something to their d— d religion or they would not have undergone trials like that." I thought that there was a reward and a compensation to the parents who engaged in those expeditions in the impress it has left upon their posterity. I have heard individuals say, who were actively engaged- in the ministry, and had been many years endeavoring, as best they could, to accomplish good for their fellow men, that they felt that if they labored all their lives as diligently as they might, in the service of the Lord they would never be worthy of being the children of their fathers and mothers who had endured those hardships in connection with the handcart companies. So with the individual who may make only a single convert, he may feel that it is spending much of his time to go abroad, leaving profitable employment, his family and loved ones, and devoting years of his time abroad in the ministry, perhaps to realize that only a single individual has been. converted. But how far-reaching in its results upon the Church and upon the world, for good, may be the single convert that he is able to make. Some one, perhaps, had similar thoughts in making the early converts to the Church, some of whom became great characters in Mormon history, men like President John Taylor, President Brigham Young. President Wilford Woodruff and others of that type, who were able to leave such an impress for good upon Mormonism and upon the world. Perhaps some missionary devoting months Or years of time in making such convert felt that his time was not very profitably occupied, yet subsequent results show how rich was the harvest and the fruitage of his labors.
I have been impressed, of late, in reading the work of Dr. Paley on the Evidences of Christianity. How largely the arguments and reasonings that he presents in behalf of Christianity can be applied in support of the cause of Mormonism. He lays down one proposition, to which he devotes in support several hundred pages of his excellent treatise: "That there is satisfactory evidence that many persons professing to be original witnesses of the Christian miracles passed their lives in labors, dangers and sufferings voluntarily undergone in attestation of the account which they delivered, and solely on account of their belief in that account, and that they also submitted, from the same motives, to a change in the rules of their own conduct." He devotes, as I say, several hundred pages of his work in giving historical incidents and proofs in support of that proposition. The same may be said in reference to Mormonism, because Mormonism is, like Christianity, founded largely upon miracles; and the individuals who testified of those miracles passed their lives in labors, dangers and sufferings, voluntarily undergone, in attestation of the account which they gave of the divine origin of Mormonism and the ushering in of this Latter-day dispensation. It had an effect upon their conduct in the abandoning of ideas and ways of the world that they had been indoctrinated in up to that time, and in adopting new modes of conduct in conformity with the teachings of the newly revealed religion. Dr. Paley also lays down a counter proposition to the one just stated, that "There is not satisfactory evidence that persons professing to be original witnesses of any other similar miracles have acted in the same manner in attestation of the accounts which they delivered and solely in consequence of their belief of the truth of those accounts. Mormonism, which is not taken into account by him, would have to be excluded from that exception here made, for, as I suggested before, nearly all the arguments that he adduces in support of the proposition that I first stated, as being laid down by him, can be put forth in support of Mormonism. He enters into a consideration of so-called pagan miracles, or miracles other than those in support of Christianity, and suggests that it is not necessary to accept 'the statements that can be accounted for on the ground of delusion or hallucination or a diseased condition of the mind; and he points out the fact that many so-called pagan miracles will not bear the test of a close scrutiny. Many of them, for instance, are accounts given in one country of something that happened at some place far remote from where the account was written. In many instances it is the history of some anterior event, a century or more before the time of the writing of the account. He says that, in most of these instances, it is upon the statement of only one individual, the hearing of a voice or the seeing of something by a single individual, and not by a group of individuals ; and further, that generally there is an appeal to one sense only of the individual, as that of sight or hearing alone, and that the so-called vision scarcely ever consents or submits to being handled ; that the reality or verity of the vision is in no wise substantiated by the sense of touch as well as of sight.
You may apply all of the rules and tests that he lays down for considering and verifying the genuineness of miracles to the history we have of the coming forth and the institution of Mormonism, and you shall find that the evidences we have, in support of the divine origin of Mormonism, differ very largely and very widely from those so-called voices or visions that he speaks of as being recorded as coming from pagan lands, or given in support of incidents otherwise than in connection with the establishment and coming forth of Christianity. The fact that Joseph Smith received revelation in reference to there being golden plates is supported by the presentation of those plates, and there are at least eleven besides himself who saw the plates. Three of the number testify not only to seeing the plates but to hearing the voice declare that the record had been translated by the gift and power of God, and that the work was therefore true. Here is the sense of sight, supported by the sense of hearing. The eight witnesses not only saw the plates but handled them. There was also muscular sense of weight verifying the sense of sight and touch. Then again, it was not brought to a single individual, but to a group of individuals; and Dr. Paley points out the improbability of the senses of several individuals being diseased and deranged in the same way at the same time. So I say, you can apply all these tests in certification of the reality of these spiritual manifestations to Joseph Smith, and the early leaders of the Church, and you shall find that the evidences given to Joseph Smith bear the scrutiny and the application of those tests, and one cannot, in any psychological manner, explain away the attestation of those truths to these men. It is equally futile to undertake to explain these miracles upon the ground that there was any fraud or collusion involved in them. If you reason that these things must be true because the sense of sight of twelve men would not be deluded in the same way, that their sense of hearing could not be deluded in the same way, and that their sense of touch could not be imposed upon or deceived in the same' way, all at the same identical time, you reach the conclusion that either those individuals saw, and heard, and felt what they say they did, or that there was collusion among them. Then, if you examine the account on the theory that there was collusion, your premises utterly fail, because there is not the slightest evidence of there being any connivance or collusion among these men to foist upon the world any false account. The very fact that some of the number departed from the fellowship of the Church, but never varied one iota in the account that they gave of these divine miracles with which Mormonism was instituted, sweeps away at one stroke the theory that there was possibly any connivance or collusion in connection with this account. I pray that the blessings of the Lord may be upon you all, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The congregation sang the hymn, "We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
ELDER JAMES G. DUFFIN.
(Former President of Central States Mission).
Last evening, with many of you who are here today, I listened to a very interesting account of a naval journey that was recently taken by a fleet of battle ships of the United States. One of the facts that impressed me very much, in the speaking of Admiral Evans, was his relating the obedience of the officers and seamen to the commander of that fleet. He said, when the word came to him from the President that he was to get the fleet in order, and start upon that long cruise, he felt that they would not only by request, or command, of the commander in chief of all the forces of the United States, go to any possession belonging to the United States, any waters, but that they were on hand, at a moment's notice, to go to any part of the earth where their ships could float. I thought, while he was speaking, that was the spirit of a true soldier. I thought also in connection with that, how like to it are the true soldiers of the cross. When those holding the Holy Priesthood speak by the voice of the spirit of God, and say to the true soldier of the cross, Your services are needed in Africa, Russia, or Asia, or some part of this great land in which we live, or upon the isles of the sea, there is no hesitancy, he says at once, as did Admiral Evans, "Aye, Aye, sir, we are ready, when will you have us start?" And this great army of young men, belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, take their lives in their hand, as it were, not considering consequences to themselves, or the sacrifice of their earthly possessions, they leave all, and go to any part of the earth where the authorized servants of God call them to travel.
While Brother Whitney was speaking concerning the growth and development of this great work, how the people had heard the gospel sound in various nations of the earth, had gathered to these mountains, and had been organized into stakes and wards, I was thinking of the responsibility that is placed upon us who have thus been gathered and organized here ; and of the responsibility that is upon all who have been born and raised under the sacred covenant of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As was stated by Elder Whitney, I had the honor, for a number of years, to preside over one of the great missions that have been established by the Church of Jesus Christ for the proclaiming of the gospel. During that period of time, there were several hundreds of young men who labored under our direction, and I had the opportunity of observing the results of home training, of the effect' the teaching and training of the father and mother had upon the lives of these young men. I take it that one of the most important duties we have to perform is that of rearing and teaching these precious souls that are entrusted to our charge, bringing them up in the wav of the Lord, that they may be fitted, while passing through this mortal probation, for earnest, devoted and efficient work, to aid in the progress and development of the work of our Heavenly Father, that their souls might be saved eternally. In the Doctrine and Covenants, there is a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the early rise of the Church, in which the Lord says:
"Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes that art organized, that teach them not repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands when eight years of age, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. And the parents shall teach the children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord, and shall observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy."
And there was an injunction placed upon the parents that they should be an example unto their children of what they would have them become. Now during the time I was presiding over that' mission, as I have said, I had opportunity to study the effects ot home teaching and training upon the lives of your boys; and I have pleasure in saying to you here today that, during the years I was there, out of the hundreds of young men who labored in that mission, there was not one failure on the part of those who had been carefully taught and trained by parents at home. The failures were very few indeed ; those few young men who weakened and gave up, who came home without performing fully and completely the work they had been sent to perform, were, without exception, those whose training at home had been neglected by their fathers and mothers. The responsibility here at home is not only that the young men ma} become efficient missionaries, but that they may also be good workers in wards and stakes, in the various organizations established by our Heavenly Father, and, that they may be honored citizens of the great nation of which they form a part, so that when we, as parents, give an account to our Father and Mother in heaven of the manner in which we have conducted ourselves toward the precious souls entrusted to us, how we have dealt with them, that we might bring them all with us, and be able to say to our Heavenly Father, Here are these sacred trusts that you gave unto me while I was upon the earth, I present them to You now spotless, full of faith and integrity, fitted indeed to be members of Thy eternal kingdom. To do this requires thought, work, care, and faith, to bring these children up in the way they should go. You know, it was the wise man Solomon who said: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
There is a difference between teaching and training. Teaching is causing the child to understand, training is causing the child to do. Every act performed is that much done towards fixing habits; repeated many times, the habit is established. If we train our children in the ways of the' Lord, in doing the things God has revealed for their salvation, every time they perform an act of obedience to the word and will of our Father in heaven their character becomes more firmly fixed in doing the things that God requires of them. Another thought in connection with this. In my business I have the privilege of meeting people from different parts of the United States, and even from foreign countries, some of whom come here to make their homes among us. There are several significant things said in my hearing by people who travel among us. One expression is this: "You can always tell the home of a Mormon by his surroundings." Another is: "You can tell the home of a Mormon by the size of his family." Now, what does this mean? Does it mean that our home surroundings are so beautiful, so neat, so orderly, so much in accord with the divine plan of growth and development, that when one of these strangers, driving through the country in his travels among us sees a home of this kind, he can say at once. That is the home of a Latter-day Saint? Or does he mean the opposite? What are the conditions surrounding our homes? Now, when he speaks of a Mormon family, saying "You can always tell whether it is a Mormon family or not, by the size of it," does he mean that alone? To us it should mean that in that family we are developing faith, honesty, and integrity, that we are educating and training them, making them refined, genteel, courteous to the stranger. Does it mean that to us? Now, my .brethren and sisters, I take it that in the divine plan of our Heavenly Father there is just such work for us to do in the family. The family is the foundation of the governments of the world, and it is the foundation of the government of the kingdom of God.
May we give thought, attention, and care to all things that will cause Zion to grow and increase in strength and power, beauty and glory, I ask, in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(Former President of Central States Mission).
Last evening, with many of you who are here today, I listened to a very interesting account of a naval journey that was recently taken by a fleet of battle ships of the United States. One of the facts that impressed me very much, in the speaking of Admiral Evans, was his relating the obedience of the officers and seamen to the commander of that fleet. He said, when the word came to him from the President that he was to get the fleet in order, and start upon that long cruise, he felt that they would not only by request, or command, of the commander in chief of all the forces of the United States, go to any possession belonging to the United States, any waters, but that they were on hand, at a moment's notice, to go to any part of the earth where their ships could float. I thought, while he was speaking, that was the spirit of a true soldier. I thought also in connection with that, how like to it are the true soldiers of the cross. When those holding the Holy Priesthood speak by the voice of the spirit of God, and say to the true soldier of the cross, Your services are needed in Africa, Russia, or Asia, or some part of this great land in which we live, or upon the isles of the sea, there is no hesitancy, he says at once, as did Admiral Evans, "Aye, Aye, sir, we are ready, when will you have us start?" And this great army of young men, belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, take their lives in their hand, as it were, not considering consequences to themselves, or the sacrifice of their earthly possessions, they leave all, and go to any part of the earth where the authorized servants of God call them to travel.
While Brother Whitney was speaking concerning the growth and development of this great work, how the people had heard the gospel sound in various nations of the earth, had gathered to these mountains, and had been organized into stakes and wards, I was thinking of the responsibility that is placed upon us who have thus been gathered and organized here ; and of the responsibility that is upon all who have been born and raised under the sacred covenant of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As was stated by Elder Whitney, I had the honor, for a number of years, to preside over one of the great missions that have been established by the Church of Jesus Christ for the proclaiming of the gospel. During that period of time, there were several hundreds of young men who labored under our direction, and I had the opportunity of observing the results of home training, of the effect' the teaching and training of the father and mother had upon the lives of these young men. I take it that one of the most important duties we have to perform is that of rearing and teaching these precious souls that are entrusted to our charge, bringing them up in the wav of the Lord, that they may be fitted, while passing through this mortal probation, for earnest, devoted and efficient work, to aid in the progress and development of the work of our Heavenly Father, that their souls might be saved eternally. In the Doctrine and Covenants, there is a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the early rise of the Church, in which the Lord says:
"Inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes that art organized, that teach them not repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands when eight years of age, the sin be upon the heads of the parents. And the parents shall teach the children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord, and shall observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy."
And there was an injunction placed upon the parents that they should be an example unto their children of what they would have them become. Now during the time I was presiding over that' mission, as I have said, I had opportunity to study the effects ot home teaching and training upon the lives of your boys; and I have pleasure in saying to you here today that, during the years I was there, out of the hundreds of young men who labored in that mission, there was not one failure on the part of those who had been carefully taught and trained by parents at home. The failures were very few indeed ; those few young men who weakened and gave up, who came home without performing fully and completely the work they had been sent to perform, were, without exception, those whose training at home had been neglected by their fathers and mothers. The responsibility here at home is not only that the young men ma} become efficient missionaries, but that they may also be good workers in wards and stakes, in the various organizations established by our Heavenly Father, and, that they may be honored citizens of the great nation of which they form a part, so that when we, as parents, give an account to our Father and Mother in heaven of the manner in which we have conducted ourselves toward the precious souls entrusted to us, how we have dealt with them, that we might bring them all with us, and be able to say to our Heavenly Father, Here are these sacred trusts that you gave unto me while I was upon the earth, I present them to You now spotless, full of faith and integrity, fitted indeed to be members of Thy eternal kingdom. To do this requires thought, work, care, and faith, to bring these children up in the way they should go. You know, it was the wise man Solomon who said: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
There is a difference between teaching and training. Teaching is causing the child to understand, training is causing the child to do. Every act performed is that much done towards fixing habits; repeated many times, the habit is established. If we train our children in the ways of the' Lord, in doing the things God has revealed for their salvation, every time they perform an act of obedience to the word and will of our Father in heaven their character becomes more firmly fixed in doing the things that God requires of them. Another thought in connection with this. In my business I have the privilege of meeting people from different parts of the United States, and even from foreign countries, some of whom come here to make their homes among us. There are several significant things said in my hearing by people who travel among us. One expression is this: "You can always tell the home of a Mormon by his surroundings." Another is: "You can tell the home of a Mormon by the size of his family." Now, what does this mean? Does it mean that our home surroundings are so beautiful, so neat, so orderly, so much in accord with the divine plan of growth and development, that when one of these strangers, driving through the country in his travels among us sees a home of this kind, he can say at once. That is the home of a Latter-day Saint? Or does he mean the opposite? What are the conditions surrounding our homes? Now, when he speaks of a Mormon family, saying "You can always tell whether it is a Mormon family or not, by the size of it," does he mean that alone? To us it should mean that in that family we are developing faith, honesty, and integrity, that we are educating and training them, making them refined, genteel, courteous to the stranger. Does it mean that to us? Now, my .brethren and sisters, I take it that in the divine plan of our Heavenly Father there is just such work for us to do in the family. The family is the foundation of the governments of the world, and it is the foundation of the government of the kingdom of God.
May we give thought, attention, and care to all things that will cause Zion to grow and increase in strength and power, beauty and glory, I ask, in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
ELDER NEPHI PRATT.
(President of Northwestern States Mission.)
I have seen the day when I knew every man, woman and child in Salt Lake City. I was a year and a half old when I was brought into this valley. I had the rickets, so my mother said. I presume that meant I could not stand up, because I was so weak. On that day we landed in a desert, so desolate and still that it must have been appalling to the few hundred Latter-day Saints who arrived here that year. On July twenty-fourth, 1847, the first company in advance of those that had been driven out of Illinois, by the rage and hatred of those who opposed truth, arrived in this valley; and President Brigham Young, wrapped in the visions of eternity, when he saw this country knew that it was the place prepared for the people of God. He put the point of his walking stick down in the dust, just over there, and said: "Here shall be erected the temple of our God, and around this spot shall be builded a great city." I remember many of the scenes through which we passed. We were little and weak, poor, desolate and destitute. With the growth of my body and intelligence, I saw mighty forces, such as the press, the lecture platform, and the pulpits, combine to calumniate the reputation of this people, and to destroy them by snares that were set for their feet. I have seen us delivered from those conditions. I have seen that notwithstanding all the powers that can be brought to oppose this work of our God on the earth, to stay the growth of His kingdom, we grow in spite of all, until today we cry, as Brother Whitney has said, "Give us room, that we may dwell."
We are bringing a great emigration from the spirit world; and in my mission field in the northwest we are gathering more souls into the Church than we ever have since the mission was organized. We have the indifference broken down, comparatively speaking; and the hostility that was once manifest against us has come to an end, to a great extent, in the northwest. The presence of your sons, and the acquaintance that the people are making with them, and the influence of the Spirit of God upon the people has caused the feeling of hate and prejudice to pass away, and the people's hearts are being softened. I do not doubt that in all the missions of the United States it is going to be harvest time for a few years, to gather out the people that are God's, and that He intends to bring them with songs of everlasting joy into His Church, preparatory to His coming and the establishment forever of His kingdom.
There are some girls and women who have come to us in my mission field and mourned because they had not kept the counsel of their parents, and lived up to the training they had received at home. The children of those women are unblessed and unbaptized, because their husbands will not permit these ordinances to be administered to their children. When our children stray away from the home of their youth, Mormonism clings to them, and brings them to a sense of the awful loss they have sustained. I think it is better that a maiden should maintain her faith and virtue and never wear the crown of wifehood and motherhood in this life, than that she should wed an unbeliever.
God bless you, brethren and sisters, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The congregation sang the hymn, "Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing."
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Orson F. Whitney.
Adjourned until 2 p. m.
(President of Northwestern States Mission.)
I have seen the day when I knew every man, woman and child in Salt Lake City. I was a year and a half old when I was brought into this valley. I had the rickets, so my mother said. I presume that meant I could not stand up, because I was so weak. On that day we landed in a desert, so desolate and still that it must have been appalling to the few hundred Latter-day Saints who arrived here that year. On July twenty-fourth, 1847, the first company in advance of those that had been driven out of Illinois, by the rage and hatred of those who opposed truth, arrived in this valley; and President Brigham Young, wrapped in the visions of eternity, when he saw this country knew that it was the place prepared for the people of God. He put the point of his walking stick down in the dust, just over there, and said: "Here shall be erected the temple of our God, and around this spot shall be builded a great city." I remember many of the scenes through which we passed. We were little and weak, poor, desolate and destitute. With the growth of my body and intelligence, I saw mighty forces, such as the press, the lecture platform, and the pulpits, combine to calumniate the reputation of this people, and to destroy them by snares that were set for their feet. I have seen us delivered from those conditions. I have seen that notwithstanding all the powers that can be brought to oppose this work of our God on the earth, to stay the growth of His kingdom, we grow in spite of all, until today we cry, as Brother Whitney has said, "Give us room, that we may dwell."
We are bringing a great emigration from the spirit world; and in my mission field in the northwest we are gathering more souls into the Church than we ever have since the mission was organized. We have the indifference broken down, comparatively speaking; and the hostility that was once manifest against us has come to an end, to a great extent, in the northwest. The presence of your sons, and the acquaintance that the people are making with them, and the influence of the Spirit of God upon the people has caused the feeling of hate and prejudice to pass away, and the people's hearts are being softened. I do not doubt that in all the missions of the United States it is going to be harvest time for a few years, to gather out the people that are God's, and that He intends to bring them with songs of everlasting joy into His Church, preparatory to His coming and the establishment forever of His kingdom.
There are some girls and women who have come to us in my mission field and mourned because they had not kept the counsel of their parents, and lived up to the training they had received at home. The children of those women are unblessed and unbaptized, because their husbands will not permit these ordinances to be administered to their children. When our children stray away from the home of their youth, Mormonism clings to them, and brings them to a sense of the awful loss they have sustained. I think it is better that a maiden should maintain her faith and virtue and never wear the crown of wifehood and motherhood in this life, than that she should wed an unbeliever.
God bless you, brethren and sisters, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The congregation sang the hymn, "Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing."
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Orson F. Whitney.
Adjourned until 2 p. m.
Second Overflow Meeting.
In the Assembly Hall at 2 p. m. Elder George F. Richards presiding.
The Temple choir and congregation sang the hymn, "How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord."
Prayer was offered by Elder John G. McQuarrie.
The Temple choir sang a hymn entitled, "In the house of many mansions."
In the Assembly Hall at 2 p. m. Elder George F. Richards presiding.
The Temple choir and congregation sang the hymn, "How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord."
Prayer was offered by Elder John G. McQuarrie.
The Temple choir sang a hymn entitled, "In the house of many mansions."
ELDER THOMAS E. BASSETT.
(President of Fremont Stake.)
I pray for your faith and confidence, brethren and sisters, in my behalf during the few moments that I attempt to address you; and I trust that all that shall be said by me may meet the divine approval of Him whom we have met this afternoon to worship.
With your permission I will read a clipping from a paper that happened to come into my possession this morning, dated at Denver, April 3rd:
"Lizzie Wertzell, aged 8, and Mary Wolf, aged 11, were shot and badly wounded tonight during a riot at Globeville, a suburb, between the two warring factions of the German Congregational church. A dozen men were arrested and thrown into jail.
Trouble has been brewing in this church for the last four years. The church is divided against itself, one faction being determined to oust the pastor, Rev. Adam Traudt.
Recently, the anti-Traudites became the dominant power. Last night they determined to use force to depose the pastor. Traudt armed himself with a shotgun, as did several others of his friends, and went to the church, where they barricaded all of the doors and threatened to kill anyone who attempted to take possession. The police, assisted Traudt in holding the fort all night long.
All day threats of violence were heard against him. Friends of Traudt came to his rescue. At 10 o'clock, the two factions came together, many children taking sides. Shooting followed, and when the smoke cleared away the two little girls were found living on the ground, suffering from bullet wounds. An army of policemen was rushed to Globeville from Denver, in autos."
I read this simply as an illustration of conditions that can and have been brought about by reason, perhaps, in a great measure, of the imperfect system of organization that has resulted from the various churches of Christianity seceding from the mother Church. We are well aware of the fact that, a few centuries ago, Catholicism reigned predominant throughout Europe, and it was universally conceded that the voice of the authorities of that church was absolutely the voice of God, without the necessity of approval by the people. It was generally recognized and understood that the supreme authority in that church was a substitute for the Son of God Himself, that he was actual successor to the Apostle Peter. From the clergy, in those days, the people had very little right of appeal, in fact they had no voice whatever. Occasionally, when some independent spirit would arise among the people, and assert a right to be heard in the expression of his views and opinions regarding religious doctrine, he was either put to death or tortured in the most severe manner, or perhaps imprisoned for life; so that the people dare not, under penalty of their lives, assert their manhood, or give expression to their thoughts or the dictates of their own consciences. By reason of this condition, such characters as Martin Luther, and other reformers, eventually arose in the world and courageously asserted their rights as men, saying that the voice of the people was the voice of God; and they had the fortitude of character to maintain their position in this direction, and their right of freedom of speech, even in face of the penalty of death. A sentence uttered by one of these reformers, when he was about to be executed, is one that will last as long as time endures. These are the words that came from his lips: "Here I stand. Recant I cannot; God help me." From these circumstances arose the condition that we see today through- Out the various Christian organizations of the Protestant world, the people asserting their rights to have their voices supreme in the organization and maintenance of their various churches and organizations. As an illustration we find the incident that happened only yesterday, or a day or so ago, wherein members of one of these organizations became divided among themselves, both factions nearly equal in number, each faction contending for the right to say who shall be the pastor of their church, and resulting in the loss of the lives of two precious little girls.
Here we see illustrated the great contention between the mother church and her daughters; Christianity, as represented in Catholicism, insisting that the voice of the clergy is absolutely the voice of God regardless of the minds and conscience of the people, and the Protestant denominations asserting that the voice of the people, regardless of their pastors, shall be the voice of God regarding who should be their minister, or theological or religious trainer, preceptor or clergy, as the case may be. These things have impressed me with the thought that the beauty of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands, as I see it, a happy medium between the two conditions. It is not that the voice of God is necessarily the voice of the people, neither is it that the voice of the people must necessarily be the voice of God. I understand the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be a result of the voice of God and the voice of the people blending in perfect harmony, bringing peace and harmony in the church, throughout all its organizations. As I understand the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, I cannot conceive of contention existing in it, such as is found in the church described in the clipping I have read concerning one of the churches in one of our neighboring states. In our church the most absolute right is accorded to all its members to have full voice, a fair expression of thought and opinion in all matters pertaining to the organization of the Church; but the right of nomination comes from the presiding authority, and when that nomination is sanctioned by the people, these two powers or forces blend in perfect harmony, and peace prevails throughout the entire organization.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we find the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church, who is its president; but he does not stand absolute and alone. Associated with him are two counselors, men who are high priests, and these three are sustained by the confidence and vote of the people, every six months during their term of office, which is usually for life. When any question of vital importance comes before this Presidency, it is the right of the President to ask for the views and ideas of his associates, and it is their duty to frankly respond in detail, as they are inspired by the Spirit of God. When all has thus been freely expressed by these two counselors, the right of nomination, or taking the initiative, proceeds from the President. His decision is indorsed by his counselors, and is subsequently submitted to the body of the Church and then sustained by them as a whole. Not necessarily do all questions have to be settled in the manner indicated, but, associated with those presiding we find, in the organization of the Church and kingdom of God, the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It is the right of the presidency, as I understand the organization of the Church, to confer with those twelve men, who also are sustained by a vote of confidence of the people, and have them express their views and ideas freely, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. But the initiative, after all is said and done, comes from the head, and then it is sanctioned by those who have discussed the proposition. Unquestionably, in every instance, so far as I know, there is unity of action; after these matters have been considered and sanctioned by the authorities who have been sustained by the vote of confidence of the people, it is then sustained by the vote of all members of the Church.
I can see in the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints the most perfect system that is possible to be organized among men; it gives to mankind the utmost freedom that can be given, and still maintains absolute unity. There might be given, under the systems of protestantism today, the same absolute right to the people to say for themselves what shall or what shall not be; but I see in their varied systems of organization great aptitude to division into factions. We have had revealed to us, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, a system under which factions can not exist in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can see in this the infinite wisdom of God our eternal Father, not the limited wisdom of a boy 14 or even 25 years of age. I fail to see today, throughout all Christendom, the harmony in the organization of church government that we see existing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as instituted through the instrumentality of a humble boy, and as given by the inspiration of God. The longer I live, and the more experience. I have in this Church, the more I appreciate the beauties of it, and the more I glory in the growth and development of the great latter-day work. And here, my brethren and sisters, I embrace the opportunity of testifying to you that, if I know anything at all in this life, I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was instituted and is maintained by the gift and power of God. No power of man could have maintained it against all the opposition it has had to contend with during the seventy-nine years of its history. All honor be to our fathers and mothers, our grandfathers and grandmothers, who had the fortitude of character to stand up under all the oppression they endured, and maintain to the last breath the testimony that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired of God, and was the means in the hand of our heavenly Father of restoring the gospel once more to the earth.
I stand before you today as a representative of one of the stakes that, within the last 26 years, has given birth to six other stakes of Zion. Twenty-six years ago its organization did not comprise more than 600 souls. That same section of country today embraces not less than 25,000 souls, members of the Church, and it is now divided into seven stakes of Zion, and the mother stake has a population of nearly 6,000. I am happy to report that in that section of country the work of the Lord is progressing rapidly. A splendid feeling exists among the people. I don't know any among the officers of our stake but who are observing the Word of Wisdom; and they are true and loyal to the president of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, as prophet, seer and revelator, and to the other authorities of the Church who will be sustained at this conference, including all the brethren and sisters who maintain positions of trust among the people. We are working together loyally and unitedly for the good of the people, and the development of our fair state of Idaho. We say that we will welcome any and all of you who desire to locate among us. We have a large and beautiful country. We have stakes of Zion well organized, and we are always glad to welcome the boys and girls of these valleys of the mountains, who have been reared under the droppings of the sanctuary, in the environments of the Church. We want our young men and young women, to remain at home, in the various stakes of Zion. The longer I live the more I appreciate our organizations, and the good they are doing to our young people. I do not know how many of our boys and girls would he absolutely loyal to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were it not for the environment thrown around them by the various societies and quorums of the Church, as we have them instituted today. I say, brethren and sisters, fathers and mothers in Israel, it is not right to scatter abroad, away from the organization of the Church. It is one of the tenets of Mormonism that this is a gathering dispensation, that we shall gather into the valleys of the mountains, and be reared under the guidance of the servants of God, under the inspired teachings that come to us from those whom we sustain from time to time. We ought not to allow our boys and girls to make homes in foreign states or territories, away from the environments of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is not in harmony with the teachings of the gospel as revealed in the latter day. Let us bring up our boys and girls under influences that will shape their lives and make of them what they should be, children of the Saints of God.
May God bless you, my brethren and sisters. May we be united together in the bonds of love, and not allow any dissensions among us, but maintain and sustain all those who are called to represent the Church and kingdom of God in the earth, that harmony may prevail, and that the will of God may be done among this people. May Zion grow and nourish in the earth, as it has done in the past, is my desire, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(President of Fremont Stake.)
I pray for your faith and confidence, brethren and sisters, in my behalf during the few moments that I attempt to address you; and I trust that all that shall be said by me may meet the divine approval of Him whom we have met this afternoon to worship.
With your permission I will read a clipping from a paper that happened to come into my possession this morning, dated at Denver, April 3rd:
"Lizzie Wertzell, aged 8, and Mary Wolf, aged 11, were shot and badly wounded tonight during a riot at Globeville, a suburb, between the two warring factions of the German Congregational church. A dozen men were arrested and thrown into jail.
Trouble has been brewing in this church for the last four years. The church is divided against itself, one faction being determined to oust the pastor, Rev. Adam Traudt.
Recently, the anti-Traudites became the dominant power. Last night they determined to use force to depose the pastor. Traudt armed himself with a shotgun, as did several others of his friends, and went to the church, where they barricaded all of the doors and threatened to kill anyone who attempted to take possession. The police, assisted Traudt in holding the fort all night long.
All day threats of violence were heard against him. Friends of Traudt came to his rescue. At 10 o'clock, the two factions came together, many children taking sides. Shooting followed, and when the smoke cleared away the two little girls were found living on the ground, suffering from bullet wounds. An army of policemen was rushed to Globeville from Denver, in autos."
I read this simply as an illustration of conditions that can and have been brought about by reason, perhaps, in a great measure, of the imperfect system of organization that has resulted from the various churches of Christianity seceding from the mother Church. We are well aware of the fact that, a few centuries ago, Catholicism reigned predominant throughout Europe, and it was universally conceded that the voice of the authorities of that church was absolutely the voice of God, without the necessity of approval by the people. It was generally recognized and understood that the supreme authority in that church was a substitute for the Son of God Himself, that he was actual successor to the Apostle Peter. From the clergy, in those days, the people had very little right of appeal, in fact they had no voice whatever. Occasionally, when some independent spirit would arise among the people, and assert a right to be heard in the expression of his views and opinions regarding religious doctrine, he was either put to death or tortured in the most severe manner, or perhaps imprisoned for life; so that the people dare not, under penalty of their lives, assert their manhood, or give expression to their thoughts or the dictates of their own consciences. By reason of this condition, such characters as Martin Luther, and other reformers, eventually arose in the world and courageously asserted their rights as men, saying that the voice of the people was the voice of God; and they had the fortitude of character to maintain their position in this direction, and their right of freedom of speech, even in face of the penalty of death. A sentence uttered by one of these reformers, when he was about to be executed, is one that will last as long as time endures. These are the words that came from his lips: "Here I stand. Recant I cannot; God help me." From these circumstances arose the condition that we see today through- Out the various Christian organizations of the Protestant world, the people asserting their rights to have their voices supreme in the organization and maintenance of their various churches and organizations. As an illustration we find the incident that happened only yesterday, or a day or so ago, wherein members of one of these organizations became divided among themselves, both factions nearly equal in number, each faction contending for the right to say who shall be the pastor of their church, and resulting in the loss of the lives of two precious little girls.
Here we see illustrated the great contention between the mother church and her daughters; Christianity, as represented in Catholicism, insisting that the voice of the clergy is absolutely the voice of God regardless of the minds and conscience of the people, and the Protestant denominations asserting that the voice of the people, regardless of their pastors, shall be the voice of God regarding who should be their minister, or theological or religious trainer, preceptor or clergy, as the case may be. These things have impressed me with the thought that the beauty of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands, as I see it, a happy medium between the two conditions. It is not that the voice of God is necessarily the voice of the people, neither is it that the voice of the people must necessarily be the voice of God. I understand the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be a result of the voice of God and the voice of the people blending in perfect harmony, bringing peace and harmony in the church, throughout all its organizations. As I understand the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, I cannot conceive of contention existing in it, such as is found in the church described in the clipping I have read concerning one of the churches in one of our neighboring states. In our church the most absolute right is accorded to all its members to have full voice, a fair expression of thought and opinion in all matters pertaining to the organization of the Church; but the right of nomination comes from the presiding authority, and when that nomination is sanctioned by the people, these two powers or forces blend in perfect harmony, and peace prevails throughout the entire organization.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we find the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church, who is its president; but he does not stand absolute and alone. Associated with him are two counselors, men who are high priests, and these three are sustained by the confidence and vote of the people, every six months during their term of office, which is usually for life. When any question of vital importance comes before this Presidency, it is the right of the President to ask for the views and ideas of his associates, and it is their duty to frankly respond in detail, as they are inspired by the Spirit of God. When all has thus been freely expressed by these two counselors, the right of nomination, or taking the initiative, proceeds from the President. His decision is indorsed by his counselors, and is subsequently submitted to the body of the Church and then sustained by them as a whole. Not necessarily do all questions have to be settled in the manner indicated, but, associated with those presiding we find, in the organization of the Church and kingdom of God, the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It is the right of the presidency, as I understand the organization of the Church, to confer with those twelve men, who also are sustained by a vote of confidence of the people, and have them express their views and ideas freely, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. But the initiative, after all is said and done, comes from the head, and then it is sanctioned by those who have discussed the proposition. Unquestionably, in every instance, so far as I know, there is unity of action; after these matters have been considered and sanctioned by the authorities who have been sustained by the vote of confidence of the people, it is then sustained by the vote of all members of the Church.
I can see in the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints the most perfect system that is possible to be organized among men; it gives to mankind the utmost freedom that can be given, and still maintains absolute unity. There might be given, under the systems of protestantism today, the same absolute right to the people to say for themselves what shall or what shall not be; but I see in their varied systems of organization great aptitude to division into factions. We have had revealed to us, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, a system under which factions can not exist in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can see in this the infinite wisdom of God our eternal Father, not the limited wisdom of a boy 14 or even 25 years of age. I fail to see today, throughout all Christendom, the harmony in the organization of church government that we see existing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as instituted through the instrumentality of a humble boy, and as given by the inspiration of God. The longer I live, and the more experience. I have in this Church, the more I appreciate the beauties of it, and the more I glory in the growth and development of the great latter-day work. And here, my brethren and sisters, I embrace the opportunity of testifying to you that, if I know anything at all in this life, I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was instituted and is maintained by the gift and power of God. No power of man could have maintained it against all the opposition it has had to contend with during the seventy-nine years of its history. All honor be to our fathers and mothers, our grandfathers and grandmothers, who had the fortitude of character to stand up under all the oppression they endured, and maintain to the last breath the testimony that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired of God, and was the means in the hand of our heavenly Father of restoring the gospel once more to the earth.
I stand before you today as a representative of one of the stakes that, within the last 26 years, has given birth to six other stakes of Zion. Twenty-six years ago its organization did not comprise more than 600 souls. That same section of country today embraces not less than 25,000 souls, members of the Church, and it is now divided into seven stakes of Zion, and the mother stake has a population of nearly 6,000. I am happy to report that in that section of country the work of the Lord is progressing rapidly. A splendid feeling exists among the people. I don't know any among the officers of our stake but who are observing the Word of Wisdom; and they are true and loyal to the president of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, as prophet, seer and revelator, and to the other authorities of the Church who will be sustained at this conference, including all the brethren and sisters who maintain positions of trust among the people. We are working together loyally and unitedly for the good of the people, and the development of our fair state of Idaho. We say that we will welcome any and all of you who desire to locate among us. We have a large and beautiful country. We have stakes of Zion well organized, and we are always glad to welcome the boys and girls of these valleys of the mountains, who have been reared under the droppings of the sanctuary, in the environments of the Church. We want our young men and young women, to remain at home, in the various stakes of Zion. The longer I live the more I appreciate our organizations, and the good they are doing to our young people. I do not know how many of our boys and girls would he absolutely loyal to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were it not for the environment thrown around them by the various societies and quorums of the Church, as we have them instituted today. I say, brethren and sisters, fathers and mothers in Israel, it is not right to scatter abroad, away from the organization of the Church. It is one of the tenets of Mormonism that this is a gathering dispensation, that we shall gather into the valleys of the mountains, and be reared under the guidance of the servants of God, under the inspired teachings that come to us from those whom we sustain from time to time. We ought not to allow our boys and girls to make homes in foreign states or territories, away from the environments of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is not in harmony with the teachings of the gospel as revealed in the latter day. Let us bring up our boys and girls under influences that will shape their lives and make of them what they should be, children of the Saints of God.
May God bless you, my brethren and sisters. May we be united together in the bonds of love, and not allow any dissensions among us, but maintain and sustain all those who are called to represent the Church and kingdom of God in the earth, that harmony may prevail, and that the will of God may be done among this people. May Zion grow and nourish in the earth, as it has done in the past, is my desire, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER JOSEPH W. M'MURRIN.
In standing up in your presence this afternoon, my brethren and sisters, I hope I may be led by the Spirit of the Lord to say something that will be beneficial to some of those gathered in this sacred building. My heart was comforted in the opening hymn. Ofttimes, abroad in the world, while laboring as a missionary, I have found a great deal of satisfaction in taking part with the Saints in the singing of this hymn. I do not intend to read much of it, I will however read a verse or two to this congregation. It may not be Scripture altogether, and yet, in my opinion, the poet has set forth the truth. There are many passages of Scripture that can be brought forth to support and sustain the views that are presented by the writer of this poem:
"In every condition, in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
My brethren and sisters, many a soul has been made to rejoice, when far away from home, in taking part with the Saints in singing these precious words. Many of us have learned, by our own experiences, that the Lord is perfectly able, under every circumstance, and in every condition, whether it be at home or abroad, to give that help, succor, and strength that is necessary for the accomplishment of His purposes. He qualifies His servants for the performance of the labors that are assigned to them in the preaching of the Gospel and the accomplishment of all other work necessary for the building up of the kingdom of God. The words of the hymn indicate that our Father in heaven is a being of love, which is in perfect accord with the teachings of the Scriptures. The Scriptures proclaim that God is love; that He sent His Only Begotten Son into the world because of His exceeding great love for mankind that all men who would believe in His precious name might obtain salvation. Christ Jesus was not sent into the world to condemn the world, the Scripture says; but was sent into the world that men through Him might obtain everlasting life.
I ofttimes think, that as a people, we ought to be able to discover, more fully and completely than any other people that God is indeed and of a truth, a being of love for there are doctrines that have been revealed to the Latter-day Saints that are not understood or believed in by the world generally, that show in a remarkable manner the mercy and justice of the Lord, that bear strong testimony to the love of God and that contain within themselves the evidence of divine inspiration.
In conversing with a gentleman a few days ago, he made the remark that the doctrines of Mormonism, the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, those that are spoken of generally as the first principles of the Gospel, annealed to him because they are so much in accord with the doctrines that were taught by the Redeemer and His Apostles. He made this statement: If you could only leave out Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon, it would be a very easy matter for me to believe in Mormonism. But I cannot comprehend, he added, why there should be any new revelation or any new volume of Scripture. I asked him the question if he did not believe that our Father in heaven was a being of love, and of course he answered that he did so believe. Then si inquired of him if it did not seem as though it would be necessary for a God of love to have in remembrance all His people? How could he reconcile belief in the love of God with the theory that prevails in the world, that half the people of the world had been forgotten by our Father in ages that are gone by, that He had revealed Himself only upon one hemisphere, and had overlooked the millions of men who dwelt upon the other hemisphere. I quoted to him the Scripture wherein the Savior, having, apparently the thought in mind that He was to accomplish the work of which He was speaking to His disciples, after His crucifixion,— referring to the necessity there was for the laying down of His life,—said unto them : "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold ; them also I must visit, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." Where are the other sheep, or where were they, when they were spoken of by the Redeemer of the world? Mormonism makes answer, and so far as I know there is no other religious denomination in the world that makes such a reasonable explanation of the declaration of Jesus Christ, that He must visit other sheep that were not of that fold. His disciples were acquainted only with that fold in their own country. His apostles carried the Gospel to the nations round about, with whom they were familiar, but there was, without question, some other people with whom those to whom he was talking were not familiar, a people in some other part of the world, they also were to hear the voice of the Redeemer, and have the opportunity of receiving the same glad tidings of good things, the same glorious Gospel that was the power of God unto salvation.
Instead of men hesitating about receiving the doctrines of the Gospel as they have been revealed in the age in which we are living, and as contained in the Book of Mormon it seems to me that men should readily discover in the Book of Mormon additional evidence of the truth of the statement in the old Scriptures, that God is a being of love, and that He has had in memory in past ages, as well as at the present time, all His creatures. All men, as the Scriptures teach, have been created of the same flesh, no difference whatever, and God, their Creator, is no respecter of persons, but He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The very fact that God revealed Himself through His Only Begotten Son to the ancient inhabitants of this continent, taught them the Gospel, conferred upon them the authority of the holy Priesthood, and filled them with the same joy and happiness that were given to their brethren afar off, is very strong evidence of the love of God and, in my mind, a wonderful testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and of the inspiration of the Prophet Joseph Smith in translating the sacred record.
So it is in relation to the great doctrines believed in by the Latter-day Saints, that the Gospel is eternal, that the mercy of God endureth forever, and that men are not eternally lost who have not heard the Gospel in mortality. How could God the Father be regarded as a God of love if the many millions of men who have inhabited this earth and who have passed away without ever having heard the sound of the Gospel, are to be eternally lost? That does not savor of love. That does not stamp the Creator of the world as being possessed of the attribute of love to any very marked degree. But when we apply the doctrine that has been revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith to all the peoples of the earth, whether they live now or in the past, or may live in the future, that there can be no condemnation, no real death, no such thing as damnation, without the rejection of the voice of the Lord, we commence to know something of the love of God. We learn that every soul must hear, and that those who have lived and had not the opportunity, in the flesh, to hear the glad message of the Gospel will be sought after in the spirit world until they are found, and every soul will thus be left standing upon the same kind of foundation, exercising the judgment and agency that the Lord of heaven has given, either to receive or reject His message. That vindicates God as a being of love. To my mind, it tells a marvelous story of inspiration, and of the power of God that rested upon the young man Joseph, as he taught and revealed to the peoples of the earth the glorious message of truth.
Another doctrine revealed by this same Prophet, Joseph Smith, that bears testimony of the love of God is the salvation of the little children of the world. Men have believed that they were lost, unless certain ordinances had been administered to them. It has been quite generally believed that the little infant at the mother's breast could not he saved without baptism, notwithstanding the fact that the great majority of all the infants that have ever been born into the world have gone to the grave without baptism. It is hard to understand the perfection or love of God in anything of this character; but, when the teaching of sacred truth is applied, as it has been given by the power of inspiration, and by the commandment of God, the wonderful, marvelous and glorious doctrine is revealed that all children, who have not come to years of accountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of God through the atonement of Jesus Christ. In the law of God manifested in a revelation of this glorious character, who can be so dense as not to discern that the Gospel that has been revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, is, as we declare, the power of God unto salvation?
These principles are making their way among men, and they will continue to extend, they cannot be staid. Such glorious principles bear the stamp of divinity, and the decree has gone forth from God, in His majesty, power and strength, that the world shall know the truth. When the world comes to know the truth, among other discoveries that will be made will be the fact that Mormonism is not a delusion, or a myth, but a revelation from our Father in heaven, the way He has appointed for the salvation of men.
May God help us ever to remember and hold fast to the truth, that we may save our souls, and be instrumental in spreading this glad news among the people, far and wide, until k .all men shall be left without excuse. This is our mission and our responsibility. We are under obligation to manifest before mankind that into our souls has come the love of God, by being willing to do our part in the proclamation of the Gospel and the building up of His work. God help us to do it humbly, faithfully and well, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A duet and chorus, "Sweet will of God," was sung by Sisters Hardy and Winder, and choir.
In standing up in your presence this afternoon, my brethren and sisters, I hope I may be led by the Spirit of the Lord to say something that will be beneficial to some of those gathered in this sacred building. My heart was comforted in the opening hymn. Ofttimes, abroad in the world, while laboring as a missionary, I have found a great deal of satisfaction in taking part with the Saints in the singing of this hymn. I do not intend to read much of it, I will however read a verse or two to this congregation. It may not be Scripture altogether, and yet, in my opinion, the poet has set forth the truth. There are many passages of Scripture that can be brought forth to support and sustain the views that are presented by the writer of this poem:
"In every condition, in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
My brethren and sisters, many a soul has been made to rejoice, when far away from home, in taking part with the Saints in singing these precious words. Many of us have learned, by our own experiences, that the Lord is perfectly able, under every circumstance, and in every condition, whether it be at home or abroad, to give that help, succor, and strength that is necessary for the accomplishment of His purposes. He qualifies His servants for the performance of the labors that are assigned to them in the preaching of the Gospel and the accomplishment of all other work necessary for the building up of the kingdom of God. The words of the hymn indicate that our Father in heaven is a being of love, which is in perfect accord with the teachings of the Scriptures. The Scriptures proclaim that God is love; that He sent His Only Begotten Son into the world because of His exceeding great love for mankind that all men who would believe in His precious name might obtain salvation. Christ Jesus was not sent into the world to condemn the world, the Scripture says; but was sent into the world that men through Him might obtain everlasting life.
I ofttimes think, that as a people, we ought to be able to discover, more fully and completely than any other people that God is indeed and of a truth, a being of love for there are doctrines that have been revealed to the Latter-day Saints that are not understood or believed in by the world generally, that show in a remarkable manner the mercy and justice of the Lord, that bear strong testimony to the love of God and that contain within themselves the evidence of divine inspiration.
In conversing with a gentleman a few days ago, he made the remark that the doctrines of Mormonism, the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, those that are spoken of generally as the first principles of the Gospel, annealed to him because they are so much in accord with the doctrines that were taught by the Redeemer and His Apostles. He made this statement: If you could only leave out Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon, it would be a very easy matter for me to believe in Mormonism. But I cannot comprehend, he added, why there should be any new revelation or any new volume of Scripture. I asked him the question if he did not believe that our Father in heaven was a being of love, and of course he answered that he did so believe. Then si inquired of him if it did not seem as though it would be necessary for a God of love to have in remembrance all His people? How could he reconcile belief in the love of God with the theory that prevails in the world, that half the people of the world had been forgotten by our Father in ages that are gone by, that He had revealed Himself only upon one hemisphere, and had overlooked the millions of men who dwelt upon the other hemisphere. I quoted to him the Scripture wherein the Savior, having, apparently the thought in mind that He was to accomplish the work of which He was speaking to His disciples, after His crucifixion,— referring to the necessity there was for the laying down of His life,—said unto them : "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold ; them also I must visit, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." Where are the other sheep, or where were they, when they were spoken of by the Redeemer of the world? Mormonism makes answer, and so far as I know there is no other religious denomination in the world that makes such a reasonable explanation of the declaration of Jesus Christ, that He must visit other sheep that were not of that fold. His disciples were acquainted only with that fold in their own country. His apostles carried the Gospel to the nations round about, with whom they were familiar, but there was, without question, some other people with whom those to whom he was talking were not familiar, a people in some other part of the world, they also were to hear the voice of the Redeemer, and have the opportunity of receiving the same glad tidings of good things, the same glorious Gospel that was the power of God unto salvation.
Instead of men hesitating about receiving the doctrines of the Gospel as they have been revealed in the age in which we are living, and as contained in the Book of Mormon it seems to me that men should readily discover in the Book of Mormon additional evidence of the truth of the statement in the old Scriptures, that God is a being of love, and that He has had in memory in past ages, as well as at the present time, all His creatures. All men, as the Scriptures teach, have been created of the same flesh, no difference whatever, and God, their Creator, is no respecter of persons, but He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The very fact that God revealed Himself through His Only Begotten Son to the ancient inhabitants of this continent, taught them the Gospel, conferred upon them the authority of the holy Priesthood, and filled them with the same joy and happiness that were given to their brethren afar off, is very strong evidence of the love of God and, in my mind, a wonderful testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and of the inspiration of the Prophet Joseph Smith in translating the sacred record.
So it is in relation to the great doctrines believed in by the Latter-day Saints, that the Gospel is eternal, that the mercy of God endureth forever, and that men are not eternally lost who have not heard the Gospel in mortality. How could God the Father be regarded as a God of love if the many millions of men who have inhabited this earth and who have passed away without ever having heard the sound of the Gospel, are to be eternally lost? That does not savor of love. That does not stamp the Creator of the world as being possessed of the attribute of love to any very marked degree. But when we apply the doctrine that has been revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith to all the peoples of the earth, whether they live now or in the past, or may live in the future, that there can be no condemnation, no real death, no such thing as damnation, without the rejection of the voice of the Lord, we commence to know something of the love of God. We learn that every soul must hear, and that those who have lived and had not the opportunity, in the flesh, to hear the glad message of the Gospel will be sought after in the spirit world until they are found, and every soul will thus be left standing upon the same kind of foundation, exercising the judgment and agency that the Lord of heaven has given, either to receive or reject His message. That vindicates God as a being of love. To my mind, it tells a marvelous story of inspiration, and of the power of God that rested upon the young man Joseph, as he taught and revealed to the peoples of the earth the glorious message of truth.
Another doctrine revealed by this same Prophet, Joseph Smith, that bears testimony of the love of God is the salvation of the little children of the world. Men have believed that they were lost, unless certain ordinances had been administered to them. It has been quite generally believed that the little infant at the mother's breast could not he saved without baptism, notwithstanding the fact that the great majority of all the infants that have ever been born into the world have gone to the grave without baptism. It is hard to understand the perfection or love of God in anything of this character; but, when the teaching of sacred truth is applied, as it has been given by the power of inspiration, and by the commandment of God, the wonderful, marvelous and glorious doctrine is revealed that all children, who have not come to years of accountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of God through the atonement of Jesus Christ. In the law of God manifested in a revelation of this glorious character, who can be so dense as not to discern that the Gospel that has been revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, is, as we declare, the power of God unto salvation?
These principles are making their way among men, and they will continue to extend, they cannot be staid. Such glorious principles bear the stamp of divinity, and the decree has gone forth from God, in His majesty, power and strength, that the world shall know the truth. When the world comes to know the truth, among other discoveries that will be made will be the fact that Mormonism is not a delusion, or a myth, but a revelation from our Father in heaven, the way He has appointed for the salvation of men.
May God help us ever to remember and hold fast to the truth, that we may save our souls, and be instrumental in spreading this glad news among the people, far and wide, until k .all men shall be left without excuse. This is our mission and our responsibility. We are under obligation to manifest before mankind that into our souls has come the love of God, by being willing to do our part in the proclamation of the Gospel and the building up of His work. God help us to do it humbly, faithfully and well, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A duet and chorus, "Sweet will of God," was sung by Sisters Hardy and Winder, and choir.
ELDER RULON S. WELLS.
We certainly have been impressed, in the remarks that have been made, with the unbounded love which our Father in heaven has manifested towards His children. Are we not indebted to the Lord for every blessing that we enjoy? Is it not true that we owe to Him the very existence we have upon the earth, the power to live and have a being, to associate with each other, to communicate our views, our thoughts, and reflections, even the power to think and give expression to thought? Without these precious gifts there would be no joy, we could have no delight, we could have no happiness upon this earth. Our social intercourse would be interrupted; there would be no such thing to be experienced or enjoyed. It seems to me that it is wholesome for us to let our minds go out in contemplation of the wonderful gifts we have received from our Heavenly Father. It seems to me that it is wholesome to meditate (Upon these things until we can thoroughly and completely convince ourselves that all happiness, that every blessing flows from Him. We should be full of gratitude to our Father, acknowledge Him as the Giver of all good; and we should plead with Him to help us to appreciate His blessings even as they flow from His all-bountiful hands. We cannot say too much regarding the love of God to His children. "He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In this instance, my brethren and sisters, we find the greatest manifestation of the love of God for His children.
In the remarks that were made in the opening meeting of our conference, President Joseph F. Smith told us of his determination to devote his life in the service of God. I felt impressed thereby, and feel now impressed with the fact that there is an object lesson for the Latter-day Saints: while we are recipients of that matchless love which comes from heaven, what are we going to do about it? To use the words of President Smith, "what shall we do" to show that we appreciate the blessings which God is pouring- so bounteously upon us, His children? This same sentiment was followed up by his counselors, and it seems to me that it is an appeal to the Latter-day Saints to show gratitude unto their heavenly Father.
We read in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants words like these: "In nothing doth man .offend God, and against none it His wrath kindled, save those who will not acknowledge Him in all things." The sin of the world is ingratitude to God. Against none is the wrath of our heavenly Father kindled excepting those who so far forget Him, that they will not acknowledge Him in all things, that He is the Giver of all good, that we are dependent upon Him for all that we receive. It seems to me that there should be a resolution on the part of all Latter-day Saints to express themselves just as President Smith did this morning, and show in their lives that they propose to give the Lord the very, best there is in them; in other words, that we should continuously serve the Lord, devoting our lives, our energies, our talents, whatsoever we have, and whatsoever we are, in the service of God. I wish to call attention to the fact that, if we do not serve God in all things we are liable to serve the adversary; and just exactly where we discontinue our service to God that is where such danger begins. Do what I may, every moment of my time is devoted either in the service of God or in the service of mammon; there is hardly any middle course. We must serve the Lord in everything we do, for the Lord requires constant service to Him. And is not that what is meant when the Lord commanded His children to "pray without ceasing" Is it not the condition of the heart, this ceaseless prayer; and are we not always in the attitude of praying. "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire." What are your desires, my brethren and sisters? Do you desire the triumph of Zion? Do you desire to see truth prevail? Do you desire to see the kingdom of God established upon the earth? If you do, and do it all the time, it is a prayer of righteousness unto the Lord. But if, for one moment, you lose that desire, then indeed have you ceased to pray to God but you have begun to yield to the adversary. Then ought we not to choose this day whom we will serve, God or mammon? Let it be our determination to serve the Lord with full purpose of heart, and make it; a real service unto the Lord.
What does the Lord require of us? Have we ever stopped to read the Scriptures and find out what it is that God requires of His children, in appreciation of the great blessings we receive from Him? "Son, give me thine heart." There is a good deal of meaning in that. The heart is the organ of vitality, the organ of life; and when the Lord said, "Give me thine heart," it meant, Son give me thy life, that it may be devoted in the service of God. That is what it means. It does not necessarily follow that, because we are to serve God continuously, that we are to engage, at all times, in what is commonly known as the Church work. O no; we have our avocations to follow. But in each of these we may serve God, and we ought to see to it that everything we do is in reality a service unto the most high God. He requires it at our hands, and will not approve any divergence from that path. We must not look upon sin with any degree of allowance. We find ourselves in mortality, in possession of weaknesses and imperfections, but let us struggle on, serving the Lord, keeping His commandments, and we will be cleansed from sin. But if we let up for one moment, the adversary is gaining. Then let us fight the good fight and keep the faith, rejecting evil at every turn, and never surrender. Every surrender is a service to the evil one. We cannot obtain permission at any time to serve the evil one; we ought not to have any such desire in our hearts. We can serve God, not only in our houses o£_ worship, but we can serve Him upon the field; at the bench, in the workshop; in every avocation of life, in our amusements, in all that we set our hands to do. If there be work assigned to us that cannot be done in harmony with the will of God, then do not do it. If there be amusements that are contrary to the spirit of righteousness, then do not participate in that kind of amusement; only in those occupations, pleasures and pastimes in which we can carry on our service of God should we engage ourselves.
My brethren and sisters, I have an abiding faith in this work. I know the truth of Mormonism as it has been revealed through the Prophet Joseph, and I hope that every one present is in possession of that testimony, for it is the power of God unto salvation, if we will only be faithful and true. The Lord has done His part by us; let us see to it that we do our part, that we may be entitled to salvation and exaltation in His presence that is promised to the faithful, I ask it through Jesus Christ. Amen.
We certainly have been impressed, in the remarks that have been made, with the unbounded love which our Father in heaven has manifested towards His children. Are we not indebted to the Lord for every blessing that we enjoy? Is it not true that we owe to Him the very existence we have upon the earth, the power to live and have a being, to associate with each other, to communicate our views, our thoughts, and reflections, even the power to think and give expression to thought? Without these precious gifts there would be no joy, we could have no delight, we could have no happiness upon this earth. Our social intercourse would be interrupted; there would be no such thing to be experienced or enjoyed. It seems to me that it is wholesome for us to let our minds go out in contemplation of the wonderful gifts we have received from our Heavenly Father. It seems to me that it is wholesome to meditate (Upon these things until we can thoroughly and completely convince ourselves that all happiness, that every blessing flows from Him. We should be full of gratitude to our Father, acknowledge Him as the Giver of all good; and we should plead with Him to help us to appreciate His blessings even as they flow from His all-bountiful hands. We cannot say too much regarding the love of God to His children. "He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In this instance, my brethren and sisters, we find the greatest manifestation of the love of God for His children.
In the remarks that were made in the opening meeting of our conference, President Joseph F. Smith told us of his determination to devote his life in the service of God. I felt impressed thereby, and feel now impressed with the fact that there is an object lesson for the Latter-day Saints: while we are recipients of that matchless love which comes from heaven, what are we going to do about it? To use the words of President Smith, "what shall we do" to show that we appreciate the blessings which God is pouring- so bounteously upon us, His children? This same sentiment was followed up by his counselors, and it seems to me that it is an appeal to the Latter-day Saints to show gratitude unto their heavenly Father.
We read in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants words like these: "In nothing doth man .offend God, and against none it His wrath kindled, save those who will not acknowledge Him in all things." The sin of the world is ingratitude to God. Against none is the wrath of our heavenly Father kindled excepting those who so far forget Him, that they will not acknowledge Him in all things, that He is the Giver of all good, that we are dependent upon Him for all that we receive. It seems to me that there should be a resolution on the part of all Latter-day Saints to express themselves just as President Smith did this morning, and show in their lives that they propose to give the Lord the very, best there is in them; in other words, that we should continuously serve the Lord, devoting our lives, our energies, our talents, whatsoever we have, and whatsoever we are, in the service of God. I wish to call attention to the fact that, if we do not serve God in all things we are liable to serve the adversary; and just exactly where we discontinue our service to God that is where such danger begins. Do what I may, every moment of my time is devoted either in the service of God or in the service of mammon; there is hardly any middle course. We must serve the Lord in everything we do, for the Lord requires constant service to Him. And is not that what is meant when the Lord commanded His children to "pray without ceasing" Is it not the condition of the heart, this ceaseless prayer; and are we not always in the attitude of praying. "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire." What are your desires, my brethren and sisters? Do you desire the triumph of Zion? Do you desire to see truth prevail? Do you desire to see the kingdom of God established upon the earth? If you do, and do it all the time, it is a prayer of righteousness unto the Lord. But if, for one moment, you lose that desire, then indeed have you ceased to pray to God but you have begun to yield to the adversary. Then ought we not to choose this day whom we will serve, God or mammon? Let it be our determination to serve the Lord with full purpose of heart, and make it; a real service unto the Lord.
What does the Lord require of us? Have we ever stopped to read the Scriptures and find out what it is that God requires of His children, in appreciation of the great blessings we receive from Him? "Son, give me thine heart." There is a good deal of meaning in that. The heart is the organ of vitality, the organ of life; and when the Lord said, "Give me thine heart," it meant, Son give me thy life, that it may be devoted in the service of God. That is what it means. It does not necessarily follow that, because we are to serve God continuously, that we are to engage, at all times, in what is commonly known as the Church work. O no; we have our avocations to follow. But in each of these we may serve God, and we ought to see to it that everything we do is in reality a service unto the most high God. He requires it at our hands, and will not approve any divergence from that path. We must not look upon sin with any degree of allowance. We find ourselves in mortality, in possession of weaknesses and imperfections, but let us struggle on, serving the Lord, keeping His commandments, and we will be cleansed from sin. But if we let up for one moment, the adversary is gaining. Then let us fight the good fight and keep the faith, rejecting evil at every turn, and never surrender. Every surrender is a service to the evil one. We cannot obtain permission at any time to serve the evil one; we ought not to have any such desire in our hearts. We can serve God, not only in our houses o£_ worship, but we can serve Him upon the field; at the bench, in the workshop; in every avocation of life, in our amusements, in all that we set our hands to do. If there be work assigned to us that cannot be done in harmony with the will of God, then do not do it. If there be amusements that are contrary to the spirit of righteousness, then do not participate in that kind of amusement; only in those occupations, pleasures and pastimes in which we can carry on our service of God should we engage ourselves.
My brethren and sisters, I have an abiding faith in this work. I know the truth of Mormonism as it has been revealed through the Prophet Joseph, and I hope that every one present is in possession of that testimony, for it is the power of God unto salvation, if we will only be faithful and true. The Lord has done His part by us; let us see to it that we do our part, that we may be entitled to salvation and exaltation in His presence that is promised to the faithful, I ask it through Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER J. GOLDEN KIMBALL.
I never like to preach to Latter-day Saints who have already been over-fed with such spiritual nourishment and are not hungry; it seems like wasting effort. I have read somewhere that "Silence is golden," and I have been trying for the past year to think, and keep silent. I do not think I have ever made as great an effort during my labors in the ministry, and among the people of this Church, to look at both sides of every question. I am not speaking of the gospel; to that there is only one side, and that is the right side. But there are other things that I have been trying to understand, and see both sides and then keep still. I think some of you are very much like I am; I have said some things that I am sorry were said and printed. I never know just how I will begin nor how I will end.
I have been thinking of late, and during my time of thought, I have hunted for scripture and something to convince me that I was thinking in the right direction, and that it was approved by those who are in authority. I will read some of it to you; it is not original; there is very little that is original:
"I want to come to the hearts of the people. It is a blessed thing that the heart has an instinct which tells it who has a right to teach it. The world cares little for theorists and theories—little for schools and school men, little for anything a man has to utter that has not previously been distilled in the Alembic of his life. I come to you with shoes worn and dusty with the walk upon life's highway, with face bronzed by fierce sun, and muscles knit by conflict with the evils of the age. * * I do not knock at the human heart with gloved hands, and an attire borrowed for the occasion."
You ought to know that, Latter-day Saints. I want to say to you, as far as I am concerned individually, I do not live altogether for myself. Does your own heart tell you, after my pilgrimage and labors among this people, if I have a right to teach you. I haven't been raised with a silver spoon in my mouth. I am not highly cultured. From the day I was 15 years old I have fought my battles practically alone. I am not old yet. I will tell you a great truth which is "To know thyself, oh man," and then let the other fellow alone. One of the good sisters said to me, "Golden if you wouldn't talk so much about yourself, it would be a good thing." Well, I thought to myself, it would be a good thing if you would talk about yourself and let other people alone. I know more about myself than any other person on earth, and I am going to try to keep some of it quiet, if I can.
I have read about the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have the story of the Prophet, and it is a wonderful story for a boy to tell. About those two personages that came to him, also John the Baptist, Peter, James and John. To me it is very wonderful. Do you believe it? If that is not true, Joseph Smith was the biggest fraud that ever came to a people on earth. There has never been a more sacrilegious thing uttered by man, if it is not true. Now, I say, do you believe it? Do I believe it? I believe everything that has been revealed to the Prophet Joseph' Smith. If any principle that has been revealed to the Prophet is not true, then it is all wrong, as far as I am concerned. There is no use of mincing over it. Every Latter-day Saint in the Church should receive every truth, or else none of it. I believe it all. I believe every word of it. I "believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and I believe the Lord will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God." I believe all that God has revealed, as fast as I can understand and comprehend it; and I believe that God will yet reveal many great and important things. I am not sure if we will be prepared to receive all or not. Joseph Smith said the Lord had revealed things to him which if he had repeated to the people they would have taken his life. It is a good thing he didn't; we have more truths and doctrine than we now live up to.
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men." I accept that with all my heart. A man must be honest, and he must be true, and he must tie chaste and benevolent, virtuous, and continue doing good to all men. What can God do for a man who is not honest? You may baptize him every fifteen minutes, but if he does not repent, he will come up out of the water just as dishonest as ever. What can God do for a liar who refuses to repent? Can the Lord save him? He can't claim salvation. Baptising him in water will not settle the trouble, unless you keep him under. (Laughter.) What can the Lord do with people who are not virtuous, unless they repent? You cannot change the laws of the Lord. Men may deceive men; they may deceive apostles; they may deceive the President of the Church; they may even get into the temple, but that would not make them virtuous. You may confer the Holy Ghost upon them by the laying on of hands, but the Holy Ghost does not remain with the unrepentant; it will not remain in an unclean tabernacle. To deceive men is easy, but I want to tell you in the name of Israel's God, and this thought should be burned into the souls of our sons and daughters, that unless they repent of all their sins and cease immoral practices, they cannot remain in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Holy Ghost will not stay with them; they will not have the testimony of Jesus. This doctrine is true.
I have tried to be generous in my sentiments, and be on the right side; I have tried to be tolerant, not intolerant, I have tried to respect men's opinions, and I have discovered that we do not always see things alike. We may as far as the gospel is concerned, but we are a long way from it in other things. In temporal things we do not sufficiently respect each other's opinions. Are we going to sit in judgment upon men? I am not in favor of it. I am not in sympathy with men who are intolerant, I am afraid of them. What does the Lord say? They were trying to tempt the Savior just as they have tried to tempt the Latte-day Saints. We are being tempted and tested. We are being dazzled and bewildered by the things of the world, and some are trying to make men offenders for a word. The Savior said to those who were tempting him: --
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation." We can talk about other churches that Brother Bassett has been reading about, but there is a division amongst other people than the Christian churches, even among the people of the Latter-day Church. It is a kingdom divided against itself, to some extent, on temperance and political questions, and they are considered weighty problems too. "A house divided against itself falleth." "If Satan be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?" The Latter-day Saints must be united to be successful. It is a great warfare between Satan and the Savior, and to some men it would appear as if Satan was going to be victorious. Not so. Through long continued patience, the victory will be the Lord's. It may take years, yea hundreds of years, but, as Brother McMurrin so beautifully portrayed to you, God will save His children after all. A condition of antagonism puts me a good deal in mind of a spectacle analogous to that represented in the caricature called the combat of the two serpents; after having devoured everything around them, the two reptiles attacked each other, finally there remained on the battle field but two tails.
Now, brethren, let us repent, if we have got any bitterness in our hearts toward each other, let us be generous, and forgiving. No man has any influence or power for good when angry. It is "amen to the priesthood and the authority of that man when he uses unrighteous dominion," etc. It doesn't matter who he is. When a man has the Holy Ghost his heart is full of meekness, it is full of love unfeigned. He loves the souls of the children of men and he realizes how precious they are in the sight of God. May we as Latter-day Saints enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit, I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
I never like to preach to Latter-day Saints who have already been over-fed with such spiritual nourishment and are not hungry; it seems like wasting effort. I have read somewhere that "Silence is golden," and I have been trying for the past year to think, and keep silent. I do not think I have ever made as great an effort during my labors in the ministry, and among the people of this Church, to look at both sides of every question. I am not speaking of the gospel; to that there is only one side, and that is the right side. But there are other things that I have been trying to understand, and see both sides and then keep still. I think some of you are very much like I am; I have said some things that I am sorry were said and printed. I never know just how I will begin nor how I will end.
I have been thinking of late, and during my time of thought, I have hunted for scripture and something to convince me that I was thinking in the right direction, and that it was approved by those who are in authority. I will read some of it to you; it is not original; there is very little that is original:
"I want to come to the hearts of the people. It is a blessed thing that the heart has an instinct which tells it who has a right to teach it. The world cares little for theorists and theories—little for schools and school men, little for anything a man has to utter that has not previously been distilled in the Alembic of his life. I come to you with shoes worn and dusty with the walk upon life's highway, with face bronzed by fierce sun, and muscles knit by conflict with the evils of the age. * * I do not knock at the human heart with gloved hands, and an attire borrowed for the occasion."
You ought to know that, Latter-day Saints. I want to say to you, as far as I am concerned individually, I do not live altogether for myself. Does your own heart tell you, after my pilgrimage and labors among this people, if I have a right to teach you. I haven't been raised with a silver spoon in my mouth. I am not highly cultured. From the day I was 15 years old I have fought my battles practically alone. I am not old yet. I will tell you a great truth which is "To know thyself, oh man," and then let the other fellow alone. One of the good sisters said to me, "Golden if you wouldn't talk so much about yourself, it would be a good thing." Well, I thought to myself, it would be a good thing if you would talk about yourself and let other people alone. I know more about myself than any other person on earth, and I am going to try to keep some of it quiet, if I can.
I have read about the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have the story of the Prophet, and it is a wonderful story for a boy to tell. About those two personages that came to him, also John the Baptist, Peter, James and John. To me it is very wonderful. Do you believe it? If that is not true, Joseph Smith was the biggest fraud that ever came to a people on earth. There has never been a more sacrilegious thing uttered by man, if it is not true. Now, I say, do you believe it? Do I believe it? I believe everything that has been revealed to the Prophet Joseph' Smith. If any principle that has been revealed to the Prophet is not true, then it is all wrong, as far as I am concerned. There is no use of mincing over it. Every Latter-day Saint in the Church should receive every truth, or else none of it. I believe it all. I believe every word of it. I "believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and I believe the Lord will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God." I believe all that God has revealed, as fast as I can understand and comprehend it; and I believe that God will yet reveal many great and important things. I am not sure if we will be prepared to receive all or not. Joseph Smith said the Lord had revealed things to him which if he had repeated to the people they would have taken his life. It is a good thing he didn't; we have more truths and doctrine than we now live up to.
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men." I accept that with all my heart. A man must be honest, and he must be true, and he must tie chaste and benevolent, virtuous, and continue doing good to all men. What can God do for a man who is not honest? You may baptize him every fifteen minutes, but if he does not repent, he will come up out of the water just as dishonest as ever. What can God do for a liar who refuses to repent? Can the Lord save him? He can't claim salvation. Baptising him in water will not settle the trouble, unless you keep him under. (Laughter.) What can the Lord do with people who are not virtuous, unless they repent? You cannot change the laws of the Lord. Men may deceive men; they may deceive apostles; they may deceive the President of the Church; they may even get into the temple, but that would not make them virtuous. You may confer the Holy Ghost upon them by the laying on of hands, but the Holy Ghost does not remain with the unrepentant; it will not remain in an unclean tabernacle. To deceive men is easy, but I want to tell you in the name of Israel's God, and this thought should be burned into the souls of our sons and daughters, that unless they repent of all their sins and cease immoral practices, they cannot remain in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Holy Ghost will not stay with them; they will not have the testimony of Jesus. This doctrine is true.
I have tried to be generous in my sentiments, and be on the right side; I have tried to be tolerant, not intolerant, I have tried to respect men's opinions, and I have discovered that we do not always see things alike. We may as far as the gospel is concerned, but we are a long way from it in other things. In temporal things we do not sufficiently respect each other's opinions. Are we going to sit in judgment upon men? I am not in favor of it. I am not in sympathy with men who are intolerant, I am afraid of them. What does the Lord say? They were trying to tempt the Savior just as they have tried to tempt the Latte-day Saints. We are being tempted and tested. We are being dazzled and bewildered by the things of the world, and some are trying to make men offenders for a word. The Savior said to those who were tempting him: --
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation." We can talk about other churches that Brother Bassett has been reading about, but there is a division amongst other people than the Christian churches, even among the people of the Latter-day Church. It is a kingdom divided against itself, to some extent, on temperance and political questions, and they are considered weighty problems too. "A house divided against itself falleth." "If Satan be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?" The Latter-day Saints must be united to be successful. It is a great warfare between Satan and the Savior, and to some men it would appear as if Satan was going to be victorious. Not so. Through long continued patience, the victory will be the Lord's. It may take years, yea hundreds of years, but, as Brother McMurrin so beautifully portrayed to you, God will save His children after all. A condition of antagonism puts me a good deal in mind of a spectacle analogous to that represented in the caricature called the combat of the two serpents; after having devoured everything around them, the two reptiles attacked each other, finally there remained on the battle field but two tails.
Now, brethren, let us repent, if we have got any bitterness in our hearts toward each other, let us be generous, and forgiving. No man has any influence or power for good when angry. It is "amen to the priesthood and the authority of that man when he uses unrighteous dominion," etc. It doesn't matter who he is. When a man has the Holy Ghost his heart is full of meekness, it is full of love unfeigned. He loves the souls of the children of men and he realizes how precious they are in the sight of God. May we as Latter-day Saints enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit, I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER GEORGE F. RICHARDS.
God's Kingdom on earth to unite with the Heavenly Kingdom.—Conditions essential to admission into the Kingdom.— Faithful Saints sustained by the Holy Spirit.—Evil is overcome by resistance.
It is nearly time to bring our meeting to a close. I feel that we have had a good service. I can bear testimony to the truth of what has been said this afternoon.
I desire, in the few moments that remain, to express some sentiments which I have in my heart with regard to this work. We have in the 65th section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants a revelation on prayer, given through the Prophet Joseph, the Seer, in the year 1831. From this revelation I read the following:
"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 was cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth until it has filled the whole earth; yea, a voice crying, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the bridegroom ; pray unto the Lord, call upon His holy name, make known His wonderful works among the people; call upon the Lord, that His kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down from heaven, clothed in the brightness of His glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth; wherefore may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, for ever. Amen."
Here it is very plainly set forth that God has established His kingdom upon the earth, and the time will come when His kingdom which is established in heaven shall come forth to meet His kingdom upon the earth. The Lord has made clear to us that no sinful thing can enter into His presence. He dwells in the celestial kingdom. The kingdom of God in heaven is most perfect, and all that pertains unto it.
We have heard some remarks with reference to the perfection of the Church of Christ, organized on the earth in these last days, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This kingdom of our Father is most perfect, the Church and kingdom, so far as it has been revealed to us. We know not but there are some things pertaining to the perfection of the organization of the Church not yet revealed, for, as has been stated, we believe all that God has revealed, and we believe that He will yet reveal many important things pertaining to the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth, as well as doctrine. This Church, then, and embryotic kingdom of God, is typical of the kingdom of our Father in heaven; and as no sinful thing can enter the kingdom of God in heaven, go where our Father is and enjoy celestial glory with Him and with our elder brother and Savior, so we cannot enter this preparatory kingdom in our sins, but every man and woman must of necessity repent of sin, with broken heart and contrite spirit, or they cannot obtain admission. If they have been admitted under any other conditions, they are still in their sins even though they may have yielded obedience to the ordinance of baptism, and though that ordinance may have been performed in the way the Lord has appointed, by immersion in water, and by one who has held the authority, their sins are not remitted; and though hands may be laid upon their heads to confer the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost has not come upon them, and the testimony has never been borne through the Holy Ghost to their souls concerning the truth of the work and the acceptance by the Lord of their course of life. We must begin at the bottom. We must repent of our sins before we can obtain acceptable admission into the Church. Repentance comes through faith, through the hearing of the word, and we hear the word by the preaching of those whom the Lord has appointed. We learn of our Father, and of His Son, and of His gospel, the provision made for the salvation of the children of men, by searching the scriptures. As the Savior said, "Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." If we close up our hearts and minds, give ourselves over to evil thoughts, disregard the will and wishes of our Father, and disregard the influence of His Holy Spirit, which actuates the soul of every man to know good from evil, and do not bend our energies in the way of doing good, cleave to the truth and eschew evil, the condemnation of the Lord will follow us.
The Lord expects us to trust in Him; He expects us to seek after Him, and that we may have faith in Him, and having faith in Him and in His Son, our Redeemer, He expects us to yield obedience to His will, keep His commandments, forsake all sin, and be advocates of the truth. That is our mission. I bear you witness today, I do know, for I have yielded obedience to the law, that I have had a testimony from the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, that my course in so doing has been accepted of Him. I know that the gospel is the truth; and I know that His saving power is had by those who have yielded obedience unto it, who have rid themselves of sin and wickedness, who have received the Holy Spirit in their souls, and hope for a glorious resurrection and the blessings of eternal life. All such can look back upon their past lives and contrast their present with the former condition. They do know most positively that the gospel has been a saving power in their lives ; they know that if they retrace their steps and resort to those evil things which were part of their conduct before this still small voice, these words of life came to them, it means their utter condemnation and destruction. The Lord comforts His faithful people all along the pathway of life. As we undertake to do what is right, to aid in His cause, and to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth, He blesses us with the manifestations of His Spirit in our work, by dreams and vision at night, by the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and by the gift of healing. In numerous ways the Lord, all along the line of our life's work, gives encouragement, and faith, and knowledge, and the hope of a glorious resurrection; we are not left in doubt and darkness. Such is my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters. We are not yet perfect in this earthly kingdom, though it is our Father's. Though we have repented of our sins, man is prone to do evil, even as the sparks fly upward. When we find ourselves overcome by that which is evil, the Lord requires that we will, with broken hearts and contrite spirits, undertake again to forsake those evils, return to them no more. With the Lord's help we will finally succeed and triumph over evil; just as he who was once addicted to the use of liquor, every time he passed the saloon going to and from his day's work, was tempted to go inside. After a time, by resisting that evil, remembering that intoxicating liquor was not good for him, the temptation passed away; the Lord strengthened him against that evil, and he became able to successfully withstand it. Such is our mission here in this life, to battle all the day long with ourselves; and as we obtain additional light and knowledge, to make known that light and knowledge to others, that they may participate with us in the joy of that knowledge, and the hope of obtaining everlasting life through fighting the battle faithfully to the end.
May the blessing of the Lord be upon us all. Assuredly we all need the Lord's help; we need strength from Him. As we engage faithfully to overcome, to perfect within ourselves the attributes of our eternal Father, He will help us, and we will succeed and triumph. May the Lord bless us to this end, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
An anthem entitled, "Our God shall be glorified," words by Elder Richard S. Home, and music by Prof. Charles J. Thomas, was rendered by the Temple choir.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Josiah E. Hickman.
God's Kingdom on earth to unite with the Heavenly Kingdom.—Conditions essential to admission into the Kingdom.— Faithful Saints sustained by the Holy Spirit.—Evil is overcome by resistance.
It is nearly time to bring our meeting to a close. I feel that we have had a good service. I can bear testimony to the truth of what has been said this afternoon.
I desire, in the few moments that remain, to express some sentiments which I have in my heart with regard to this work. We have in the 65th section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants a revelation on prayer, given through the Prophet Joseph, the Seer, in the year 1831. From this revelation I read the following:
"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 was cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth until it has filled the whole earth; yea, a voice crying, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the bridegroom ; pray unto the Lord, call upon His holy name, make known His wonderful works among the people; call upon the Lord, that His kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down from heaven, clothed in the brightness of His glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth; wherefore may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come, that thou, O God, mayest be glorified in heaven so on earth, that thine enemies may be subdued; for thine is the honor, power and glory, for ever. Amen."
Here it is very plainly set forth that God has established His kingdom upon the earth, and the time will come when His kingdom which is established in heaven shall come forth to meet His kingdom upon the earth. The Lord has made clear to us that no sinful thing can enter into His presence. He dwells in the celestial kingdom. The kingdom of God in heaven is most perfect, and all that pertains unto it.
We have heard some remarks with reference to the perfection of the Church of Christ, organized on the earth in these last days, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This kingdom of our Father is most perfect, the Church and kingdom, so far as it has been revealed to us. We know not but there are some things pertaining to the perfection of the organization of the Church not yet revealed, for, as has been stated, we believe all that God has revealed, and we believe that He will yet reveal many important things pertaining to the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth, as well as doctrine. This Church, then, and embryotic kingdom of God, is typical of the kingdom of our Father in heaven; and as no sinful thing can enter the kingdom of God in heaven, go where our Father is and enjoy celestial glory with Him and with our elder brother and Savior, so we cannot enter this preparatory kingdom in our sins, but every man and woman must of necessity repent of sin, with broken heart and contrite spirit, or they cannot obtain admission. If they have been admitted under any other conditions, they are still in their sins even though they may have yielded obedience to the ordinance of baptism, and though that ordinance may have been performed in the way the Lord has appointed, by immersion in water, and by one who has held the authority, their sins are not remitted; and though hands may be laid upon their heads to confer the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost has not come upon them, and the testimony has never been borne through the Holy Ghost to their souls concerning the truth of the work and the acceptance by the Lord of their course of life. We must begin at the bottom. We must repent of our sins before we can obtain acceptable admission into the Church. Repentance comes through faith, through the hearing of the word, and we hear the word by the preaching of those whom the Lord has appointed. We learn of our Father, and of His Son, and of His gospel, the provision made for the salvation of the children of men, by searching the scriptures. As the Savior said, "Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." If we close up our hearts and minds, give ourselves over to evil thoughts, disregard the will and wishes of our Father, and disregard the influence of His Holy Spirit, which actuates the soul of every man to know good from evil, and do not bend our energies in the way of doing good, cleave to the truth and eschew evil, the condemnation of the Lord will follow us.
The Lord expects us to trust in Him; He expects us to seek after Him, and that we may have faith in Him, and having faith in Him and in His Son, our Redeemer, He expects us to yield obedience to His will, keep His commandments, forsake all sin, and be advocates of the truth. That is our mission. I bear you witness today, I do know, for I have yielded obedience to the law, that I have had a testimony from the Lord, through His Holy Spirit, that my course in so doing has been accepted of Him. I know that the gospel is the truth; and I know that His saving power is had by those who have yielded obedience unto it, who have rid themselves of sin and wickedness, who have received the Holy Spirit in their souls, and hope for a glorious resurrection and the blessings of eternal life. All such can look back upon their past lives and contrast their present with the former condition. They do know most positively that the gospel has been a saving power in their lives ; they know that if they retrace their steps and resort to those evil things which were part of their conduct before this still small voice, these words of life came to them, it means their utter condemnation and destruction. The Lord comforts His faithful people all along the pathway of life. As we undertake to do what is right, to aid in His cause, and to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth, He blesses us with the manifestations of His Spirit in our work, by dreams and vision at night, by the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and by the gift of healing. In numerous ways the Lord, all along the line of our life's work, gives encouragement, and faith, and knowledge, and the hope of a glorious resurrection; we are not left in doubt and darkness. Such is my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters. We are not yet perfect in this earthly kingdom, though it is our Father's. Though we have repented of our sins, man is prone to do evil, even as the sparks fly upward. When we find ourselves overcome by that which is evil, the Lord requires that we will, with broken hearts and contrite spirits, undertake again to forsake those evils, return to them no more. With the Lord's help we will finally succeed and triumph over evil; just as he who was once addicted to the use of liquor, every time he passed the saloon going to and from his day's work, was tempted to go inside. After a time, by resisting that evil, remembering that intoxicating liquor was not good for him, the temptation passed away; the Lord strengthened him against that evil, and he became able to successfully withstand it. Such is our mission here in this life, to battle all the day long with ourselves; and as we obtain additional light and knowledge, to make known that light and knowledge to others, that they may participate with us in the joy of that knowledge, and the hope of obtaining everlasting life through fighting the battle faithfully to the end.
May the blessing of the Lord be upon us all. Assuredly we all need the Lord's help; we need strength from Him. As we engage faithfully to overcome, to perfect within ourselves the attributes of our eternal Father, He will help us, and we will succeed and triumph. May the Lord bless us to this end, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
An anthem entitled, "Our God shall be glorified," words by Elder Richard S. Home, and music by Prof. Charles J. Thomas, was rendered by the Temple choir.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Josiah E. Hickman.
OUTDOOR MEETING.
The Tabernacle and Assembly Hall were uncomfortably crowded, and thousands were unable to obtain admittance, consequently, the weather being favorable, an outdoor meeting of the Conference was held, at 2 p. m., near the Bureau of Information building, at which 2,500 persons were present.
Elder Benjamin Goddard presided, and Prof. Elihu Call conducted the singing.
The congregation sang the hymn, "High on the mountain top."
Prayer was offered by Elder Jacob F. Gates.
The congregation sang the hymn, "We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
The Tabernacle and Assembly Hall were uncomfortably crowded, and thousands were unable to obtain admittance, consequently, the weather being favorable, an outdoor meeting of the Conference was held, at 2 p. m., near the Bureau of Information building, at which 2,500 persons were present.
Elder Benjamin Goddard presided, and Prof. Elihu Call conducted the singing.
The congregation sang the hymn, "High on the mountain top."
Prayer was offered by Elder Jacob F. Gates.
The congregation sang the hymn, "We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
ELDER BENJAMIN GODDARD.
It is gratifying, my brethren and sisters, to observe the crowds of our Church members so interested in the work of the Lord that they come from the south and the north, the east and the west, from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south, for the purpose of attending our annual conference.
We realize the disadvantages attending this open air meeting, but we are thankful that we have not the same disadvantages nor the spirit of antagonism that we so often encounter upon the street corners of large cities, where people are not of our faith. The brethren, however, who will address you have been accustomed to street meetings. They have good voices. They are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and I think they can make you all hear.
Upon this block, we also have a missionary work constantly in operation. I simply want to refer to the fulfillment of prophecy in connection with our work here, as it may be particularly interesting to some of our friends who are now in the audience, and who are not of our faith. Every day in the week, every day of the year, from early morning until late at night, we are entertaining "strangers within our gates," explaining unto them the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and all that the structures upon this block stand for. Amongst other things we direct special attention to our magnificent Temple, a monument to the faith of the people, and a palpable evidence of the restoration of the gospel. In that connection, too,' these words are now verily fulfilled:
"But, in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say [mark you, they are saying it every day of the year, and this prophecy is thus fulfilled, for from every nation under heaven people are coming, and saying], Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
I pray that the Spirit that usually is present in our sacred gatherings may rest upon the assembly in this open air meeting, that the word of the Lord may be given unto you, and that the Spirit may interpret it to your understanding. I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
It is gratifying, my brethren and sisters, to observe the crowds of our Church members so interested in the work of the Lord that they come from the south and the north, the east and the west, from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south, for the purpose of attending our annual conference.
We realize the disadvantages attending this open air meeting, but we are thankful that we have not the same disadvantages nor the spirit of antagonism that we so often encounter upon the street corners of large cities, where people are not of our faith. The brethren, however, who will address you have been accustomed to street meetings. They have good voices. They are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and I think they can make you all hear.
Upon this block, we also have a missionary work constantly in operation. I simply want to refer to the fulfillment of prophecy in connection with our work here, as it may be particularly interesting to some of our friends who are now in the audience, and who are not of our faith. Every day in the week, every day of the year, from early morning until late at night, we are entertaining "strangers within our gates," explaining unto them the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and all that the structures upon this block stand for. Amongst other things we direct special attention to our magnificent Temple, a monument to the faith of the people, and a palpable evidence of the restoration of the gospel. In that connection, too,' these words are now verily fulfilled:
"But, in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say [mark you, they are saying it every day of the year, and this prophecy is thus fulfilled, for from every nation under heaven people are coming, and saying], Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
I pray that the Spirit that usually is present in our sacred gatherings may rest upon the assembly in this open air meeting, that the word of the Lord may be given unto you, and that the Spirit may interpret it to your understanding. I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER GERMAN E. ELLSWORTH.
(President of Northern States Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, I consider it a privilege that we are permitted to gather together and worship the Lord in this, the 79th, annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With you, I rejoice in the instructions that we have received this morning; and I ask myself the question asked by President Smith, "What am I doing to keep the commandments of the Lord?" Is my heart as willing to sacrifice as were our brethren and sisters who were instrumental in establishing the church in the earth 79 years ago? I rejoice that my grand-parents were among the first to hear the message of truth, and that they had faith enough to receive and live the same. I wonder, with our opportunities, as young men and women, after our years of training, if we are as anxious to accept the truth, and as anxious to serve the Lord as they in that day. There is more truth in the world than when this church was organized, but it seems to one we are slower to accept the truth, especially if it is called a "religious" truth. This is my experience with men and women of the world, during eight years in preaching the Gospel.
When you tell broad-minded men and women in the world that we are the only church in the earth that is .right, they are shocked, and horrified at our "narrow" conception of the love of God; yet it is true, and when understood in the light of the restored gospel it is the broadest conception possible. I wonder if the Latter-day Saints stop to consider what a wonderful and terrible statement it must be to the people of the world, to be told that they are without the right to officiate in the name of God and that we are the only people in the world who have the right. I told one man who has been prominent in governmental affairs in the United States the past four years, that while the people of the world may be moral teachers, may be great educators, and may deliver truths to the children of men, and are exerting wonderful influences for the civilization of the world and for the education of the children of men, yet, on one point the great and vital point of authority we differ with them. After they have been taught the truth, and believe the same, we claim to be the only people who have the right to take a man or woman into the waters of baptism and there say, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." This man said to me, "I can see why all other churches unite against you, after you pit yourselves against the rest of the world with that statement."
I often wonder if the Latter-day Saints appreciate that statement, and realize our position. If it be true and we believe that we are the only people in the world that have the right to officiate in the name of God, what a labor is resting upon our shoulders, and what a responsible position we occupy. Less than fifty thousand men in the world having the right to baptize the rest of the people who come to believe in the name of God. We understand that there is about one-third of the world today who, nominally, believe in Christ. There are many millions of these people who truly believe in Christ. They firmly and honestly believe in Him, from all the light that they have received, and they believe, too, that they have been initiated into the Church of Christ, and that when they die they will be saved in His presence. They believe they have done all that they need to do; and yet, as Latter-day Saints, we know, from the testimony that burns in our bosom, there is yet something for them to do. It is encouraging to know they are fast believing that God is our Father, in very deed. They are fast acquiring a genuine belief that Jesus Christ is in very deed the Son of God; and also believing that there is something more yet to be done; that men will be called of God, sometime, to officiate in ordinances of the Gospel that have not yet been officiated in by them in their churches.
One minister told me a few days ago, "Mr. Ellsworth, we believe in the restoration of the Gospel." "Why," I said, "that seems strange. I have never heard a minister declare that before in my life." I asked him how he believed in the restoration, and he gave me almost word for word the argument we use: that there was an apostasy, and that, after the reformation, little by little God has revealed the truth to this church and that church, through this man and that woman. "We have today much more truth than we had fifty years ago; and we believe that more truth will be given to us just as rapidly as we are prepared to receive it. If it is the Lord's will that we be baptized by immersion, we will be glad to be baptized just as soon as we feel that it is an important thing. If it is important, as the scriptures hint, that we should have the laying on of hands, we believe that the Lord will make it manifest to us through our churches. If it is important that we do other things that you speak of, we believe that He will restore them to us through one church or through another. To all who are moved upon by the Spirit of God to receive those truths, they will be essential in their lives; but just as long as this or that principle does not dawn upon us, we do not feel responsible to obey it. We feel now that the most essential thing is to believe in God ; and inasmuch as we believe in God, we believe we will be saved, but we believe also that it is essential to live up to all the truths that He reveals to us."
I told him that that was a pretty good argument, and I believe that it will do good. The Lord will hold us responsible for what light we have received. As Latter-day Saints believing that God, our Father, 79 years ago, re-established the Church, with such officers as were placed in it in the days of Jesus Christ, and that He has revealed to us all the light and blessings, and principles that have been revealed or taught by holy men of old since the world began, knowing these things to be true, it is well that we ask the question that President Joseph F. Smith asked himself and the Latter-day Saints this morning, What have I done; what am I doing, what am I willing to do, to help establish this great work?
Proclaiming to the world that God has revealed to us all the principles of the Gospel, the great things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world, and has delivered to us the responsibility of teaching them to our fellow men, it is well that we ask that question in all seriousness. Am I willing to do what my father or my grandfather did? Am I willing to do what the first men and women who received this Gospel did for the establishment of the work of God in the earth? Is my all on the altar, am I willing to spend my time, my means, and my talents in that great cause? I say, my brethren and sisters, it is a good question to ask ourselves. May God help us to appreciate the fact that we are the only people who have this divine right to officiate in the name of God. May He help us to exercise this authority with an eye single to the glory of God, in all charity and love, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
(President of Northern States Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, I consider it a privilege that we are permitted to gather together and worship the Lord in this, the 79th, annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With you, I rejoice in the instructions that we have received this morning; and I ask myself the question asked by President Smith, "What am I doing to keep the commandments of the Lord?" Is my heart as willing to sacrifice as were our brethren and sisters who were instrumental in establishing the church in the earth 79 years ago? I rejoice that my grand-parents were among the first to hear the message of truth, and that they had faith enough to receive and live the same. I wonder, with our opportunities, as young men and women, after our years of training, if we are as anxious to accept the truth, and as anxious to serve the Lord as they in that day. There is more truth in the world than when this church was organized, but it seems to one we are slower to accept the truth, especially if it is called a "religious" truth. This is my experience with men and women of the world, during eight years in preaching the Gospel.
When you tell broad-minded men and women in the world that we are the only church in the earth that is .right, they are shocked, and horrified at our "narrow" conception of the love of God; yet it is true, and when understood in the light of the restored gospel it is the broadest conception possible. I wonder if the Latter-day Saints stop to consider what a wonderful and terrible statement it must be to the people of the world, to be told that they are without the right to officiate in the name of God and that we are the only people in the world who have the right. I told one man who has been prominent in governmental affairs in the United States the past four years, that while the people of the world may be moral teachers, may be great educators, and may deliver truths to the children of men, and are exerting wonderful influences for the civilization of the world and for the education of the children of men, yet, on one point the great and vital point of authority we differ with them. After they have been taught the truth, and believe the same, we claim to be the only people who have the right to take a man or woman into the waters of baptism and there say, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." This man said to me, "I can see why all other churches unite against you, after you pit yourselves against the rest of the world with that statement."
I often wonder if the Latter-day Saints appreciate that statement, and realize our position. If it be true and we believe that we are the only people in the world that have the right to officiate in the name of God, what a labor is resting upon our shoulders, and what a responsible position we occupy. Less than fifty thousand men in the world having the right to baptize the rest of the people who come to believe in the name of God. We understand that there is about one-third of the world today who, nominally, believe in Christ. There are many millions of these people who truly believe in Christ. They firmly and honestly believe in Him, from all the light that they have received, and they believe, too, that they have been initiated into the Church of Christ, and that when they die they will be saved in His presence. They believe they have done all that they need to do; and yet, as Latter-day Saints, we know, from the testimony that burns in our bosom, there is yet something for them to do. It is encouraging to know they are fast believing that God is our Father, in very deed. They are fast acquiring a genuine belief that Jesus Christ is in very deed the Son of God; and also believing that there is something more yet to be done; that men will be called of God, sometime, to officiate in ordinances of the Gospel that have not yet been officiated in by them in their churches.
One minister told me a few days ago, "Mr. Ellsworth, we believe in the restoration of the Gospel." "Why," I said, "that seems strange. I have never heard a minister declare that before in my life." I asked him how he believed in the restoration, and he gave me almost word for word the argument we use: that there was an apostasy, and that, after the reformation, little by little God has revealed the truth to this church and that church, through this man and that woman. "We have today much more truth than we had fifty years ago; and we believe that more truth will be given to us just as rapidly as we are prepared to receive it. If it is the Lord's will that we be baptized by immersion, we will be glad to be baptized just as soon as we feel that it is an important thing. If it is important, as the scriptures hint, that we should have the laying on of hands, we believe that the Lord will make it manifest to us through our churches. If it is important that we do other things that you speak of, we believe that He will restore them to us through one church or through another. To all who are moved upon by the Spirit of God to receive those truths, they will be essential in their lives; but just as long as this or that principle does not dawn upon us, we do not feel responsible to obey it. We feel now that the most essential thing is to believe in God ; and inasmuch as we believe in God, we believe we will be saved, but we believe also that it is essential to live up to all the truths that He reveals to us."
I told him that that was a pretty good argument, and I believe that it will do good. The Lord will hold us responsible for what light we have received. As Latter-day Saints believing that God, our Father, 79 years ago, re-established the Church, with such officers as were placed in it in the days of Jesus Christ, and that He has revealed to us all the light and blessings, and principles that have been revealed or taught by holy men of old since the world began, knowing these things to be true, it is well that we ask the question that President Joseph F. Smith asked himself and the Latter-day Saints this morning, What have I done; what am I doing, what am I willing to do, to help establish this great work?
Proclaiming to the world that God has revealed to us all the principles of the Gospel, the great things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world, and has delivered to us the responsibility of teaching them to our fellow men, it is well that we ask that question in all seriousness. Am I willing to do what my father or my grandfather did? Am I willing to do what the first men and women who received this Gospel did for the establishment of the work of God in the earth? Is my all on the altar, am I willing to spend my time, my means, and my talents in that great cause? I say, my brethren and sisters, it is a good question to ask ourselves. May God help us to appreciate the fact that we are the only people who have this divine right to officiate in the name of God. May He help us to exercise this authority with an eye single to the glory of God, in all charity and love, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER BEN E. RICH.
(President of Eastern States Mission.)
Brother Ellsworth stated that 79 years ago, day after tomorrow, this church was organized, with six members. Rather a small beginning; but it was predicted by the Prophet Joseph Smith that it would continue to grow until it filled the whole earth with the righteousness of God. What a wonderful thing has been done among churches during the past 79 years. Mormonism, as it is called by the people of the world, has found its way into every civilized nation. As Brother Goddard stated, there is not a nation upon the earth where the voice of the children of God cannot be heard, saying, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob." They want to come here for the purpose of learning more of the ways of the Lord, and to walk in the paths that will bring them back into the presence of our Father. There is not a civilized nation where our elders are not working, where we do not find members of the Church.
The work that is being done by the missionaries today is a manifestation of devotion to the principle of reciprocity. We are doing for other what others have done for us and for our parents. Recently, in the New England States, I had the privilege of holding a priesthood meeting with thirty-eight Elders, 37 of whom were born in the Church. The fathers of 15 of whom were born in the Church, and the grandfathers of 31 were members of the Church. In another conference where we had 12 Elders, 10 of whom were born in the Church, the fathers of 6 were born in the Church, and the grandfathers of 9 belonged to the Church. Still another conference in which there are 14 Elders, 9 of the 14 were born in the Church, the fathers of 7 were born in the Church, and the grand-fathers of 9 were members of the Church. So you see the second and third generations are out in the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God sends His spirit before them. It softens the hearts of mankind toward the Elders. While we properly think that our fathers and grand-fathers have been mighty men in the interests of the gospel, I tell you there are just as good fish left in the sea as have been drawn out with the Gospel net. This work will go on, and intellectual giants will be brought into the Church. The leaven has started to work, and it will leaven the whole lump eventually; it has been developing during the last 79 years.
You do not hear so much of "hell-fire-and-brimstone" as was preached before God sent the truth down to earth. There are not so many people believing that there are infants in hell only a span long. Churches all over the world are becoming converted to Gospel principles which God the Eternal Father restored to earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is true they are not giving the Church credit, but they are adopting the doctrine. It is making them broader minded. It is making them better; and it is leading them nearer to the truth. Speaking to you this afternoon, as a representative from the missionary field, I want to tell you that your sons, your fathers, your husbands, who are out in the world preaching the gospel are doing more for humanity, more for the people of this world, than you can estimate. God is blessing them. And the students who go out into the world to study are doing excellent work. Those who are laboring in New York are helping us in a wonderful way. They are teaching the Elders to sing. They take charge of the Mutual Improvement Associations, and the Sunday school. They are ready to preach the gospel whenever called upon to do it, the same as the Elders who are called specially to devote all their time in lifting up their voices, crying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Many of you people remember Robert C. Easton, who has such a wonderful voice. You have not seen him for years ; but the talent that God has given to that man is employed in missionary work at all times; and strangers who come into our meetings and hear him sing, especially that famous hymn, "O, my Father, Thou that dwellest," shed tears. There is nothing better than good music to soften the hearts of people, and bring them into a condition that they will patiently listen to the words the Elders have to speak unto them.
Mormonism grows, because it is God's truth. It was prophesied, almost from the beginning, that in the last days God would do a marvelous work and a wonder upon the earth. He showed in vision to the Prophet Daniel that he intended to set up a kingdom upon the earth in the last days; that it would stand forever, and never more be thrown down. The very language conveys to us the knowledge that God has set up His work in other dispensations, and it has been thrown down ; but He has shown that in the last days, the God of heaven would establish a kingdom upon the earth that never more would be thrown down or given to another people. What kind of an organization would that be? Would it be with apostles and prophets, evangelists, priests, and teachers, inspired of God, standing upon the rock of revelation, preaching the Gospel without purse or scrip, answering the question, "What shall we do to be saved?" in the same way that Peter of old answered it upon the day of Pentecost? Would it be like unto that? Why. I imagine so; I know it would. We are told that an angel should come through the midst of heaven, bringing it to the earth. The Gospel that Christ left with mankind was an organization like this we possess. The fundamental principles of that Gospel were faith in God and Christ, His Son, repentance— a godly repentance—baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. You know, by reading the Word of God that those were the principles of the organization,— and that which God has given unto us is an organization which includes them. You know also that, referring to the Gospel, when Paul ascertained that the people in one of the branches of the Church down in Galatia were trying to change it, he wrote them a strong letter in which he warned them against perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and told them that any man would be cursed if he changed it; that the curse of God would even rest upon an angel from heaven if he should proclaim any other. So that, when the angel comes through the midst of heaven, bringing the everlasting Gospel, it must be like unto the one that Jesus Christ left with the people, or the curse of God would rest upon that angel. We are told by Peter that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, that men of God wrote and spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, so that the kingdom of God that was to be set up on the earth in the last days, as shown to Daniel, and as brought by the angel shown to John, must be the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just the same as that He left upon the earth. Mormonism is primitive Christianity, the "Everlasting" Gospel, the "Eternal" Gospel, because it is the plan of salvation established by the Everlasting and the Eternal One. There cannot be two different churches and both of them be right. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, was the doctrine taught in the days of the early Apostles, nearly two thousand years ago. Anything more than that creates confusion; and it is written that God is not the author of confusion. If He is not the author of confusion, then He is not the author of all that goes to make up this Babel of confusion in the religious world today. Something is wrong.
The most startling thing about this work is that from the beginning of its organization, with six members, authority was given to go out to preach the gospel, to say unto all mankind. There is knowledge for you, there is a testimony for you, if you will come in the right way to receive it. Humble yourselves. Put your faith in God. Repent with a godly repentance. Be baptized under the authority that we say has been restored to the earth. Receive the seal of the spirit; and we are authorized to say, in the name of Christ our Master, that God will bestow upon you a testimony of the truth. And how well that has been made good; father, son and grandson have received it; and they are out in the world, in all the nations of the earth, crying unto people everywhere: We have received a testimony; and God will give it to you if you seek in the same way that we have sought. Why, of course it is true: it is easy enough to know that it is true.
I heard President Taylor upon one occasion relating a conversation that took place between two little boys. One of them said, "Johnny, do you know my papa?" And Johnny said, "No, I do not know your papa." the other said, "I know him, just as easy." It is just as easy as that to know that Mormonism is true. If you tread the path, if you obey the principles, if you humble yourselves before God the Eternal Father, he will give you a testimony that this is His work, that it has been brought to the earth by an angel, delivering to mankind a record of nations who once jived upon this continent, one of which was visited by Christ Himself, who taught them of His resurrection, and taught them the everlasting Gospel. You will find it in that book (the Book of Mormon.) It came through the midst of heaven by an angel, and he thus brought the everlasting Gospel back to earth. Read it with a prayerful heart, and the spirit of God will whisper to you, "This record is true." The doctrine is true, and it will be easy for you to have a testimony of the truth.
A man told me when I was speaking in the world once that I might just as well tell him that the moon was made of green cheese as to tell him that Mormonism was true. I said to him: "My friend, supposing that I did tell you that the moon was made of green cheese, and tell you that I had been there and tasted it, and you knew that I had been there and tasted it, and I wanted you to taste it, and you had the privilege of so doing, but absolutely refused to walk up and take a bite, would you be in a position to truthfully contradict me?" And he said, "No." I said, "Well I want to tell you that I have tasted Mormonism, and I know what it is, but there are some steps to be taken, the first is called faith, the second repentance, the third baptism, the fourth is the receiving of the seal of the Spirit. Climb that ladder and taste Mormonism; I have tasted it, and if you will do so, you will know that it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you stand there with folded hands and refuse, have you a right to contradict me when I tell you in the name of Jesus Christ that this is the Gospel of the Redeemer sent back to the earth to lead mankind back into the presence of our Father?" God bless you. Amen.
(Toward the conclusion of the services, Elder Rich made the following comments.)
Brother Goddard has asked me to read to you the words of President Roosevelt that he spoke in May, 1903, in the Tabernacle, about our people subduing this country. He said:
"Here, in this state the pioneers and those who came after them took, not the land that was ordinarily chosen, as a land that will yield return with a little effort. You took a state which, at the outset, was called after the desert, and you literally, not figuratively— literally made the wilderness to blossom as the rose. The fundamental element in building up Utah has been the work of the citizens of Utah; and you did it because your people entered in to possess the land and to leave it after them to their children .and their children's children."
I want to say to you that this people never had a better friend in the White House than Theodore Roosevelt. There has never been a man there that understood this people as he understood them. He has been, and he is your friend. Many a conversation have I had with him concerning the struggles of this people, and the building up of this land with the aid of our fathers. We are now enjoying what our fathers gave their lives to accomplish. You are enjoying comfortable homes that the early founders of this Church gave everything in order that their children and their children's children might inherit.
Read the hymn written by William Clayton. Just before the Pioneers came, before they started from Council Bluffs, President Young called him and said, "Brother Clayton, I want you to write a hymn that these pioneers may sing as we travel into the unknown west." In two hours' time, William Clayton had written, set to music, and sung, to President Young that famous hymn, "Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way." Read that hymn, and then think what your fathers and grandfathers passed through that you might enjoy the comforts of life that are yours today then, be determined to maintain the same faith and determination that they possessed, to give your lives, if necessary, that the Gospel may go to others who have not yet listened to the sound of it. Be prepared to go at a moment's notice, if you are wanted, into any part of the world, and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here is another hymn just issued, "The Hymn of the Pioneers," by Sister Kate Thomas, and I am going to read you one or two of the verses. Notice therein the spirit of the pioneers, our forefathers who risked their lives, our mothers, who had faith in their husbands and in the leaders of the Church, that God would show to them the place where He intended the prophecy uttered by the Prophet Joseph Smith, should be fulfilled, in which he declared that the people would eventually be established in the valleys of the Rocky mountains, and build great cities.
"Courage, my soul! all is not barren plain.
What tho' the way be long and strewed with dead;
His word is sure, who knoweth all thy pain,
Lift up thine eyes, His heaven is overhead.
Praise God! praise God!
His Sun broke through the night.
On—on—press on --
His love is all His might.
"Praise God, my soul! My children reap the seed
Sowed by my faith and watered by my tears.
God of the nations, God of every creed,
Let them be just to what my soul reveres!
Praise God! praise God!
Omnipotent love!
On—on—press on --
Till all the world is love!"
The hymn, "I know that my Redeemer lives," was sung as a solo by Elder Melvin J. Ballard.
(President of Eastern States Mission.)
Brother Ellsworth stated that 79 years ago, day after tomorrow, this church was organized, with six members. Rather a small beginning; but it was predicted by the Prophet Joseph Smith that it would continue to grow until it filled the whole earth with the righteousness of God. What a wonderful thing has been done among churches during the past 79 years. Mormonism, as it is called by the people of the world, has found its way into every civilized nation. As Brother Goddard stated, there is not a nation upon the earth where the voice of the children of God cannot be heard, saying, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob." They want to come here for the purpose of learning more of the ways of the Lord, and to walk in the paths that will bring them back into the presence of our Father. There is not a civilized nation where our elders are not working, where we do not find members of the Church.
The work that is being done by the missionaries today is a manifestation of devotion to the principle of reciprocity. We are doing for other what others have done for us and for our parents. Recently, in the New England States, I had the privilege of holding a priesthood meeting with thirty-eight Elders, 37 of whom were born in the Church. The fathers of 15 of whom were born in the Church, and the grandfathers of 31 were members of the Church. In another conference where we had 12 Elders, 10 of whom were born in the Church, the fathers of 6 were born in the Church, and the grandfathers of 9 belonged to the Church. Still another conference in which there are 14 Elders, 9 of the 14 were born in the Church, the fathers of 7 were born in the Church, and the grand-fathers of 9 were members of the Church. So you see the second and third generations are out in the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God sends His spirit before them. It softens the hearts of mankind toward the Elders. While we properly think that our fathers and grand-fathers have been mighty men in the interests of the gospel, I tell you there are just as good fish left in the sea as have been drawn out with the Gospel net. This work will go on, and intellectual giants will be brought into the Church. The leaven has started to work, and it will leaven the whole lump eventually; it has been developing during the last 79 years.
You do not hear so much of "hell-fire-and-brimstone" as was preached before God sent the truth down to earth. There are not so many people believing that there are infants in hell only a span long. Churches all over the world are becoming converted to Gospel principles which God the Eternal Father restored to earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is true they are not giving the Church credit, but they are adopting the doctrine. It is making them broader minded. It is making them better; and it is leading them nearer to the truth. Speaking to you this afternoon, as a representative from the missionary field, I want to tell you that your sons, your fathers, your husbands, who are out in the world preaching the gospel are doing more for humanity, more for the people of this world, than you can estimate. God is blessing them. And the students who go out into the world to study are doing excellent work. Those who are laboring in New York are helping us in a wonderful way. They are teaching the Elders to sing. They take charge of the Mutual Improvement Associations, and the Sunday school. They are ready to preach the gospel whenever called upon to do it, the same as the Elders who are called specially to devote all their time in lifting up their voices, crying, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Many of you people remember Robert C. Easton, who has such a wonderful voice. You have not seen him for years ; but the talent that God has given to that man is employed in missionary work at all times; and strangers who come into our meetings and hear him sing, especially that famous hymn, "O, my Father, Thou that dwellest," shed tears. There is nothing better than good music to soften the hearts of people, and bring them into a condition that they will patiently listen to the words the Elders have to speak unto them.
Mormonism grows, because it is God's truth. It was prophesied, almost from the beginning, that in the last days God would do a marvelous work and a wonder upon the earth. He showed in vision to the Prophet Daniel that he intended to set up a kingdom upon the earth in the last days; that it would stand forever, and never more be thrown down. The very language conveys to us the knowledge that God has set up His work in other dispensations, and it has been thrown down ; but He has shown that in the last days, the God of heaven would establish a kingdom upon the earth that never more would be thrown down or given to another people. What kind of an organization would that be? Would it be with apostles and prophets, evangelists, priests, and teachers, inspired of God, standing upon the rock of revelation, preaching the Gospel without purse or scrip, answering the question, "What shall we do to be saved?" in the same way that Peter of old answered it upon the day of Pentecost? Would it be like unto that? Why. I imagine so; I know it would. We are told that an angel should come through the midst of heaven, bringing it to the earth. The Gospel that Christ left with mankind was an organization like this we possess. The fundamental principles of that Gospel were faith in God and Christ, His Son, repentance— a godly repentance—baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. You know, by reading the Word of God that those were the principles of the organization,— and that which God has given unto us is an organization which includes them. You know also that, referring to the Gospel, when Paul ascertained that the people in one of the branches of the Church down in Galatia were trying to change it, he wrote them a strong letter in which he warned them against perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and told them that any man would be cursed if he changed it; that the curse of God would even rest upon an angel from heaven if he should proclaim any other. So that, when the angel comes through the midst of heaven, bringing the everlasting Gospel, it must be like unto the one that Jesus Christ left with the people, or the curse of God would rest upon that angel. We are told by Peter that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, that men of God wrote and spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, so that the kingdom of God that was to be set up on the earth in the last days, as shown to Daniel, and as brought by the angel shown to John, must be the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just the same as that He left upon the earth. Mormonism is primitive Christianity, the "Everlasting" Gospel, the "Eternal" Gospel, because it is the plan of salvation established by the Everlasting and the Eternal One. There cannot be two different churches and both of them be right. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, was the doctrine taught in the days of the early Apostles, nearly two thousand years ago. Anything more than that creates confusion; and it is written that God is not the author of confusion. If He is not the author of confusion, then He is not the author of all that goes to make up this Babel of confusion in the religious world today. Something is wrong.
The most startling thing about this work is that from the beginning of its organization, with six members, authority was given to go out to preach the gospel, to say unto all mankind. There is knowledge for you, there is a testimony for you, if you will come in the right way to receive it. Humble yourselves. Put your faith in God. Repent with a godly repentance. Be baptized under the authority that we say has been restored to the earth. Receive the seal of the spirit; and we are authorized to say, in the name of Christ our Master, that God will bestow upon you a testimony of the truth. And how well that has been made good; father, son and grandson have received it; and they are out in the world, in all the nations of the earth, crying unto people everywhere: We have received a testimony; and God will give it to you if you seek in the same way that we have sought. Why, of course it is true: it is easy enough to know that it is true.
I heard President Taylor upon one occasion relating a conversation that took place between two little boys. One of them said, "Johnny, do you know my papa?" And Johnny said, "No, I do not know your papa." the other said, "I know him, just as easy." It is just as easy as that to know that Mormonism is true. If you tread the path, if you obey the principles, if you humble yourselves before God the Eternal Father, he will give you a testimony that this is His work, that it has been brought to the earth by an angel, delivering to mankind a record of nations who once jived upon this continent, one of which was visited by Christ Himself, who taught them of His resurrection, and taught them the everlasting Gospel. You will find it in that book (the Book of Mormon.) It came through the midst of heaven by an angel, and he thus brought the everlasting Gospel back to earth. Read it with a prayerful heart, and the spirit of God will whisper to you, "This record is true." The doctrine is true, and it will be easy for you to have a testimony of the truth.
A man told me when I was speaking in the world once that I might just as well tell him that the moon was made of green cheese as to tell him that Mormonism was true. I said to him: "My friend, supposing that I did tell you that the moon was made of green cheese, and tell you that I had been there and tasted it, and you knew that I had been there and tasted it, and I wanted you to taste it, and you had the privilege of so doing, but absolutely refused to walk up and take a bite, would you be in a position to truthfully contradict me?" And he said, "No." I said, "Well I want to tell you that I have tasted Mormonism, and I know what it is, but there are some steps to be taken, the first is called faith, the second repentance, the third baptism, the fourth is the receiving of the seal of the Spirit. Climb that ladder and taste Mormonism; I have tasted it, and if you will do so, you will know that it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you stand there with folded hands and refuse, have you a right to contradict me when I tell you in the name of Jesus Christ that this is the Gospel of the Redeemer sent back to the earth to lead mankind back into the presence of our Father?" God bless you. Amen.
(Toward the conclusion of the services, Elder Rich made the following comments.)
Brother Goddard has asked me to read to you the words of President Roosevelt that he spoke in May, 1903, in the Tabernacle, about our people subduing this country. He said:
"Here, in this state the pioneers and those who came after them took, not the land that was ordinarily chosen, as a land that will yield return with a little effort. You took a state which, at the outset, was called after the desert, and you literally, not figuratively— literally made the wilderness to blossom as the rose. The fundamental element in building up Utah has been the work of the citizens of Utah; and you did it because your people entered in to possess the land and to leave it after them to their children .and their children's children."
I want to say to you that this people never had a better friend in the White House than Theodore Roosevelt. There has never been a man there that understood this people as he understood them. He has been, and he is your friend. Many a conversation have I had with him concerning the struggles of this people, and the building up of this land with the aid of our fathers. We are now enjoying what our fathers gave their lives to accomplish. You are enjoying comfortable homes that the early founders of this Church gave everything in order that their children and their children's children might inherit.
Read the hymn written by William Clayton. Just before the Pioneers came, before they started from Council Bluffs, President Young called him and said, "Brother Clayton, I want you to write a hymn that these pioneers may sing as we travel into the unknown west." In two hours' time, William Clayton had written, set to music, and sung, to President Young that famous hymn, "Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way." Read that hymn, and then think what your fathers and grandfathers passed through that you might enjoy the comforts of life that are yours today then, be determined to maintain the same faith and determination that they possessed, to give your lives, if necessary, that the Gospel may go to others who have not yet listened to the sound of it. Be prepared to go at a moment's notice, if you are wanted, into any part of the world, and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here is another hymn just issued, "The Hymn of the Pioneers," by Sister Kate Thomas, and I am going to read you one or two of the verses. Notice therein the spirit of the pioneers, our forefathers who risked their lives, our mothers, who had faith in their husbands and in the leaders of the Church, that God would show to them the place where He intended the prophecy uttered by the Prophet Joseph Smith, should be fulfilled, in which he declared that the people would eventually be established in the valleys of the Rocky mountains, and build great cities.
"Courage, my soul! all is not barren plain.
What tho' the way be long and strewed with dead;
His word is sure, who knoweth all thy pain,
Lift up thine eyes, His heaven is overhead.
Praise God! praise God!
His Sun broke through the night.
On—on—press on --
His love is all His might.
"Praise God, my soul! My children reap the seed
Sowed by my faith and watered by my tears.
God of the nations, God of every creed,
Let them be just to what my soul reveres!
Praise God! praise God!
Omnipotent love!
On—on—press on --
Till all the world is love!"
The hymn, "I know that my Redeemer lives," was sung as a solo by Elder Melvin J. Ballard.
ELDER JOHN G. M'QUARRIE.
(Late President of Eastern States Mission).
About eighty-nine years ago, a young man, possessing that childlike faith that knows no doubt, as the result of an earnest, humble prayer, received a visit from the Father and the Son. The first question that he was privileged to ask was, "Which of all the denominations or churches is right?" This was a boy only 14 years of age; but whether men are old or young, whether they are learned or unlearned, they must each ask this very important question, when they have a desire to be reconciled to God, or to find the true philosophy of life. And those who are not asking themselves this question have not ceased to do so because of the simplicity, but rather because of the complexity of the question. There may be some who are not asking the question, "Which of all the denominations is right," but if they are not, they are trying to find for themselves, or carve for themselves, a path through the forest of theory, a road through the desert of doubt, without a chart or compass, or without ecclesiastical leadership. Without some knowledge from a divine source, it would be impossible for any one from the various philosophies of life to determine, and be able to answer this question. There are some who are susceptible to the impression of the Spirit, some who know and feel the truth through intuition, inspiration, and revelation. There are others, like Thomas, who need to have some lines of reason so tangible that they can be led up to the door of knowledge that they may knock in order to have it opened unto them. It is probably for the guidance of this class of people that the Master said, "By their fruits you shall know them," and that the Apostle Paul said, "Whatsoever you plant, that shall you also reap." Hence we know, from these two unquestioned authorities, that there is a natural law prevailing in the spiritual world, that our salvation comes as natural as corn grows; that character grows just as other products that grow, in harmony with natural law.
But which of these two rules are you going to apply to determine what you shall do? Without doubt, the test of every flower or plant, or blooming tree, is eventually in the fruit that it bears. But the farmer, in order to be even ordinarily successful, must be able to determine long before the fruit is ripened, yes, before the flower has bloomed, and even before the tiny shoot has broken through the soil, he must be able to determine what the harvest shall be. So, too, in our lives we may be able to judge something by the fruit, but if we wait until the fruit is going to ripen in our own lives, it is too late then to change the harvest so far as you and I are concerned. We want to know the kind of seed we are going to plant.
When it comes to a test of the various seed stores, the various agricultural departments, etc., it is not in the catalogues, it is not in the pictures they paint, but it is in the seed that they furnish. So, too, in the various churches, it is not the virtues they proclaim that you can judge by. It is in the seed of eternal truth that they are able to implant; and I feel certain, my friends, that if you will get down to these seed truths and then apply your reason and see what the result will be, you can determine fairly well what the fruit of any system may be. Some of these truths have been referred to by President Rich. They have stopped planting some of the old errors that have heretofore been planted in the hearts of men. Before leaving this analogy I would like to make this remark upon it: There is no man in this congregation but knows a good peach or a good apple when he sees it. But why don't all gather good apples and peaches? It is because you are too lazy to get the right kind of seed to plant; you do not get the right kind of trees to put into the soil; you do not prepare the soil as you should. You know what a good horse looks like; why don't you have good horses? You are too careless to get the right kind of stock to start with you do not have the right kind of horses. So too, in examining the various churches. They go into this church and hear a fine sermon upon virtue, and say, "Anyone can believe that, that is true. They preached virtue before Christ, and from the days of Adam down to the present. Every man knows virtue." But, it is to get the seed that will produce it. I venture to say that, you can go into a community where every man and woman is a drunkard and preach that drunkenness is better than temperance, and you will be run out of that place. Stand up in a place where vice abounds, and preach that vice is better than virtue, and you would be howled down, because, instinctively, men seem to know what virtue is, even when they have lost it.
Although they have preached charity for hundreds and thousands of years, yet we have not practiced charity. And why is it? It is because the right kind of seeds have not been planted. We can talk about charity. You can talk about the age of the brotherhood of man. But that age will never come until it is preceded by that inherent belief that there is a real relationship existing between us. One of the greatest ministers of the age preached a sermon some time ago in New York City. It was called the greatest sermon that has ever been preached on the island, since the time it was bought from the Indians for about $25 worth of trinkets; and it is in harmony with what Brother Rich testified to you. He said "How long have we heard the old slogan of 'miserable sinners,' 'depraved wretches,' 'created things!' But if you ever get anything great out of men, you must make them believe that there is something great in them ; and if you make them believe they are just 'created things,' 'miserable wretches,' 'everlasting sinners,' waiting an eternal and everlasting torment and damnation, you will never get anything great out of them. If I had a boy that was going to be a chimney-sweep, I would want to make him feel that he was good enough to sweep out Vesuvius." He then related anecdotes and stories of the power that belief had over the actions of men, and then he said: "We cannot too strongly insist upon the idea that we are in reality the sons of God; that we are not 'created things,' but that we are begotten spirits. If you make a man feel that he is a tramp, he will be a tramp. If you make him feel that he is a king, he will be a king. Make him feel that in reality he is a son of God and he will strive to be like his Father." Humanity is much alike the world over, and whatever seed of thought is planted, it is bound to crop out into action. In the age when they believed, in eternal torment, when they thought that a man was a heretic when he differed from others in belief, that the Lord, the great Creator, was just waiting until he passed the portals of death to plunge men into an eternal punishment, they thought, of course, they were only doing a little of God's service in administering a little of this punishment before they went over there, and to give them a warning. It was not their natural meanness, it was only a natural product of the seed that was planted. Can you see the difference between a truth and an error implanted in the mind? One that you are simply a "created thing;" the other, the idea that you are a begotten spirit. That one great revelation is working a reformation throughout the world, the eternal truth is being implanted in the hearts of men, that God is an eternal being, that He is actually the father of our spirits. Following out that idea, we gradually come to feel that if God is our Father, Christ is really our elder brother, and we are all brethren, and sisters, Until men feel this, they will never act like it, because where there is no relationship understood, there will be no obligation acknowledged, and where there is no obligation acknowledged, there will be no conscience, because conscience is the obligation that we feel one toward another. Regardless of creeds, regardless of dogma, regardless, perhaps, of revelation we feel instinctively a kind of relationship to each other. But just to the degree that the idea is hazy or uncertain in the minds of men, just to that degree will our actions be selfish and insincere. You can test it. Suppose you meet a man, he is, perhaps, in prison, he has no way of helping himself. If he happens to be your own brother, you give the last dollar to help him out of trouble, because you feel that he is a part of yourself. Suppose that he is your cousin, you say: "let his brother help him," You do not feel much obligation. Suppose he is your forty-second cousin, do you feel the same obligation? You will feel that he is your brother only to that extent that you will acknowledge the relationship. There is very little conscience between the white man of Europe and the yellow man of Asia; there is no relationship acknowledged between them. There was no conscience between the black man of the south; and his white owner, because there was no relationship acknowledged between them. And just to the degree that this idea, this great, grand truth, revealed through the modern Prophet, becomes generally understood, and fully felt, to that degree will we come nearer to this age of the brotherhood of man.
Suppose that instead of preaching, instead of believing in eternal punishment, that God's anger endures forever, you implant in the hearts of man that God's mercy endures forever, that you implant in their minds the idea that Christ designs to save the whole world, that whether men are recreant in this world or not, whether they come to Christ here or not, whether they have had an opportunity to hear him or not, that, though they may suffer for the sins they have committed, infinite punishment will not be permitted for a finite sin; when they have faith in Jesus Christ, when they have complied with these conditions, when they repent of their sins, when they turn toward God, that His mercy will be extended to them. Why, you never could treat a man that did not happen to believe or see as you do, as you would treat him if you believed that. Supposing that one principle had been implanted in the minds of men in the early days, do you think there would ever have been an inquisition? Do you think they would have invented those terrible torment machines in order to punish men? No. Their hearts would have been full of charity, full of toleration.
If men always had believed in continuous revelation, if children had been taught in their Sunday schools, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God," do you think the Christian would have wanted to kill the Mohommedan simply because the Mohammedan brought the truths that he had in competition, as they thought, with the truths of the Bible? Mormonism is prepared to receive every man's truth, to receive all revelation that God may send through whatever channels He may use, and through every window light may shine into this darkened chamber of humanity in which we live. Truth does not conflict with truth.
You know that men have been preaching; charity throughout all the ages. Was the Christian ever charitable to the Jew? No, the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Czars of Russia, the Kings of Assyria, the godless inquisitors of Europe all united to exterminate that race of people. But when the Gospel was restored, one of the first things the prophet did was to send men to Jerusalem. To see what they would pillage and rob and take from them? No, he sent the men to bless the land, and dedicate it that the Jew might again have a home and a nation; and we feel kindly toward the Jew. Why? Because we can feel our relationship to him; and we pray for the day when the Lord will remember His promises to them, and that they may turn and repent of their ways. The Indian too, how was he treated by the Christians even of this Christian nation? They thought it almost as lawful to hunt and kill Indians as buffalos; but when the priesthood was restored, and this Book of Mormon was given to us, we learned that we played with the Indians in the tents of Jacob. Our fore-fathers played together around the tents of the old Israelities, and we again feel friendly toward the Indian. Brigham Young said, "It is cheaper to feed them than to fight them," You will never see a Latter-day Saint who understands that record that would kill an Indian. I believe that one of our people would rather kill a white man, because he feels he is more his equal, than the Indian in his weakened condition. What causes that difference of attitude? It is not because we are different people; it is because of the seeds of truth that are springing up in our souls and bearing the harvest of charity, and toleration, and fellowship.
Mormonism has a message of love and peace to all the world, to the Jew, and to the Gentile, to the Indian and to the heathen, and whether they are high or low, we feel that relationship to them. If they are weak, they need our help, if they are high, we only rejoice in it. And we owe this fruit of charity to the seeds of Gospel truths that have been implanted in our souls. Unless men have that knowledge of one supreme God, unless they do know their relationship, they cannot possibly know their relationship to each other, and without knowing their relationship to each other, without feeling- that relationship, that brotherhood, the age of the brotherhood of man never could come about; but by feeling it, by really believing it, it never could be staid. If we can convert man to it, until right down in their souls they believe and feel that one eternal truth, then the success of the world, the triumph! of righteousness, is secured. I hope that, as Latter-day Saints, we will appreciate this heritage of truth that has been given to us, and that we who have enlisted under the standard of righteousness will glorify the cause, and continue to fight under that flag until righteousness shall triumph, until the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God, whose right it is to reign.
I bear my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters and friends, that I do know that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the living God, and that the Gospel had been restored to the earth in this day and age of the world. As President Joseph F. Smith said this morning, and as Brother Ellsworth testified, all of you who are under the sound of my voice can receive 'this same testimony, by applying the principles of the Gospel to your lives.
I ask God's blessings upon you all, that He may seal upon your minds the truths that you have heard in this conference, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Prof. Elihu Call sang the favorite hymn, "O my Father, Thou that dwellest."
(Late President of Eastern States Mission).
About eighty-nine years ago, a young man, possessing that childlike faith that knows no doubt, as the result of an earnest, humble prayer, received a visit from the Father and the Son. The first question that he was privileged to ask was, "Which of all the denominations or churches is right?" This was a boy only 14 years of age; but whether men are old or young, whether they are learned or unlearned, they must each ask this very important question, when they have a desire to be reconciled to God, or to find the true philosophy of life. And those who are not asking themselves this question have not ceased to do so because of the simplicity, but rather because of the complexity of the question. There may be some who are not asking the question, "Which of all the denominations is right," but if they are not, they are trying to find for themselves, or carve for themselves, a path through the forest of theory, a road through the desert of doubt, without a chart or compass, or without ecclesiastical leadership. Without some knowledge from a divine source, it would be impossible for any one from the various philosophies of life to determine, and be able to answer this question. There are some who are susceptible to the impression of the Spirit, some who know and feel the truth through intuition, inspiration, and revelation. There are others, like Thomas, who need to have some lines of reason so tangible that they can be led up to the door of knowledge that they may knock in order to have it opened unto them. It is probably for the guidance of this class of people that the Master said, "By their fruits you shall know them," and that the Apostle Paul said, "Whatsoever you plant, that shall you also reap." Hence we know, from these two unquestioned authorities, that there is a natural law prevailing in the spiritual world, that our salvation comes as natural as corn grows; that character grows just as other products that grow, in harmony with natural law.
But which of these two rules are you going to apply to determine what you shall do? Without doubt, the test of every flower or plant, or blooming tree, is eventually in the fruit that it bears. But the farmer, in order to be even ordinarily successful, must be able to determine long before the fruit is ripened, yes, before the flower has bloomed, and even before the tiny shoot has broken through the soil, he must be able to determine what the harvest shall be. So, too, in our lives we may be able to judge something by the fruit, but if we wait until the fruit is going to ripen in our own lives, it is too late then to change the harvest so far as you and I are concerned. We want to know the kind of seed we are going to plant.
When it comes to a test of the various seed stores, the various agricultural departments, etc., it is not in the catalogues, it is not in the pictures they paint, but it is in the seed that they furnish. So, too, in the various churches, it is not the virtues they proclaim that you can judge by. It is in the seed of eternal truth that they are able to implant; and I feel certain, my friends, that if you will get down to these seed truths and then apply your reason and see what the result will be, you can determine fairly well what the fruit of any system may be. Some of these truths have been referred to by President Rich. They have stopped planting some of the old errors that have heretofore been planted in the hearts of men. Before leaving this analogy I would like to make this remark upon it: There is no man in this congregation but knows a good peach or a good apple when he sees it. But why don't all gather good apples and peaches? It is because you are too lazy to get the right kind of seed to plant; you do not get the right kind of trees to put into the soil; you do not prepare the soil as you should. You know what a good horse looks like; why don't you have good horses? You are too careless to get the right kind of stock to start with you do not have the right kind of horses. So too, in examining the various churches. They go into this church and hear a fine sermon upon virtue, and say, "Anyone can believe that, that is true. They preached virtue before Christ, and from the days of Adam down to the present. Every man knows virtue." But, it is to get the seed that will produce it. I venture to say that, you can go into a community where every man and woman is a drunkard and preach that drunkenness is better than temperance, and you will be run out of that place. Stand up in a place where vice abounds, and preach that vice is better than virtue, and you would be howled down, because, instinctively, men seem to know what virtue is, even when they have lost it.
Although they have preached charity for hundreds and thousands of years, yet we have not practiced charity. And why is it? It is because the right kind of seeds have not been planted. We can talk about charity. You can talk about the age of the brotherhood of man. But that age will never come until it is preceded by that inherent belief that there is a real relationship existing between us. One of the greatest ministers of the age preached a sermon some time ago in New York City. It was called the greatest sermon that has ever been preached on the island, since the time it was bought from the Indians for about $25 worth of trinkets; and it is in harmony with what Brother Rich testified to you. He said "How long have we heard the old slogan of 'miserable sinners,' 'depraved wretches,' 'created things!' But if you ever get anything great out of men, you must make them believe that there is something great in them ; and if you make them believe they are just 'created things,' 'miserable wretches,' 'everlasting sinners,' waiting an eternal and everlasting torment and damnation, you will never get anything great out of them. If I had a boy that was going to be a chimney-sweep, I would want to make him feel that he was good enough to sweep out Vesuvius." He then related anecdotes and stories of the power that belief had over the actions of men, and then he said: "We cannot too strongly insist upon the idea that we are in reality the sons of God; that we are not 'created things,' but that we are begotten spirits. If you make a man feel that he is a tramp, he will be a tramp. If you make him feel that he is a king, he will be a king. Make him feel that in reality he is a son of God and he will strive to be like his Father." Humanity is much alike the world over, and whatever seed of thought is planted, it is bound to crop out into action. In the age when they believed, in eternal torment, when they thought that a man was a heretic when he differed from others in belief, that the Lord, the great Creator, was just waiting until he passed the portals of death to plunge men into an eternal punishment, they thought, of course, they were only doing a little of God's service in administering a little of this punishment before they went over there, and to give them a warning. It was not their natural meanness, it was only a natural product of the seed that was planted. Can you see the difference between a truth and an error implanted in the mind? One that you are simply a "created thing;" the other, the idea that you are a begotten spirit. That one great revelation is working a reformation throughout the world, the eternal truth is being implanted in the hearts of men, that God is an eternal being, that He is actually the father of our spirits. Following out that idea, we gradually come to feel that if God is our Father, Christ is really our elder brother, and we are all brethren, and sisters, Until men feel this, they will never act like it, because where there is no relationship understood, there will be no obligation acknowledged, and where there is no obligation acknowledged, there will be no conscience, because conscience is the obligation that we feel one toward another. Regardless of creeds, regardless of dogma, regardless, perhaps, of revelation we feel instinctively a kind of relationship to each other. But just to the degree that the idea is hazy or uncertain in the minds of men, just to that degree will our actions be selfish and insincere. You can test it. Suppose you meet a man, he is, perhaps, in prison, he has no way of helping himself. If he happens to be your own brother, you give the last dollar to help him out of trouble, because you feel that he is a part of yourself. Suppose that he is your cousin, you say: "let his brother help him," You do not feel much obligation. Suppose he is your forty-second cousin, do you feel the same obligation? You will feel that he is your brother only to that extent that you will acknowledge the relationship. There is very little conscience between the white man of Europe and the yellow man of Asia; there is no relationship acknowledged between them. There was no conscience between the black man of the south; and his white owner, because there was no relationship acknowledged between them. And just to the degree that this idea, this great, grand truth, revealed through the modern Prophet, becomes generally understood, and fully felt, to that degree will we come nearer to this age of the brotherhood of man.
Suppose that instead of preaching, instead of believing in eternal punishment, that God's anger endures forever, you implant in the hearts of man that God's mercy endures forever, that you implant in their minds the idea that Christ designs to save the whole world, that whether men are recreant in this world or not, whether they come to Christ here or not, whether they have had an opportunity to hear him or not, that, though they may suffer for the sins they have committed, infinite punishment will not be permitted for a finite sin; when they have faith in Jesus Christ, when they have complied with these conditions, when they repent of their sins, when they turn toward God, that His mercy will be extended to them. Why, you never could treat a man that did not happen to believe or see as you do, as you would treat him if you believed that. Supposing that one principle had been implanted in the minds of men in the early days, do you think there would ever have been an inquisition? Do you think they would have invented those terrible torment machines in order to punish men? No. Their hearts would have been full of charity, full of toleration.
If men always had believed in continuous revelation, if children had been taught in their Sunday schools, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God," do you think the Christian would have wanted to kill the Mohommedan simply because the Mohammedan brought the truths that he had in competition, as they thought, with the truths of the Bible? Mormonism is prepared to receive every man's truth, to receive all revelation that God may send through whatever channels He may use, and through every window light may shine into this darkened chamber of humanity in which we live. Truth does not conflict with truth.
You know that men have been preaching; charity throughout all the ages. Was the Christian ever charitable to the Jew? No, the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Czars of Russia, the Kings of Assyria, the godless inquisitors of Europe all united to exterminate that race of people. But when the Gospel was restored, one of the first things the prophet did was to send men to Jerusalem. To see what they would pillage and rob and take from them? No, he sent the men to bless the land, and dedicate it that the Jew might again have a home and a nation; and we feel kindly toward the Jew. Why? Because we can feel our relationship to him; and we pray for the day when the Lord will remember His promises to them, and that they may turn and repent of their ways. The Indian too, how was he treated by the Christians even of this Christian nation? They thought it almost as lawful to hunt and kill Indians as buffalos; but when the priesthood was restored, and this Book of Mormon was given to us, we learned that we played with the Indians in the tents of Jacob. Our fore-fathers played together around the tents of the old Israelities, and we again feel friendly toward the Indian. Brigham Young said, "It is cheaper to feed them than to fight them," You will never see a Latter-day Saint who understands that record that would kill an Indian. I believe that one of our people would rather kill a white man, because he feels he is more his equal, than the Indian in his weakened condition. What causes that difference of attitude? It is not because we are different people; it is because of the seeds of truth that are springing up in our souls and bearing the harvest of charity, and toleration, and fellowship.
Mormonism has a message of love and peace to all the world, to the Jew, and to the Gentile, to the Indian and to the heathen, and whether they are high or low, we feel that relationship to them. If they are weak, they need our help, if they are high, we only rejoice in it. And we owe this fruit of charity to the seeds of Gospel truths that have been implanted in our souls. Unless men have that knowledge of one supreme God, unless they do know their relationship, they cannot possibly know their relationship to each other, and without knowing their relationship to each other, without feeling- that relationship, that brotherhood, the age of the brotherhood of man never could come about; but by feeling it, by really believing it, it never could be staid. If we can convert man to it, until right down in their souls they believe and feel that one eternal truth, then the success of the world, the triumph! of righteousness, is secured. I hope that, as Latter-day Saints, we will appreciate this heritage of truth that has been given to us, and that we who have enlisted under the standard of righteousness will glorify the cause, and continue to fight under that flag until righteousness shall triumph, until the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God, whose right it is to reign.
I bear my testimony to you, my brethren and sisters and friends, that I do know that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the living God, and that the Gospel had been restored to the earth in this day and age of the world. As President Joseph F. Smith said this morning, and as Brother Ellsworth testified, all of you who are under the sound of my voice can receive 'this same testimony, by applying the principles of the Gospel to your lives.
I ask God's blessings upon you all, that He may seal upon your minds the truths that you have heard in this conference, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Prof. Elihu Call sang the favorite hymn, "O my Father, Thou that dwellest."
SISTER LILLIAN V. JONES.
(Of the Southern States Mission.)
My dear brothers and sisters, I sincerely trust that I may have the Spirit of the Lord while I address this congregation, to guide and direct me in what I may say, that it may be for our mutual benefit and blessing. As has been announced I have labored in the Southern States Mission for nearly a year and a half, under the direction of President Ben E. Rich, and President Charles A Callis. I can say that while I labored as a missionary there I truly enjoyed every moment of the time. My Only regret is that I was released from my labors there, although my release was merely a transfer from one field to another. I consider that I was greatly privileged, to go into the world and mingle my voice with the sisters and elders in the field, in testimony of the truth of the gospel as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of course we met a great deal of opposition; we expected that, but we also had the chance of bearing our testimonies to hundreds and thousands of people, and also proclaiming some of the truths and beauties of Mormonism to them. I have often wished that more of our girls and boys had the chance of going into the world and preaching the gospel. They not only benefit themselves, but "lay up treasures in heaven, where moth nor rust corrupt or thieves break through and steal." I feel thankful to my heavenly Father for this opportunity; and I hope that the gospel seed I have sown will some day bear fruit and be the means of bringing many people into the Church of Jesus Christ.
I have sought the honor that comes from God rather than the honor that comes from man, and I feel that in doing so, my mission has been approved of God, and I have been of some benefit to others.
I feel to bear my testimony to you that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord may rest upon each and every one of us, and especially upon the President of the Church and his counselors, and the quorum of the Apostles. I ask these blessings in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Of the Southern States Mission.)
My dear brothers and sisters, I sincerely trust that I may have the Spirit of the Lord while I address this congregation, to guide and direct me in what I may say, that it may be for our mutual benefit and blessing. As has been announced I have labored in the Southern States Mission for nearly a year and a half, under the direction of President Ben E. Rich, and President Charles A Callis. I can say that while I labored as a missionary there I truly enjoyed every moment of the time. My Only regret is that I was released from my labors there, although my release was merely a transfer from one field to another. I consider that I was greatly privileged, to go into the world and mingle my voice with the sisters and elders in the field, in testimony of the truth of the gospel as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of course we met a great deal of opposition; we expected that, but we also had the chance of bearing our testimonies to hundreds and thousands of people, and also proclaiming some of the truths and beauties of Mormonism to them. I have often wished that more of our girls and boys had the chance of going into the world and preaching the gospel. They not only benefit themselves, but "lay up treasures in heaven, where moth nor rust corrupt or thieves break through and steal." I feel thankful to my heavenly Father for this opportunity; and I hope that the gospel seed I have sown will some day bear fruit and be the means of bringing many people into the Church of Jesus Christ.
I have sought the honor that comes from God rather than the honor that comes from man, and I feel that in doing so, my mission has been approved of God, and I have been of some benefit to others.
I feel to bear my testimony to you that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord may rest upon each and every one of us, and especially upon the President of the Church and his counselors, and the quorum of the Apostles. I ask these blessings in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER MELVIN J. BALLARD.
(President of Northwestern States Mission.)
The question has often been asked each of us, perhaps, and it came to me recently in correspondence that I had with a friend belonging to the re-organized church: "Why is it that the Latter-day Saints came to Utah? Why didn't they remain in the east where they first were founded, and began the establishment of their organization?" There are many reasons that can be given in answer to this question, some of which I desire to call briefly to your attention. Suppose that the Latter-day Saints had been permitted to remain in the city of Nauvoo; the prospects were then that they would have built up and established one of the largest cities in the United States. When Nauvoo had 20,000 people, Chicago on the north, and St. Louis on the south were mere trading posts. Nauvoo occupied a favorable position, where, in all probability, with its water-ways, its central location between the north and south extremities of Illinois, it would have been an eligible point for the building up and establishment of a large city. Suppose that Nauvoo had been built up to become the equal of the city of St. Louis on the south with 800,00 or more, inhabitants the probabilities are that all the Latter-day Saints would not have resided in that one city, as they do not now belong to one particular locality. When they lived in that section, they were scattered over a large area of country. It is apparent that God had in mind taking this people from a thickly settled portion of the country, a country that did not require much energy or effort to develop. The Divine idea was to take them away from crowded centers, and have them locate where they could be as "a city set upon a hill," so that their light could be seen and their works be made manifest. Here, where no one else cared to live, where men said there was no opportunity to establish civilization, their feet were planted; and they remained here, although there was California on the west with its great enticements for the Saints to go and settle there. You remember that Captain Brannon, who landed in California shortly before the Saints located in this valley met the pioneers east of this valley, and invited them to come to California, telling the wonderful advantages of that climate and soil, where it would be possible to build up great communities quickly, and where the people could enjoy the blessings of that fertile land.
In anticipation of the movement that would transfer all the Saints to the west, the Prophet Joseph thought of Oregon, the great land to the northwest, as a desirable place to go; this was his first thought. Oregon would have furnished more opportunities, larger advantages in a commercial way, for the Latter-day Saints, or any others, in its fruitful fields, its extensive valleys, and with its splendid facilities to build up cities. But if the Latter-day Saints had gone there, or to California, they would soon have been face to face with their old enemies, who were following them. They would soon have been outnumbered; and whatever would have been done in the building up of that community, the credit would have been given to other people. But this forbidding country, where no other people were willing to locate, was the chosen resting place. You remember, when the women of that party landed on the banks of City Creek, one of the weary women sat down and wept, and said she would rather go a thousand miles further, notwithstanding the hardships she had gone through, to find a more desirable place than this barren desert land. Yet this was the place, for the prophet had said that here, in vision, he had seen the tents of Israel cover the earth. The people remained here, notwithstanding the enticements offered in California, with its gold and the many advantages that, seemingly, would have come to them there in a commercial and financial way. Thousands of the immigrants did not look with favor upon this place, because it evidently would require great labor to develop it, to bring out of this sterile condition a fruitful field. But God planted His people here, and through faith, labor and diligence, and industry, they have attracted the attention of the world.
It is only a few years ago that the President of the United States visited this city, and, speaking of the wonderful achievements and developments which had come to this barren section of the country, said something to this effect: You have become prominent in the world in material things, in the development of the soil; all the world can come here and learn of you; learn that by industry, thrift and perseverance, wonderful achievements have been accomplished in this desert land, results also of fidelity and frugality. It is probable there never would have been such praise accorded to the Latter-day Saints, they never would have had the opportunity to develop themselves in this direction, or have merited the praise of the world in these things, had they gone to a land that would have yielded returns more easily to their effort and toil. The work has been done well, by men and women of virtue and strength, driven by enemies to settle here and battle with the elements, to subdue this desert land. They have made of it a paradise, and assuredly merit in honor, and right, and truth the praise of the world.
But beyond these temporal things, beyond these achievements, there is something greater to be accomplished, a labor to be performed, that should attract the attention of the world beyond our material things, that should call for their further admiration and praise. I refer to that which we value beyond all earthly things, the establishment of the Church and Kingdom of God, and the proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the world needs today more than anything else, that which will bring most joy to their souls. The day shall come when the good, and the great, and the wise men and women of all the world shall say. "Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the house of the God of Jacob, that we may learn of His ways and walk in His paths." They may learn not only of material things, but great and mighty truths that tell of man's being, his existence upon the earth, his relationship to his Creator, the purpose God had in placing us here; and so the world shall yet acknowledge that we know things of value beyond all earthly possessions.
I feel, as a young man born and raised in this Church, having the opportunities and privileges that come by reason of my association in it, like Benjamin Disraeli did when he made efforts to obtain membership in the house of Parliament in Great Britain. Three times he made the effort and failed in accomplishing what he desired; but he persevered, though he understood well that he had the hatred and prejudice of the masses of the people against him, on account of his religion and his race. But he finally succeeded in accomplishing the desired end. He obtained the seat, and many of his friends, relying upon the ability of the man to defend himself and the cause of his people, said, as soon" as he was heard, he would accomplish great things. But when he had the opportunity to stand before that great body of law makers, and endeavored to speak, his voice was silenced by hisses, and noise, and disturbance in that assembly. He repeated his efforts, and each time was silenced, but, as he sat down, he cried out at the top of his voice, "The day shall come when you will hear me." With that determination, he stuck to his task, working to accomplish the fulfillment of his prophecy concerning himself; and the time did come when they gave him the exalted honor of being prime minister of England three times. England's lords and statesmen often listened to his wise words, no matter how many hours he spoke. And so I feel that, though there are those who have attempted to blacken our character, who despise us, and seek to make us outcasts, yet the time of our triumph shall come, because of the honest effort, the integrity, the virtue and moral strength of the young men and young women of this Church. We have resolved in our hearts, as Benjamin Disraeli did, never to cease our efforts, nor to slacken our endeavors to make the world hear us, until ignorance, and prejudice, and hatred shall be banished from the earth, and the love of God, and a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall find its way into the hearts and homes of the millions who know nothing of us this day. We stand in a most enviable position in the world. Our mission is not only to benefit ourselves in these valleys, but our mission extends to the east, west, north and south; all the world is our field. God sent us to labor in His vineyard. He called us here to train us to be teachers to the nations of the earth, not only to attain blessings and honor ourselves, but to bestow the same on them also. May God keep before us the high ideals that our fathers had, preserve us in the truth, as He preserved them, that when we finish our labors on the earth, we may merit the honor and praise which they have merited ; God grant it, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(Concluding remarks by Elder Ben E. Rich are printed in connection with his preceding discourse.)
The congregation sang the hymn, "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear."
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Heber C. Smith.
(President of Northwestern States Mission.)
The question has often been asked each of us, perhaps, and it came to me recently in correspondence that I had with a friend belonging to the re-organized church: "Why is it that the Latter-day Saints came to Utah? Why didn't they remain in the east where they first were founded, and began the establishment of their organization?" There are many reasons that can be given in answer to this question, some of which I desire to call briefly to your attention. Suppose that the Latter-day Saints had been permitted to remain in the city of Nauvoo; the prospects were then that they would have built up and established one of the largest cities in the United States. When Nauvoo had 20,000 people, Chicago on the north, and St. Louis on the south were mere trading posts. Nauvoo occupied a favorable position, where, in all probability, with its water-ways, its central location between the north and south extremities of Illinois, it would have been an eligible point for the building up and establishment of a large city. Suppose that Nauvoo had been built up to become the equal of the city of St. Louis on the south with 800,00 or more, inhabitants the probabilities are that all the Latter-day Saints would not have resided in that one city, as they do not now belong to one particular locality. When they lived in that section, they were scattered over a large area of country. It is apparent that God had in mind taking this people from a thickly settled portion of the country, a country that did not require much energy or effort to develop. The Divine idea was to take them away from crowded centers, and have them locate where they could be as "a city set upon a hill," so that their light could be seen and their works be made manifest. Here, where no one else cared to live, where men said there was no opportunity to establish civilization, their feet were planted; and they remained here, although there was California on the west with its great enticements for the Saints to go and settle there. You remember that Captain Brannon, who landed in California shortly before the Saints located in this valley met the pioneers east of this valley, and invited them to come to California, telling the wonderful advantages of that climate and soil, where it would be possible to build up great communities quickly, and where the people could enjoy the blessings of that fertile land.
In anticipation of the movement that would transfer all the Saints to the west, the Prophet Joseph thought of Oregon, the great land to the northwest, as a desirable place to go; this was his first thought. Oregon would have furnished more opportunities, larger advantages in a commercial way, for the Latter-day Saints, or any others, in its fruitful fields, its extensive valleys, and with its splendid facilities to build up cities. But if the Latter-day Saints had gone there, or to California, they would soon have been face to face with their old enemies, who were following them. They would soon have been outnumbered; and whatever would have been done in the building up of that community, the credit would have been given to other people. But this forbidding country, where no other people were willing to locate, was the chosen resting place. You remember, when the women of that party landed on the banks of City Creek, one of the weary women sat down and wept, and said she would rather go a thousand miles further, notwithstanding the hardships she had gone through, to find a more desirable place than this barren desert land. Yet this was the place, for the prophet had said that here, in vision, he had seen the tents of Israel cover the earth. The people remained here, notwithstanding the enticements offered in California, with its gold and the many advantages that, seemingly, would have come to them there in a commercial and financial way. Thousands of the immigrants did not look with favor upon this place, because it evidently would require great labor to develop it, to bring out of this sterile condition a fruitful field. But God planted His people here, and through faith, labor and diligence, and industry, they have attracted the attention of the world.
It is only a few years ago that the President of the United States visited this city, and, speaking of the wonderful achievements and developments which had come to this barren section of the country, said something to this effect: You have become prominent in the world in material things, in the development of the soil; all the world can come here and learn of you; learn that by industry, thrift and perseverance, wonderful achievements have been accomplished in this desert land, results also of fidelity and frugality. It is probable there never would have been such praise accorded to the Latter-day Saints, they never would have had the opportunity to develop themselves in this direction, or have merited the praise of the world in these things, had they gone to a land that would have yielded returns more easily to their effort and toil. The work has been done well, by men and women of virtue and strength, driven by enemies to settle here and battle with the elements, to subdue this desert land. They have made of it a paradise, and assuredly merit in honor, and right, and truth the praise of the world.
But beyond these temporal things, beyond these achievements, there is something greater to be accomplished, a labor to be performed, that should attract the attention of the world beyond our material things, that should call for their further admiration and praise. I refer to that which we value beyond all earthly things, the establishment of the Church and Kingdom of God, and the proclamation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what the world needs today more than anything else, that which will bring most joy to their souls. The day shall come when the good, and the great, and the wise men and women of all the world shall say. "Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the house of the God of Jacob, that we may learn of His ways and walk in His paths." They may learn not only of material things, but great and mighty truths that tell of man's being, his existence upon the earth, his relationship to his Creator, the purpose God had in placing us here; and so the world shall yet acknowledge that we know things of value beyond all earthly possessions.
I feel, as a young man born and raised in this Church, having the opportunities and privileges that come by reason of my association in it, like Benjamin Disraeli did when he made efforts to obtain membership in the house of Parliament in Great Britain. Three times he made the effort and failed in accomplishing what he desired; but he persevered, though he understood well that he had the hatred and prejudice of the masses of the people against him, on account of his religion and his race. But he finally succeeded in accomplishing the desired end. He obtained the seat, and many of his friends, relying upon the ability of the man to defend himself and the cause of his people, said, as soon" as he was heard, he would accomplish great things. But when he had the opportunity to stand before that great body of law makers, and endeavored to speak, his voice was silenced by hisses, and noise, and disturbance in that assembly. He repeated his efforts, and each time was silenced, but, as he sat down, he cried out at the top of his voice, "The day shall come when you will hear me." With that determination, he stuck to his task, working to accomplish the fulfillment of his prophecy concerning himself; and the time did come when they gave him the exalted honor of being prime minister of England three times. England's lords and statesmen often listened to his wise words, no matter how many hours he spoke. And so I feel that, though there are those who have attempted to blacken our character, who despise us, and seek to make us outcasts, yet the time of our triumph shall come, because of the honest effort, the integrity, the virtue and moral strength of the young men and young women of this Church. We have resolved in our hearts, as Benjamin Disraeli did, never to cease our efforts, nor to slacken our endeavors to make the world hear us, until ignorance, and prejudice, and hatred shall be banished from the earth, and the love of God, and a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall find its way into the hearts and homes of the millions who know nothing of us this day. We stand in a most enviable position in the world. Our mission is not only to benefit ourselves in these valleys, but our mission extends to the east, west, north and south; all the world is our field. God sent us to labor in His vineyard. He called us here to train us to be teachers to the nations of the earth, not only to attain blessings and honor ourselves, but to bestow the same on them also. May God keep before us the high ideals that our fathers had, preserve us in the truth, as He preserved them, that when we finish our labors on the earth, we may merit the honor and praise which they have merited ; God grant it, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(Concluding remarks by Elder Ben E. Rich are printed in connection with his preceding discourse.)
The congregation sang the hymn, "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear."
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Heber C. Smith.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Conference was resumed at 2 p. m., in the Tabernacle.
President Joseph F. Smith called the congregation to order, and announced the convening of an overflow meeting at this hour, in the Assembly Hall, and an outdoor meeting near the Bureau of Information building.
The choir sang the anthem, "In our Redeemer's name."
Prayer was offered by Elder William T. Jack.
The choir sang the anthem, "Gog and Magog."
Conference was resumed at 2 p. m., in the Tabernacle.
President Joseph F. Smith called the congregation to order, and announced the convening of an overflow meeting at this hour, in the Assembly Hall, and an outdoor meeting near the Bureau of Information building.
The choir sang the anthem, "In our Redeemer's name."
Prayer was offered by Elder William T. Jack.
The choir sang the anthem, "Gog and Magog."
ELDER ANTHONY W. IVINS.
Mr. Ferris' anti-Mormon book reviewed.— Glaring misstatements refuted in relation to Book of Mormon.— Striking evidences that American Indians are Hebraic.—Irrefutable reasons for belief in Book of Mormon.
My brethren and sisters:—I desire very greatly that your sympathy and faith may be exercised in my behalf, during the few moments I shall occupy this afternoon.
In his remarks this morning, President Smith said, among other things of which we approve, that the principles of the Gospel of Christ were founded upon everlasting truth. While he was talking, I thought of an experience which recently came under my observation, in fact, one which I had personally while at the City of Mexico. In connection with this matter, I want to read from the Bible: "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are His delight."
I went into a book store in the City of Mexico, a few weeks ago, and saw there upon the shelves a took entitled, "Utah and the Mormons." I bought the book and read it. It was written by a man who had been a resident of this state, a scholarly man, undoubtedly, and one who professed to have become intimately acquainted with his subject through association with the Latter-day Saints. The book contained some things which were complimentary to the people, but upon almost every page there were misrepresentations, falsehoods, and statements which could not be supported by facts. It seemed to me that nothing more outrageous, more abominable, or farther from the truth could possibly have been written than the things which were contained in that book; and yet a large edition of it, had been printed and circulated in the world. This man took particular pains to attack the doctrines of the Church. He misquoted the teachings of presiding officers in the Church. He misrepresented social conditions as they exist or ever have existed in the Church. He took particular delight in assailing The Book of Mormon, which he called a delusion, and claimed that Solomon Spaulding was its real author, notwithstanding the fact it is a well-known truth that that story has long since been exploded. When I read it, I thought—how dangerous are lying lips, and what trouble, what misunderstanding may come to individuals or people through a lying pen.
I shall not attempt, my brethren and sisters, to point out to you the many inaccuracies which were in this book; time would not permit. But, to illustrate the thought that I had as I read it, I am going to quote to you, this afternoon, a part of what this man said regarding the Book of Mormon.
"There is probably no book in the world which contains within itself so many proofs of its real origin, and one is struck with wonder that the imposture should have fastened itself upon such numbers. A portion of the Israelites are alleged to have found their way to America, and they and their descendants wrote a long book in which there is not one word of the Hebrew language. In addition to this, not a single word of Hebrew, nor a Hebrew character can be found in the language of these descendants of Israel upon the American continent."
We must assume that men who write books, men who make history, are familiar with the subjects which they treat. They at least ought to be, and when the facilities are at their command, so that by simply investigating they may know the truth, they certainly are left without excuse if they publish to the world that which is not true.
In the first place, this man purported to be thoroughly acquainted with the Book of Mormon, to have read and studied it, and yet he tells us that it is a book written in Hebrew characters, by people who are supposed to have come from Jerusalem. Nephi, in the very beginning of the Book of Mormon, tells us he wrote that record according to his knowledge, in the learning of his fathers, which he says is the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. Moroni, the last writer in it, says:
"Now behold, we have written this record in characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, and if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew; and if we could have written in Hebrew, there would have been no error in our record."
So the Book of Mormon was not written in the Hebrew language as this publisher tells us; but, according to the testimony of the men who made the record, it was written in characters which were called among them "reformed Egyptian." That people coming from Jerusalem should have been conversant with the Egyptian language, and familiar with the civilization of Egypt, is not at all strange. You all know that for four hundred years Israel was captive in Egypt, or they sojourned there for that period of time, during a part of which they were in captivity to the Egyptians. They were the makers of their bricks; the builders of their temples, their pyramids, and other great edifices. They acquired the learning of the Egyptians, and when they went into the promised land, led by Joshua, the prophet of the Lord, they took with them the Egyptian language and civilization; and they tell us that they wrote this book in characters called among them the reformed Egyptian. So Mr. Ferris is in error in that regard. Suppose, however, that the book had been written in Hebrew characters—I want to show you how unjustified the statement of this man is, that not a trace of the Hebrew language could be found among the different dialects and tongues spoken by the American Indians.
Garcia, the Spanish historian and ethnologist, one who studied the archaeology of America probably as thoroughly as any of the writers, says in referring to this question:
"Similarity in character, dress, religion physical peculiarities, conditions, and customs convince me that the Americans are of Jewish origin. There do actually exist many Hebraic traces in the American languages."
So this man finds that in the languages of the natives of this continent there are many traces of the Hebrew. Lord Kingsborough, who probably wrote more exhaustively on this subject than did any other historian, says, "The Indian dialects have much in common with the Hebrew," and Adair says:
"The Indian language and dialects appear to have the very idiom and genius of the Hebrew. Their words and sentences are expressive, concise, emphatic, sonorous and bold; and often, both in letters and in signification, are synonymous with the Hebrew language."
My brethren and sisters, I call attention to these facts, not being able, because of lack of time, to go into detail as one might in a thorough investigation of this question, to show you how unjustified a man is who publishes to the world the statement that this Book of Mormon contains no internal evidence of its divine authenticity, to show you that men who have investigated this question, almost without exception, reach the conclusion that there is a very strong affinity and similarity, which leads investigators to the conclusion — many of them to the definite conclusion— that the present inhabitants of the American continent, that is the natives of the country, were of Jewish origin.
Hubert Howe Bancroft, the great historian, tells us that he himself saw a tablet of stone taken from a mound which was opened in the State of Ohio. Under this mound, imbedded in a clay having the characteristics of cement, a coffin was found, containing the skeleton of a man; and underneath the coffin, hermetically sealed, in a box made of stone and fastened together with cement, there was a small tablet of stone, upon which the figure of a man was engraven. Over his head, and on the sides of the tablet there were peculiar hieroglyphics. The historian tells us that these hieroglyphics, were pronounced by one of professed learning to be the Ten Commandments, written in Hebrew characters. This is very conclusive evidence that the ancient inhabitants of this continent knew something of the Hebrew. That they understood something of the civilization of Egypt there can be no doubt. Any person who has traveled in the southern part of North America, who has visited those ruined cities, great temples, and tremendous works of masonry which exist there today can bear witness. Only a few days ago, I stood upon the top of a pyramid, out a few miles from the City of Mexico, the base of which occupies a space larger than this entire city block, more than ten acres square, solid masonry, more than three hundred feet high, built square with the world. All around it as far as the eye can reach, are mounds of the remains of ruined homes. A great city once existed there. Who were the builders of the pyramid There were none in ancient Chaldea. No pyramids were built by the Assyrians. Whatever civilization there was among the Jaredites was the civilization of Chaldea and Assyria, those early races which settled in the valley of Mesopotamia, along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. But later, Israel went into Egypt. There they learned something of pyramid building. There are pyramids standing today in the valley of the Nile, almost as perfect as the day of their construction. I thought of them, the other day, as I stood on the top of this great pyramid down in the interior of Mexico.
Jones, the historian, who has studied exhaustively the ruins of Central America and Yucatan, says:
"The general character of the American architecture is undoubtedly Egyptian."—Now listen to what he says further—"but the resemblance is not close enough in detail to allow of its being actually the work of Egyptian hands." He concludes that it could not have been built by Egyptians themselves. "The ancient cities of America were, therefore, built by a people who had a knowledge of Egyptian architecture."
How beautifully this harmonizes with the truths set forth in this holy book, that these cities were the work of descendants of the house of Israel, the same people who had been the builders, to a very large extent, of the cities and monuments which exist today in the valley of the Nile.
Further in justification of this, Professor Le Plongeon, who has recently died, in New York, spent fifteen years of his life in Yucatan exploring ruined pities, studying the language of the people, attempting to decipher the inscriptions which abound upon the walls of those great temples. He tells us, after these years of exploration, study and investigation:
"The ancient Maya hieratic alphabet discovered by me, is as near like to the ancient hieratic alphabet of the Egyptians as two alphabets can possibly be; forcing upon us the conclusion that the Mayas and Egyptians either learned the art of writing from the same masters, or that the Egyptians learned it from the Mayas."
Professor Le Plongeon rejects the story told in the Book of Mormon. He does not acknowledge the fact that the builders of these great monuments were descendants of Lehi or other remnants of the house of Israel who came from Jerusalem, bringing with them as they did the learning of the Jews and the civilization of the Egyptians; but, nevertheless, he states facts which convincingly substantiate and corroborate the truths contained 'in the Book of Mormon. There are so many things which might be said upon this subject. The book itself stands before the world, and has been subject to its criticism from the time of its publication. The Spaulding story has been exploded, and so with other theories that have been advanced against it. At the time this book was published, it was not known that there was any conclusive proof indicating the Hebraic origin of the Indians of America. The declarations made in this book, that great cities were built, that temples were erected, that a great civilization existed here—which was comparatively unknown at the time the book was published—are corroborative of its truth.
This same historian, Jones, in examining the ruins of the city of Palenque, compares the architecture of one of these great buildings to the architecture of Solomon's temple. Nephi tells us that they built a temple similar to the temple of Solomon, in all things except that it was not so richly adorned. They had not the gold and silver and the precious stones, but they did have the plan; they did have the idea. This historian tells us that in the basement of one of these great buildings he found a reservoir which was undoubtedly designed to catch and hold water. Knowing nothing of the purpose for which water might be used in the basement of a temple, and knowing nothing of the ordinance of baptism, or the conveniences which are provided for its administration, he nevertheless corroborates the faith and knowledge of the Saints, by these modern discoveries.
The book itself and the internal evidences which it contains are sufficient to establish its truth. I am not referring to these facts so much to strengthen your faith and mine, as I am to bring into question the right of any man, to discuss things which he does not understand, to publish untruths. He can not excuse himself because of lack of knowledge. Men are not expected to discuss things of which they are ignorant, when the facts are easily obtainable. So, I believe that the Lord will hold us responsible, I believe that He will hold all men responsible for the things they say that are untrue. One thought that came to me, as I read this book, was that I myself ought to be very careful how I judge the faith, how I judge the doctrine, how I judge the lives of other people until I become thoroughly acquainted with them. I believe this man thought the Book of Mormon was a delusion, just as he said it was. I believe he thought it was, but I do not believe that he ever took the pains to find out whether it was a delusion or whether it was true; this he might have done.
You know that if the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon can be successfully attacked, it strikes at one of the very foundation stones of the Church—not that the Book of Mormon was absolutely essential, not that the delivery of these plates to the Prophet Joseph, and their translation into the English language and publication to the world, were sufficient authority for him to have established the Church of Christ upon the earth. We could have done without that. The first glorious visions which the Lord gave him were not authority sufficient for the establishment of Christ's church in the earth ; that authority came later with the restoration of the priesthood ; but they were all preliminary and preparatory moves which were necessary in the great plan of human redemption which the Lord was about to establish in this dispensation. So He gave us the Book of Mormon, containing the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, in its plainness, simplicity and truth. The Prophet Joseph Smith did not undertake to establish the divine authenticity of this book by reference to the evidences which exist in this continent, by which it may be corroborated—not at all. He gave; us the book as a truth; it was a truth that God revealed these things to him; it was a truth that Moroni delivered the plates into his hands; it was a truth that this book was translated by the gift and power of God, through the medium of the Urim and Thummim. Now, we spend a good deal of time trying to determine how that was brought about. What does it matter how it was brought about? It was done by the gift and power of God, that is sufficient for me. It was done by means of the Urim and Thummim—not a new method either of learning the will of the Lord, for the ancients had it. The High Priests in Israel had it, and with it they ascertained the mind and will of the Lord for the guidance of the people; just as with it the Prophet Joseph was able to translate this record, and to receive the mind and will of the Lord, the covenants, doctrines and commandments, by which the Church was to be guided, as they are contained here in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. It is the truth, the everlasting truth. Nothing in the world will ever prove it to be false. Men may try to prove if false, but they never will succeed.
Brethren and sisters, I bear this witness to you: There is a world of corroborative evidence of the divine authenticity of this Book of Mormon—read it; study it; be governed by the doctrines that are taught in it. Have faith in it; believe in the promises that are contained in it, and you will find inspiration and hope, faith and charity, and everything that is good in human life. It stands for that which is good, for that which is true, for that which is just, for that which is merciful, for that which uplifts, and places before us higher ideals to which we constantly aspire. May we always appreciate the word of truth. Remember, my brethren and sisters, that the law of God is truth. The Church of Christ is established upon the principles of truth and righteousness, and therefore truth and righteousness should be constantly cultivated and encouraged in the Church and out of it. We need to be taught the principle of truth, because we are not always, perhaps, truthful. A man may be untruthful in other things than what he says ; he may be untruthful in what he does; he may be untruthful in the impressions which, he seeks to make. Every misrepresentation of a fact is an untruth.
I rejoice in the Gospel, and I pray our Eternal Father that He may continue to magnify the Church as He has done, that He will open the way for the accomplishment of His purposes, to bring about the redemption of His covenant people, and the day when His kingdom shall come and His will be done upon earth as it is in heaven. I pray for these blessings —I desire them for my self, for you, and for all the world, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Mr. Ferris' anti-Mormon book reviewed.— Glaring misstatements refuted in relation to Book of Mormon.— Striking evidences that American Indians are Hebraic.—Irrefutable reasons for belief in Book of Mormon.
My brethren and sisters:—I desire very greatly that your sympathy and faith may be exercised in my behalf, during the few moments I shall occupy this afternoon.
In his remarks this morning, President Smith said, among other things of which we approve, that the principles of the Gospel of Christ were founded upon everlasting truth. While he was talking, I thought of an experience which recently came under my observation, in fact, one which I had personally while at the City of Mexico. In connection with this matter, I want to read from the Bible: "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are His delight."
I went into a book store in the City of Mexico, a few weeks ago, and saw there upon the shelves a took entitled, "Utah and the Mormons." I bought the book and read it. It was written by a man who had been a resident of this state, a scholarly man, undoubtedly, and one who professed to have become intimately acquainted with his subject through association with the Latter-day Saints. The book contained some things which were complimentary to the people, but upon almost every page there were misrepresentations, falsehoods, and statements which could not be supported by facts. It seemed to me that nothing more outrageous, more abominable, or farther from the truth could possibly have been written than the things which were contained in that book; and yet a large edition of it, had been printed and circulated in the world. This man took particular pains to attack the doctrines of the Church. He misquoted the teachings of presiding officers in the Church. He misrepresented social conditions as they exist or ever have existed in the Church. He took particular delight in assailing The Book of Mormon, which he called a delusion, and claimed that Solomon Spaulding was its real author, notwithstanding the fact it is a well-known truth that that story has long since been exploded. When I read it, I thought—how dangerous are lying lips, and what trouble, what misunderstanding may come to individuals or people through a lying pen.
I shall not attempt, my brethren and sisters, to point out to you the many inaccuracies which were in this book; time would not permit. But, to illustrate the thought that I had as I read it, I am going to quote to you, this afternoon, a part of what this man said regarding the Book of Mormon.
"There is probably no book in the world which contains within itself so many proofs of its real origin, and one is struck with wonder that the imposture should have fastened itself upon such numbers. A portion of the Israelites are alleged to have found their way to America, and they and their descendants wrote a long book in which there is not one word of the Hebrew language. In addition to this, not a single word of Hebrew, nor a Hebrew character can be found in the language of these descendants of Israel upon the American continent."
We must assume that men who write books, men who make history, are familiar with the subjects which they treat. They at least ought to be, and when the facilities are at their command, so that by simply investigating they may know the truth, they certainly are left without excuse if they publish to the world that which is not true.
In the first place, this man purported to be thoroughly acquainted with the Book of Mormon, to have read and studied it, and yet he tells us that it is a book written in Hebrew characters, by people who are supposed to have come from Jerusalem. Nephi, in the very beginning of the Book of Mormon, tells us he wrote that record according to his knowledge, in the learning of his fathers, which he says is the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. Moroni, the last writer in it, says:
"Now behold, we have written this record in characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, and if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew; and if we could have written in Hebrew, there would have been no error in our record."
So the Book of Mormon was not written in the Hebrew language as this publisher tells us; but, according to the testimony of the men who made the record, it was written in characters which were called among them "reformed Egyptian." That people coming from Jerusalem should have been conversant with the Egyptian language, and familiar with the civilization of Egypt, is not at all strange. You all know that for four hundred years Israel was captive in Egypt, or they sojourned there for that period of time, during a part of which they were in captivity to the Egyptians. They were the makers of their bricks; the builders of their temples, their pyramids, and other great edifices. They acquired the learning of the Egyptians, and when they went into the promised land, led by Joshua, the prophet of the Lord, they took with them the Egyptian language and civilization; and they tell us that they wrote this book in characters called among them the reformed Egyptian. So Mr. Ferris is in error in that regard. Suppose, however, that the book had been written in Hebrew characters—I want to show you how unjustified the statement of this man is, that not a trace of the Hebrew language could be found among the different dialects and tongues spoken by the American Indians.
Garcia, the Spanish historian and ethnologist, one who studied the archaeology of America probably as thoroughly as any of the writers, says in referring to this question:
"Similarity in character, dress, religion physical peculiarities, conditions, and customs convince me that the Americans are of Jewish origin. There do actually exist many Hebraic traces in the American languages."
So this man finds that in the languages of the natives of this continent there are many traces of the Hebrew. Lord Kingsborough, who probably wrote more exhaustively on this subject than did any other historian, says, "The Indian dialects have much in common with the Hebrew," and Adair says:
"The Indian language and dialects appear to have the very idiom and genius of the Hebrew. Their words and sentences are expressive, concise, emphatic, sonorous and bold; and often, both in letters and in signification, are synonymous with the Hebrew language."
My brethren and sisters, I call attention to these facts, not being able, because of lack of time, to go into detail as one might in a thorough investigation of this question, to show you how unjustified a man is who publishes to the world the statement that this Book of Mormon contains no internal evidence of its divine authenticity, to show you that men who have investigated this question, almost without exception, reach the conclusion that there is a very strong affinity and similarity, which leads investigators to the conclusion — many of them to the definite conclusion— that the present inhabitants of the American continent, that is the natives of the country, were of Jewish origin.
Hubert Howe Bancroft, the great historian, tells us that he himself saw a tablet of stone taken from a mound which was opened in the State of Ohio. Under this mound, imbedded in a clay having the characteristics of cement, a coffin was found, containing the skeleton of a man; and underneath the coffin, hermetically sealed, in a box made of stone and fastened together with cement, there was a small tablet of stone, upon which the figure of a man was engraven. Over his head, and on the sides of the tablet there were peculiar hieroglyphics. The historian tells us that these hieroglyphics, were pronounced by one of professed learning to be the Ten Commandments, written in Hebrew characters. This is very conclusive evidence that the ancient inhabitants of this continent knew something of the Hebrew. That they understood something of the civilization of Egypt there can be no doubt. Any person who has traveled in the southern part of North America, who has visited those ruined cities, great temples, and tremendous works of masonry which exist there today can bear witness. Only a few days ago, I stood upon the top of a pyramid, out a few miles from the City of Mexico, the base of which occupies a space larger than this entire city block, more than ten acres square, solid masonry, more than three hundred feet high, built square with the world. All around it as far as the eye can reach, are mounds of the remains of ruined homes. A great city once existed there. Who were the builders of the pyramid There were none in ancient Chaldea. No pyramids were built by the Assyrians. Whatever civilization there was among the Jaredites was the civilization of Chaldea and Assyria, those early races which settled in the valley of Mesopotamia, along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. But later, Israel went into Egypt. There they learned something of pyramid building. There are pyramids standing today in the valley of the Nile, almost as perfect as the day of their construction. I thought of them, the other day, as I stood on the top of this great pyramid down in the interior of Mexico.
Jones, the historian, who has studied exhaustively the ruins of Central America and Yucatan, says:
"The general character of the American architecture is undoubtedly Egyptian."—Now listen to what he says further—"but the resemblance is not close enough in detail to allow of its being actually the work of Egyptian hands." He concludes that it could not have been built by Egyptians themselves. "The ancient cities of America were, therefore, built by a people who had a knowledge of Egyptian architecture."
How beautifully this harmonizes with the truths set forth in this holy book, that these cities were the work of descendants of the house of Israel, the same people who had been the builders, to a very large extent, of the cities and monuments which exist today in the valley of the Nile.
Further in justification of this, Professor Le Plongeon, who has recently died, in New York, spent fifteen years of his life in Yucatan exploring ruined pities, studying the language of the people, attempting to decipher the inscriptions which abound upon the walls of those great temples. He tells us, after these years of exploration, study and investigation:
"The ancient Maya hieratic alphabet discovered by me, is as near like to the ancient hieratic alphabet of the Egyptians as two alphabets can possibly be; forcing upon us the conclusion that the Mayas and Egyptians either learned the art of writing from the same masters, or that the Egyptians learned it from the Mayas."
Professor Le Plongeon rejects the story told in the Book of Mormon. He does not acknowledge the fact that the builders of these great monuments were descendants of Lehi or other remnants of the house of Israel who came from Jerusalem, bringing with them as they did the learning of the Jews and the civilization of the Egyptians; but, nevertheless, he states facts which convincingly substantiate and corroborate the truths contained 'in the Book of Mormon. There are so many things which might be said upon this subject. The book itself stands before the world, and has been subject to its criticism from the time of its publication. The Spaulding story has been exploded, and so with other theories that have been advanced against it. At the time this book was published, it was not known that there was any conclusive proof indicating the Hebraic origin of the Indians of America. The declarations made in this book, that great cities were built, that temples were erected, that a great civilization existed here—which was comparatively unknown at the time the book was published—are corroborative of its truth.
This same historian, Jones, in examining the ruins of the city of Palenque, compares the architecture of one of these great buildings to the architecture of Solomon's temple. Nephi tells us that they built a temple similar to the temple of Solomon, in all things except that it was not so richly adorned. They had not the gold and silver and the precious stones, but they did have the plan; they did have the idea. This historian tells us that in the basement of one of these great buildings he found a reservoir which was undoubtedly designed to catch and hold water. Knowing nothing of the purpose for which water might be used in the basement of a temple, and knowing nothing of the ordinance of baptism, or the conveniences which are provided for its administration, he nevertheless corroborates the faith and knowledge of the Saints, by these modern discoveries.
The book itself and the internal evidences which it contains are sufficient to establish its truth. I am not referring to these facts so much to strengthen your faith and mine, as I am to bring into question the right of any man, to discuss things which he does not understand, to publish untruths. He can not excuse himself because of lack of knowledge. Men are not expected to discuss things of which they are ignorant, when the facts are easily obtainable. So, I believe that the Lord will hold us responsible, I believe that He will hold all men responsible for the things they say that are untrue. One thought that came to me, as I read this book, was that I myself ought to be very careful how I judge the faith, how I judge the doctrine, how I judge the lives of other people until I become thoroughly acquainted with them. I believe this man thought the Book of Mormon was a delusion, just as he said it was. I believe he thought it was, but I do not believe that he ever took the pains to find out whether it was a delusion or whether it was true; this he might have done.
You know that if the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon can be successfully attacked, it strikes at one of the very foundation stones of the Church—not that the Book of Mormon was absolutely essential, not that the delivery of these plates to the Prophet Joseph, and their translation into the English language and publication to the world, were sufficient authority for him to have established the Church of Christ upon the earth. We could have done without that. The first glorious visions which the Lord gave him were not authority sufficient for the establishment of Christ's church in the earth ; that authority came later with the restoration of the priesthood ; but they were all preliminary and preparatory moves which were necessary in the great plan of human redemption which the Lord was about to establish in this dispensation. So He gave us the Book of Mormon, containing the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, in its plainness, simplicity and truth. The Prophet Joseph Smith did not undertake to establish the divine authenticity of this book by reference to the evidences which exist in this continent, by which it may be corroborated—not at all. He gave; us the book as a truth; it was a truth that God revealed these things to him; it was a truth that Moroni delivered the plates into his hands; it was a truth that this book was translated by the gift and power of God, through the medium of the Urim and Thummim. Now, we spend a good deal of time trying to determine how that was brought about. What does it matter how it was brought about? It was done by the gift and power of God, that is sufficient for me. It was done by means of the Urim and Thummim—not a new method either of learning the will of the Lord, for the ancients had it. The High Priests in Israel had it, and with it they ascertained the mind and will of the Lord for the guidance of the people; just as with it the Prophet Joseph was able to translate this record, and to receive the mind and will of the Lord, the covenants, doctrines and commandments, by which the Church was to be guided, as they are contained here in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. It is the truth, the everlasting truth. Nothing in the world will ever prove it to be false. Men may try to prove if false, but they never will succeed.
Brethren and sisters, I bear this witness to you: There is a world of corroborative evidence of the divine authenticity of this Book of Mormon—read it; study it; be governed by the doctrines that are taught in it. Have faith in it; believe in the promises that are contained in it, and you will find inspiration and hope, faith and charity, and everything that is good in human life. It stands for that which is good, for that which is true, for that which is just, for that which is merciful, for that which uplifts, and places before us higher ideals to which we constantly aspire. May we always appreciate the word of truth. Remember, my brethren and sisters, that the law of God is truth. The Church of Christ is established upon the principles of truth and righteousness, and therefore truth and righteousness should be constantly cultivated and encouraged in the Church and out of it. We need to be taught the principle of truth, because we are not always, perhaps, truthful. A man may be untruthful in other things than what he says ; he may be untruthful in what he does; he may be untruthful in the impressions which, he seeks to make. Every misrepresentation of a fact is an untruth.
I rejoice in the Gospel, and I pray our Eternal Father that He may continue to magnify the Church as He has done, that He will open the way for the accomplishment of His purposes, to bring about the redemption of His covenant people, and the day when His kingdom shall come and His will be done upon earth as it is in heaven. I pray for these blessings —I desire them for my self, for you, and for all the world, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER DAVID O. M'KAY.
Two classes of mankind, builders and murmurers.—Pioneers entitled to be called benefactors of humanity. — Mormon home life the highest ideal. —Admonition against murmuring. —All Saints should be classed as builders.
My brethren and sisters, I pray for the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, that the words I speak while occupying this position may be in harmony with His will.
I have rejoiced exceedingly in the testimonies that have been borne during the sessions of this conference. I was deeply impressed this morning, with the magnitude of the work as it was set before us by President Smith. I was impressed, too, with President Lund's remarks. One of his sentences, I will repeat. "Every one of us," said he, “should feel that he must do something for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God, whether it be at home or abroad." When President Lund expressed that sentiment, I thought—that the great mission of this Church is to build up—never to tear down. In the Book of Mormon, 17th chapter of First Nephi, there is recorded an incident that I wish to read. The little colony has only recently left Jerusalem; they have obtained the records; they have left the valley of Lemuel; and are near the sea shore. The historian says:
"And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit, and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord, that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which being interpreted, is many waters.
"And it came to pass that we did pitch out tents by the sea-shore and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the sea-shore ;and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.
"And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying, Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
“And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me saying, Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall shew thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
"And I said, Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shewn unto me?
"And the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools; and I did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together, that I might make fire; for the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire," * * *
"And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.
"And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying, Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.
"And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceeding sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful, they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying, We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work;
"And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, and borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem, than to have suffered these afflictions.
"Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions, and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy. Thus they continued to murmur against the voice of God, as expressed through His servant Nephi."
In this little family we find the two classes into which all mankind may be divided—the builders and the murmurers, or as Emerson aptly expresses it, "the benefactors and the malefactors. The second class is vast; the first, but a handful. Why, a person seldom falls sick but the bystanders become animated with a faint hope that he will die."
From its inception the Church has belonged to the class of benefactors. The members of this Church have been builders, but all the while they have had to contend with the class of malefactors, the murmurers against God and against His word as delivered to the world through His servants. Never have the leaders of the Church been guilty of tearing down and making miserable other people. They have preached the Gospel. They have built the house of truth, and let the world compare its magnificence with the houses in which the world were living. Many thousands have left their houses of adobe and have come into the mansion of the Gospel, because they saw that it was better. But the Church does not tear down the houses of others, before erecting one that is more commodious and more beautiful, in the Church of Christ.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was told that the churches of his day had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof, and he was told to wait, and God would establish His Church. Several years elapsed, years of preparation, and soon the Prophet, under the guidance and insolation of the Lord, established the Church of Christ. They met in a little room—it was just a little cottage meeting. The Eastern States Mission alone held, last year, over twelve Hundred such meetings not one, perhaps, numbering so few in attendance as the Ht+1e pothering when the Church of Christ was re-established, on the 6th day of April, 1830. But a mighty work was being builded; and those who engaged in that work were impressed with the fact that their mission was to save, that henceforth they were to build upon the rock of truth. In a revelation following that, the Prophet sent the Elders out to preach the Gospel; and these are the words of the Lord, through him:
"And ye shall go forth baptizing with water; saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and from this place (Kirtland) ye shall go forth into the regions westward, and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you, ye shall build up my church in every region, until the time shall come when it shall be revealed, unto you from on high, when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in, that ye may be my people and I will be your God."
They went forth preaching the Gospel of salvation, comparing its principles and truths with the principles taught by men, emphasizing the doctrines of the Church, but leaving men to judge for themselves whether the message they gave was true and therefore for the good of humanity, or whether it was evil. Through the inspiration of God, thousands recognized the saving principles taught by those humble Elders. Hundreds gathered, soon thousands, and they began to build up the Church. Follow them from Kirtland through the state of Missouri. Read the early history of the Church, as we were admonished this moraine, and see how the barren places of the west—for it was western country then—were made fruitful; how cities sprang up where there had been nothing but desolation. Follow them from those homes, as they were driven by the bayonet. See them camping in a marsh in Illinois, and there, in a miraculously short time, build the city of Nauvoo, the pride of the west. Builders? Yes—benefactors to humanity. Aside from their doctrines— the doctrines of Christ, absolutely proved from the Scriptures— take the people as citizens, as men mingling- with fellow men, and you find them benefactors in every sense of the word. But notwithstanding their good works, not many years passed before they were again without homes—their farms unattended, the grain going back to the ground because there were no harvesters ; the walks leading to their houses becoming grass grown, because no feet were there to tread them ; the hearth cold, because no hands were there to light the fire. Where were they? Again in the wilderness of the west; one thousand miles ahead of them nothing but buffalo. Indians, barrenness, sterility. When I recently visited Omaha, being a few miles from Florence, I was forcibly reminded of the early experiences of our parents at that place, and at Des Moines, Iowa, then on the frontier. I have heard them tell how they prepared their teams, hitching up a cow with an ox, sometimes a cow with a horse, making ready to take that thousand mile journey; where? Out into the barrenness, out into the wilderness, and yet still into the country, under the flag of the Union. What was their purpose? What was the motive? As a prominent educator in Chicago said, the other day: "Not, for the golden California, but that they might worship God Almighty according to t1n e dictates of their conscience; and I admire them for it." Such was their motive—to build the Church and to save the principles revealed to man. They had risked all; they had risked life and everything they had, and were willing to endure any hardship — wives walked every step of the way on this long journey; mothers carrying their babes. On the 24th of July, 1847, they were here in this valley. What did they see? You try to picture what they saw. These words will call up the barren picture in the minds of pioneers who are with us today—God bless them and preserve them long with us for what they have done, that we might at least express our appreciation of their devotion to the truth. They saw sagebrush; they heard the howl of the coyote; they saw in the distance the smoke of the Indian fire; and the salt sea in the west reflecting the beautiful sunlight; but there was no apparent place for a home. There was nothing here inviting; in fact, they had been warned that nothing would grow; a thousand dollars had been offered for the first ear of corn that they would .produce. Yet, within a few feet of where we meet today, the Prophet of the Lord said, "Here we shall build a house to God." Now what do we see? Just look at our city today; its climate modified; its fruit unexcelled; substantial and comfortable homes everywhere; towns and cities flourishing. To whom are we indebted for all this? The people of the Mormon Church, the pioneers of 1847, and subsequent years. They were builders, colonizers, benefactors to our nation, benefactors to humanity. Did they tear down anything? Did they destroy? Did they find fault? No. They (protected themselves, with a motive that they might continue to bless.
It is not alone as colonizers that the Church has made its record; not alone as community builders but as home builders. Compare the teachings—no, not just the teachings; for it is not every one that sayeth, but he that doeth, that shall enter the kingdom of God. It isn't enough to say that we believe in home-building and in the purity of the home. What are we doing? Go into the homes of true Latter-day Saints, and there see if the most substantial part of the nation— the home—is not the best that can be found. The family tie is an eternal one; it is not one of experiment; it is not one of satisfying passion; it is an eternal union between husband and wife; between parents and children. That eternal bond is one that must be held sacred by the man as well as by the woman. Is it a source of safety? Is it a blessing to humanity to have such homes? The safety of our nation depends upon the purity and strength of the home; and I thank God for the teachings of the Mormon Church in relation to home building, and the impression that kind parents have made, that the home must be the most sacred place in the world. Our people are home-builders, and they are taught everywhere, from childhood to old age, that the home should be kept pure and safe from the evils of the world; and yet the murmurers, the malefactors are ready to question, even deny the purity of the Mormon home. "The motive was impure," they say, "you come out here for other purposes." They are murmurers; and the class is vast, who take that stand and attack the home. Only recently, in the town of Mitchell, South Dakota, a reverend brother, who was supposed to teach the word of God to the people, published a statement in the daily papers, that the Elders, your sons, are out there to undermine the homes of the people in Mitchell. Is he a benefactor or a murmurer, a builder or a tearer down? No doubt he does it through ignorance. Men become murmurers or fighters against this Church, for one of two reasons; either through sin—for sin hates truth and virtue—or through ignorance. There are many people in the world who condemn us because they are ignorant of the real facts concerning the Church of Christ. The great comfort to us, however, is that we know the purpose of the Church; we know its history — a little of it ; not, however, so much as we should know, we younger people. We ought to study it more. There is inspiration in the history of this Church. There is inspiration and truth in reading the doings of the Prophet Joseph and those associated with him in the early days. Read it; study it; do not censure because of ignorance. When we read the history of the Church, we are forced to acknowledge the fact that it has blessed humanity. When we study the principles, we find that they are the saving principles, as revealed by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What more do we want? There is nothing done, there is nothing taught, under the guidance and inspiration of the Lord but tends to the upbuilding and advancement of the human race, and that tends to the amelioration of the evils that afflict humanity.
Now, my brethren and sisters, as in the world so in the Church, we have two classes; we have the builders, and we have the murmurers. Let each ask himself in which class shall I be placed? We are called upon to perform duties. High Councilors with Presidents of Stakes are asked to go forth and build up their stakes and do other work in the Church. They introduce some plan of action, and many times the majority will say: Yes, we will do that; let us go to and perform the duties that the Presidency of the stake and the High Councilors call us to do. But somewhere we shall hear a murmurer, a fault-finder, who will say, no; you cannot do that. They scoff as Laman and Lemuel did; and say you can not do it. Misjudging motives, some soon find themselves with Laman and Lemuel, instead of with Nephi who expresses the voice of God. It may be in an auxiliary board. Instructions go out from the general board or from the stake board, requiring for the success of the movement the united energy of all. Most of the people interested in that association will join hands to build, they will join hands to be with the benefactors, that the children might receive the light of the Holy Spirit, that they might get the knowledge that is revealed in this Church; but somewhere there will be murmurers; there will be faultfinders. Look out for them.
Let us watch ourselves and be true to the examples set by the Church and the brethren and sisters who have sacrificed their lives, their all, to build the Church and to advance the principles taught therein. This warning is sometimes expressed in this way: "Speak not against the authorities." What does it mean? Be not a murmurer; that is what it means. It is one of the most poisonous things that can be introduced into the home of a Latter-day Saint — this murmuring against presidents of stakes, high councilors, Sunday school superintendents, presidents of high-priests' quorums, seventies, elders, priests, teachers and deacons. They are called unto their position, what for? To benefit themselves? No, not once can you point to an instance in this Church where a man was called for his personal benefit. He was admonished, before he was called to the position, whatever it was, that he should serve somewhere and serve somebody in this Church or in the world; it was to bless somebody, some class, humanity at large. That is the mission of every man, from the president of the Church down to the latest convert in the Church. Every officer holds his position to build up, to bless; and, as President Smith said this morning, to establish righteousness, purity and virtue among mankind. That is the motive, and yet because of his weakness, because, perhaps, of some little fault that we see in an officer, we begin to murmur and find fault. Better stop murmuring, and build up. Remember that one of the worst means of tearing down an individual is slander. It is one of the most poisonous weapons that the evil one uses. Backbiting and evil speaking, throw us into the class of malefactors rather than the class of benefactors.
"Good name in man or woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls;
who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."
In this connection, speaking of the Church as a whole, I have often thought that we have chosen the wiser part in answering a faction that left the Church in early days, inasmuch as we did not choose to tear them down or to attack them in public or private. They call themselves the Reorganized Church. As I listened to one who has come out here presumably to teach the truth, and heard him revile and ridicule President Young and other leading brethren of the Church, I felt to say, what good does it do to tear down? Why not build up? Tell us about what you have, and let the people then judge which is the better; it is much the wiser course. When a man begins to tear down, revile and persecute, he is doing that which injures instead of building up. Our mission should be to build.
But you ask, would you not condemn evil? Yes, by obeying and building up the laws of right. The question in building is this: Is it right? Is that thing necessary to be done? If so, then let us do it. God revealed to Nephi the necessity of building a ship. "The means were not within his reach, but he felt it was right to build, and with that knowledge he proceeded to find the way to make the tools and to build the ship. Did he make mistakes? Did he falter? No doubt, —else why did his murmuring brothers say: "We told you, you could not build a ship; we knew you did not have the wisdom." But he knew he was right, and he knew that God would strengthen him in building. That thought held him; it supported him; and he succeeded in the task before him. So it is with us; when we are asked to do a thing, the question in our minds should be: Is that necessary; is that right? If so, then it shall be done, and God will open the way.
Let us build up our state ; let us build up our homes, improve them, make them attractive and pleasing, that the world may see by our lives that we are here to benefit in every way, not only by preaching the word of God, not only by sacrificing what we may be called upon to sacrifice, but by building communities, cities—a nation, if necessary; and above all by building character, after the order of the servants of God; nay, after the similitude and pattern of the Lord and Savior Himself. That is our ideal; that is what we wish. God help us, as brethren and sisters, to go forth on our mission of mercy to bless humanity, being filled with charity for one another, that our hearts may be full of love for each other; with confidence in each other, in our associations, in our societies.
Members in the Aaronic priesthood, and members of the quorums in the Melchizedek priesthood, we have a duty to build up our quorums; let us not tear them down by being absent from Monday night meeting, or by non-preparation, or by negligence of duty. Let us feel, every one of us, as suggested this morning, that it is our duty to do something to build up the Church, as the Church's duty is to build on truth and redeem mankind from sin. Men of the priesthood, let us be one in this upbuilding; let us fall into the class of benefactors; and let no man, from the high priest to the deacon, in this great priesthood movement of Monday night, fall into the class of malefactors or murmurers. God help us to do our duty, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Two classes of mankind, builders and murmurers.—Pioneers entitled to be called benefactors of humanity. — Mormon home life the highest ideal. —Admonition against murmuring. —All Saints should be classed as builders.
My brethren and sisters, I pray for the assistance of the Spirit of the Lord, that the words I speak while occupying this position may be in harmony with His will.
I have rejoiced exceedingly in the testimonies that have been borne during the sessions of this conference. I was deeply impressed this morning, with the magnitude of the work as it was set before us by President Smith. I was impressed, too, with President Lund's remarks. One of his sentences, I will repeat. "Every one of us," said he, “should feel that he must do something for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God, whether it be at home or abroad." When President Lund expressed that sentiment, I thought—that the great mission of this Church is to build up—never to tear down. In the Book of Mormon, 17th chapter of First Nephi, there is recorded an incident that I wish to read. The little colony has only recently left Jerusalem; they have obtained the records; they have left the valley of Lemuel; and are near the sea shore. The historian says:
"And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit, and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord, that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which being interpreted, is many waters.
"And it came to pass that we did pitch out tents by the sea-shore and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the sea-shore ;and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.
"And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying, Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
“And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me saying, Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall shew thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
"And I said, Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shewn unto me?
"And the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools; and I did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together, that I might make fire; for the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire," * * *
"And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.
"And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying, Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.
"And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceeding sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful, they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying, We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work;
"And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, and borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem, than to have suffered these afflictions.
"Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions, and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy. Thus they continued to murmur against the voice of God, as expressed through His servant Nephi."
In this little family we find the two classes into which all mankind may be divided—the builders and the murmurers, or as Emerson aptly expresses it, "the benefactors and the malefactors. The second class is vast; the first, but a handful. Why, a person seldom falls sick but the bystanders become animated with a faint hope that he will die."
From its inception the Church has belonged to the class of benefactors. The members of this Church have been builders, but all the while they have had to contend with the class of malefactors, the murmurers against God and against His word as delivered to the world through His servants. Never have the leaders of the Church been guilty of tearing down and making miserable other people. They have preached the Gospel. They have built the house of truth, and let the world compare its magnificence with the houses in which the world were living. Many thousands have left their houses of adobe and have come into the mansion of the Gospel, because they saw that it was better. But the Church does not tear down the houses of others, before erecting one that is more commodious and more beautiful, in the Church of Christ.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was told that the churches of his day had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof, and he was told to wait, and God would establish His Church. Several years elapsed, years of preparation, and soon the Prophet, under the guidance and insolation of the Lord, established the Church of Christ. They met in a little room—it was just a little cottage meeting. The Eastern States Mission alone held, last year, over twelve Hundred such meetings not one, perhaps, numbering so few in attendance as the Ht+1e pothering when the Church of Christ was re-established, on the 6th day of April, 1830. But a mighty work was being builded; and those who engaged in that work were impressed with the fact that their mission was to save, that henceforth they were to build upon the rock of truth. In a revelation following that, the Prophet sent the Elders out to preach the Gospel; and these are the words of the Lord, through him:
"And ye shall go forth baptizing with water; saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and from this place (Kirtland) ye shall go forth into the regions westward, and inasmuch as ye shall find them that will receive you, ye shall build up my church in every region, until the time shall come when it shall be revealed, unto you from on high, when the city of the New Jerusalem shall be prepared, that ye may be gathered in, that ye may be my people and I will be your God."
They went forth preaching the Gospel of salvation, comparing its principles and truths with the principles taught by men, emphasizing the doctrines of the Church, but leaving men to judge for themselves whether the message they gave was true and therefore for the good of humanity, or whether it was evil. Through the inspiration of God, thousands recognized the saving principles taught by those humble Elders. Hundreds gathered, soon thousands, and they began to build up the Church. Follow them from Kirtland through the state of Missouri. Read the early history of the Church, as we were admonished this moraine, and see how the barren places of the west—for it was western country then—were made fruitful; how cities sprang up where there had been nothing but desolation. Follow them from those homes, as they were driven by the bayonet. See them camping in a marsh in Illinois, and there, in a miraculously short time, build the city of Nauvoo, the pride of the west. Builders? Yes—benefactors to humanity. Aside from their doctrines— the doctrines of Christ, absolutely proved from the Scriptures— take the people as citizens, as men mingling- with fellow men, and you find them benefactors in every sense of the word. But notwithstanding their good works, not many years passed before they were again without homes—their farms unattended, the grain going back to the ground because there were no harvesters ; the walks leading to their houses becoming grass grown, because no feet were there to tread them ; the hearth cold, because no hands were there to light the fire. Where were they? Again in the wilderness of the west; one thousand miles ahead of them nothing but buffalo. Indians, barrenness, sterility. When I recently visited Omaha, being a few miles from Florence, I was forcibly reminded of the early experiences of our parents at that place, and at Des Moines, Iowa, then on the frontier. I have heard them tell how they prepared their teams, hitching up a cow with an ox, sometimes a cow with a horse, making ready to take that thousand mile journey; where? Out into the barrenness, out into the wilderness, and yet still into the country, under the flag of the Union. What was their purpose? What was the motive? As a prominent educator in Chicago said, the other day: "Not, for the golden California, but that they might worship God Almighty according to t1n e dictates of their conscience; and I admire them for it." Such was their motive—to build the Church and to save the principles revealed to man. They had risked all; they had risked life and everything they had, and were willing to endure any hardship — wives walked every step of the way on this long journey; mothers carrying their babes. On the 24th of July, 1847, they were here in this valley. What did they see? You try to picture what they saw. These words will call up the barren picture in the minds of pioneers who are with us today—God bless them and preserve them long with us for what they have done, that we might at least express our appreciation of their devotion to the truth. They saw sagebrush; they heard the howl of the coyote; they saw in the distance the smoke of the Indian fire; and the salt sea in the west reflecting the beautiful sunlight; but there was no apparent place for a home. There was nothing here inviting; in fact, they had been warned that nothing would grow; a thousand dollars had been offered for the first ear of corn that they would .produce. Yet, within a few feet of where we meet today, the Prophet of the Lord said, "Here we shall build a house to God." Now what do we see? Just look at our city today; its climate modified; its fruit unexcelled; substantial and comfortable homes everywhere; towns and cities flourishing. To whom are we indebted for all this? The people of the Mormon Church, the pioneers of 1847, and subsequent years. They were builders, colonizers, benefactors to our nation, benefactors to humanity. Did they tear down anything? Did they destroy? Did they find fault? No. They (protected themselves, with a motive that they might continue to bless.
It is not alone as colonizers that the Church has made its record; not alone as community builders but as home builders. Compare the teachings—no, not just the teachings; for it is not every one that sayeth, but he that doeth, that shall enter the kingdom of God. It isn't enough to say that we believe in home-building and in the purity of the home. What are we doing? Go into the homes of true Latter-day Saints, and there see if the most substantial part of the nation— the home—is not the best that can be found. The family tie is an eternal one; it is not one of experiment; it is not one of satisfying passion; it is an eternal union between husband and wife; between parents and children. That eternal bond is one that must be held sacred by the man as well as by the woman. Is it a source of safety? Is it a blessing to humanity to have such homes? The safety of our nation depends upon the purity and strength of the home; and I thank God for the teachings of the Mormon Church in relation to home building, and the impression that kind parents have made, that the home must be the most sacred place in the world. Our people are home-builders, and they are taught everywhere, from childhood to old age, that the home should be kept pure and safe from the evils of the world; and yet the murmurers, the malefactors are ready to question, even deny the purity of the Mormon home. "The motive was impure," they say, "you come out here for other purposes." They are murmurers; and the class is vast, who take that stand and attack the home. Only recently, in the town of Mitchell, South Dakota, a reverend brother, who was supposed to teach the word of God to the people, published a statement in the daily papers, that the Elders, your sons, are out there to undermine the homes of the people in Mitchell. Is he a benefactor or a murmurer, a builder or a tearer down? No doubt he does it through ignorance. Men become murmurers or fighters against this Church, for one of two reasons; either through sin—for sin hates truth and virtue—or through ignorance. There are many people in the world who condemn us because they are ignorant of the real facts concerning the Church of Christ. The great comfort to us, however, is that we know the purpose of the Church; we know its history — a little of it ; not, however, so much as we should know, we younger people. We ought to study it more. There is inspiration in the history of this Church. There is inspiration and truth in reading the doings of the Prophet Joseph and those associated with him in the early days. Read it; study it; do not censure because of ignorance. When we read the history of the Church, we are forced to acknowledge the fact that it has blessed humanity. When we study the principles, we find that they are the saving principles, as revealed by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What more do we want? There is nothing done, there is nothing taught, under the guidance and inspiration of the Lord but tends to the upbuilding and advancement of the human race, and that tends to the amelioration of the evils that afflict humanity.
Now, my brethren and sisters, as in the world so in the Church, we have two classes; we have the builders, and we have the murmurers. Let each ask himself in which class shall I be placed? We are called upon to perform duties. High Councilors with Presidents of Stakes are asked to go forth and build up their stakes and do other work in the Church. They introduce some plan of action, and many times the majority will say: Yes, we will do that; let us go to and perform the duties that the Presidency of the stake and the High Councilors call us to do. But somewhere we shall hear a murmurer, a fault-finder, who will say, no; you cannot do that. They scoff as Laman and Lemuel did; and say you can not do it. Misjudging motives, some soon find themselves with Laman and Lemuel, instead of with Nephi who expresses the voice of God. It may be in an auxiliary board. Instructions go out from the general board or from the stake board, requiring for the success of the movement the united energy of all. Most of the people interested in that association will join hands to build, they will join hands to be with the benefactors, that the children might receive the light of the Holy Spirit, that they might get the knowledge that is revealed in this Church; but somewhere there will be murmurers; there will be faultfinders. Look out for them.
Let us watch ourselves and be true to the examples set by the Church and the brethren and sisters who have sacrificed their lives, their all, to build the Church and to advance the principles taught therein. This warning is sometimes expressed in this way: "Speak not against the authorities." What does it mean? Be not a murmurer; that is what it means. It is one of the most poisonous things that can be introduced into the home of a Latter-day Saint — this murmuring against presidents of stakes, high councilors, Sunday school superintendents, presidents of high-priests' quorums, seventies, elders, priests, teachers and deacons. They are called unto their position, what for? To benefit themselves? No, not once can you point to an instance in this Church where a man was called for his personal benefit. He was admonished, before he was called to the position, whatever it was, that he should serve somewhere and serve somebody in this Church or in the world; it was to bless somebody, some class, humanity at large. That is the mission of every man, from the president of the Church down to the latest convert in the Church. Every officer holds his position to build up, to bless; and, as President Smith said this morning, to establish righteousness, purity and virtue among mankind. That is the motive, and yet because of his weakness, because, perhaps, of some little fault that we see in an officer, we begin to murmur and find fault. Better stop murmuring, and build up. Remember that one of the worst means of tearing down an individual is slander. It is one of the most poisonous weapons that the evil one uses. Backbiting and evil speaking, throw us into the class of malefactors rather than the class of benefactors.
"Good name in man or woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls;
who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."
In this connection, speaking of the Church as a whole, I have often thought that we have chosen the wiser part in answering a faction that left the Church in early days, inasmuch as we did not choose to tear them down or to attack them in public or private. They call themselves the Reorganized Church. As I listened to one who has come out here presumably to teach the truth, and heard him revile and ridicule President Young and other leading brethren of the Church, I felt to say, what good does it do to tear down? Why not build up? Tell us about what you have, and let the people then judge which is the better; it is much the wiser course. When a man begins to tear down, revile and persecute, he is doing that which injures instead of building up. Our mission should be to build.
But you ask, would you not condemn evil? Yes, by obeying and building up the laws of right. The question in building is this: Is it right? Is that thing necessary to be done? If so, then let us do it. God revealed to Nephi the necessity of building a ship. "The means were not within his reach, but he felt it was right to build, and with that knowledge he proceeded to find the way to make the tools and to build the ship. Did he make mistakes? Did he falter? No doubt, —else why did his murmuring brothers say: "We told you, you could not build a ship; we knew you did not have the wisdom." But he knew he was right, and he knew that God would strengthen him in building. That thought held him; it supported him; and he succeeded in the task before him. So it is with us; when we are asked to do a thing, the question in our minds should be: Is that necessary; is that right? If so, then it shall be done, and God will open the way.
Let us build up our state ; let us build up our homes, improve them, make them attractive and pleasing, that the world may see by our lives that we are here to benefit in every way, not only by preaching the word of God, not only by sacrificing what we may be called upon to sacrifice, but by building communities, cities—a nation, if necessary; and above all by building character, after the order of the servants of God; nay, after the similitude and pattern of the Lord and Savior Himself. That is our ideal; that is what we wish. God help us, as brethren and sisters, to go forth on our mission of mercy to bless humanity, being filled with charity for one another, that our hearts may be full of love for each other; with confidence in each other, in our associations, in our societies.
Members in the Aaronic priesthood, and members of the quorums in the Melchizedek priesthood, we have a duty to build up our quorums; let us not tear them down by being absent from Monday night meeting, or by non-preparation, or by negligence of duty. Let us feel, every one of us, as suggested this morning, that it is our duty to do something to build up the Church, as the Church's duty is to build on truth and redeem mankind from sin. Men of the priesthood, let us be one in this upbuilding; let us fall into the class of benefactors; and let no man, from the high priest to the deacon, in this great priesthood movement of Monday night, fall into the class of malefactors or murmurers. God help us to do our duty, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ELDER CHARLES H. HART.
When Brother Ivans mentioned the book that he found in Mexico, I thought of the introductory words of a book entitled "The Great Salt Lake Trail," written by Col. William F. Cody, more familiarly known to us as "Buffalo Bill" and by his companion Colonel Henry Inman. They say:
"Over this historical highway, the Mormons made their lonely Hegira to the valley of that vast inland sea. On its shores they established a city marvelous in its inception and a monument to the ability of men to overcome almost insuperable obstacles, the product of a faith equal to that which inspired the Crusader to battle to the death for the possession of the Holy Sepulcher. * * * * An immense mass of literature on the subject (Mormonism) is to be found in every public library both in its defense and in its condemnation. The latter preponderates and often seems to be inspired by an inexcusable ingenuity in exaggeration."
It has been a source of satisfaction to know that some people have fairly examined the question of Mormonism, and, in a measure, have done justice to this great people and to this important cause. One of these writers we recall in the person of Josiah Quincy, that polished Bostonian, once Mayor of Boston, a graduate of Harvard, and a man chosen by his alma mater to welcome Lafayette upon his second visit to this country. Josiah Quincy visited the Prophet at Nauvoo, a short time before the martyrdom, and his impressions of the Prophet are certainly of value. Most all of you will recall the thought that he expressed in reference to the Prophet Joseph and this great work; said he:
"It is by no means improbable that some future text book, for the use of generations yet unborn, will contain a question something like this: 'What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destines of his countrymen?' And it is by no means impossible that the answer to that interrogatory may be thus written: Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet. And the reply, absurd as it doubtless seems to most men now living, may be an obvious commonplace to their descendants. History deals in surprises and paradoxes quite as startling as this. The man who established a religion in this age of free debate, who was and is today accepted by hundreds of thousands as a direct emissary from the Most High—such a rare individual is not to be disposed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets."
Mr. Quincy goes on to say that the Prophet Joseph can not be disposed of by calling him a fanatic, — that fanatics and imposters are living and dying every day, and their memory is buried .with them ; that Joseph Smith was a phenomenon yet to be explained. He speaks of the impression that "resource and capacity—were natural to his stalwart person," that one would instinctively say, in meeting him, that he was a fine looking man ; and he compares him in strength of character and that kingly faculty that directs others as if by intrinsic right, with one individual only that it had been his pleasure to meet and you will remember that Josiah Quincy was on terms of intimate association with some of the earlier presidents of the United States, and many of the early New England statesmen: He writes his reminiscences of those great men from a personal acquaintance with them, and yet he says that of all his acquaintances there was only one other individual that impressed him as did the Prophet Joseph Smith, for this rugged power, and kingly faculty. He also speaks of the attitude of the Prophet in reference to the question that later so vexed this nation and caused such streams of blood, and the loss of so many hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of treasure. He compares the words of the Prophet on that subject, to those of the retired statesman Ralph Waldo Emerson, in advocating the policy of using the revenues from the public lands of the United States in order to purchase the slaves and to free them when purchased. Josiah Quincy comments upon this matter by saying that if the retired New England statesman was entitled to be called a statesman for advocating that plan in 1855, when the war-clouds were lowering, and men's minds were agitated with the slavery question, then certainly the Prophet Joseph Smith is entitled to credit for "advocating the same policy eleven years previous to that time both in oral and in written speech. He concludes his words by saying that if the reader is unable to determine what to make of Joseph Smith, that he is unable to assist him, that he himself stands helpless before the puzzle or the phenomenon. But, give him credit for being the Prophet of God, which he was, and there is no phenomenon to explain. The whole question is clear and apparent at once, if you give him credit for being what hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints today testify that be was—a prophet of the living God.
An English traveler, writing at about the same time that Josiah Quincy visited Nauvoo, in commenting upon his impression of the Prophet and his patriarch brother, said that in beholding them he thought he had beheld two of the greatest men of the 19th century. We have also the words of a congressman who met the Prophet at the time he visited Washington in behalf of his people, with reference to the wrongs suffered by them during the days of Missouri. This congressman heard the Prophet speak, and writing of his remarks, he said that he was impressed with his sincerity. Said he: "There was no levity, no fanaticism, no want of dignity in his deportment. Throughout his whole address he displayed strongly a spirit of charity and forbearance."
I am sure the Latter-day Saints all take pleasure in the account given by the distinguished English journalist, Mr. Phil Robinson, in his work entitled, "Sinners and Saints," written after he had traveled from one end of this state to the other, becoming acquainted with the people in their home life, realizing and testifying that there was virtue and worth in this thing called "Mormonism."
Recently, comparatively speaking, we have had the words of Mr. Elbert Hubbard, in reference to some of the leaders of Mormonism. He speaks of the great work of Brigham Young—that he saw with the eye of the prophet the barren, sterile fields converted into fruitful gardens; that "he had the brain of a prophet and the soul of a seer." That "he was the first man in America to- put irrigation on a scientific basis," making it possible to convert the sterile plains into productive fields. As I remember it, Mr. Hubbard commences his account of Mormonism by saying that he thinks if he ever joins a Christian church, he will join the Mormons; that the Mormons believe in the Old and New Testaments, and in the Book of Mormon. He states that he too, believes in all three and in addition to that, he facetiously adds, the bound volumes of his own publications. He says, how any individual can believe that God handed down tablets of stone in ancient times, and will then deny that Joseph Smith had the plates of gold, is something more than he can understand; that it is simply a difference in time and place, that the principle involved is the same. He speaks also of the work of education upon the part of a certain individual, living in a city that I shall not name, as I shall not name the individual, whose life is given over to reviling the Mormon people. He concludes with the statement that if you would ask a terrapin its opinion of an eagle, it would be as much as the opinion of this writer in regard to our present President, Joseph F. Smith. He says, the individual who slanders you is the one who is in enmity against you. He gives as an illustration of it the individual who sifts his ashes only when the wind blows your way, and your wife has her washing on the line ; he is the individual who is in hostility to you, and will say harsh things against you; and because that individual was in close proximity to the Mormon people, he argued that he necessarily knew all about them, just as though one should argue that the people who put Jesus to death knew Him a great deal better than we do ourselves. I believe, with Elder Mc- Kay, that it is those who speak evil against us who either do not understand us, or have some sinister reason for the slanders they express regarding us; and I believe that the former class very greatly preponderates. As expressed by Emerson, the philosopher, "Nothing shall warp me from the belief that all men everywhere love the truth;" that is the universal rule. When we, who have studied Mormonism for some years, realize what a grand system of truth it is, how vast is its compass, and what a length of time it requires to fully understand and comprehend all the principles of Mormonism, we can not wonder that some individuals who give only a passing day, or at most a few weeks, to the study of this system, this collection of truths, to the habits, ways, customs and beliefs of this great people, and the organization of the Church, we do not wonder that they are not able in that short space of time, to come to any perfect understanding, or to anything like a proper conception of this vast system and this important work.
I pray the blessings of the Lord to rest upon this congregation of the Latter-day Saints, also on those who are not here assembled, that the prayer and the words of the brethren this day may be verified, in that the instructions and spirit of this conference may be taken to the various stakes, wards, and branches of the Church. May the Lord bless us, my brethren and sisters, and friends, and help us to endure true and faithful to the end, which I ask, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "Rouse, O ye mortals."
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch John Smith.
Conference adjourned until 10 a. m. Monday, April 5th.
When Brother Ivans mentioned the book that he found in Mexico, I thought of the introductory words of a book entitled "The Great Salt Lake Trail," written by Col. William F. Cody, more familiarly known to us as "Buffalo Bill" and by his companion Colonel Henry Inman. They say:
"Over this historical highway, the Mormons made their lonely Hegira to the valley of that vast inland sea. On its shores they established a city marvelous in its inception and a monument to the ability of men to overcome almost insuperable obstacles, the product of a faith equal to that which inspired the Crusader to battle to the death for the possession of the Holy Sepulcher. * * * * An immense mass of literature on the subject (Mormonism) is to be found in every public library both in its defense and in its condemnation. The latter preponderates and often seems to be inspired by an inexcusable ingenuity in exaggeration."
It has been a source of satisfaction to know that some people have fairly examined the question of Mormonism, and, in a measure, have done justice to this great people and to this important cause. One of these writers we recall in the person of Josiah Quincy, that polished Bostonian, once Mayor of Boston, a graduate of Harvard, and a man chosen by his alma mater to welcome Lafayette upon his second visit to this country. Josiah Quincy visited the Prophet at Nauvoo, a short time before the martyrdom, and his impressions of the Prophet are certainly of value. Most all of you will recall the thought that he expressed in reference to the Prophet Joseph and this great work; said he:
"It is by no means improbable that some future text book, for the use of generations yet unborn, will contain a question something like this: 'What historical American of the nineteenth century has exerted the most powerful influence upon the destines of his countrymen?' And it is by no means impossible that the answer to that interrogatory may be thus written: Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet. And the reply, absurd as it doubtless seems to most men now living, may be an obvious commonplace to their descendants. History deals in surprises and paradoxes quite as startling as this. The man who established a religion in this age of free debate, who was and is today accepted by hundreds of thousands as a direct emissary from the Most High—such a rare individual is not to be disposed of by pelting his memory with unsavory epithets."
Mr. Quincy goes on to say that the Prophet Joseph can not be disposed of by calling him a fanatic, — that fanatics and imposters are living and dying every day, and their memory is buried .with them ; that Joseph Smith was a phenomenon yet to be explained. He speaks of the impression that "resource and capacity—were natural to his stalwart person," that one would instinctively say, in meeting him, that he was a fine looking man ; and he compares him in strength of character and that kingly faculty that directs others as if by intrinsic right, with one individual only that it had been his pleasure to meet and you will remember that Josiah Quincy was on terms of intimate association with some of the earlier presidents of the United States, and many of the early New England statesmen: He writes his reminiscences of those great men from a personal acquaintance with them, and yet he says that of all his acquaintances there was only one other individual that impressed him as did the Prophet Joseph Smith, for this rugged power, and kingly faculty. He also speaks of the attitude of the Prophet in reference to the question that later so vexed this nation and caused such streams of blood, and the loss of so many hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of treasure. He compares the words of the Prophet on that subject, to those of the retired statesman Ralph Waldo Emerson, in advocating the policy of using the revenues from the public lands of the United States in order to purchase the slaves and to free them when purchased. Josiah Quincy comments upon this matter by saying that if the retired New England statesman was entitled to be called a statesman for advocating that plan in 1855, when the war-clouds were lowering, and men's minds were agitated with the slavery question, then certainly the Prophet Joseph Smith is entitled to credit for "advocating the same policy eleven years previous to that time both in oral and in written speech. He concludes his words by saying that if the reader is unable to determine what to make of Joseph Smith, that he is unable to assist him, that he himself stands helpless before the puzzle or the phenomenon. But, give him credit for being the Prophet of God, which he was, and there is no phenomenon to explain. The whole question is clear and apparent at once, if you give him credit for being what hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saints today testify that be was—a prophet of the living God.
An English traveler, writing at about the same time that Josiah Quincy visited Nauvoo, in commenting upon his impression of the Prophet and his patriarch brother, said that in beholding them he thought he had beheld two of the greatest men of the 19th century. We have also the words of a congressman who met the Prophet at the time he visited Washington in behalf of his people, with reference to the wrongs suffered by them during the days of Missouri. This congressman heard the Prophet speak, and writing of his remarks, he said that he was impressed with his sincerity. Said he: "There was no levity, no fanaticism, no want of dignity in his deportment. Throughout his whole address he displayed strongly a spirit of charity and forbearance."
I am sure the Latter-day Saints all take pleasure in the account given by the distinguished English journalist, Mr. Phil Robinson, in his work entitled, "Sinners and Saints," written after he had traveled from one end of this state to the other, becoming acquainted with the people in their home life, realizing and testifying that there was virtue and worth in this thing called "Mormonism."
Recently, comparatively speaking, we have had the words of Mr. Elbert Hubbard, in reference to some of the leaders of Mormonism. He speaks of the great work of Brigham Young—that he saw with the eye of the prophet the barren, sterile fields converted into fruitful gardens; that "he had the brain of a prophet and the soul of a seer." That "he was the first man in America to- put irrigation on a scientific basis," making it possible to convert the sterile plains into productive fields. As I remember it, Mr. Hubbard commences his account of Mormonism by saying that he thinks if he ever joins a Christian church, he will join the Mormons; that the Mormons believe in the Old and New Testaments, and in the Book of Mormon. He states that he too, believes in all three and in addition to that, he facetiously adds, the bound volumes of his own publications. He says, how any individual can believe that God handed down tablets of stone in ancient times, and will then deny that Joseph Smith had the plates of gold, is something more than he can understand; that it is simply a difference in time and place, that the principle involved is the same. He speaks also of the work of education upon the part of a certain individual, living in a city that I shall not name, as I shall not name the individual, whose life is given over to reviling the Mormon people. He concludes with the statement that if you would ask a terrapin its opinion of an eagle, it would be as much as the opinion of this writer in regard to our present President, Joseph F. Smith. He says, the individual who slanders you is the one who is in enmity against you. He gives as an illustration of it the individual who sifts his ashes only when the wind blows your way, and your wife has her washing on the line ; he is the individual who is in hostility to you, and will say harsh things against you; and because that individual was in close proximity to the Mormon people, he argued that he necessarily knew all about them, just as though one should argue that the people who put Jesus to death knew Him a great deal better than we do ourselves. I believe, with Elder Mc- Kay, that it is those who speak evil against us who either do not understand us, or have some sinister reason for the slanders they express regarding us; and I believe that the former class very greatly preponderates. As expressed by Emerson, the philosopher, "Nothing shall warp me from the belief that all men everywhere love the truth;" that is the universal rule. When we, who have studied Mormonism for some years, realize what a grand system of truth it is, how vast is its compass, and what a length of time it requires to fully understand and comprehend all the principles of Mormonism, we can not wonder that some individuals who give only a passing day, or at most a few weeks, to the study of this system, this collection of truths, to the habits, ways, customs and beliefs of this great people, and the organization of the Church, we do not wonder that they are not able in that short space of time, to come to any perfect understanding, or to anything like a proper conception of this vast system and this important work.
I pray the blessings of the Lord to rest upon this congregation of the Latter-day Saints, also on those who are not here assembled, that the prayer and the words of the brethren this day may be verified, in that the instructions and spirit of this conference may be taken to the various stakes, wards, and branches of the Church. May the Lord bless us, my brethren and sisters, and friends, and help us to endure true and faithful to the end, which I ask, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "Rouse, O ye mortals."
Benediction was pronounced by Patriarch John Smith.
Conference adjourned until 10 a. m. Monday, April 5th.
SECOND DAY.
In the Tabernacle, Monday, April 5th, 10 a. m.
Conference was called to order by President Joseph F. Smith.
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.
Prayer was offered by Bishop Orrin P. Miller.
The choir sang the hymn:
O'er the gloomy hills of darkness,
Look, my soul, be still and gaze;
All the promises do travail
With the glorious day of grace.
In the Tabernacle, Monday, April 5th, 10 a. m.
Conference was called to order by President Joseph F. Smith.
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.
Prayer was offered by Bishop Orrin P. Miller.
The choir sang the hymn:
O'er the gloomy hills of darkness,
Look, my soul, be still and gaze;
All the promises do travail
With the glorious day of grace.
ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY.
The equality of man.—Common consent basic principle of the American government and of the Church of Christ. —Two sources of power.—The order of Enoch.—The modern Zion.—The perfect government yet to come.—All things preparing the way.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
These words, I need not inform you, are contained in the Declaration of Independence, issued from the city of Philadelphia one hundred and thirty-five years ago, come next Fourth of July. They embody principles underlying the structure of the government of the United States, which there had its origin. Fifty-four years later, or seventy-nine years ago., come tomorrow, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized at the little village of Fayette, Seneca County, New York.
I am proud and happy today, my brethren and sisters, to be a Latter-day Saint, and I am also proud and happy to be a citizen of this great Republic, the mightiest and best government organized by man that the sun shines upon. I am glad that I can see, as you can, a divine purpose in the founding of this Government, as in the founding of this Church. I believe there is a relationship between them,—not a union of church and state, but the relationship of a common purpose, and that purpose God's—He who was the founder of this Church and also the founder of this Nation. It was something more than a coincidence that the Gospel of Christ, now called Mormonism, but whose proper surname is the Perfect Law of Liberty, should come forth upon this land of liberty in these last days. I desire if I may have the Spirit of the Lord, to indicate some of the points of relationship between this great religious government and the great civil government that came before it to prepare its way.
It may seem preposterous to many to refer to a nation of seventy or eighty millions of people, as the fore-runner of a movement that has a membership at the present time of only four or five hundred thousand souls. But we must bear in mind that numbers do not determine great principles, and that bigness is not always greatness. This nation of eighty millions was once a nation of three millions, sprung from a few feeble colonies comprising at the beginning only a few hundred starving, ragged souls. We must also remember that this Church began with but six members, and that it now counts its members, as stated, by hundreds of thousands. Fifty or a hundred years hence, it will be found that Mormonism has grown and prospered until no, nation under heaven need hang its head in shame at being considered its fore-runner and its friend. We must give all great movements time in which to develop themselves, and meanwhile it is more important to consider principles than the number of people who believe in them.
It was something more than a coincidence, when the Church of Christ was organized in these days, that the same principles which underlie the structure of the American government were embodied in the foundations of the work of God. I have cited two great principles to which I wish to call your attention—the equality of man and the doctrine of common consent. Thomas Jefferson affirmed, when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal. We are not to understand from this that all men are alike. All men are not six feet high; all men do not weigh two hundred pounds; all are not rich; all are not poor. All men are not leaders—there are mountains and foot-hills and plains among humanity; there will always be great men and great women to be the leaders and instructors of the rest. Yes, even in a democracy, where all men are declared to be equal. What is meant, then, by equality, as referred to in the Declaration? It is equality before the law; it means that all men are equally entitled to life, to liberty, and to the pursuit of happiness. It means that the avenues of promotion and advancement should be open to all, as God intended them to be when He sent from Heaven the gospel of salvation, which is no more nor less than a code of laws, a system of principles having in view the eternal progress of man.
Joseph the Prophet declared that God in the beginning instituted certain laws, whereby the lesser intelligences surrounding Him might have the opportunity to advance like Himself. They were not equal there; they are not equal here; they will never be equal in every sense. God will always be supreme. "The Glory of God is intelligence," and what made Him God, was the superior intelligence that recognized those saving and ennobling principles which He instituted as the gospel of salvation, the means of eternal progress. All men are not equal in capacity, in intelligence, but they ought to be equal in opportunities for progression, and God has made them equal in this respect. The king upon his throne can obtain salvation upon no easier terms than the peasant in his cot. The poor man is the equal of the rich man when he stands before God and asks, What must I do to be saved? There is no purchasing our way into the Kingdom of Heaven; money can buy many things, but it cannot buy membership in the Church of Christ; it cannot buy the principles of truth, the blessings of the Gospel, the gifts of the Holy Ghost. All men are equal before God in respect of these things. In this great government of ours, whose basic declaration is that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and in the Church of God, founded upon the principle and doctrine of common consent, it is intended that all men, so far as possible, shall be equal.
It is also intended that men shall be free; but our idea of freedom does not go so far as to shut out God from a voice in the government— this religious government to which we belong. It was necessary, when the American government was founded, that no religion should be recognized—no particular religion—no man's religion and that the people alone should be regarded as the source of civic power; because this government was organized for the benefit of all men, religious and irreligious; men of all religions and of no religion; consequently it had to recognize the people, and the people alone, as the fountainhead of authority. But in the Church of God, we are not so handicapped. We all believe alike, we all have the same religion, and we recognize God as the primal source, and the people as the secondary source of power. God speaks, and the people say amen. It is different in a secular government, such as the government of the United States. But these great Democratic or Republican doctrines— I care not which you call them, for I am not speaking in a partisan sense—these great principles involving the rights of man underlie both the government of the Church and the government of the State.
When Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, on the 6th of April, 1830, brought the little flock together that were subsequently known as Latter-day Saints, these leaders were required by the Lord to present their names to that little congregation, to see whether or not they would sustain them as the presiding officers of the Church. These men had communed with angels; they had had the hands of angels laid upon their heads; Joseph had seen the Father and the Son. But these wonderful manifestations, and the powers of the priesthood which they had received, did not qualify them to preside over that congregation. There was yet something necessary, and what was it? "The consent of the governed." The people who were to be presided over by these men—the first and second Elders of the Church—had the right to consent to the exercise of that authority over them. God will select a prophet, a mouthpiece, a bearer of His priesthood, a teacher of His truth, without asking any man's permission; but He will never foist upon any man, nor upon any set of men or women leader, a presiding officer that they are not willing to sustain. This is a recognition of the great doctrine embodied in the Declaration of Independence—that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. You will see this great principle exemplified during this conference. You will be called upon to hold up your hands to vote whether or not you will sustain men and women as your leaders, your teachers, and presiding officers, and you have a perfect right to decide that question for yourselves.
If that little congregation which I have mentioned had lifted their hands against Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, what would have been the result? Would it have taken from Joseph and Oliver their priesthood? No. Would it have blotted out the fact that they had conversed with angels, and been ordained by them? No. Would it have made them any less God's mouthpieces to that generation? No. What would it have done? It would simply have prevented them from presiding over that particular congregation; but they could have gone anywhere else where men and women were to be found willing to receive them, and could have organized the Church of Christ by virtue of the priesthood which God had bestowed upon them. Let us remember that God has some rights as well as the people. While the people are duly considered, and a jealous care exercised for them and for their rights, the Lord must also be taken into account. He will not be deprived of His prerogatives. It is God and the people who make up the government of the Church of Christ.
Now as to the principle of equality— that also is one of the fundamentals of the Church. Not only are the Latter-day Saints equal in the votes which they cast at a conference, and in their opportunities for eternal salvation, but from the beginning it was the design to establish in the midst of this people an order that would make men equal in temporal as in spiritual things. It was called the Order of Enoch, for, in the days of Enoch, when his city was sanctified and taken into the heavens, "The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in righteousness, and there was no poor among them." It was the same system that the Nephites established upon this continent, and for two hundred years maintained as a promise and a foreshadowing of the Millennium, when all men will be equal and free. It was the same order of things that the. Apostles at Jerusalem sought to introduce; and it seems to have been manifested whenever the fullness of the powers of the priesthood have been upon the earth. Whenever the fullness of the Gospel has been enjoyed by men, there 'has always been this tendency, this trend toward equality, for it is the most perfect social condition.
"For forms of government let fools contest;
What's best administered is best."
So says the poet Pope. Nevertheless, I am convinced that of all governments the greatest and the best is that government in which the people govern themselves. The Prophet Joseph Smith was asked bv a stranger visitor at Nauvoo, "How do you govern these people, these Americans, these Britons. these Scandinavians, these men from all parts of the world, all nationalities, speaking different languages, having different customs and traditions, — how do you govern them, that they live together in peace, with a common purpose, and in the spirit of unity?" The Prophet sagely answered—and he never said a wiser thing—"I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." That government in which the people can and do govern themselves by obedience to correct principles, is manifestly superior to any government that depends upon one man's will. The word of God declares, "It is a slothful servant who waits to be commanded in all things." Even in a government where God might command and direct in everything, the condition would be inferior to what it would be in a community of enlightened freemen, enjoying the fullness of the Gospel, filled with the knowledge of the heavens, doing good of their own accord, governing themselves, loving their neighbors and doing ah things with an eye single to the glory of God. This blessed condition is the destiny of the Latter-day Saints, who have been called upon to build up Zion on the North American continent. The City of Enoch, and that order of equality which Enoch established, was only a token and a type of the greater Zion of the last days, which is to become the joy of the whole earth. The Prophet Isaiah spoke of it in these words.
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
"And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."
And when that Zion is established which is to be a magnet to the nations, and unto which they will bring their gold and glory as a tribute, a glad and willing tribute to Christ, the King—when the Saints succeed in accomplishing that wondrous work, it will be because they have put into practice the principles that recognize the equality of man, and the right of man to consent, under God, as to who shall govern him, and how he shall be governed.
There is no time now to preach a sermon upon such a subject, but a sermon might be preached that would show still further the relationship between the government of the United States and the government of the Church of God. I believe that if we knew the whole of human history, we would see that men and nations, from the beginning, have carved out and prepared the way for other men and nations! We would find that all that has taken place in the world God-inspired, heaven-directed — has had as its purpose the setting up of that perfect government which will yet sway the scepter over this planet, when Christ shall reign as King of kings; that Kingdom or Commonwealth for which all existing governments, knowingly or unknowingly, are preparing the way, and of which the work miscalled Mormonism is the immediate fore-runner.
Each ray of light, each principle of power,
Each epoch-making hap of history,
Had it a tongue would it not testify:
There cometh after me a mightier;
I but prepare the way his face before;
I but baptize with water, he with fire?
All these movements have as their decreed fulfilment and consummation the mighty purpose of the all wise Ruler --
"That God which ever lives and loves,
One God, one law, one element,
And one far-off, divine event,
To which the whole creation moves."
Sister Claudia Poulton sang the soprano solo, "Oh shining light divine."
The equality of man.—Common consent basic principle of the American government and of the Church of Christ. —Two sources of power.—The order of Enoch.—The modern Zion.—The perfect government yet to come.—All things preparing the way.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
These words, I need not inform you, are contained in the Declaration of Independence, issued from the city of Philadelphia one hundred and thirty-five years ago, come next Fourth of July. They embody principles underlying the structure of the government of the United States, which there had its origin. Fifty-four years later, or seventy-nine years ago., come tomorrow, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized at the little village of Fayette, Seneca County, New York.
I am proud and happy today, my brethren and sisters, to be a Latter-day Saint, and I am also proud and happy to be a citizen of this great Republic, the mightiest and best government organized by man that the sun shines upon. I am glad that I can see, as you can, a divine purpose in the founding of this Government, as in the founding of this Church. I believe there is a relationship between them,—not a union of church and state, but the relationship of a common purpose, and that purpose God's—He who was the founder of this Church and also the founder of this Nation. It was something more than a coincidence that the Gospel of Christ, now called Mormonism, but whose proper surname is the Perfect Law of Liberty, should come forth upon this land of liberty in these last days. I desire if I may have the Spirit of the Lord, to indicate some of the points of relationship between this great religious government and the great civil government that came before it to prepare its way.
It may seem preposterous to many to refer to a nation of seventy or eighty millions of people, as the fore-runner of a movement that has a membership at the present time of only four or five hundred thousand souls. But we must bear in mind that numbers do not determine great principles, and that bigness is not always greatness. This nation of eighty millions was once a nation of three millions, sprung from a few feeble colonies comprising at the beginning only a few hundred starving, ragged souls. We must also remember that this Church began with but six members, and that it now counts its members, as stated, by hundreds of thousands. Fifty or a hundred years hence, it will be found that Mormonism has grown and prospered until no, nation under heaven need hang its head in shame at being considered its fore-runner and its friend. We must give all great movements time in which to develop themselves, and meanwhile it is more important to consider principles than the number of people who believe in them.
It was something more than a coincidence, when the Church of Christ was organized in these days, that the same principles which underlie the structure of the American government were embodied in the foundations of the work of God. I have cited two great principles to which I wish to call your attention—the equality of man and the doctrine of common consent. Thomas Jefferson affirmed, when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal. We are not to understand from this that all men are alike. All men are not six feet high; all men do not weigh two hundred pounds; all are not rich; all are not poor. All men are not leaders—there are mountains and foot-hills and plains among humanity; there will always be great men and great women to be the leaders and instructors of the rest. Yes, even in a democracy, where all men are declared to be equal. What is meant, then, by equality, as referred to in the Declaration? It is equality before the law; it means that all men are equally entitled to life, to liberty, and to the pursuit of happiness. It means that the avenues of promotion and advancement should be open to all, as God intended them to be when He sent from Heaven the gospel of salvation, which is no more nor less than a code of laws, a system of principles having in view the eternal progress of man.
Joseph the Prophet declared that God in the beginning instituted certain laws, whereby the lesser intelligences surrounding Him might have the opportunity to advance like Himself. They were not equal there; they are not equal here; they will never be equal in every sense. God will always be supreme. "The Glory of God is intelligence," and what made Him God, was the superior intelligence that recognized those saving and ennobling principles which He instituted as the gospel of salvation, the means of eternal progress. All men are not equal in capacity, in intelligence, but they ought to be equal in opportunities for progression, and God has made them equal in this respect. The king upon his throne can obtain salvation upon no easier terms than the peasant in his cot. The poor man is the equal of the rich man when he stands before God and asks, What must I do to be saved? There is no purchasing our way into the Kingdom of Heaven; money can buy many things, but it cannot buy membership in the Church of Christ; it cannot buy the principles of truth, the blessings of the Gospel, the gifts of the Holy Ghost. All men are equal before God in respect of these things. In this great government of ours, whose basic declaration is that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and in the Church of God, founded upon the principle and doctrine of common consent, it is intended that all men, so far as possible, shall be equal.
It is also intended that men shall be free; but our idea of freedom does not go so far as to shut out God from a voice in the government— this religious government to which we belong. It was necessary, when the American government was founded, that no religion should be recognized—no particular religion—no man's religion and that the people alone should be regarded as the source of civic power; because this government was organized for the benefit of all men, religious and irreligious; men of all religions and of no religion; consequently it had to recognize the people, and the people alone, as the fountainhead of authority. But in the Church of God, we are not so handicapped. We all believe alike, we all have the same religion, and we recognize God as the primal source, and the people as the secondary source of power. God speaks, and the people say amen. It is different in a secular government, such as the government of the United States. But these great Democratic or Republican doctrines— I care not which you call them, for I am not speaking in a partisan sense—these great principles involving the rights of man underlie both the government of the Church and the government of the State.
When Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, on the 6th of April, 1830, brought the little flock together that were subsequently known as Latter-day Saints, these leaders were required by the Lord to present their names to that little congregation, to see whether or not they would sustain them as the presiding officers of the Church. These men had communed with angels; they had had the hands of angels laid upon their heads; Joseph had seen the Father and the Son. But these wonderful manifestations, and the powers of the priesthood which they had received, did not qualify them to preside over that congregation. There was yet something necessary, and what was it? "The consent of the governed." The people who were to be presided over by these men—the first and second Elders of the Church—had the right to consent to the exercise of that authority over them. God will select a prophet, a mouthpiece, a bearer of His priesthood, a teacher of His truth, without asking any man's permission; but He will never foist upon any man, nor upon any set of men or women leader, a presiding officer that they are not willing to sustain. This is a recognition of the great doctrine embodied in the Declaration of Independence—that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. You will see this great principle exemplified during this conference. You will be called upon to hold up your hands to vote whether or not you will sustain men and women as your leaders, your teachers, and presiding officers, and you have a perfect right to decide that question for yourselves.
If that little congregation which I have mentioned had lifted their hands against Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, what would have been the result? Would it have taken from Joseph and Oliver their priesthood? No. Would it have blotted out the fact that they had conversed with angels, and been ordained by them? No. Would it have made them any less God's mouthpieces to that generation? No. What would it have done? It would simply have prevented them from presiding over that particular congregation; but they could have gone anywhere else where men and women were to be found willing to receive them, and could have organized the Church of Christ by virtue of the priesthood which God had bestowed upon them. Let us remember that God has some rights as well as the people. While the people are duly considered, and a jealous care exercised for them and for their rights, the Lord must also be taken into account. He will not be deprived of His prerogatives. It is God and the people who make up the government of the Church of Christ.
Now as to the principle of equality— that also is one of the fundamentals of the Church. Not only are the Latter-day Saints equal in the votes which they cast at a conference, and in their opportunities for eternal salvation, but from the beginning it was the design to establish in the midst of this people an order that would make men equal in temporal as in spiritual things. It was called the Order of Enoch, for, in the days of Enoch, when his city was sanctified and taken into the heavens, "The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in righteousness, and there was no poor among them." It was the same system that the Nephites established upon this continent, and for two hundred years maintained as a promise and a foreshadowing of the Millennium, when all men will be equal and free. It was the same order of things that the. Apostles at Jerusalem sought to introduce; and it seems to have been manifested whenever the fullness of the powers of the priesthood have been upon the earth. Whenever the fullness of the Gospel has been enjoyed by men, there 'has always been this tendency, this trend toward equality, for it is the most perfect social condition.
"For forms of government let fools contest;
What's best administered is best."
So says the poet Pope. Nevertheless, I am convinced that of all governments the greatest and the best is that government in which the people govern themselves. The Prophet Joseph Smith was asked bv a stranger visitor at Nauvoo, "How do you govern these people, these Americans, these Britons. these Scandinavians, these men from all parts of the world, all nationalities, speaking different languages, having different customs and traditions, — how do you govern them, that they live together in peace, with a common purpose, and in the spirit of unity?" The Prophet sagely answered—and he never said a wiser thing—"I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." That government in which the people can and do govern themselves by obedience to correct principles, is manifestly superior to any government that depends upon one man's will. The word of God declares, "It is a slothful servant who waits to be commanded in all things." Even in a government where God might command and direct in everything, the condition would be inferior to what it would be in a community of enlightened freemen, enjoying the fullness of the Gospel, filled with the knowledge of the heavens, doing good of their own accord, governing themselves, loving their neighbors and doing ah things with an eye single to the glory of God. This blessed condition is the destiny of the Latter-day Saints, who have been called upon to build up Zion on the North American continent. The City of Enoch, and that order of equality which Enoch established, was only a token and a type of the greater Zion of the last days, which is to become the joy of the whole earth. The Prophet Isaiah spoke of it in these words.
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
"And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."
And when that Zion is established which is to be a magnet to the nations, and unto which they will bring their gold and glory as a tribute, a glad and willing tribute to Christ, the King—when the Saints succeed in accomplishing that wondrous work, it will be because they have put into practice the principles that recognize the equality of man, and the right of man to consent, under God, as to who shall govern him, and how he shall be governed.
There is no time now to preach a sermon upon such a subject, but a sermon might be preached that would show still further the relationship between the government of the United States and the government of the Church of God. I believe that if we knew the whole of human history, we would see that men and nations, from the beginning, have carved out and prepared the way for other men and nations! We would find that all that has taken place in the world God-inspired, heaven-directed — has had as its purpose the setting up of that perfect government which will yet sway the scepter over this planet, when Christ shall reign as King of kings; that Kingdom or Commonwealth for which all existing governments, knowingly or unknowingly, are preparing the way, and of which the work miscalled Mormonism is the immediate fore-runner.
Each ray of light, each principle of power,
Each epoch-making hap of history,
Had it a tongue would it not testify:
There cometh after me a mightier;
I but prepare the way his face before;
I but baptize with water, he with fire?
All these movements have as their decreed fulfilment and consummation the mighty purpose of the all wise Ruler --
"That God which ever lives and loves,
One God, one law, one element,
And one far-off, divine event,
To which the whole creation moves."
Sister Claudia Poulton sang the soprano solo, "Oh shining light divine."
ELDER SERGE L. BALIFF.
(Late President of Swiss and German Mission.)
(In introducing the speaker. President Smith said: "Brother Baliff has just returned from a long mission in Germany and Switzerland. For four years he presided over the Swiss and German mission.)
My beloved brethren and sisters : In standing before you this morning, I feel my weakness, and I place myself in the hands of the Lord. I desire from the bottom of my heart that He will inspire me, in order that I may say a few words that will encourage some one on the path of life and salvation.
The greatest testimony, to me, of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith is this conference — to see this vast assemblage of people who have gathered from all nations of the earth in response to the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I rejoice, my brethren and sisters, in this great work in which we are engaged. It is inspiring to see an assemblage of such a class of people, who have gathered from all nations to serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. I have a testimony of this work. The Lord has revealed unto me that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know, as I know that I live, that he was called of God to establish this great work upon the earth in our day. I have traveled in many large cities in the world. I have met with many people, but in all my experiences I never met such an assemblage as was present here yesterday. I never felt such a spirit, such a power of the Almighty, as was in our midst yesterday. It was a testimony to me that this is the work of the Lord, that the Lord is directing this work, and that we need not worry about the things that threaten it. I assure you, my brethren and sisters, that this work is in the hands of the Lord; He is directing it, and will continue to direct it until He brings the ship Zion to a safe anchor.
I have had the privilege of bearing my testimony to many people, and I rejoice in this privilege. I thank the Lord for the privilege I have had of going into the nations of the earth and raising my voice in defense of the Gospel of truth. I know that God lives; I know that Jesus is the Christ; and I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord. I rejoice in the opportunity I have had to raise my voice among- the people of the world, informing them that God has again spoken from the heavens, that He has established His work upon the earth for the last time, and that the same gifts and blessings that existed in the primitive church exist in our day. Educated men often ask the question: Why is it that we do not see the gifts, powers and manifestations in the church today that were in the Church of Christ when He was upon the earth with His apostles? I bear testimony to you today, my brethren and sisters, that the same gifts and blessings, and powers of the priesthood, exist in this Church today that existed in the primitive church. I can bear testimony to you that I have heard men of science declare that certain children were doomed to die, that there was no power on earth that could heal them. I have myself, with my companions, entered houses of people who are not Saints, who had not made covenants with the Lord; we have spoken with these people on the principles of the Gospel, have declared unto them that the same gifts and blessings now exist in the Church of God, and the same power in the priesthood of God, as in times ancient. We have administered to children who have been given up by scientific men; and I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that I have seen these children raised from their beds of affliction, they have been made whole. These people have manifested faith in the Gospel, and many of them have made covenants with the Lord. I remember one incident in particular, which took place in the city of Breslau. There was a young man, about twenty-two years of age, who was working as a bookkeeper, and who had been investigating the Gospel. One evening he came from his work and went immediately to bed. He felt sick; he did not know what was the matter, and they sent for the doctor. When the doctor came he told him that one of his lungs was entirely gone, that the other lung was badly affected, and that he had but a few days to live. The young man had a wife and three children. He had heard the testimony of the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he sent for them and told them what the doctor had said. "But," he said, "I believe there is a power that is mightier; I believe there is a power that is stronger than the power of man. I believe in the sayings of the Apostle James, in the 5th chapter and 14th verse, where he says, 'If you have sick among you, call in the elders and they will anoint you, and by the prayer of faith you will be healed.' " I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that this man had faith in the power of God. By his request the elders anointed him; he was made whole and is a strong man today, performing his duties.
I want to say further, that I have demonstrated the power there is in obedience to the principle of tithing, paying an honest tithing, being honest with the Lord. The young man I refer to joined the Church, shortly after the experience I have related. His salary was such that he could just meet all of his expenses. He had no surplus at the end of the month, but he heard of the principle of tithing, and he said: "I am going to pay my tithing, and I believe that the Lord will open the way for me." That month he paid his honest tithing. The next month, without saying anything to him, his employer advanced his salary twenty marks, and this was more than the amount he had paid as tithing. This is another testimony to me that the Lord works in behalf of His children, and if they will render obedience unto His commandments, he will provide ways and means whereby they can accomplish their righteous purposes.
I rejoice in this work. I know that it is the work of the Lord, and, as I said before, I know that the Lord is directing it. I know there are thousands of people in the world today who are waiting anxiously for this Gospel. In the Swiss and German mission, during the time I have been there, we have distributed 2,294,038 tracts, from door to door. We have baptized 1,867 souls. Now, these are merely figures showing what we have actually done, but they do not represent one-thousandth part of the work that has been done in the mission field. Not long ago I was in the city of Berlin, and I was invited to the home of a man who is many times a millionaire. While I was conversing with him he said, "Mr. Baliff, I have heard of you; and I want to learn more of you; and I want to hear more of your Gospel." He brought his wife and two children and introduced them to me. He spoke the German, French and English languages. We had a pleasant time together, and he said: "I want to protect you brethren here in this city, with my means and influence; I will use my influence to bring about the liberty of the Latter-day Saints in preaching the Gospel."
It is the influence of such men as this that brings about, and helps to maintain, our religious freedom in the city of Berlin, at the present time. I want to say further, my brethren and sisters, especially to those parents who have young men in the mission field, don't be alarmed about your sons. They are in the hands of the Lord, and He is able to take care of them, and He will take care of them. In some instances your young men may be arrested, and spend a few days behind prison bars; but I say they can't be engaged in a greater work than this ministry. There are very few of our elders who have in any way suffered in those prisons. I have a son who was arrested for preaching the Gospel, and spent a little time in prison. I have a son who has been banished from one province in Germany, and many of you also have missionary sons who have been banished and driven; but the hand of the Lord has been with them. They are not suffering, even those who have been cast into prisons. Those prisons are kept clean. The officers are extremely careful to see that those arrested are clean enough to go into the prisons. As a rule, our young men are given a bath before they are permitted to go into these prisons. (Laughter.) Probably they did not need it; at any rate they had the bath before they were put in prison. The beds in those places have iron cushions, but at the same time they are clean, so the young men are not in danger of being infected with any disease in those prisons.
Our young men in the mission field, in Germany, Switzerland, Austria Hungaria, and France, are doing excellent work ; and I feel proud to have been numbered among them. Although I have been presiding, and it is said I am released from the Swiss and German mission, I hope the time may never come when I shall be released from interest in that mission. My heart and soul is in that work; I know it is a work of greatest importance. There is the blood of Israel in Germany and Switzerland, and the people are waiting anxiously for the Gospel. Just as fast as we are able to give the Gospel to the honest in heart, I say they will accept it, because they are the blood of Israel, and they will some time receive it. I know that the Lord is no respecter of persons; I know that is a good nation, and the day will come when thousands will embrace the Gospel. My brethren and sisters, we have not one-tenth of the missionaries that we need. Do not be alarmed when you hear that your son is away up in Kiel, or on the frontier of Russia. We have not half enough elders to take care of the branches. There are many places in Germany today where one elder is presiding over three branches, and it is a hard task on him. I appeal to young Israel, to you young men who were born under the covenant; there is a great work devolving upon you. I believe the time will come when you will be called out in quorums to go and warn the nations. We are establishing branches and conferences, and we are going to establish stakes of Zion throughout all lands. The Gospel is large and comprehensive; it is not alone this nation in America that is going to receive the Gospel; but it is to be proclaimed in all parts of the earth. The people of all nations are the children of the Lord, and the Gospel is intended to save the entire human family.
I rejoice in this work. I am grateful for the privilege of meeting with you; and I pray that the blessings of the Lord may ever attend this people. I hope the time will come when we will all observe the admonition contained in the revelation given to the Prophet John Taylor, "Set your house in order." My brethren and sisters, let us examine ourselves. I want to examine myself and my household. Am I in order? Am I a light and an example to the world? Can I stand up and say to people in the world, follow me? Can I go to nations of the earth and say, Take me as an example, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ? I have been baptized; I have made covenants with the Lord, has it made me better? Am I a better man through having accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If not, the Gospel of Christ has been without effect and without avail to me. But, I say that every person who has joined the Church and made covenants with the Lord, if they have lived up to the teachings of the Gospel, they should be, and they are lights to the world, they are a power for good wherever they go. Let us govern ourselves; let us govern our families; in order that the world may look upon us and say, They are indeed worthy of our emulation. Let us not forget the people who do not understand the ways of the Lord; let us be charitable; let us learn to love them. Let us extend the hand of fellowship to the whole world. Let us be forerunners, and prepare the way for the Lord's coming. There are millions of honest people in the world who will accept the Gospel, just as soon as they can understand it and that is our real purpose, our real motives in preaching and spreading the Gospel of life and salvation.
May the Lord help us all to do right. I appeal to young Utah, young Zion, young Israel, to put your whole faith and trust in the Lord. I would like to impress you with the fact that this' Gospel is a gospel of science; it contains all science. But don't allow yourselves to be misled by the word "science." The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the root of all science, all knowledge. Base yourselves on the foundation of the Gospel of Christ, and through that you will obtain the keys to all sciences that exist upon the earth; it is the fountain-head of all science.
May the Lord bless you; may He comfort and bless Zion. May He bless you parents who have young men in the mission field. Do not feel alarmed; they are in the hands of the Lord. They are a noble band; I love them as I love my own life, and I want to say that the Lord loves them. They are keeping the Word of Wisdom, and that is another key to their success. They live near to the Lord; He is watching over them, and there is no fear. Brethren and sisters, don't send your boys too much money; the money is needed here in Zion. I do not want to be radical, but I suggest that you should send them just what you feel they absolutely need. There are many Elders in the mission field today who are spending; very little money; there are some who are not spending any, they are going absolutely without money, in a way. Let us be wise about this; not that we want you to be scrimpy and stingy. There is a great blessing that goes to the missionaries who are preaching the Gospel. There is never a time when a man is more humble than when he is wholly dependent upon the Lord; and I have never seen the time, in my experience, when the Lord failed to supply the wants of His humble and honest servants. I know He has done it: I have proven it. I know that the Lord is waiting anxiously to Mess us, if we will just live so that we merit and deserve His blessings. May the Lord help us to be faithful and true, I ask it, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(Late President of Swiss and German Mission.)
(In introducing the speaker. President Smith said: "Brother Baliff has just returned from a long mission in Germany and Switzerland. For four years he presided over the Swiss and German mission.)
My beloved brethren and sisters : In standing before you this morning, I feel my weakness, and I place myself in the hands of the Lord. I desire from the bottom of my heart that He will inspire me, in order that I may say a few words that will encourage some one on the path of life and salvation.
The greatest testimony, to me, of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith is this conference — to see this vast assemblage of people who have gathered from all nations of the earth in response to the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I rejoice, my brethren and sisters, in this great work in which we are engaged. It is inspiring to see an assemblage of such a class of people, who have gathered from all nations to serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. I have a testimony of this work. The Lord has revealed unto me that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I know, as I know that I live, that he was called of God to establish this great work upon the earth in our day. I have traveled in many large cities in the world. I have met with many people, but in all my experiences I never met such an assemblage as was present here yesterday. I never felt such a spirit, such a power of the Almighty, as was in our midst yesterday. It was a testimony to me that this is the work of the Lord, that the Lord is directing this work, and that we need not worry about the things that threaten it. I assure you, my brethren and sisters, that this work is in the hands of the Lord; He is directing it, and will continue to direct it until He brings the ship Zion to a safe anchor.
I have had the privilege of bearing my testimony to many people, and I rejoice in this privilege. I thank the Lord for the privilege I have had of going into the nations of the earth and raising my voice in defense of the Gospel of truth. I know that God lives; I know that Jesus is the Christ; and I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord. I rejoice in the opportunity I have had to raise my voice among- the people of the world, informing them that God has again spoken from the heavens, that He has established His work upon the earth for the last time, and that the same gifts and blessings that existed in the primitive church exist in our day. Educated men often ask the question: Why is it that we do not see the gifts, powers and manifestations in the church today that were in the Church of Christ when He was upon the earth with His apostles? I bear testimony to you today, my brethren and sisters, that the same gifts and blessings, and powers of the priesthood, exist in this Church today that existed in the primitive church. I can bear testimony to you that I have heard men of science declare that certain children were doomed to die, that there was no power on earth that could heal them. I have myself, with my companions, entered houses of people who are not Saints, who had not made covenants with the Lord; we have spoken with these people on the principles of the Gospel, have declared unto them that the same gifts and blessings now exist in the Church of God, and the same power in the priesthood of God, as in times ancient. We have administered to children who have been given up by scientific men; and I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that I have seen these children raised from their beds of affliction, they have been made whole. These people have manifested faith in the Gospel, and many of them have made covenants with the Lord. I remember one incident in particular, which took place in the city of Breslau. There was a young man, about twenty-two years of age, who was working as a bookkeeper, and who had been investigating the Gospel. One evening he came from his work and went immediately to bed. He felt sick; he did not know what was the matter, and they sent for the doctor. When the doctor came he told him that one of his lungs was entirely gone, that the other lung was badly affected, and that he had but a few days to live. The young man had a wife and three children. He had heard the testimony of the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he sent for them and told them what the doctor had said. "But," he said, "I believe there is a power that is mightier; I believe there is a power that is stronger than the power of man. I believe in the sayings of the Apostle James, in the 5th chapter and 14th verse, where he says, 'If you have sick among you, call in the elders and they will anoint you, and by the prayer of faith you will be healed.' " I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that this man had faith in the power of God. By his request the elders anointed him; he was made whole and is a strong man today, performing his duties.
I want to say further, that I have demonstrated the power there is in obedience to the principle of tithing, paying an honest tithing, being honest with the Lord. The young man I refer to joined the Church, shortly after the experience I have related. His salary was such that he could just meet all of his expenses. He had no surplus at the end of the month, but he heard of the principle of tithing, and he said: "I am going to pay my tithing, and I believe that the Lord will open the way for me." That month he paid his honest tithing. The next month, without saying anything to him, his employer advanced his salary twenty marks, and this was more than the amount he had paid as tithing. This is another testimony to me that the Lord works in behalf of His children, and if they will render obedience unto His commandments, he will provide ways and means whereby they can accomplish their righteous purposes.
I rejoice in this work. I know that it is the work of the Lord, and, as I said before, I know that the Lord is directing it. I know there are thousands of people in the world today who are waiting anxiously for this Gospel. In the Swiss and German mission, during the time I have been there, we have distributed 2,294,038 tracts, from door to door. We have baptized 1,867 souls. Now, these are merely figures showing what we have actually done, but they do not represent one-thousandth part of the work that has been done in the mission field. Not long ago I was in the city of Berlin, and I was invited to the home of a man who is many times a millionaire. While I was conversing with him he said, "Mr. Baliff, I have heard of you; and I want to learn more of you; and I want to hear more of your Gospel." He brought his wife and two children and introduced them to me. He spoke the German, French and English languages. We had a pleasant time together, and he said: "I want to protect you brethren here in this city, with my means and influence; I will use my influence to bring about the liberty of the Latter-day Saints in preaching the Gospel."
It is the influence of such men as this that brings about, and helps to maintain, our religious freedom in the city of Berlin, at the present time. I want to say further, my brethren and sisters, especially to those parents who have young men in the mission field, don't be alarmed about your sons. They are in the hands of the Lord, and He is able to take care of them, and He will take care of them. In some instances your young men may be arrested, and spend a few days behind prison bars; but I say they can't be engaged in a greater work than this ministry. There are very few of our elders who have in any way suffered in those prisons. I have a son who was arrested for preaching the Gospel, and spent a little time in prison. I have a son who has been banished from one province in Germany, and many of you also have missionary sons who have been banished and driven; but the hand of the Lord has been with them. They are not suffering, even those who have been cast into prisons. Those prisons are kept clean. The officers are extremely careful to see that those arrested are clean enough to go into the prisons. As a rule, our young men are given a bath before they are permitted to go into these prisons. (Laughter.) Probably they did not need it; at any rate they had the bath before they were put in prison. The beds in those places have iron cushions, but at the same time they are clean, so the young men are not in danger of being infected with any disease in those prisons.
Our young men in the mission field, in Germany, Switzerland, Austria Hungaria, and France, are doing excellent work ; and I feel proud to have been numbered among them. Although I have been presiding, and it is said I am released from the Swiss and German mission, I hope the time may never come when I shall be released from interest in that mission. My heart and soul is in that work; I know it is a work of greatest importance. There is the blood of Israel in Germany and Switzerland, and the people are waiting anxiously for the Gospel. Just as fast as we are able to give the Gospel to the honest in heart, I say they will accept it, because they are the blood of Israel, and they will some time receive it. I know that the Lord is no respecter of persons; I know that is a good nation, and the day will come when thousands will embrace the Gospel. My brethren and sisters, we have not one-tenth of the missionaries that we need. Do not be alarmed when you hear that your son is away up in Kiel, or on the frontier of Russia. We have not half enough elders to take care of the branches. There are many places in Germany today where one elder is presiding over three branches, and it is a hard task on him. I appeal to young Israel, to you young men who were born under the covenant; there is a great work devolving upon you. I believe the time will come when you will be called out in quorums to go and warn the nations. We are establishing branches and conferences, and we are going to establish stakes of Zion throughout all lands. The Gospel is large and comprehensive; it is not alone this nation in America that is going to receive the Gospel; but it is to be proclaimed in all parts of the earth. The people of all nations are the children of the Lord, and the Gospel is intended to save the entire human family.
I rejoice in this work. I am grateful for the privilege of meeting with you; and I pray that the blessings of the Lord may ever attend this people. I hope the time will come when we will all observe the admonition contained in the revelation given to the Prophet John Taylor, "Set your house in order." My brethren and sisters, let us examine ourselves. I want to examine myself and my household. Am I in order? Am I a light and an example to the world? Can I stand up and say to people in the world, follow me? Can I go to nations of the earth and say, Take me as an example, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ? I have been baptized; I have made covenants with the Lord, has it made me better? Am I a better man through having accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If not, the Gospel of Christ has been without effect and without avail to me. But, I say that every person who has joined the Church and made covenants with the Lord, if they have lived up to the teachings of the Gospel, they should be, and they are lights to the world, they are a power for good wherever they go. Let us govern ourselves; let us govern our families; in order that the world may look upon us and say, They are indeed worthy of our emulation. Let us not forget the people who do not understand the ways of the Lord; let us be charitable; let us learn to love them. Let us extend the hand of fellowship to the whole world. Let us be forerunners, and prepare the way for the Lord's coming. There are millions of honest people in the world who will accept the Gospel, just as soon as they can understand it and that is our real purpose, our real motives in preaching and spreading the Gospel of life and salvation.
May the Lord help us all to do right. I appeal to young Utah, young Zion, young Israel, to put your whole faith and trust in the Lord. I would like to impress you with the fact that this' Gospel is a gospel of science; it contains all science. But don't allow yourselves to be misled by the word "science." The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the root of all science, all knowledge. Base yourselves on the foundation of the Gospel of Christ, and through that you will obtain the keys to all sciences that exist upon the earth; it is the fountain-head of all science.
May the Lord bless you; may He comfort and bless Zion. May He bless you parents who have young men in the mission field. Do not feel alarmed; they are in the hands of the Lord. They are a noble band; I love them as I love my own life, and I want to say that the Lord loves them. They are keeping the Word of Wisdom, and that is another key to their success. They live near to the Lord; He is watching over them, and there is no fear. Brethren and sisters, don't send your boys too much money; the money is needed here in Zion. I do not want to be radical, but I suggest that you should send them just what you feel they absolutely need. There are many Elders in the mission field today who are spending; very little money; there are some who are not spending any, they are going absolutely without money, in a way. Let us be wise about this; not that we want you to be scrimpy and stingy. There is a great blessing that goes to the missionaries who are preaching the Gospel. There is never a time when a man is more humble than when he is wholly dependent upon the Lord; and I have never seen the time, in my experience, when the Lord failed to supply the wants of His humble and honest servants. I know He has done it: I have proven it. I know that the Lord is waiting anxiously to Mess us, if we will just live so that we merit and deserve His blessings. May the Lord help us to be faithful and true, I ask it, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER GEORGE F. RICHARDS.
The law of tithing a temporary substitute for consecration.—Faithful observance of this lower law absolutely essential.—Attitude of those who do not pay full tithing.—Good reasons for regular and prompt payment.
My soul has been fed, during this conference, by the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, which has been with us, and by the testimonies which have been borne, as well as the valuable instructions given by the servants of the Lord as they were actuated by His Holy Spirit.
I very earnestly desire that the time which I shall occupy, this morning, may be profitable unto us all. To this end I pray the Lord to bless me, and I solicit your sympathy and prayers of faith.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.* * Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
I read a stanza from a hymn in our hymn book:
"Glorious things are sung of Zion,
Enoch's city seen of old;
Where the righteous, being perfect,
Walked with God in streets of gold.
Love and virtue, faith and wisdom,
Grace and gifts were all combined;
As himself each loved his neighbor;
All were one in heart and mind."
Quoting from the first speaker this morning, Whenever the Gospel has been upon the earth in its fulness, the law of consecration and united order has been given unto the people of the Lord, such as obtained with Enoch and his people, when they attained such a degree of excellence in faith and righteousness. They not only loved the Lord with all their hearts but, as represented in the hymn, "As himself, each loved his neighbor." That is what we may properly call the higher law, the law of consecration, the united order. Some may ask,—If that law has been given to the people whenever the Gospel in its fulness has been upon the earth, how is it that we Latter-day Saints, living in the dispensation of the fulness of times, when the Gospel in its fullness has been restored to the higher law. It was taken from high law of consecration? In answer I might say that the law was offered unto Israel in these last days, as I understand it, but the people were not prepared to live the higher law. It was taken from us, and, for the time being at least, we have been given the law of tithing, the revenue law of the Church, and we are required to live this law. Great promises are given unto us if we will be faithful in observing this law, and condemnation is predicated upon us if we reject it. I am reminded here of ancient Israel and their experiences. Paul, in speaking of them to the Hebrews says: "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed With faith, in them that heard it." In his epistle to the Galatians, he writes to this effect: The law of carnal commandments was given to Israel as a schoolmaster, to bring them up to a condition of faith where they could receive the higher law and enjoy the blessings of the holy priesthood. The Lord revealed, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that Moses and the Holy Priesthood were taken out of the midst of Israel, because of the hardness of their hearts. But, we ought to be worthy to receive this higher law and be able to live it. That people, whose faith was of such a weak character that they were not permitted to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Priesthood, such as we enjoy today, were given the law of tithing. Israel had to pay tithing. The tribe of Levi was selected from the other tribes to minister in the priest's office, and they were supported by the tithes of the people of the other tribes; while they in turn had to pay their tithing upon all that came into their hands. In view of the greater blessings given to us, we ought to be more faithful than were the children of Israel under those conditions; but the truth is that some are not living up to this law of tithing as strictly as we ought to do. Since we are in this condition, it would be useless to give unto us a higher law, requiring greater sacrifices. The observance, on the part of the Latter-day Saints, of the law of tithing, such as the Lord has given to us, as recorded in the 119th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, is an absolute necessity for the upbuilding of the kingdom of our Father in the last days. A true observance of this law is necessary for our temporal and spiritual blessing, and eternal salvation. The Lord has promised that, if we observe this law, He will bless us temporally. We had an example related here by Elder Baliff, where the man who paid his tithing had his wages increased. That is only one instance out of thousands that might be cited, illustrating how, in a temporal way, the Lord has blessed those who have paid their tithes faithfully. He has said, as recorded in Proverbs, 3rd chapter, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Then, He has told us, through Malachi, some of the things that will befall those who do not keep this commandment. When Israel failed to comply with this law, He charged them as being robbers, "yea robbers of God," and called them to repentance. I take it that the same terms might be applied to us if we disregard that law today; yet, it is a fact that some deserve it.
I remember, as I read in the Scripture, that, when the law of consecration was in vogue among the Saints at Jerusalem, a certain man and wife, Ananias and Sapphira, were commanded to dispose of their property and bring the proceeds of the sale in to the common treasury of the Church. You will remember their fate, that which befell them because they undertook to deceive the servants of the Lord. They sold their properties and brought only a part of the proceeds to Peter, and Peter, by the power of the Holy Ghost, discerned and understood the intended deception on the part of Ananias. By the power of the Lord, Ananias was stricken dead; and because his wife was a party to the deception, she also, by the same power was stricken.
I sometimes think of our attitude on this question, as a people. The Lord has said—"one-tenth of your interest annually." If we part with this world's goods and obtain eternal life we will be rich, but if we lose eternal life, lose our faith, go into darkness, apostatize from the truth and lose our hope of eternal life, we will indeed be poor. I fear that because we have not complied faithfully with the requirements of the Lord pertaining to this particular law, some of us are in darkness, and the light of the Spirit does not shine in our souls; therefore, we can not have the hope of a glorious resurrection and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom of our Father. We are told, in the revelations, that we must have an assurance that our course of life is approved of the Lord, or we can not exercise that faith which is necessary to take hold upon the blessings of eternal life. If I neglect to comply with the law, or only partially comply with the law, do I know that my course is approved of the Lord? Nay, verily, but the reverse; I would know better than any other man in the world that my course of life is not approved of the Lord; and it would be impossible for me to exercise faith sufficient to take hold upon the blessings of eternal life. Hence, the danger in neglecting our duty in relation to this very important law. I said that it is absolutely necessary for the welfare of the Church, and the advancement of the work of the Lord, that the Latter-day Saints pay their tithing. This is another great reason why the Lord has commanded that we should give a tenth of our interest annually, that the Church may be maintained, that its temporal interests may grow and develop. The law, as given in the words of the Lord to Joseph Smith, states that we shall pay our tithing, a tenth of our interest annually. Because the law is so stated, many of our people have gotten the idea that they need pay no tithing until the end of the year, and then, when they have decided what they owe as a tithing, make settlement—providing they are able to do so. In too many instances they are not able to make full settlement when the end of the year comes. It is a dangerous procedure, and a wrong interpretation of the law. As the Lord gives to us we should tithe, at the very time that it is given. The Church needs the tithing just as much in the commencement of the year, and during the middle of the year, as it does at the end of the year. Demands upon the Trustee-in-trust are continuous, and enormous. For our own good, and for the welfare of the Church, we ought to pay when it is due, and remove far from us the temptation to withhold our tithings; knowing as we ought to know, the injury there is to ourselves and the Church in failing to pay an honest tithing. If we put it off until the end of the year, the temptation is greater: when we come to figure out what we justly owe to the Lord —one-tenth of all our interest—it looms up big before us. We have used, perhaps, all our means as it has come into our hands; we have felt that it was necessary to live to "the full extent of our income. We have not felt able to curtail our expenses, to live within our means, and lay by a little for the payment of our tithing. The result is that when the end of the year comes, there are a multitude of demands made upon us—our winter supply of fuel, taxes, clothing for the family, innumerable obligations, some of them unexpected and unlocked for. In addition to all these demands we have before us the settlement of our tithing. We find that some are no better prepared to pay even one month's tithing at the end of the year than they were in the month of January, February, or March, to pay the tithing due at that time. Of course, there are some who do not receive their interest monthly. This will not apply to them entirely; but when funds come into their hands, whether it be once in three months, once in six months, or at the close of the year, they should make settlement with the Lord as they obtain their substance. With the farmers, if we put our grain into bins and our hay in stacks and reserve it, holding for a better price, that we may get a little more credit" on the tithing records, we are endangering our ability to meet the obligation later on ; it is an unsafe proposition. The thing to do is to take our grain from the thresher and give one tenth to the Lord; and hay from the field and do the same, and so with other products and interests. This requires less exercise of faith and there is less temptation to withhold any part of our tithing. We pray, "Lead us not into temptation;" the Lord expects us to help ourselves and avoid temptation. This is one means by which we can do so; and I recommend to the Latter-day Saints that henceforth we pay tithing as we go along—a just and full tithing, that we may be conscientious and our minds be free and easy, that we may know so far as complying with that law is concerned, we have done the will of the Lord and can claim the promised blessing.
In order that the law of tithing may be made universal and general —realizing that we are prone to say that such instructions are for some one else, and not apply them directly to ourselves—I recommend that a course be taken such as has been taken with respect to the Word of Wisdom. It is not unusual to hear a president report in a stake of Zion that all the stake officers, and all the ward officers, in his stake keep the Word of Wisdom, as well as a very large percentage of the people. Why? Because they have adopted a system of beginning at the head, with the presidencies of stakes, to see that this law is observed—just as we have begun with the Presidency of the Church, the Twelve, the First Council of Seventy, the Patriarch and Presiding Bishopric; all these general authorities observe that law, and this movement has gone from the officers of the Church to the people. They have felt the influence of this movement, and it has become universal, or at least popular among us as a people to observe the Word of Wisdom. If we adopt the same means with this law of tithing-, which is of more importance, if possible, than the Word of Wisdom, I believe we will be able to achieve the same results. If we do so, the blessings of the Lord will be poured out upon us. We will be preparing ourselves to make the greater sacrifice, to yield obedience to the higher law, which must come before our sanctification. As long as we disregard the lesser law, in part, we know that we are not prepared for that sanctifying law of consecration. The greater the sacrifice the greater the blessing, for sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. Let us try it.
God help us to be faithful in the observance of this law, and all His laws and commandments. Let us live according to our profession of faith, that we may indeed be a light unto the world, that the world seeing our good works may be led to glorify God and to serve and worship Him. May the Lord bless us to this end, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Our God, we raise to Thee
Thanks for Thy blessings free
We here enjoy;
In this far western land,
A true and chosen band,
Led hither by Thy hand,
We sing for joy.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Junius F. Wells.
Conference adjourned until 2 p. m.
The law of tithing a temporary substitute for consecration.—Faithful observance of this lower law absolutely essential.—Attitude of those who do not pay full tithing.—Good reasons for regular and prompt payment.
My soul has been fed, during this conference, by the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, which has been with us, and by the testimonies which have been borne, as well as the valuable instructions given by the servants of the Lord as they were actuated by His Holy Spirit.
I very earnestly desire that the time which I shall occupy, this morning, may be profitable unto us all. To this end I pray the Lord to bless me, and I solicit your sympathy and prayers of faith.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.* * Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
I read a stanza from a hymn in our hymn book:
"Glorious things are sung of Zion,
Enoch's city seen of old;
Where the righteous, being perfect,
Walked with God in streets of gold.
Love and virtue, faith and wisdom,
Grace and gifts were all combined;
As himself each loved his neighbor;
All were one in heart and mind."
Quoting from the first speaker this morning, Whenever the Gospel has been upon the earth in its fulness, the law of consecration and united order has been given unto the people of the Lord, such as obtained with Enoch and his people, when they attained such a degree of excellence in faith and righteousness. They not only loved the Lord with all their hearts but, as represented in the hymn, "As himself, each loved his neighbor." That is what we may properly call the higher law, the law of consecration, the united order. Some may ask,—If that law has been given to the people whenever the Gospel in its fulness has been upon the earth, how is it that we Latter-day Saints, living in the dispensation of the fulness of times, when the Gospel in its fullness has been restored to the higher law. It was taken from high law of consecration? In answer I might say that the law was offered unto Israel in these last days, as I understand it, but the people were not prepared to live the higher law. It was taken from us, and, for the time being at least, we have been given the law of tithing, the revenue law of the Church, and we are required to live this law. Great promises are given unto us if we will be faithful in observing this law, and condemnation is predicated upon us if we reject it. I am reminded here of ancient Israel and their experiences. Paul, in speaking of them to the Hebrews says: "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed With faith, in them that heard it." In his epistle to the Galatians, he writes to this effect: The law of carnal commandments was given to Israel as a schoolmaster, to bring them up to a condition of faith where they could receive the higher law and enjoy the blessings of the holy priesthood. The Lord revealed, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that Moses and the Holy Priesthood were taken out of the midst of Israel, because of the hardness of their hearts. But, we ought to be worthy to receive this higher law and be able to live it. That people, whose faith was of such a weak character that they were not permitted to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Priesthood, such as we enjoy today, were given the law of tithing. Israel had to pay tithing. The tribe of Levi was selected from the other tribes to minister in the priest's office, and they were supported by the tithes of the people of the other tribes; while they in turn had to pay their tithing upon all that came into their hands. In view of the greater blessings given to us, we ought to be more faithful than were the children of Israel under those conditions; but the truth is that some are not living up to this law of tithing as strictly as we ought to do. Since we are in this condition, it would be useless to give unto us a higher law, requiring greater sacrifices. The observance, on the part of the Latter-day Saints, of the law of tithing, such as the Lord has given to us, as recorded in the 119th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, is an absolute necessity for the upbuilding of the kingdom of our Father in the last days. A true observance of this law is necessary for our temporal and spiritual blessing, and eternal salvation. The Lord has promised that, if we observe this law, He will bless us temporally. We had an example related here by Elder Baliff, where the man who paid his tithing had his wages increased. That is only one instance out of thousands that might be cited, illustrating how, in a temporal way, the Lord has blessed those who have paid their tithes faithfully. He has said, as recorded in Proverbs, 3rd chapter, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." Then, He has told us, through Malachi, some of the things that will befall those who do not keep this commandment. When Israel failed to comply with this law, He charged them as being robbers, "yea robbers of God," and called them to repentance. I take it that the same terms might be applied to us if we disregard that law today; yet, it is a fact that some deserve it.
I remember, as I read in the Scripture, that, when the law of consecration was in vogue among the Saints at Jerusalem, a certain man and wife, Ananias and Sapphira, were commanded to dispose of their property and bring the proceeds of the sale in to the common treasury of the Church. You will remember their fate, that which befell them because they undertook to deceive the servants of the Lord. They sold their properties and brought only a part of the proceeds to Peter, and Peter, by the power of the Holy Ghost, discerned and understood the intended deception on the part of Ananias. By the power of the Lord, Ananias was stricken dead; and because his wife was a party to the deception, she also, by the same power was stricken.
I sometimes think of our attitude on this question, as a people. The Lord has said—"one-tenth of your interest annually." If we part with this world's goods and obtain eternal life we will be rich, but if we lose eternal life, lose our faith, go into darkness, apostatize from the truth and lose our hope of eternal life, we will indeed be poor. I fear that because we have not complied faithfully with the requirements of the Lord pertaining to this particular law, some of us are in darkness, and the light of the Spirit does not shine in our souls; therefore, we can not have the hope of a glorious resurrection and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom of our Father. We are told, in the revelations, that we must have an assurance that our course of life is approved of the Lord, or we can not exercise that faith which is necessary to take hold upon the blessings of eternal life. If I neglect to comply with the law, or only partially comply with the law, do I know that my course is approved of the Lord? Nay, verily, but the reverse; I would know better than any other man in the world that my course of life is not approved of the Lord; and it would be impossible for me to exercise faith sufficient to take hold upon the blessings of eternal life. Hence, the danger in neglecting our duty in relation to this very important law. I said that it is absolutely necessary for the welfare of the Church, and the advancement of the work of the Lord, that the Latter-day Saints pay their tithing. This is another great reason why the Lord has commanded that we should give a tenth of our interest annually, that the Church may be maintained, that its temporal interests may grow and develop. The law, as given in the words of the Lord to Joseph Smith, states that we shall pay our tithing, a tenth of our interest annually. Because the law is so stated, many of our people have gotten the idea that they need pay no tithing until the end of the year, and then, when they have decided what they owe as a tithing, make settlement—providing they are able to do so. In too many instances they are not able to make full settlement when the end of the year comes. It is a dangerous procedure, and a wrong interpretation of the law. As the Lord gives to us we should tithe, at the very time that it is given. The Church needs the tithing just as much in the commencement of the year, and during the middle of the year, as it does at the end of the year. Demands upon the Trustee-in-trust are continuous, and enormous. For our own good, and for the welfare of the Church, we ought to pay when it is due, and remove far from us the temptation to withhold our tithings; knowing as we ought to know, the injury there is to ourselves and the Church in failing to pay an honest tithing. If we put it off until the end of the year, the temptation is greater: when we come to figure out what we justly owe to the Lord —one-tenth of all our interest—it looms up big before us. We have used, perhaps, all our means as it has come into our hands; we have felt that it was necessary to live to "the full extent of our income. We have not felt able to curtail our expenses, to live within our means, and lay by a little for the payment of our tithing. The result is that when the end of the year comes, there are a multitude of demands made upon us—our winter supply of fuel, taxes, clothing for the family, innumerable obligations, some of them unexpected and unlocked for. In addition to all these demands we have before us the settlement of our tithing. We find that some are no better prepared to pay even one month's tithing at the end of the year than they were in the month of January, February, or March, to pay the tithing due at that time. Of course, there are some who do not receive their interest monthly. This will not apply to them entirely; but when funds come into their hands, whether it be once in three months, once in six months, or at the close of the year, they should make settlement with the Lord as they obtain their substance. With the farmers, if we put our grain into bins and our hay in stacks and reserve it, holding for a better price, that we may get a little more credit" on the tithing records, we are endangering our ability to meet the obligation later on ; it is an unsafe proposition. The thing to do is to take our grain from the thresher and give one tenth to the Lord; and hay from the field and do the same, and so with other products and interests. This requires less exercise of faith and there is less temptation to withhold any part of our tithing. We pray, "Lead us not into temptation;" the Lord expects us to help ourselves and avoid temptation. This is one means by which we can do so; and I recommend to the Latter-day Saints that henceforth we pay tithing as we go along—a just and full tithing, that we may be conscientious and our minds be free and easy, that we may know so far as complying with that law is concerned, we have done the will of the Lord and can claim the promised blessing.
In order that the law of tithing may be made universal and general —realizing that we are prone to say that such instructions are for some one else, and not apply them directly to ourselves—I recommend that a course be taken such as has been taken with respect to the Word of Wisdom. It is not unusual to hear a president report in a stake of Zion that all the stake officers, and all the ward officers, in his stake keep the Word of Wisdom, as well as a very large percentage of the people. Why? Because they have adopted a system of beginning at the head, with the presidencies of stakes, to see that this law is observed—just as we have begun with the Presidency of the Church, the Twelve, the First Council of Seventy, the Patriarch and Presiding Bishopric; all these general authorities observe that law, and this movement has gone from the officers of the Church to the people. They have felt the influence of this movement, and it has become universal, or at least popular among us as a people to observe the Word of Wisdom. If we adopt the same means with this law of tithing-, which is of more importance, if possible, than the Word of Wisdom, I believe we will be able to achieve the same results. If we do so, the blessings of the Lord will be poured out upon us. We will be preparing ourselves to make the greater sacrifice, to yield obedience to the higher law, which must come before our sanctification. As long as we disregard the lesser law, in part, we know that we are not prepared for that sanctifying law of consecration. The greater the sacrifice the greater the blessing, for sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. Let us try it.
God help us to be faithful in the observance of this law, and all His laws and commandments. Let us live according to our profession of faith, that we may indeed be a light unto the world, that the world seeing our good works may be led to glorify God and to serve and worship Him. May the Lord bless us to this end, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
Our God, we raise to Thee
Thanks for Thy blessings free
We here enjoy;
In this far western land,
A true and chosen band,
Led hither by Thy hand,
We sing for joy.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder Junius F. Wells.
Conference adjourned until 2 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Conference was resumed at 2 p. m.
President Joseph F. Smith called the meeting to order.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
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.
Prayer was offered by Elder Frank Y. Taylor.
The choir sang the anthem, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord."
Conference was resumed at 2 p. m.
President Joseph F. Smith called the meeting to order.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
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.
Prayer was offered by Elder Frank Y. Taylor.
The choir sang the anthem, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord."
ELDER HYRUM M. SMITH.
Fulfillment of prediction concerning great and marvelous work.—Marked changes in sectarian doctrines. — Temperance and Sunday laws desired by majority of Utah citizens.—Disregard for wishes of the people shown by legislators.—Saints advised to continue fight for the right.
While I address the congregation, this afternoon, I hope that I may have a good degree of the Spirit of the Lord, that we may continue to enjoy the inspiration of God, and through it be instructed and blessed. I have enjoyed the meetings of the conference thus far. I have rejoiced greatly in the remarks that have been made, and the testimonies that have been borne by the brethren who have addressed the saints.
In the year 1829, prior to the organization of the Church, the Lord repeatedly said unto Joseph Smith and through Joseph Smith, to others, that a great and marvelous work was about to come forth among the children of men. If this statement would bear repetition, even by the mouth of God, prior to the organization of this great work, we can certainly be permitted to repeat it now, when we see such a wonderful fulfillment of these predictions. As I sat yesterday and looked over the vast multitude of saints, the passage kept recurring to my mind. How great and marvelous is this work that has come forth among the children of men, beginning, as we have heard, in the organization of the Church with six members, and growing until now—although it is only a few years since the organization of the; Church—it numbers its members by hundreds of thousands, a great many of whom have assembled in conference upon this occasion, and who for years past have been meeting annually and semi-annually in this capacity. Although a numerous people, filling many villages, towns and cities, yet they all see eye to eye when the principles of the Gospel of life and salvation are considered. They have been drawn from all the nations of the earth, from all creeds, all faiths, all churches, all tongues and peoples; and they have been united, by the Spirit of God, into one harmonious Church of Jesus Christ. This is marvelous, wonderfully marvelous; and it is not the only wonderful thing connected with this great work of the latter days. While we number the members of the Church by hundreds of thousands, who have embraced the truth as revealed through Joseph Smith, the prophet, there are still in the world other hundreds of thousands of men and women who believe in the doctrines of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed of the Lord through Joseph Smith the prophet, and as preached and taught by our people. The remarkable effect of the Gospel upon the world causes one, who is aware of the fact, to stand in wonderment, when he realizes to what extent the words of the Lord, spoken in 1829, have been fulfilled.
"Another parable spake He unto them: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." This little organization that was effected in 1830, has been the leaven in the hands of God which has been introduced in the world and is rapidly and most wonderfully leavening the whole lump. The ideas and views of the Christian world have changed to a marked degree. The doctrines believed in prior to, and immediately subsequent to, the introduction of the Gospel of Christ, were quite different in some respects from what they are now. The Lord, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, has revealed the truth, and the truth has had its effect among men. I noticed, a short time ago, one little item that goes far in showing to what extent the Gospel of Christ has leavened, and is leavening, the religious ideas and views of the world. I clipped an article from the Deseret News editorial columns; it was originally taken from the Montreal Star, and was then published and commented on by the Editor of the News, as follows:
We have frequently remarked that the light of the Gospel is penetrating the world of thought today, and enlightening it gradually. Truth is rising and before its rays the shadows flee.
One illustration of this is found in the attitude of Christians toward the doctrine of eternal punishment. We notice in the Montreal Star an article signed by one Joseph Hamilton, in which the writer takes up the question of eternal punishment, as follows:
"That doctrine is contained in the creed of both the Methodist and the Presbyterian churches, but do the ministers believe it? If they do, would they not preach it; yes, preach it morning, noon, and night? But, as a matter of fact, they do not preach it. I never heard a sermon on it, or any attempt to prove it, since I was a child. A few weeks ago in a large congregation in Toronto the preacher asked for a show of hands on the part of any who had heard a sermon on hell within the past ten years. Two hands were held up. Some time ago a noted Methodist minister told me that the Methodist ministers of Canada do not believe in everlasting punishment. The Presbyterian ministers seem largely to hold the same view. Is the subject mooted at all in any Presbyterian church?"
This caused another reader of the Montreal Star, Thomas Albert Shackelton, writes:
"Editor of Daily Star: Dear Sir- Replying to the letter of Joseph Hamilton, of Lindsay, Ontario. I would say, I think the definition of eternal punishment, or everlasting punishment, is much misunderstood, and that the ordinary thought that it means an unending punishment is not taught in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible teaches that the Author and Father of all life is eternal; is everlasting; hence the punishment meeted out to unrepentant souls is the punishment of the eternal or everlasting Father, and the words eternal punishment have no reference to time whatsoever, but simply refer to the punishment, as being God's punishment; hence is eternal punishment, or punishment by the Eternal One. As proof I refer to the Epistle of Peter in which he speaks of Christ whilst His body was in the tomb, preaching to the spirits of those who for some time during the days of Noah were unrepentant; showing there was a hope of final salvation for all through faith in Christ, and thus it's right to pray for our dead."
Where did our friend get this idea of Eternal punishment? Did he get it when he read Peter, and there learned that Christ had preached to the spirits in prison, or in the spirit world? If he did, where did he get the idea that the doctrine enunciated by Peter referred to the salvation for the dead? That doctrine is very familiar to the Latter-day Saints We read in the Doctrine and Covenants a revelation given to Joseph Smith, in New York, in 1830; listen to it.:
"I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am He, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.
"I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself --
"Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done.
"And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless:
"Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand;
"Nevertheless it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.
"Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men altogether for my name's glory;
"Wherefore I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is mete unto you to know even as mine apostles.
"I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest;
"For, behold, the mystery of Godliness, how great is it? for, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for endless is my name; wherefore
"Eternal punishment is God's punishment.
"Endless punishment is God's punishment.
"Wherefore I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name;
"And it is by my almighty power that you have received them."
Our friend quotes almost verbatim from the Doctrine and Covenants, and yet for proof of his views refers his congregation to the Bible, namely to the words of Saint Peter. And that is the state of the world. They have abandoned many doctrines which they formerly held; they have abandoned them, since Joseph Smith taught they were false; they have embraced many of the truths of the everlasting gospel, since Joseph Smith revealed them to the world. But no, not on any account would they give credit where credit belongs. If this man were an honest man, he would have said: And for proof of this doctrine, I refer you to the 19th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, a standard work of the Mormon Church, being the words of God to Joseph Smith the prophet; and for my knowledge of the doctrine of salvation for those who are dead I refer you also to Joseph Smith the prophet, who preached it to the world, and first made clear the meaning of Peter's words.
No, we do not hear any more damnation, hell fire, and infant burning, or everlasting or never ending punishment. No more predestination, and total depravity of the human heart. The topless throne and bottomless pit are things of the past. Those doctrines are done away with; they are not believed, or at least, if they are believed, they are not preached. I assure you, my brethren and sisters, they are not believed by hundreds of thousands of people whose minds have been enlightened by the preaching of the Gospel by the servants of God, the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thus the leaven is working, and the people of the world are coming to see the truth. They are abandoning some of their false doctrines. They are preaching many of the truths that we preach and which were not. known to be true, in fact, they were looked upon as the greatest of heresy when Joseph Smith introduced them, and long after that time, even until the elders had preached the doctrines among many nations and tongues, and after the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people, and made them understand and believe them As a result, while these thousands of men have, for reasons best known to themselves, not seen their way clear to join the Church of Christ and become members, they are falling away from other churches which have taught and still retain false doctrines in their creeds. It is marvelous, too, that there are many honorable men in the earth, good men, who believe Mormonism, and they wish us God speed; "but,' they say, "so far as we are concerned, we can't live it; we are not good enough; or for other reasons we can not accept membership in the Church." But the time is coming when many of them will join the Church. This great work is going on; the leavening process is at work; and as surely as the Lord likened the kingdom of heaven unto this parable, so surely will the whole be leavened.
Now, my brethren and sisters, I want to speak a word or two on another subject. I want to read another passage of Scripture, and with the discourse of President Lund, yesterday, as a precedent, make a few remarks:
"And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king."
'And it came to pass, when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
"That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
"Thy father made our yoke grievous, now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee."
"And he said unto them, "Depart yet for three days, then come again to me." And the people departed.
"And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, "How do ye advise that I may answer this people?'
"And they spake unto him, saying, 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever."
"But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
"And he spake unto them, 'What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?"
"And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, 'Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, 'Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, 'My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
" 'And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke, my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'
"So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
"And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
"And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
"Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
"So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, * * * *" (I Kings, 12:1-17).
That reminds me very much of what we have passed through in recent days. I do not forget, and I need ask no pardon for reminding you of it, that at our last conference we spoke out in favor of the closing of saloons, and curtailing the sale of intoxicating liquors. As a people, as a conference of the Church, we spoke in the interest of prohibition. Not only did the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but a great many people who love virtue, temperance, and purity of life, who believe in the doctrines enunciated in the opening remarks of our conference, also desired it. Other churches and organizations of good men and women declared their will and asked that we be given relief from the bondage under which we are now suffering, that of open saloons and the desecration of the Sabbath day. We asked our legislature to kindly grant us relief from these yokes of bondage. More than 75,000 people petitioned for it; the time was rope to secure it. The Savior on one occasion said: "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" We asked for a Sunday law; we were given a stone. We asked for prohibition, and the lower house of the legislature, with a very few dishonorable exceptions, stood as a man, to the last, for virtue and truth, for honesty and sobriety, and would have gladly given unto the people what they asked: viz, lighten our yoke; release us from this bondage that now is destroying our sons and our daughters, and polluting our state.
The senate was just the reverse, with a few very honorable exceptions. Their answer was practically this: We will defeat the House and deny the request of the people. If in the past they have been chastised with whips, we will chastise them with scorpions. We will not only not give them relief but, we will add to their burdens by fastening the whisky yoke more securely upon them. We will deliver the state to the liquor dealer, and the people to the saloon keeper. We will give those engaged in this dreadful business all the aid, comfort and support we possibly can, and greater license than ever before. We have no respect, but on the contrary, only contempt for the will of the people. When they ask for bread we will give them a stone. And if they ask for a fish we will give them a serpent. And a serpent they gave us; and, as Solomon declared, "It biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder." That is what we got. They made a pretense of sincerity, by holding out hope of local option, with never a moment's intention of granting even that. Even a local option stone, when we asked for the bread of Prohibition, would have been vastly better than the serpent they gave us.
Well, so far as I am concerned, I still stand for purity of life, for prohibition, the closing of saloons, the prevention of drunkenness, for every virtue and every good thing that will help the people. So far as I have authority to speak for the people of the Church of Christ, the Latter-day Saints still desire relief from this yoke; they desire their burdens to be lightened. We desire the Sabbath day to be kept holy. We desire our children to grow up fearing God and keeping holy His Sabbath day; and we deplore the condition that prevails where legislators arise' and make light of, and ridicule the honest, sincere, and devout wish of a mighty people when they ask for relief from this desecration of the Lord's day. I fear for the peace and safety of our commonwealth when our law makers refuse to listen to the voice of the people, and follow the advice of the wicked and immoral instead. I say to you Latter-day Saints, do not lose courage ; we have had to fight battles for truth all our lives, and just as the leaven is leavening the lump with reference to some of the doctrines of the Church and Kingdom of God, and as it will eventually leaven it all, so this will be part of it. We will live to see the day when we will find men who will not be like Rehoboam, the king, but men who will listen to the people. When the people say unto them: Give us relief, lighten the burdens that others have placed upon us, save our children from temptation - and ruin, they will hearken unto the will of the people: and. in God's name, we will then be freed from the bondage with which some of our pretended brethren would still shackle us. Then what shall we do? Why, to your tents, oh Israel! Back to your homes, increase your vigilance and watchfulness around your own firesides, double and re-double your efforts to preserve your sons and daughters, and your fair name, from the hands of those who would drag from your thresholds the innocence and purity of your children, and sink it in the mire, for gain.
Now, may God bless the people. May the Lord bless His cause, and may it continue to grow and work to the wonderment of the world, in a manner that shall cause all men to stand and declare: Lo, God must have spoken to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, because his words are fulfilled; a most wonderful and marvelous work has come forth among the children of men. God bless Israel, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Fulfillment of prediction concerning great and marvelous work.—Marked changes in sectarian doctrines. — Temperance and Sunday laws desired by majority of Utah citizens.—Disregard for wishes of the people shown by legislators.—Saints advised to continue fight for the right.
While I address the congregation, this afternoon, I hope that I may have a good degree of the Spirit of the Lord, that we may continue to enjoy the inspiration of God, and through it be instructed and blessed. I have enjoyed the meetings of the conference thus far. I have rejoiced greatly in the remarks that have been made, and the testimonies that have been borne by the brethren who have addressed the saints.
In the year 1829, prior to the organization of the Church, the Lord repeatedly said unto Joseph Smith and through Joseph Smith, to others, that a great and marvelous work was about to come forth among the children of men. If this statement would bear repetition, even by the mouth of God, prior to the organization of this great work, we can certainly be permitted to repeat it now, when we see such a wonderful fulfillment of these predictions. As I sat yesterday and looked over the vast multitude of saints, the passage kept recurring to my mind. How great and marvelous is this work that has come forth among the children of men, beginning, as we have heard, in the organization of the Church with six members, and growing until now—although it is only a few years since the organization of the; Church—it numbers its members by hundreds of thousands, a great many of whom have assembled in conference upon this occasion, and who for years past have been meeting annually and semi-annually in this capacity. Although a numerous people, filling many villages, towns and cities, yet they all see eye to eye when the principles of the Gospel of life and salvation are considered. They have been drawn from all the nations of the earth, from all creeds, all faiths, all churches, all tongues and peoples; and they have been united, by the Spirit of God, into one harmonious Church of Jesus Christ. This is marvelous, wonderfully marvelous; and it is not the only wonderful thing connected with this great work of the latter days. While we number the members of the Church by hundreds of thousands, who have embraced the truth as revealed through Joseph Smith, the prophet, there are still in the world other hundreds of thousands of men and women who believe in the doctrines of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed of the Lord through Joseph Smith the prophet, and as preached and taught by our people. The remarkable effect of the Gospel upon the world causes one, who is aware of the fact, to stand in wonderment, when he realizes to what extent the words of the Lord, spoken in 1829, have been fulfilled.
"Another parable spake He unto them: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." This little organization that was effected in 1830, has been the leaven in the hands of God which has been introduced in the world and is rapidly and most wonderfully leavening the whole lump. The ideas and views of the Christian world have changed to a marked degree. The doctrines believed in prior to, and immediately subsequent to, the introduction of the Gospel of Christ, were quite different in some respects from what they are now. The Lord, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, has revealed the truth, and the truth has had its effect among men. I noticed, a short time ago, one little item that goes far in showing to what extent the Gospel of Christ has leavened, and is leavening, the religious ideas and views of the world. I clipped an article from the Deseret News editorial columns; it was originally taken from the Montreal Star, and was then published and commented on by the Editor of the News, as follows:
We have frequently remarked that the light of the Gospel is penetrating the world of thought today, and enlightening it gradually. Truth is rising and before its rays the shadows flee.
One illustration of this is found in the attitude of Christians toward the doctrine of eternal punishment. We notice in the Montreal Star an article signed by one Joseph Hamilton, in which the writer takes up the question of eternal punishment, as follows:
"That doctrine is contained in the creed of both the Methodist and the Presbyterian churches, but do the ministers believe it? If they do, would they not preach it; yes, preach it morning, noon, and night? But, as a matter of fact, they do not preach it. I never heard a sermon on it, or any attempt to prove it, since I was a child. A few weeks ago in a large congregation in Toronto the preacher asked for a show of hands on the part of any who had heard a sermon on hell within the past ten years. Two hands were held up. Some time ago a noted Methodist minister told me that the Methodist ministers of Canada do not believe in everlasting punishment. The Presbyterian ministers seem largely to hold the same view. Is the subject mooted at all in any Presbyterian church?"
This caused another reader of the Montreal Star, Thomas Albert Shackelton, writes:
"Editor of Daily Star: Dear Sir- Replying to the letter of Joseph Hamilton, of Lindsay, Ontario. I would say, I think the definition of eternal punishment, or everlasting punishment, is much misunderstood, and that the ordinary thought that it means an unending punishment is not taught in the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible teaches that the Author and Father of all life is eternal; is everlasting; hence the punishment meeted out to unrepentant souls is the punishment of the eternal or everlasting Father, and the words eternal punishment have no reference to time whatsoever, but simply refer to the punishment, as being God's punishment; hence is eternal punishment, or punishment by the Eternal One. As proof I refer to the Epistle of Peter in which he speaks of Christ whilst His body was in the tomb, preaching to the spirits of those who for some time during the days of Noah were unrepentant; showing there was a hope of final salvation for all through faith in Christ, and thus it's right to pray for our dead."
Where did our friend get this idea of Eternal punishment? Did he get it when he read Peter, and there learned that Christ had preached to the spirits in prison, or in the spirit world? If he did, where did he get the idea that the doctrine enunciated by Peter referred to the salvation for the dead? That doctrine is very familiar to the Latter-day Saints We read in the Doctrine and Covenants a revelation given to Joseph Smith, in New York, in 1830; listen to it.:
"I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am He, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.
"I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself --
"Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done.
"And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless:
"Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand;
"Nevertheless it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.
"Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men altogether for my name's glory;
"Wherefore I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is mete unto you to know even as mine apostles.
"I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest;
"For, behold, the mystery of Godliness, how great is it? for, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for endless is my name; wherefore
"Eternal punishment is God's punishment.
"Endless punishment is God's punishment.
"Wherefore I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name;
"And it is by my almighty power that you have received them."
Our friend quotes almost verbatim from the Doctrine and Covenants, and yet for proof of his views refers his congregation to the Bible, namely to the words of Saint Peter. And that is the state of the world. They have abandoned many doctrines which they formerly held; they have abandoned them, since Joseph Smith taught they were false; they have embraced many of the truths of the everlasting gospel, since Joseph Smith revealed them to the world. But no, not on any account would they give credit where credit belongs. If this man were an honest man, he would have said: And for proof of this doctrine, I refer you to the 19th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, a standard work of the Mormon Church, being the words of God to Joseph Smith the prophet; and for my knowledge of the doctrine of salvation for those who are dead I refer you also to Joseph Smith the prophet, who preached it to the world, and first made clear the meaning of Peter's words.
No, we do not hear any more damnation, hell fire, and infant burning, or everlasting or never ending punishment. No more predestination, and total depravity of the human heart. The topless throne and bottomless pit are things of the past. Those doctrines are done away with; they are not believed, or at least, if they are believed, they are not preached. I assure you, my brethren and sisters, they are not believed by hundreds of thousands of people whose minds have been enlightened by the preaching of the Gospel by the servants of God, the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thus the leaven is working, and the people of the world are coming to see the truth. They are abandoning some of their false doctrines. They are preaching many of the truths that we preach and which were not. known to be true, in fact, they were looked upon as the greatest of heresy when Joseph Smith introduced them, and long after that time, even until the elders had preached the doctrines among many nations and tongues, and after the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people, and made them understand and believe them As a result, while these thousands of men have, for reasons best known to themselves, not seen their way clear to join the Church of Christ and become members, they are falling away from other churches which have taught and still retain false doctrines in their creeds. It is marvelous, too, that there are many honorable men in the earth, good men, who believe Mormonism, and they wish us God speed; "but,' they say, "so far as we are concerned, we can't live it; we are not good enough; or for other reasons we can not accept membership in the Church." But the time is coming when many of them will join the Church. This great work is going on; the leavening process is at work; and as surely as the Lord likened the kingdom of heaven unto this parable, so surely will the whole be leavened.
Now, my brethren and sisters, I want to speak a word or two on another subject. I want to read another passage of Scripture, and with the discourse of President Lund, yesterday, as a precedent, make a few remarks:
"And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king."
'And it came to pass, when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
"That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
"Thy father made our yoke grievous, now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee."
"And he said unto them, "Depart yet for three days, then come again to me." And the people departed.
"And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, "How do ye advise that I may answer this people?'
"And they spake unto him, saying, 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever."
"But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
"And he spake unto them, 'What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?"
"And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, 'Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, 'Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, 'My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
" 'And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke, my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'
"So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
"And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
"And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
"Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
"So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, * * * *" (I Kings, 12:1-17).
That reminds me very much of what we have passed through in recent days. I do not forget, and I need ask no pardon for reminding you of it, that at our last conference we spoke out in favor of the closing of saloons, and curtailing the sale of intoxicating liquors. As a people, as a conference of the Church, we spoke in the interest of prohibition. Not only did the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but a great many people who love virtue, temperance, and purity of life, who believe in the doctrines enunciated in the opening remarks of our conference, also desired it. Other churches and organizations of good men and women declared their will and asked that we be given relief from the bondage under which we are now suffering, that of open saloons and the desecration of the Sabbath day. We asked our legislature to kindly grant us relief from these yokes of bondage. More than 75,000 people petitioned for it; the time was rope to secure it. The Savior on one occasion said: "What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?" We asked for a Sunday law; we were given a stone. We asked for prohibition, and the lower house of the legislature, with a very few dishonorable exceptions, stood as a man, to the last, for virtue and truth, for honesty and sobriety, and would have gladly given unto the people what they asked: viz, lighten our yoke; release us from this bondage that now is destroying our sons and our daughters, and polluting our state.
The senate was just the reverse, with a few very honorable exceptions. Their answer was practically this: We will defeat the House and deny the request of the people. If in the past they have been chastised with whips, we will chastise them with scorpions. We will not only not give them relief but, we will add to their burdens by fastening the whisky yoke more securely upon them. We will deliver the state to the liquor dealer, and the people to the saloon keeper. We will give those engaged in this dreadful business all the aid, comfort and support we possibly can, and greater license than ever before. We have no respect, but on the contrary, only contempt for the will of the people. When they ask for bread we will give them a stone. And if they ask for a fish we will give them a serpent. And a serpent they gave us; and, as Solomon declared, "It biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder." That is what we got. They made a pretense of sincerity, by holding out hope of local option, with never a moment's intention of granting even that. Even a local option stone, when we asked for the bread of Prohibition, would have been vastly better than the serpent they gave us.
Well, so far as I am concerned, I still stand for purity of life, for prohibition, the closing of saloons, the prevention of drunkenness, for every virtue and every good thing that will help the people. So far as I have authority to speak for the people of the Church of Christ, the Latter-day Saints still desire relief from this yoke; they desire their burdens to be lightened. We desire the Sabbath day to be kept holy. We desire our children to grow up fearing God and keeping holy His Sabbath day; and we deplore the condition that prevails where legislators arise' and make light of, and ridicule the honest, sincere, and devout wish of a mighty people when they ask for relief from this desecration of the Lord's day. I fear for the peace and safety of our commonwealth when our law makers refuse to listen to the voice of the people, and follow the advice of the wicked and immoral instead. I say to you Latter-day Saints, do not lose courage ; we have had to fight battles for truth all our lives, and just as the leaven is leavening the lump with reference to some of the doctrines of the Church and Kingdom of God, and as it will eventually leaven it all, so this will be part of it. We will live to see the day when we will find men who will not be like Rehoboam, the king, but men who will listen to the people. When the people say unto them: Give us relief, lighten the burdens that others have placed upon us, save our children from temptation - and ruin, they will hearken unto the will of the people: and. in God's name, we will then be freed from the bondage with which some of our pretended brethren would still shackle us. Then what shall we do? Why, to your tents, oh Israel! Back to your homes, increase your vigilance and watchfulness around your own firesides, double and re-double your efforts to preserve your sons and daughters, and your fair name, from the hands of those who would drag from your thresholds the innocence and purity of your children, and sink it in the mire, for gain.
Now, may God bless the people. May the Lord bless His cause, and may it continue to grow and work to the wonderment of the world, in a manner that shall cause all men to stand and declare: Lo, God must have spoken to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, because his words are fulfilled; a most wonderful and marvelous work has come forth among the children of men. God bless Israel, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER RUDGER CLAWSON.
Remarkable fact that Christian nations need to have the Gospel preached to them.—Wonderful extent of Latter-day Saint missions.—Miraculous evidences of divine authority.—Statistics showing great work accomplished.
The brethren and sisters who have come to this conference have met with a rather cold reception; that is to say, the weather has been somewhat unfavorable. Last evening we had a light fall of snow, and today it has been quite chilly. It reminds be of a discussion that occurred between a Yankee and a Scotchman. They were talking about the cold weather in the north of Scotland. The Yankee said: "Your winters here are nothing to compare with the winters in the states. I recollect one winter," said the Yankee, "when a sheep, in jumping from a hillock into a .field, suddenly became frozen in passing, and stuck in the air like a mass of ice." (Laughter.) "My boy," said the Scotchman, "that could not be, for the law of gravitation would not allow it." "I know it," said the Yankee, "but the law of gravitation was frozen too." (Laughter.)
Notwithstanding the, disturbance in the elements, the attendance at the conference and the interest in the meetings have not diminished. This is a splendid congregation, assembled this afternoon, but few seats in the house are unoccupied, and truly we have been having "a feast of fat things," a time of instruction, in which I have rejoiced exceedingly.
We read in the Scriptures of a very remarkable thing that is to take place in the latter-days. You will find it recorded in the book of Revelation, called the Revelation of Saint John the divine. The opening words of the Revelation read like this:
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John."
In another place, when John was wrapped in heavenly vision, he saw a door in heaven open, and he heard the voice of an angel issuing, saying, "Come up hither and I will show you) what must be hereafter." So we would naturally conclude that the things which were written by John the revelator were things which must be fulfilled in the future, or in the latter days. Now, this is the remarkable thing to which John the revelator calls our attention; he said:
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people.
"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
Wonder of wonders and mystery of mysteries ! Is it possible that in the latter days an angel should be seen flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to the enlightened Christian nations of the world? It is so recorded in the Bible. We believe, and claim as a people, that that angel has come to the earth and appeared to Joseph Smith, in the person of Moroni, who delivered to the youthful Prophet a record familiarly known as the Book of Mormon, a record containing the fulness of the Gospel, with a message that said Gospel must be preached in every nation under the heavens before the end should come. Shortly after the visitation of this angel, following the organization of the Church, the Spirit fell upon the early elders, and they went forth into the regions round about, proclaiming the word. Thus the Gospel was introduced into the world in the nineteenth century; and it spread from town to town, from village to village, and from country to country, until in our day we have twenty-one missions established in the world.
There are seven great missions in the United States: namely, the Eastern States, the Southern States, the Northern States, the Central States, the Western States, the Northwestern States and the California missions. We have a mission in Mexico, and six great missions in Europe, namely, a mission in Great Britain, one in Scandinavia, in Sweden, in Germany, in Switzerland, in the Netherlands and in Turkey; one mission in South Africa; one in Japan. Five missions upon the islands of the sea, namely, one in Hawaii, in Samoa, in New Zealand, in the Society Islands, and in Australia; making twenty-one missions in all. One December 31, 1908, there were 1,823 missionaries in the field.
Now, the stranger might ask the question: That is a very good showing; you believe, then, that you have the Gospel in its fulness; that with the Gospel you expect to regenerate the world? The answer is yes, most assuredly. Then the question might be asked, With a handful of people, with a very limited number of elders, how do you expect to accomplish it? Well, there you are. It is a good deal like the President stated it yesterday, and we have heard this afternoon from Brother Hyrum: It is the leaven which will leaven the whole lump. These humble missionaries are going forth into the world, bearing their burden and declaring the word. There will be some people who will hear the voice of the elders; others will hear the voice of the Book of Mormon; others, again, will hear the voice of the Doctrine and Covenants, others the voice of the Pearl of Great Price, others the Voice of Warning, and others still, the voice of a tract. Thus will a knowledge of the Gospel be spread to all nations and will be preached to every creature. But, it is not the fact that the elders are going forth into the world to preach that is so significant, as it is the power and authority which accompanies them. Let me remind you, brethren and sisters, of the parting words of the Savior to His disciples; He said:
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." Now mark it: "These signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
That was the authority which was given to the disciples in the days of Christ; and immediately thereafter Christ was caught up into heaven and sat down on the right hand of His Father. The disciples went forth proclaiming the word ; they were sustained of the Lord ; and the word was confirmed by the signs following. So it is, my brethren and sisters, in our day and time; so it is in the Church of Christ. You heard the testimony of Brother Baliff, this morning. Let me also give you an example. In fact, it comes rather close home to me: I have a son now in the mission field, a boy about twenty years of age, who went forth with a limited knowledge of the Gospel, with fear and trembling, not knowing what he would say, not knowing what he would do, but, nevertheless, trusting in the Lord. Within a few days, I received a letter from him, and he relates to me a very remarkable healing—I say it was remarkable, and yet it was such an incident as often occurs in the mission field. He said that he and his companions were visiting with a friend, when a little girl came rushing into the house and asked the elders to go immediately to her home and bless a little child that was afflicted—a child of non-Mormon parents. The elders responded. When they reached the place they found the little one stricken down with bronchial pneumonia. There was the mark of terrible fever in its eyes, and it was at the point of death; in fact, the death-rattle was in its throat, and the mother was bending over the child expecting every moment to see its spirit depart for the spirit world. The two elders took the child in their arms and anointed it with oil, and blessed it, and rebuked the disease. Relief came instantly; the child rested and was comfortable through the night; and when the elders came to inquire the next day they found the little one seated at the table, eating an orange, and fully recovered. My son goes on to say—and this is the point I desire to emphasize—"Father, I laid my hands, with mv companion, upon that child, and I saw it healed. I know that this could have been done only by the power of God. My faith has been strengthened; and this is a testimony to me of the truth of the Gospel and he adds, "I would not give it for millions of money." That is what missionary work does for the Latter-day Saint boys who go into the field.
Let me give you another example, which was related by the president of the Southern States Mission. He said there was a boy in his mission who had been afflicted with deafness; and under the administration of the elders, was healed, and he could hear clearly and distinctly thereafter. When he met the president of the mission, the latter said to him: "You have been healed; have you joined the Church?" The boy said, "No, but my heart is filled with gratitude to God, and I feel that I ought to belong to the "Church." "Well, then," said the president of the mission, "why are you not a member of the Church?" The boy answered. "My parents refuse their consent." This was an instance where the boy was absolutely converted to the truth; he had received a great blessing; he glorified God in his heart; he would have accepted the Gospel, and desired baptism; but his parents flatly refused to give their consent. The responsibility is upon them. These examples that I am giving are taken from various missions, only one here and there; but they might be multiplied indefinitely. There was a man in the California mission, as related by the president of that mission, who became deeply interested in the Book of Mormon. After laying down the book, he turned to the Lord in fervent prayer. He asked the Lord if the Gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints was true, and in a vision of the night-time he saw the Salt Lake temple, which he had never before seen, and his deceased sister appeared to him and explained the ordinance of baptism for the dead. A few days later, when he came into the mission house to attend a meeting there, he saw over the pulpit a picture of the temple. He immediately said: "I know that building; it is the temple of God, for I saw it in a dream." He came to the elders and demanded baptism. The elders tried to put him off; they were afraid that he was not fully converted, that he had not had time to consider the matter, to know his own heart fully. But he said: "No. It is true I can't explain the principles of the Gospel, but I know by the power of God that they are true, and I demand baptism. The Lord has said that 'if ye will do my will ye shall know the doctrine, whether it is of God or whether I speak of myself.' " He felt that by doing the will of God and receiving baptism, he would have a greater claim upon the Lord for light and for understanding.
Let me give you one other example. It occurred in far distant South Africa, among the Boers. You have heard of the Boers; you will remember the strong defense they made in the Boer war, against the English; and surely we must concede that they are an intrepid people, a people of courage and fortitude; and we believe that among them will be found the seed of Israel. Two young elders were laboring among the Boers. They came into a home where the wife could speak English, but the husband could not speak it, so these young- men engaged in conversation with the wife. All at once the husband spoke up, he spoke in Dutch, and addressed his remarks to the elders, who were "unacquainted with the language, and they both clearly understood what he said; and when they answered him in English, although he was not familiar with the English language, he understood them. But the remarkable thing about it was that when the Boer addressed the first elder in Dutch, the second elder could not understand him, but the first elder understood; and when the Boer addressed the second elder and asked him a question, he understood him, but the first elder could not understand it. This was a very remarkable manifestation of the power of God in tongues, one of the signs that follow the preaching of the Gospel.
I would like to call your attention, for just a moment, to some things that were accomplished by the eighteen hundred missionaries during the last year. Usually statistics are very dry, but I think you will find these two or three items of considerable interest:
Meetings held in halls in the world during 1908, 38,582
Cottage meetings 28,968
Open air meetings .... 13,735
Total number of meetings held 81,285
Gospel conversations.. 1,783,929
Total meetings and gospel conversations 1,865,214
Standard Church works distributed, mostly Books of Mormon .. 37,112
Other books pertaining to the Gospel 456,645
Tracts distributed 9,862,728
Total books and tracts distributed 10,356,485
This is the work that is going on in the world. It is in this way that we expect to regenerate the world and to accomplish the mission that is put upon us by the Lord. The great message which the angel Moroni delivered to the Prophet Joseph Smith is being carried into the world and distributed broadcast. In the Northern States mission alone, last year, there were over fifteen thousand Books of Mormon distributed among the people. I bear testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that the Book of Mormon is the chiefest of all the tracts used by our Elders in the mission field. There is no tract published by the Latter-day Saints that is equal to the Book of Mormon, and why? Because the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the everlasting Gospel as taught to the Nephites, and it harmonizes with the fulness of the Gospel that is taught in the Bible.
May the Lord bless us. May the Lord bless our missionaries. We could use a thousand more missionaries today if we had them. We want young men and older men who are efficient; we want them to prepare for this work. In the early days of the Church, where men did not have opportunities of education and of study, the Lord made up the deficiency; but in our day, when these opportunities are abundant, the Lord expects the men of the priesthood, especially the young men of the Church, to take advantage of them and to use their time wisely. He expects both old and young to attend their priesthood meetings, their organizations and general meetings, to prepare themselves for missions to the world. The Lord bless us, and especially bless our young men, to that end, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sister Esther Davis sang a soprano solo entitled, "Forever with the Lord."
Remarkable fact that Christian nations need to have the Gospel preached to them.—Wonderful extent of Latter-day Saint missions.—Miraculous evidences of divine authority.—Statistics showing great work accomplished.
The brethren and sisters who have come to this conference have met with a rather cold reception; that is to say, the weather has been somewhat unfavorable. Last evening we had a light fall of snow, and today it has been quite chilly. It reminds be of a discussion that occurred between a Yankee and a Scotchman. They were talking about the cold weather in the north of Scotland. The Yankee said: "Your winters here are nothing to compare with the winters in the states. I recollect one winter," said the Yankee, "when a sheep, in jumping from a hillock into a .field, suddenly became frozen in passing, and stuck in the air like a mass of ice." (Laughter.) "My boy," said the Scotchman, "that could not be, for the law of gravitation would not allow it." "I know it," said the Yankee, "but the law of gravitation was frozen too." (Laughter.)
Notwithstanding the, disturbance in the elements, the attendance at the conference and the interest in the meetings have not diminished. This is a splendid congregation, assembled this afternoon, but few seats in the house are unoccupied, and truly we have been having "a feast of fat things," a time of instruction, in which I have rejoiced exceedingly.
We read in the Scriptures of a very remarkable thing that is to take place in the latter-days. You will find it recorded in the book of Revelation, called the Revelation of Saint John the divine. The opening words of the Revelation read like this:
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John."
In another place, when John was wrapped in heavenly vision, he saw a door in heaven open, and he heard the voice of an angel issuing, saying, "Come up hither and I will show you) what must be hereafter." So we would naturally conclude that the things which were written by John the revelator were things which must be fulfilled in the future, or in the latter days. Now, this is the remarkable thing to which John the revelator calls our attention; he said:
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people.
"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
Wonder of wonders and mystery of mysteries ! Is it possible that in the latter days an angel should be seen flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to the enlightened Christian nations of the world? It is so recorded in the Bible. We believe, and claim as a people, that that angel has come to the earth and appeared to Joseph Smith, in the person of Moroni, who delivered to the youthful Prophet a record familiarly known as the Book of Mormon, a record containing the fulness of the Gospel, with a message that said Gospel must be preached in every nation under the heavens before the end should come. Shortly after the visitation of this angel, following the organization of the Church, the Spirit fell upon the early elders, and they went forth into the regions round about, proclaiming the word. Thus the Gospel was introduced into the world in the nineteenth century; and it spread from town to town, from village to village, and from country to country, until in our day we have twenty-one missions established in the world.
There are seven great missions in the United States: namely, the Eastern States, the Southern States, the Northern States, the Central States, the Western States, the Northwestern States and the California missions. We have a mission in Mexico, and six great missions in Europe, namely, a mission in Great Britain, one in Scandinavia, in Sweden, in Germany, in Switzerland, in the Netherlands and in Turkey; one mission in South Africa; one in Japan. Five missions upon the islands of the sea, namely, one in Hawaii, in Samoa, in New Zealand, in the Society Islands, and in Australia; making twenty-one missions in all. One December 31, 1908, there were 1,823 missionaries in the field.
Now, the stranger might ask the question: That is a very good showing; you believe, then, that you have the Gospel in its fulness; that with the Gospel you expect to regenerate the world? The answer is yes, most assuredly. Then the question might be asked, With a handful of people, with a very limited number of elders, how do you expect to accomplish it? Well, there you are. It is a good deal like the President stated it yesterday, and we have heard this afternoon from Brother Hyrum: It is the leaven which will leaven the whole lump. These humble missionaries are going forth into the world, bearing their burden and declaring the word. There will be some people who will hear the voice of the elders; others will hear the voice of the Book of Mormon; others, again, will hear the voice of the Doctrine and Covenants, others the voice of the Pearl of Great Price, others the Voice of Warning, and others still, the voice of a tract. Thus will a knowledge of the Gospel be spread to all nations and will be preached to every creature. But, it is not the fact that the elders are going forth into the world to preach that is so significant, as it is the power and authority which accompanies them. Let me remind you, brethren and sisters, of the parting words of the Savior to His disciples; He said:
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." Now mark it: "These signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
That was the authority which was given to the disciples in the days of Christ; and immediately thereafter Christ was caught up into heaven and sat down on the right hand of His Father. The disciples went forth proclaiming the word ; they were sustained of the Lord ; and the word was confirmed by the signs following. So it is, my brethren and sisters, in our day and time; so it is in the Church of Christ. You heard the testimony of Brother Baliff, this morning. Let me also give you an example. In fact, it comes rather close home to me: I have a son now in the mission field, a boy about twenty years of age, who went forth with a limited knowledge of the Gospel, with fear and trembling, not knowing what he would say, not knowing what he would do, but, nevertheless, trusting in the Lord. Within a few days, I received a letter from him, and he relates to me a very remarkable healing—I say it was remarkable, and yet it was such an incident as often occurs in the mission field. He said that he and his companions were visiting with a friend, when a little girl came rushing into the house and asked the elders to go immediately to her home and bless a little child that was afflicted—a child of non-Mormon parents. The elders responded. When they reached the place they found the little one stricken down with bronchial pneumonia. There was the mark of terrible fever in its eyes, and it was at the point of death; in fact, the death-rattle was in its throat, and the mother was bending over the child expecting every moment to see its spirit depart for the spirit world. The two elders took the child in their arms and anointed it with oil, and blessed it, and rebuked the disease. Relief came instantly; the child rested and was comfortable through the night; and when the elders came to inquire the next day they found the little one seated at the table, eating an orange, and fully recovered. My son goes on to say—and this is the point I desire to emphasize—"Father, I laid my hands, with mv companion, upon that child, and I saw it healed. I know that this could have been done only by the power of God. My faith has been strengthened; and this is a testimony to me of the truth of the Gospel and he adds, "I would not give it for millions of money." That is what missionary work does for the Latter-day Saint boys who go into the field.
Let me give you another example, which was related by the president of the Southern States Mission. He said there was a boy in his mission who had been afflicted with deafness; and under the administration of the elders, was healed, and he could hear clearly and distinctly thereafter. When he met the president of the mission, the latter said to him: "You have been healed; have you joined the Church?" The boy said, "No, but my heart is filled with gratitude to God, and I feel that I ought to belong to the "Church." "Well, then," said the president of the mission, "why are you not a member of the Church?" The boy answered. "My parents refuse their consent." This was an instance where the boy was absolutely converted to the truth; he had received a great blessing; he glorified God in his heart; he would have accepted the Gospel, and desired baptism; but his parents flatly refused to give their consent. The responsibility is upon them. These examples that I am giving are taken from various missions, only one here and there; but they might be multiplied indefinitely. There was a man in the California mission, as related by the president of that mission, who became deeply interested in the Book of Mormon. After laying down the book, he turned to the Lord in fervent prayer. He asked the Lord if the Gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints was true, and in a vision of the night-time he saw the Salt Lake temple, which he had never before seen, and his deceased sister appeared to him and explained the ordinance of baptism for the dead. A few days later, when he came into the mission house to attend a meeting there, he saw over the pulpit a picture of the temple. He immediately said: "I know that building; it is the temple of God, for I saw it in a dream." He came to the elders and demanded baptism. The elders tried to put him off; they were afraid that he was not fully converted, that he had not had time to consider the matter, to know his own heart fully. But he said: "No. It is true I can't explain the principles of the Gospel, but I know by the power of God that they are true, and I demand baptism. The Lord has said that 'if ye will do my will ye shall know the doctrine, whether it is of God or whether I speak of myself.' " He felt that by doing the will of God and receiving baptism, he would have a greater claim upon the Lord for light and for understanding.
Let me give you one other example. It occurred in far distant South Africa, among the Boers. You have heard of the Boers; you will remember the strong defense they made in the Boer war, against the English; and surely we must concede that they are an intrepid people, a people of courage and fortitude; and we believe that among them will be found the seed of Israel. Two young elders were laboring among the Boers. They came into a home where the wife could speak English, but the husband could not speak it, so these young- men engaged in conversation with the wife. All at once the husband spoke up, he spoke in Dutch, and addressed his remarks to the elders, who were "unacquainted with the language, and they both clearly understood what he said; and when they answered him in English, although he was not familiar with the English language, he understood them. But the remarkable thing about it was that when the Boer addressed the first elder in Dutch, the second elder could not understand him, but the first elder understood; and when the Boer addressed the second elder and asked him a question, he understood him, but the first elder could not understand it. This was a very remarkable manifestation of the power of God in tongues, one of the signs that follow the preaching of the Gospel.
I would like to call your attention, for just a moment, to some things that were accomplished by the eighteen hundred missionaries during the last year. Usually statistics are very dry, but I think you will find these two or three items of considerable interest:
Meetings held in halls in the world during 1908, 38,582
Cottage meetings 28,968
Open air meetings .... 13,735
Total number of meetings held 81,285
Gospel conversations.. 1,783,929
Total meetings and gospel conversations 1,865,214
Standard Church works distributed, mostly Books of Mormon .. 37,112
Other books pertaining to the Gospel 456,645
Tracts distributed 9,862,728
Total books and tracts distributed 10,356,485
This is the work that is going on in the world. It is in this way that we expect to regenerate the world and to accomplish the mission that is put upon us by the Lord. The great message which the angel Moroni delivered to the Prophet Joseph Smith is being carried into the world and distributed broadcast. In the Northern States mission alone, last year, there were over fifteen thousand Books of Mormon distributed among the people. I bear testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that the Book of Mormon is the chiefest of all the tracts used by our Elders in the mission field. There is no tract published by the Latter-day Saints that is equal to the Book of Mormon, and why? Because the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the everlasting Gospel as taught to the Nephites, and it harmonizes with the fulness of the Gospel that is taught in the Bible.
May the Lord bless us. May the Lord bless our missionaries. We could use a thousand more missionaries today if we had them. We want young men and older men who are efficient; we want them to prepare for this work. In the early days of the Church, where men did not have opportunities of education and of study, the Lord made up the deficiency; but in our day, when these opportunities are abundant, the Lord expects the men of the priesthood, especially the young men of the Church, to take advantage of them and to use their time wisely. He expects both old and young to attend their priesthood meetings, their organizations and general meetings, to prepare themselves for missions to the world. The Lord bless us, and especially bless our young men, to that end, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sister Esther Davis sang a soprano solo entitled, "Forever with the Lord."
ELDER JOSEPH W. M'MURRIN.
My brethren and sisters, I feel the same as other brethren who have occupied this position, that is I am very dependent upon the help of the Lord to enable me to say something- that will be of advantage to those who have gathered in this great building to worship before the Lord. My heart has been made to rejoice in listening to the words that have been spoken by the brethren who have been called upon to -speak in the meetings of the conference. I thank God, with all my heart, that I am numbered with the people of the Latter-day Saints. My experiences as a member of the Church have brought joy, and peace, and very great contentment to my soul. This joy has been particularly strong when I have carried out the counsels that have been given to me, and have most energetically endeavored to live in harmony with the principles of life and salvation, as revealed in these latter times. I feel, when joy is produced in the soul of man by the doing of things claimed to be revealed from the Lord, it is an evidence that the thing is right.' I do not suppose that any one has found any pleasure in the doing of things that were not right, things that they knew to be wrong. Wrong doing produces sorrow and not joy; therefore, I say I find joy and satisfaction in doing the things that are taught in the Gospel as presented to the world by the Latter- day Saints. This joy comes with such power and force to me, as to be a strong evidence of the truth of the Gospel as taught to this people.
I, also, have been impressed very frequently, my brethren and sisters, with the Scripture referred to by one of the brethren in relation to the promises made by our Father in heaven in regard to this work, even before it was organized, that it should be a work of a marvelous character. So far as I have become familiar with the principles revealed of God to the Prophet Joseph Smith, I am convinced that they are indeed marvelous. This work, in its organization and in many of its principles, is very different from the churches found in the world. We are a distinct people, different from all other peoples, who profess to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of these differences is that we take the position the Scriptures teach; that there is but one means of salvation given of God to the human family, and but one church that is His Church.
I will read in support of this proposition a word or two from the Scriptures, from the writings of the Apostle Paul, a man who was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and who wrote many very precious things in relation to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. He had been convinced of the mission of the Redeemer of the world in a marvelous manner, and he labored ever after with very great zeal for the spreading of a knowledge of the Redeemer's name among the children of men. But he discovered, during his ministry, that some men were very unstable, and inclined to turn away from the faith of the Gospel. To such men who had received the Gospel and had been numbered with the people of the Lord, but were making shipwreck of their faith, he wrote, as we find in the epistle to the Galatians as follows:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
"Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed "
Mormonism, as I understand it, is distinct and peculiar in this regard, it stands for this one doctrine, we do not believe that man can find salvation in any way that he may elect to find it. We believe the Lord of glory has pointed out the way, and that He came for that purpose. He volunteered to accomplish the work that was necessary in order that mankind might be saved. He laid down His life, gave His blood, to open up the way of salvation, that every soul who would believe in His mission and in His power to save—a power that was in Him by and through the accomplishment of the work that was given Him of the Father, —might be saved. We believe that He had the power and authority to direct men in the way of salvation, and that there is no other being in the world who can so direct. We declare that there never can be found, in all the future history of the world any other means of salvation than has already been found and pointed out by the Redeemer of the world. He has taught the doctrine that if any man climb up in any other way than the way appointed, he shall be counted as a thief and a robber; and so teaches Mormonism. We declare to the inhabitants of the earth that the plan of salvation has been revealed anew by the opening of the heavens, and by the appearing of the Father and the Son to this man spoken of so frequently, Joseph Smith. It is a very startling announcement that we make when we declare that the heavens have been opened, and that authority has been given to man by the sending of angels from the heavenly courts, who have conferred upon men in these latter times that authority which they, the angels, received, and exercised when they tabernacled here as mortal beings, —as we have heard from the speakers in this conference.
As a people, we believe that we are living: in the latter days, in the day spoken of by the prophets— a time that seemed to be of very great interest to them, for all the prophets, we may say, have spoken of the latter days, and of the wonderful things that would be accomplished among the children of men in the last dispensation of the Gospel. As I have said, we believe that power and authority have been given again to man—the authority of the holy priesthood, that authority by which man ministers in the name of the eternal Father, and his ministry is recognized, sanctioned, and approved by the Lord of heaven. It is wonderful in the ears of those who know nothing- of authority, who do not believe in the necessity of being called of God as was Aaron; but there isn't anything very wonderful about it when we come to read the Scriptures, for men who operated in ancient times as the servants of the Lord, did so by appointment from God. We do not read that any of the apostles, whose words should be so precious to the Christian peoples of the earth today, ever commenced to preach or minister in the name of the Master, or assumed to perform any of the ordinances looking to the salvation of the children of men, until they had first been selected by the Master. They were called from their various occupations; they received the laying on of the hands of the Redeemer, who taught them the doctrine that they had not chosen Him but He had chosen them, and he had ordained them, and He sent them that they might bring forth fruit. We believe that there never could have been any fruit such as the Master had in mind, when He spoke these words to His apostles, if they had not thus been called by His voice, and if they had not received this ordination that clothed them with power and with authority to speak and act in His name. The Scriptures are full of evidences that all of these men were brought into the ministry in this very manner. They did not call themselves ; they were not called by the people, in any other way than has been taught here in this conference, God first indicating, through the proper channel, the men He would have, acting in His name, and the people accepting of the men so called.
I say we are a distinct people in relation to these matters. We believe that there is an absolute necessity for men who speak and administer Gospel ordinances, in the name of our Father in Heaven, to have conferred upon them the same authority, and to be called unto that authority in the very same manner that men were called anciently. Before the opening of this dispensation men were attempting to act in the name of God without being called by Him. Because of this there existed the necessity of a revelation, and of the opening of the heavens anew; for men through unbelief had lost all divine authority. They did not know anything about it. Joseph Smith, himself, did not know anything concerning authority when he went out to plead with our Father in heaven, that he might be directed in the right channel. He expected, I suppose, that if answer was given to his prayer, that he would be directed to some religious denomination. He supposed, no doubt, that the Gospel of Salvation could be found in some of the churches; but the Lord revealed that men had strayed away from the plan that He had instituted, that they had broken the everlasting covenant, and that the time had come for the revelation again of the Gospel, and another bestowal of that precious authority. That authority came to the Prophet Joseph Smith by the ministrations of holy angels sent for that especial purpose. Men may ask the question, why should it come to the Prophet Joseph? Did not men before his time ask God, with devout and pure hearts, to know the truth? I would say, yes, undoubtedly; there have always been many good men who have shown a disposition to seek God for information. Some one may wonder why they were not answered in the way Joseph Smith claims to have been answered, the reason is simply that the appointed time had not come. We learn in the Scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth was chosen long before He came to minister to mortal man. We also learn from the Scriptures that this was the case with some of the prophets; God speaks particularly of one of the prophets with whom He was acquainted. He said to the Prophet Jeremiah, "I knew thee before thou wast born into the world, and I had chosen thee and ordained thee to be a prophet." No man, no matter how devout, could prevent the call of Jeremiah. The time had come for Joseph Smith in his childhood and innocence, to go out into the woods and in prayer seek our Father in heaven. When that prayer was uttered it was from the lips' of the one who had been chosen to usher in a gospel dispensation, chosen like Jeremiah, before he was born naturally into the world. The answer was given, because the instrument that had been selected of God in the spirit world, had now cried unto Him. God heard and answered the prayer of His servant, and gave revelations through this great prophet, portraying the marvelous character of the work of the latter days.
We might well ask today, of the stranger within our gates, Where else in all the world can there be found anything like this great gathering of the people of the Latter- day Saints, who have come here from the east, the west, the north, and from the south, to serve our Father in heaven? It is wonderful. It is marvelous. I feel in my soul that when men gaze upon this great people in their general conferences, that there comes to them the feeling- spoken of in the revelations: and within themselves they say there is something wonderful about this people. This great gathering is of a marvelous character, when you think of how these masses have come from all the nations of the earth; and, yet how united they are; how they see eye to eye; how they labor together for the accomplishment of the Lord's purposes ! My brethren and sisters, and friends who may be present, what is it? It is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. It is the day of God's power. It is the day spoken of by the prophets, when the Lord God of heaven should set His hand to recover His people Israel again, when they should be hunted from the mountains and from the caves, from the dens of the earth, and all the earth should yield up, according to the decree of our Father in heaven, the honest in heart. Oh, friends let us understand; let us believe, when we see this wonderful accomplishment of the great work of the latter days as spoken of in the prophecies. Let us know assuredly that the Lord God lives, that He remembers His promises, and that He has planted His people here according to those promises, and He will be with them for evermore. May the peace of God be upon His people, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
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?
Benediction was pronounced by Bishop David A. Smith.
Conference adjourned until 10 a. m., Tuesday, April 6th.
My brethren and sisters, I feel the same as other brethren who have occupied this position, that is I am very dependent upon the help of the Lord to enable me to say something- that will be of advantage to those who have gathered in this great building to worship before the Lord. My heart has been made to rejoice in listening to the words that have been spoken by the brethren who have been called upon to -speak in the meetings of the conference. I thank God, with all my heart, that I am numbered with the people of the Latter-day Saints. My experiences as a member of the Church have brought joy, and peace, and very great contentment to my soul. This joy has been particularly strong when I have carried out the counsels that have been given to me, and have most energetically endeavored to live in harmony with the principles of life and salvation, as revealed in these latter times. I feel, when joy is produced in the soul of man by the doing of things claimed to be revealed from the Lord, it is an evidence that the thing is right.' I do not suppose that any one has found any pleasure in the doing of things that were not right, things that they knew to be wrong. Wrong doing produces sorrow and not joy; therefore, I say I find joy and satisfaction in doing the things that are taught in the Gospel as presented to the world by the Latter- day Saints. This joy comes with such power and force to me, as to be a strong evidence of the truth of the Gospel as taught to this people.
I, also, have been impressed very frequently, my brethren and sisters, with the Scripture referred to by one of the brethren in relation to the promises made by our Father in heaven in regard to this work, even before it was organized, that it should be a work of a marvelous character. So far as I have become familiar with the principles revealed of God to the Prophet Joseph Smith, I am convinced that they are indeed marvelous. This work, in its organization and in many of its principles, is very different from the churches found in the world. We are a distinct people, different from all other peoples, who profess to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of these differences is that we take the position the Scriptures teach; that there is but one means of salvation given of God to the human family, and but one church that is His Church.
I will read in support of this proposition a word or two from the Scriptures, from the writings of the Apostle Paul, a man who was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and who wrote many very precious things in relation to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. He had been convinced of the mission of the Redeemer of the world in a marvelous manner, and he labored ever after with very great zeal for the spreading of a knowledge of the Redeemer's name among the children of men. But he discovered, during his ministry, that some men were very unstable, and inclined to turn away from the faith of the Gospel. To such men who had received the Gospel and had been numbered with the people of the Lord, but were making shipwreck of their faith, he wrote, as we find in the epistle to the Galatians as follows:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
"Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed "
Mormonism, as I understand it, is distinct and peculiar in this regard, it stands for this one doctrine, we do not believe that man can find salvation in any way that he may elect to find it. We believe the Lord of glory has pointed out the way, and that He came for that purpose. He volunteered to accomplish the work that was necessary in order that mankind might be saved. He laid down His life, gave His blood, to open up the way of salvation, that every soul who would believe in His mission and in His power to save—a power that was in Him by and through the accomplishment of the work that was given Him of the Father, —might be saved. We believe that He had the power and authority to direct men in the way of salvation, and that there is no other being in the world who can so direct. We declare that there never can be found, in all the future history of the world any other means of salvation than has already been found and pointed out by the Redeemer of the world. He has taught the doctrine that if any man climb up in any other way than the way appointed, he shall be counted as a thief and a robber; and so teaches Mormonism. We declare to the inhabitants of the earth that the plan of salvation has been revealed anew by the opening of the heavens, and by the appearing of the Father and the Son to this man spoken of so frequently, Joseph Smith. It is a very startling announcement that we make when we declare that the heavens have been opened, and that authority has been given to man by the sending of angels from the heavenly courts, who have conferred upon men in these latter times that authority which they, the angels, received, and exercised when they tabernacled here as mortal beings, —as we have heard from the speakers in this conference.
As a people, we believe that we are living: in the latter days, in the day spoken of by the prophets— a time that seemed to be of very great interest to them, for all the prophets, we may say, have spoken of the latter days, and of the wonderful things that would be accomplished among the children of men in the last dispensation of the Gospel. As I have said, we believe that power and authority have been given again to man—the authority of the holy priesthood, that authority by which man ministers in the name of the eternal Father, and his ministry is recognized, sanctioned, and approved by the Lord of heaven. It is wonderful in the ears of those who know nothing- of authority, who do not believe in the necessity of being called of God as was Aaron; but there isn't anything very wonderful about it when we come to read the Scriptures, for men who operated in ancient times as the servants of the Lord, did so by appointment from God. We do not read that any of the apostles, whose words should be so precious to the Christian peoples of the earth today, ever commenced to preach or minister in the name of the Master, or assumed to perform any of the ordinances looking to the salvation of the children of men, until they had first been selected by the Master. They were called from their various occupations; they received the laying on of the hands of the Redeemer, who taught them the doctrine that they had not chosen Him but He had chosen them, and he had ordained them, and He sent them that they might bring forth fruit. We believe that there never could have been any fruit such as the Master had in mind, when He spoke these words to His apostles, if they had not thus been called by His voice, and if they had not received this ordination that clothed them with power and with authority to speak and act in His name. The Scriptures are full of evidences that all of these men were brought into the ministry in this very manner. They did not call themselves ; they were not called by the people, in any other way than has been taught here in this conference, God first indicating, through the proper channel, the men He would have, acting in His name, and the people accepting of the men so called.
I say we are a distinct people in relation to these matters. We believe that there is an absolute necessity for men who speak and administer Gospel ordinances, in the name of our Father in Heaven, to have conferred upon them the same authority, and to be called unto that authority in the very same manner that men were called anciently. Before the opening of this dispensation men were attempting to act in the name of God without being called by Him. Because of this there existed the necessity of a revelation, and of the opening of the heavens anew; for men through unbelief had lost all divine authority. They did not know anything about it. Joseph Smith, himself, did not know anything concerning authority when he went out to plead with our Father in heaven, that he might be directed in the right channel. He expected, I suppose, that if answer was given to his prayer, that he would be directed to some religious denomination. He supposed, no doubt, that the Gospel of Salvation could be found in some of the churches; but the Lord revealed that men had strayed away from the plan that He had instituted, that they had broken the everlasting covenant, and that the time had come for the revelation again of the Gospel, and another bestowal of that precious authority. That authority came to the Prophet Joseph Smith by the ministrations of holy angels sent for that especial purpose. Men may ask the question, why should it come to the Prophet Joseph? Did not men before his time ask God, with devout and pure hearts, to know the truth? I would say, yes, undoubtedly; there have always been many good men who have shown a disposition to seek God for information. Some one may wonder why they were not answered in the way Joseph Smith claims to have been answered, the reason is simply that the appointed time had not come. We learn in the Scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth was chosen long before He came to minister to mortal man. We also learn from the Scriptures that this was the case with some of the prophets; God speaks particularly of one of the prophets with whom He was acquainted. He said to the Prophet Jeremiah, "I knew thee before thou wast born into the world, and I had chosen thee and ordained thee to be a prophet." No man, no matter how devout, could prevent the call of Jeremiah. The time had come for Joseph Smith in his childhood and innocence, to go out into the woods and in prayer seek our Father in heaven. When that prayer was uttered it was from the lips' of the one who had been chosen to usher in a gospel dispensation, chosen like Jeremiah, before he was born naturally into the world. The answer was given, because the instrument that had been selected of God in the spirit world, had now cried unto Him. God heard and answered the prayer of His servant, and gave revelations through this great prophet, portraying the marvelous character of the work of the latter days.
We might well ask today, of the stranger within our gates, Where else in all the world can there be found anything like this great gathering of the people of the Latter- day Saints, who have come here from the east, the west, the north, and from the south, to serve our Father in heaven? It is wonderful. It is marvelous. I feel in my soul that when men gaze upon this great people in their general conferences, that there comes to them the feeling- spoken of in the revelations: and within themselves they say there is something wonderful about this people. This great gathering is of a marvelous character, when you think of how these masses have come from all the nations of the earth; and, yet how united they are; how they see eye to eye; how they labor together for the accomplishment of the Lord's purposes ! My brethren and sisters, and friends who may be present, what is it? It is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. It is the day of God's power. It is the day spoken of by the prophets, when the Lord God of heaven should set His hand to recover His people Israel again, when they should be hunted from the mountains and from the caves, from the dens of the earth, and all the earth should yield up, according to the decree of our Father in heaven, the honest in heart. Oh, friends let us understand; let us believe, when we see this wonderful accomplishment of the great work of the latter days as spoken of in the prophecies. Let us know assuredly that the Lord God lives, that He remembers His promises, and that He has planted His people here according to those promises, and He will be with them for evermore. May the peace of God be upon His people, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
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?
Benediction was pronounced by Bishop David A. Smith.
Conference adjourned until 10 a. m., Tuesday, April 6th.
THIRD DAY.
CLOSING SESSION.
Tuesday, April 6th, 10 a. m.
Conference was called to order by President Joseph F. Smith.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
For the strength of the hills we bless Thee,
Our God, our fathers' God;
Thou hast made Thy children mighty,
By the touch of the mountain sod.
Prayer was offered by Elder Nephi Pratt.
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.
CLOSING SESSION.
Tuesday, April 6th, 10 a. m.
Conference was called to order by President Joseph F. Smith.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
For the strength of the hills we bless Thee,
Our God, our fathers' God;
Thou hast made Thy children mighty,
By the touch of the mountain sod.
Prayer was offered by Elder Nephi Pratt.
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.
BISHOP CHARLES W. NIBLEY.
In the Gospel according to Saint John, you will find these words of the Savior: (John 10:37, 38.)
"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
"But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works."
On the same occasion, He said, "Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?"
We know very well that it is difficult indeed for some people to understand our doctrine—those who do not put themselves in a condition to receive it, by doing what the Lord has said He requires to be done ; by having faith, by repenting, by baptism, by the laying on of hands, and by doing those things which He has commanded. We know how difficult it is for any one not of our faith, to judge of our doctrine and of our system; but it is not difficult for men to judge of the works that are accomplished, the results that have been produced.
Another passage of Scripture is to this effect: "The things of men are understood by the spirit of man. but the things of God are understood by the Spirit of God." If I talk with my non-Mormon friend, about business affairs, we understand each other perfectly, because those things are understood by the spirit of man, the wisdom of man, while the Spirit of God, while the Savior said He would send to His followers, and which should lead them into all truth, and show them things to come—is not usually noticeable in the affairs of men. I might talk business all day, with friends with whom I do business—and I have many friends with whom I am interested in business affairs, who are not members of the Church—and we would understand each other, I say, perfectly, because we understand these things by the spirit of man. But, if- I were to talk faith, if I were to talk baptism, or the laying on of hands, or the work for the dead, or anything of a spiritual nature, to these same men, it would be like talking Greek, I suppose, for it would be all Greek to the man who has not the spirit of it, and who does not seek the spirit of it.
The Savior said, in substance, If you can not believe My doctrine believe the works. Now, I would like to point out a few of the works which the doctrines of this Church have produced. We read from one of the reports, o; it was stated in one of our meetings, that this Church had assisted poor people, many of whom were not members of the Church—giving assistance to over twenty thousand people during the year 1908. I ask mv friends who do not believe as we do, Is not that a good work? We have cared for our poor, and in doing so have expended a large amount of money to say nothing: of the amount of attention and wo'-k and faithful labor of our splendid organizations and efficient workers in the Relief societies, whose work has never been counted in dollars and cents, and, indeed, can not be estimated in dollars and cents. In addition to the great work that they have done, during the past year, the Church has given to poor people, as a matter of dollars and cents, an amount somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000. I submit to all candid minds this question, Is not that a good work? You would not stone a man for doing that. You would not pelt him with epithets, or abuse him in any way for engaging in such a charitable work? The work is good; and if you can't understand the doctrine, there is the work, and it speaks for itself.
Another item : Through their faith and desire to worship the Lord, to be instructed, admonished, counseled and advised, the Church brines to this city every year thousands and tens of thousands of its members. Not only is this true with respect to this city, but it goes on to a greater or less extent in all the conferences of the Church,, here and there, throughout this state and adjoining states and territories. Now, I submit to the railroad corporations and to the merchants and hotel men of Salt Lake City and other cities, is not this a good work—for you, anyhow? We ought not to be pelted with epithets and be abused, and have contumely heaped upon us for putting money into your pockets this way, ought we?
I see all the daily papers represented here. I would like the reporters to put that question, if they will— and I believe they will, as fairly as they can; for they are usually very good fellows. Put that question fairly to the people: Is the work the Latter-day Saints are doing in this direction worthy only of derision, worthy only of pelting us, if not with stones, at least with epithets, and hurling contumely and ridicule upon us? I ask, through the press, ought not this to cease? Is it not about time that we should have done with all this folly? I recall that in Oliver Cromwell's time, when he got tired of a certain crowd, in his stern, grave wav he said. "Leave off your fooling, sir, and come down." I wonder, sometimes, whether it will be necessary for some modern Oliver to quiet these people who misrepresent and abuse and wilfully malign the Latter-day Saints. They not only will not believe the doctrine, but they refuse to believe the works; and yet the works are patent. I wonder if some modern Oliver will not have to say — though I am afraid not, for there is too much freedom in this age Leave off your fooling, sirs and shut up! (Laughter.)
In the building up of Salt Lake City, look at the work that the Church is doing. Look at the meetinghouses that are everywhere being built. Think of the work the Church has done and is doing in redeeming the desert and building up the country. This certainly is worthy of praise.
Who are doing most to bring strangers to this city and to entertain them? Right here on this temple block, with the efficient services of our workers in our Bureau of Information, there is more done every year, more done last year, and more will be done this year by our people than by all others combined, to entertain strangers. We give organ recitals, the most unique thing in the world, I suppose, because it is all free. I have traveled over Europe several times, and I know that wherever I went there was not anything free; but here a man is not allowed to give even a five cent piece in return for these entertainments and other courtesies extended. On this one block there is more being done and more money spent to entertain strangers and to draw strangers to this city than is done by all the other agencies, boards of trade, and chamber of commerce combined. These visitors help the railroads, help the hotels and stores; they spend their money here and help you, my non-Mormon friends, infinitely more than they help us, because we do not own the railroads or hotels and we own but few of the stores. And I repeat there is more done on this one block, and more money spent to do it, than is done by all other agencies combined, in Salt Lake City. My friends of the press, is not that a good work? And we have a right to ask, and do ask, the hotel men, the merchants, the railroad managers, whose business is benefited in consequence of our good works, that they exert a united influence to put a stop to this everlasting contention and abuse.
We also help to build up the country around ,us, in colonizing and helping poor people to secure homes. It is true other states adjoining are building up as well as ours, but let it be remembered that in 1847 there came here the poorest kind of poverty stricken people. There was absolutely no wealth among them. The first work done by the Anglo-Saxon race in the direction of irrigation was done right here, under the direction of Brigham Young, near the spot where the Salt Lake Theater now stands. From that little beginning there has grown the wonderful system which we now witness, throughout the west, as a result of the labors of the men of the west. That surely is a good work.
Elder David McKay said, the other day, our people have been builders. We have not destroyed; we have not torn down. The Lord said long ago, that He would bring His people to the tops of the mountains, and He would make the wilderness like Eden, and the desert like the garden of the Lord; that therein should be joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. I say we have redeemed the desert and built up the waste places and there is more of joy and gladness, more of thanksgiving and the voice of melody and song, among this people here in their mountain homes than you will find among any other like number of people in all the world. This, too, is in fulfilment of the prediction of the prophet of old. Is not that a good work? If you can not believe the doctrine, I say again, believe the works. We say, in business, "Money Talks." Well, works talk, and they should not need a tongue to speak for them.
For which of these good works that we do, are we ridiculed and reviled? It ought not to be so. We are here, my friends and neighbors, to live together. This is our country; this is your country. We ought to cease our strife; we ought to cease contention and join together and build up the country. Our religion is a serious thing with us; it can not be changed, and it will not be changed. It has been repeated here many a time and oft, during this and other conferences, that this organization, this spiritual force which the Lord God Almighty has set in motion, and which He revealed to His servant Joseph Smith, the prophet in this dispensation, is a spiritual force and power which the world needs for regeneration. It makes for the establishment of ideal homes, as was said here, the other day, there is more sacredness of the home here among the Latter-day Saints, and there are more people who own their own homes here also than anywhere else in the world. President Smith does not own the homes of the Mormon people. I have heard non-Mormons enlightening their friends—this is several years ago, however—I have not heard it for quite a number of years; but several years ago, I heard one fellow enlightening his friends, and he said, "Why, everything these Mormons have on earth is owned by the Church, and the leaders of the Church tax the people and tithe them, and so on, all to build up the President of the Church." Now, everybody knows that is all nonsense; everybody, who does not want to lie, knows it; and even the liar knows it is nonsense and not true. There are more people in the Mormon Church who have been helped, here and there in every way, by this wonderful organization, the Mormon Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, than by any other organization I know of; and there are more of our people who own their own homes than among any similar number of people in all the world. I ask again, is not that a good work? And in those homes there has been laid down, for the husband and the wife, the same law of righteousness; namely, that while the wife must be pure and clean, the same law applies with equal and binding force upon the husband. Under this law of the Gospel, there is not a whit more exacted from the woman than from the man. It is required that he, too, shall remain pure. Our people are building homes of that kind. Where there is impurity men are dealt with by the Church; and the women are labored with and dealt with, if there are lapses. Of course, it would be folly to claim perfection. We are not perfect; we are as other people—Only not quite so bad; that is all. (Laughter). I recall at this moment an incident in connection with the Reed Smoot investigation, when he testified, as thousands of men in Israel can testify, that he had been true to his marriage vow, and that he had never had association with any woman in the world, except only his wife. A very distinguished senator, I am told, facetiously remarked that he did not know but what he ought to object to Reed Smoot on that account, because he was afraid it would make class distinctions in the Senate. (Laughter.)
We are glad to have the thousands of our visiting friends come here. We will have, this year, probably two hundred thousand people register at our Bureau of Information. We give them, as I have told you, the best there is. We have provided for free organ recitals every day. These recitals bring many people into this city every year, and we are trying with our conferences and with other means, not only to build up the Church, as a church, as a spiritual force, but to build up the country. We welcome these people. We welcome the Grand Army and those who will pass through the city on their way to the Fair at Seattle. They will all be made welcome, so far as the Church can spend means and labor to entertain them.
I say that all these things, and many more that I have not time to mention—are good for there are many good works that could be mentioned. This is not theory, it is not doctrine alone, it is works, and they are good and they should entitle us to something more than abuse.
May the Lord bless this work. I propose, by His help, that we stand by it, and that we not only appreciate the works that are accomplished, but with all our hearts and souls and our faith in every way before the Lord, we say in our hearts, it is good to serve the Lord. This work is good. The spiritual part is better, infinitely better than the temporal part—but the temporal part, men can see and understand, but they can not understand the spiritual part. We who have tasted of that spirit know; we know of the doctrine. I know that this is the work of God, and you know it. I recall an incident— Brother Penrose relates that when he was about to leave England, coming to Zion the first time, he was around bidding his old friends goodbye. There was one old English lady, to whom he was attached, who cried and said she was sorry she could not go; and when he was going, she said: "Brother Penrose, when you gets to Zion, you tells Brother Brigham I knows Mormonism is true just as well as he do." That is the foundation upon which Mormonism is built—this individual testimony that every one knows the spiritual side of it as well as the temporal side. My time has expired. God bless you. Amen.
In the Gospel according to Saint John, you will find these words of the Savior: (John 10:37, 38.)
"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
"But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works."
On the same occasion, He said, "Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?"
We know very well that it is difficult indeed for some people to understand our doctrine—those who do not put themselves in a condition to receive it, by doing what the Lord has said He requires to be done ; by having faith, by repenting, by baptism, by the laying on of hands, and by doing those things which He has commanded. We know how difficult it is for any one not of our faith, to judge of our doctrine and of our system; but it is not difficult for men to judge of the works that are accomplished, the results that have been produced.
Another passage of Scripture is to this effect: "The things of men are understood by the spirit of man. but the things of God are understood by the Spirit of God." If I talk with my non-Mormon friend, about business affairs, we understand each other perfectly, because those things are understood by the spirit of man, the wisdom of man, while the Spirit of God, while the Savior said He would send to His followers, and which should lead them into all truth, and show them things to come—is not usually noticeable in the affairs of men. I might talk business all day, with friends with whom I do business—and I have many friends with whom I am interested in business affairs, who are not members of the Church—and we would understand each other, I say, perfectly, because we understand these things by the spirit of man. But, if- I were to talk faith, if I were to talk baptism, or the laying on of hands, or the work for the dead, or anything of a spiritual nature, to these same men, it would be like talking Greek, I suppose, for it would be all Greek to the man who has not the spirit of it, and who does not seek the spirit of it.
The Savior said, in substance, If you can not believe My doctrine believe the works. Now, I would like to point out a few of the works which the doctrines of this Church have produced. We read from one of the reports, o; it was stated in one of our meetings, that this Church had assisted poor people, many of whom were not members of the Church—giving assistance to over twenty thousand people during the year 1908. I ask mv friends who do not believe as we do, Is not that a good work? We have cared for our poor, and in doing so have expended a large amount of money to say nothing: of the amount of attention and wo'-k and faithful labor of our splendid organizations and efficient workers in the Relief societies, whose work has never been counted in dollars and cents, and, indeed, can not be estimated in dollars and cents. In addition to the great work that they have done, during the past year, the Church has given to poor people, as a matter of dollars and cents, an amount somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000. I submit to all candid minds this question, Is not that a good work? You would not stone a man for doing that. You would not pelt him with epithets, or abuse him in any way for engaging in such a charitable work? The work is good; and if you can't understand the doctrine, there is the work, and it speaks for itself.
Another item : Through their faith and desire to worship the Lord, to be instructed, admonished, counseled and advised, the Church brines to this city every year thousands and tens of thousands of its members. Not only is this true with respect to this city, but it goes on to a greater or less extent in all the conferences of the Church,, here and there, throughout this state and adjoining states and territories. Now, I submit to the railroad corporations and to the merchants and hotel men of Salt Lake City and other cities, is not this a good work—for you, anyhow? We ought not to be pelted with epithets and be abused, and have contumely heaped upon us for putting money into your pockets this way, ought we?
I see all the daily papers represented here. I would like the reporters to put that question, if they will— and I believe they will, as fairly as they can; for they are usually very good fellows. Put that question fairly to the people: Is the work the Latter-day Saints are doing in this direction worthy only of derision, worthy only of pelting us, if not with stones, at least with epithets, and hurling contumely and ridicule upon us? I ask, through the press, ought not this to cease? Is it not about time that we should have done with all this folly? I recall that in Oliver Cromwell's time, when he got tired of a certain crowd, in his stern, grave wav he said. "Leave off your fooling, sir, and come down." I wonder, sometimes, whether it will be necessary for some modern Oliver to quiet these people who misrepresent and abuse and wilfully malign the Latter-day Saints. They not only will not believe the doctrine, but they refuse to believe the works; and yet the works are patent. I wonder if some modern Oliver will not have to say — though I am afraid not, for there is too much freedom in this age Leave off your fooling, sirs and shut up! (Laughter.)
In the building up of Salt Lake City, look at the work that the Church is doing. Look at the meetinghouses that are everywhere being built. Think of the work the Church has done and is doing in redeeming the desert and building up the country. This certainly is worthy of praise.
Who are doing most to bring strangers to this city and to entertain them? Right here on this temple block, with the efficient services of our workers in our Bureau of Information, there is more done every year, more done last year, and more will be done this year by our people than by all others combined, to entertain strangers. We give organ recitals, the most unique thing in the world, I suppose, because it is all free. I have traveled over Europe several times, and I know that wherever I went there was not anything free; but here a man is not allowed to give even a five cent piece in return for these entertainments and other courtesies extended. On this one block there is more being done and more money spent to entertain strangers and to draw strangers to this city than is done by all the other agencies, boards of trade, and chamber of commerce combined. These visitors help the railroads, help the hotels and stores; they spend their money here and help you, my non-Mormon friends, infinitely more than they help us, because we do not own the railroads or hotels and we own but few of the stores. And I repeat there is more done on this one block, and more money spent to do it, than is done by all other agencies combined, in Salt Lake City. My friends of the press, is not that a good work? And we have a right to ask, and do ask, the hotel men, the merchants, the railroad managers, whose business is benefited in consequence of our good works, that they exert a united influence to put a stop to this everlasting contention and abuse.
We also help to build up the country around ,us, in colonizing and helping poor people to secure homes. It is true other states adjoining are building up as well as ours, but let it be remembered that in 1847 there came here the poorest kind of poverty stricken people. There was absolutely no wealth among them. The first work done by the Anglo-Saxon race in the direction of irrigation was done right here, under the direction of Brigham Young, near the spot where the Salt Lake Theater now stands. From that little beginning there has grown the wonderful system which we now witness, throughout the west, as a result of the labors of the men of the west. That surely is a good work.
Elder David McKay said, the other day, our people have been builders. We have not destroyed; we have not torn down. The Lord said long ago, that He would bring His people to the tops of the mountains, and He would make the wilderness like Eden, and the desert like the garden of the Lord; that therein should be joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. I say we have redeemed the desert and built up the waste places and there is more of joy and gladness, more of thanksgiving and the voice of melody and song, among this people here in their mountain homes than you will find among any other like number of people in all the world. This, too, is in fulfilment of the prediction of the prophet of old. Is not that a good work? If you can not believe the doctrine, I say again, believe the works. We say, in business, "Money Talks." Well, works talk, and they should not need a tongue to speak for them.
For which of these good works that we do, are we ridiculed and reviled? It ought not to be so. We are here, my friends and neighbors, to live together. This is our country; this is your country. We ought to cease our strife; we ought to cease contention and join together and build up the country. Our religion is a serious thing with us; it can not be changed, and it will not be changed. It has been repeated here many a time and oft, during this and other conferences, that this organization, this spiritual force which the Lord God Almighty has set in motion, and which He revealed to His servant Joseph Smith, the prophet in this dispensation, is a spiritual force and power which the world needs for regeneration. It makes for the establishment of ideal homes, as was said here, the other day, there is more sacredness of the home here among the Latter-day Saints, and there are more people who own their own homes here also than anywhere else in the world. President Smith does not own the homes of the Mormon people. I have heard non-Mormons enlightening their friends—this is several years ago, however—I have not heard it for quite a number of years; but several years ago, I heard one fellow enlightening his friends, and he said, "Why, everything these Mormons have on earth is owned by the Church, and the leaders of the Church tax the people and tithe them, and so on, all to build up the President of the Church." Now, everybody knows that is all nonsense; everybody, who does not want to lie, knows it; and even the liar knows it is nonsense and not true. There are more people in the Mormon Church who have been helped, here and there in every way, by this wonderful organization, the Mormon Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, than by any other organization I know of; and there are more of our people who own their own homes than among any similar number of people in all the world. I ask again, is not that a good work? And in those homes there has been laid down, for the husband and the wife, the same law of righteousness; namely, that while the wife must be pure and clean, the same law applies with equal and binding force upon the husband. Under this law of the Gospel, there is not a whit more exacted from the woman than from the man. It is required that he, too, shall remain pure. Our people are building homes of that kind. Where there is impurity men are dealt with by the Church; and the women are labored with and dealt with, if there are lapses. Of course, it would be folly to claim perfection. We are not perfect; we are as other people—Only not quite so bad; that is all. (Laughter). I recall at this moment an incident in connection with the Reed Smoot investigation, when he testified, as thousands of men in Israel can testify, that he had been true to his marriage vow, and that he had never had association with any woman in the world, except only his wife. A very distinguished senator, I am told, facetiously remarked that he did not know but what he ought to object to Reed Smoot on that account, because he was afraid it would make class distinctions in the Senate. (Laughter.)
We are glad to have the thousands of our visiting friends come here. We will have, this year, probably two hundred thousand people register at our Bureau of Information. We give them, as I have told you, the best there is. We have provided for free organ recitals every day. These recitals bring many people into this city every year, and we are trying with our conferences and with other means, not only to build up the Church, as a church, as a spiritual force, but to build up the country. We welcome these people. We welcome the Grand Army and those who will pass through the city on their way to the Fair at Seattle. They will all be made welcome, so far as the Church can spend means and labor to entertain them.
I say that all these things, and many more that I have not time to mention—are good for there are many good works that could be mentioned. This is not theory, it is not doctrine alone, it is works, and they are good and they should entitle us to something more than abuse.
May the Lord bless this work. I propose, by His help, that we stand by it, and that we not only appreciate the works that are accomplished, but with all our hearts and souls and our faith in every way before the Lord, we say in our hearts, it is good to serve the Lord. This work is good. The spiritual part is better, infinitely better than the temporal part—but the temporal part, men can see and understand, but they can not understand the spiritual part. We who have tasted of that spirit know; we know of the doctrine. I know that this is the work of God, and you know it. I recall an incident— Brother Penrose relates that when he was about to leave England, coming to Zion the first time, he was around bidding his old friends goodbye. There was one old English lady, to whom he was attached, who cried and said she was sorry she could not go; and when he was going, she said: "Brother Penrose, when you gets to Zion, you tells Brother Brigham I knows Mormonism is true just as well as he do." That is the foundation upon which Mormonism is built—this individual testimony that every one knows the spiritual side of it as well as the temporal side. My time has expired. God bless you. Amen.
PATRIARCH JOHN SMITH.
The people enjoined to be true Latter-day Saints.—Personal remembrances of early history.—Passing away of old friends.—Necessity for giving heed to Spiritual Monitor.—Proper way to pay tithing.
My Brethren and sisters: I was in hopes that this task would pass over; for preaching, as I have said many times, is not my forte. However, I trust that by your faith and prayers my memory may receive strength, that something may come to my mind that I may say, which will benefit both you and me.
I have listened attentively to all that has been said, thus far, during this conference, and I can indorse every sentiment, every word, for I know all that has been said has been inspired by our Father in heaven. We as a people should endeavor to be true Latter-day Saints; If we are not, we certainly should be. We should realize our duty and privileges and strive diligently to live in a way and manner that our Father in heaven will approve so that He may be pleased to let His Spirit rest upon us, that those who address us may speak by that Spirit, by that intelligence, that we who listen may obtain wisdom and knowledge, and that we may remember and profit by what we have heard.
In my reflections, my mind often goes back to early youth, to my childhood. I can remember back farther than many others who are here present, in regard to the travels of the Church. My memory goes back as far as Kirtland, Ohio. I remember when we were leaving there, our travels to Missouri, the persecutions through which we passed in Missouri, and being driven from there to Illinois. My mind is very vivid on these points. I remember our arrival in Quincy, Illinois, and proceeding to the place where was afterwards established the city of Nauvoo. I remember distinctly that the place where we settled, first named Commerce, but subsequently called Nauvoo, was a sickly place; many of us were sick for a year. There was a time there when corn was only ten cents a bushel, but many of us who had the ten cents could not get the corn, because so many were sick; and few were able to go out and purchase and take it to the mill, in order that we might obtain the food needed. My memory also goes back to the time we were crossing the plains; finally settling here when this country was covered with sagebrush, and there were no houses to speak of. Often, in my reflections, I look around for those whom I call, in my way of sneaking, the old boys of my youth. They are getting scarce and, in looking around, I oftentimes feel lonesome. For many years I have tried to get here to conference meetings early in. the day, that I might shake hands with old persons with whom I was acquainted in early times. But, they are getting scarce; it causes me to realize that time is going, and that the people are being gathered from the earth to the spirit world.
I have been interested in the advice and instructions that have been given here in regard to closing saloons, and urging our people to live moral and upright lives; I realize that this is a necessity. As Latter- day Saints, we should strive to live in that way and manner that our Father in heaven can bestow His blessings upon us. We understand that it is our duty to pay our tithes and offerings; that we should attend to our prayers, and perform the many other duties that devolve upon us. I have said many times, every litter-day Saint has a monitor within him. If we will stop to reflect upon our duties and privileges this monitor will direct us in the true path. I believe there is no person who does a wrong but what that monitor within him will say that it is wrong, and that he should not have done it. If we happen to get under an influence which is not proper and right, and permit that influence to guide us, we will often err in judgment and do things that we ought not to do; but if we will listen to the promptings of that monitor, and take a straightforward course, asking our Father to assist and guide us in our labors, we will not so often make mistakes.
I have learned by observation, and also by practice, in. regard to the law of tithing, to which some of the speakers have referred, that if we pay our tithes and offerings at the time we have the means, it is no hardship; but if we neglect payment one month after another the means will be spent; and then, when we should pay tithing, taxes come upon us, and when we pay the taxes we have no money left for tithing. If we will do our duty in this regard, and pay as we go, we will be all right. This reminds me of a little circumstance that transpired not long ago. I went into a store to buy something. The clerk said, "Shall I charge it?" I said, "No sir; if I can't pay now for what I want, I will go without till I have the money." This practice is the best. If we have not the means on hand to buy what we want, wait until we can pay for it. If we as Latter-day Saints will strive in this wise to live up to our duties and privileges, asking our Father in heaven to guide us each day, we will not often err in judgment.
May the favor of our Father rest upon all Israel, and guide us in the true faith, qualify us for every duty, that we may be worthy of the blessings He has in store for us, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Sister Erma Pendleton sang a contralto solo, entitled, "The Lord is my light."
The people enjoined to be true Latter-day Saints.—Personal remembrances of early history.—Passing away of old friends.—Necessity for giving heed to Spiritual Monitor.—Proper way to pay tithing.
My Brethren and sisters: I was in hopes that this task would pass over; for preaching, as I have said many times, is not my forte. However, I trust that by your faith and prayers my memory may receive strength, that something may come to my mind that I may say, which will benefit both you and me.
I have listened attentively to all that has been said, thus far, during this conference, and I can indorse every sentiment, every word, for I know all that has been said has been inspired by our Father in heaven. We as a people should endeavor to be true Latter-day Saints; If we are not, we certainly should be. We should realize our duty and privileges and strive diligently to live in a way and manner that our Father in heaven will approve so that He may be pleased to let His Spirit rest upon us, that those who address us may speak by that Spirit, by that intelligence, that we who listen may obtain wisdom and knowledge, and that we may remember and profit by what we have heard.
In my reflections, my mind often goes back to early youth, to my childhood. I can remember back farther than many others who are here present, in regard to the travels of the Church. My memory goes back as far as Kirtland, Ohio. I remember when we were leaving there, our travels to Missouri, the persecutions through which we passed in Missouri, and being driven from there to Illinois. My mind is very vivid on these points. I remember our arrival in Quincy, Illinois, and proceeding to the place where was afterwards established the city of Nauvoo. I remember distinctly that the place where we settled, first named Commerce, but subsequently called Nauvoo, was a sickly place; many of us were sick for a year. There was a time there when corn was only ten cents a bushel, but many of us who had the ten cents could not get the corn, because so many were sick; and few were able to go out and purchase and take it to the mill, in order that we might obtain the food needed. My memory also goes back to the time we were crossing the plains; finally settling here when this country was covered with sagebrush, and there were no houses to speak of. Often, in my reflections, I look around for those whom I call, in my way of sneaking, the old boys of my youth. They are getting scarce and, in looking around, I oftentimes feel lonesome. For many years I have tried to get here to conference meetings early in. the day, that I might shake hands with old persons with whom I was acquainted in early times. But, they are getting scarce; it causes me to realize that time is going, and that the people are being gathered from the earth to the spirit world.
I have been interested in the advice and instructions that have been given here in regard to closing saloons, and urging our people to live moral and upright lives; I realize that this is a necessity. As Latter- day Saints, we should strive to live in that way and manner that our Father in heaven can bestow His blessings upon us. We understand that it is our duty to pay our tithes and offerings; that we should attend to our prayers, and perform the many other duties that devolve upon us. I have said many times, every litter-day Saint has a monitor within him. If we will stop to reflect upon our duties and privileges this monitor will direct us in the true path. I believe there is no person who does a wrong but what that monitor within him will say that it is wrong, and that he should not have done it. If we happen to get under an influence which is not proper and right, and permit that influence to guide us, we will often err in judgment and do things that we ought not to do; but if we will listen to the promptings of that monitor, and take a straightforward course, asking our Father to assist and guide us in our labors, we will not so often make mistakes.
I have learned by observation, and also by practice, in. regard to the law of tithing, to which some of the speakers have referred, that if we pay our tithes and offerings at the time we have the means, it is no hardship; but if we neglect payment one month after another the means will be spent; and then, when we should pay tithing, taxes come upon us, and when we pay the taxes we have no money left for tithing. If we will do our duty in this regard, and pay as we go, we will be all right. This reminds me of a little circumstance that transpired not long ago. I went into a store to buy something. The clerk said, "Shall I charge it?" I said, "No sir; if I can't pay now for what I want, I will go without till I have the money." This practice is the best. If we have not the means on hand to buy what we want, wait until we can pay for it. If we as Latter-day Saints will strive in this wise to live up to our duties and privileges, asking our Father in heaven to guide us each day, we will not often err in judgment.
May the favor of our Father rest upon all Israel, and guide us in the true faith, qualify us for every duty, that we may be worthy of the blessings He has in store for us, is my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Sister Erma Pendleton sang a contralto solo, entitled, "The Lord is my light."
ELDER SOREN RASMUSSEN.
(Late President of Scandinavian Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, I feel very thankful for this privilege and opportunity of addressing this large assembly. I have rejoiced exceedingly in the various sessions of the conference, and in the spirit that has been made manifest in our gatherings. During the few moments that I shall stand before you, I desire that I may be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, that I may be able to say something that will be of benefit to you as well as myself.
I have been away, laboring in the Scandinavian mission, for nearly three years, and I can assure you that I feel very happy to again assemble with the Saints of God. However, I must say that I have had a blessed time. The Lord has been with me; He has encouraged me in my labors, and I have rejoiced exceedingly in being a humble ambassador of Christ.
I wish to say that the Scandinavian mission embraces, now, Denmark and Norway, there being three conferences in each of these countries. We have about 140 elders laboring there, and I may say, with Brother Baliff, that we could use more if we could get them. There is plenty of room, and we find that our elders are received very kindly on almost every hand. We are not persecuted as they are in some countries. The Scandinavian people are, as a rule, a good, hospitable, kind people. Our Elders are working hard in order to get the Gospel to the children of men. Our auxiliary organizations are in a very fair condition. We have twenty-two Sunday schools in the mission. We have eighteen Relief societies; and the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations are also in very good condition. We have a little over one thousand enrolled in the Sunday schools, one-third of whom are outsiders. Nearly one fourth of those who attend the Mutual Improvement Associations are non-members of the Church. Besides those who are members, we have a considerable number who come to the meeting's, who are also outsiders, and great interest is taken in these organizations. We have tried to encourage them along in these lines, having- been so instructed by the general authorities of the Church, realizing that it is of great benefit unto the young people to get them started aright in their youth. I call to mind an instance which came under my observation while laboring in that mission. I had made the acquaintance of a young girl and her parents, who were not members of the Church. I labored with this family, along with other Elders, while on my former mission, and we encouraged the parents to send their little children to our Sunday school. When I now returned to the mission field and visited this family, they were still outside the Church. The girls are now young ladies. I saw them and talked with them, and one day when I was talking to one of them, I said, "Would you be kind enough to answer me one question?" She said, "Yes, indeed." "Then I want to ask you, is there not something within your heart that draws you back to our Sunday school and to our people? Answer me candidly." She said, "Yes, there is! I do feel as though I want to mingle with you yet." She stayed away owing to the influence of her parents. Although they were friendly, they opposed her becoming: a member of any of our organizations; otherwise we should have had her a member of our choir and, no doubt, other organizations. Thus I have observed, in many instances, that the good seed sown in the heart of the child and young people does not leave them, but, if they are honest with themselves, it will in time lead them back to the pale of the Church — at least, such is my opinion. Our treatment by the officials of those countries is splendid. They are kind to us; and we have received no persecution. In the land of Norway we were able to hold funeral services in the chapels, just the same as their own members could do; for this we were thankful indeed. I may say that we had the Spirit of the Lord with us when we were congregated in these chapels; and more than once I have heard people exclaim that ours were the finest funeral services they had ever attended. As a rule, after we had held our little meeting or services at the chapel, we would congregate at the grave. We would dedicate the grave and sing one or two hymns. I may say that, as a rule, we had excellent singers; the Spirit of the Lord was with them, and they sang from the heart. The singing, and other parts of our services, seemed to have a good effect upon the people who witnessed the ceremonies. A short time before I was released we had a funeral in our own hall in Copenhagen; the president of the Relief society had passed away. There were in attendance many people who were not of our faith, people who were prominent in that city, and they told me that never in their lives had they witnessed a funeral that was so impressive.
I have alluded to the free condition in Norway. I am very happy to state that the same condition exists in Denmark today. We are able to hold funeral services, to speak at funerals, to have singing, and to dedicate the graves. We are very glad for this privilege. I am also pleased to state that we have some influential people who are members of the Church. Perhaps there are many here who know Brother Samuelsen, who is a member of the Danish Riksdag. He has done his part in framing laws that have been passed. We have other prominent people in those lands who are members of the Church; and there are very many nice people who are investigating the Gospel. The elders, as a rule, are performing a noble work. Of course, it may be said that we are not able to accomplish as much as they are in some lands, for the reason that our people are more scattered. For example, in Norway there are hundreds of inhabited islands, so you can readily understand that it is impossible to reach all those islands. At our last fall conference, one pair of elders reported that they had visited forty islands, calling at every house, every family. Another pair reported that they had visited nineteen islands. There is great hardship attached to these visits, because many of the island boats make only one trip a week, so that when the elders go there they have to remain a week, whether there is much to do or not. As a result, we are not able to do quite as much as might be done if the people were closer together. I wish to say, however, that the elders are working very faithfully and zealously. I congratulate the parents and the wives of those noble men who are performing such excellent work.
My brethren and sisters. I do not wish to occupy any more of your time. I rejoice in this treat and glorious work, and I hope I may be able to continue in the line of duty that will lead back to eternal life. I know for a surety that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world, and that Joseph Smith is indeed a prophet of the living God. I know that the authorities who lead this Church today have been called of God. My brethren and sisters, let us keep in line with the priesthood, and let us do our duty: let us be workers in very deed. The Lord bless you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(Late President of Scandinavian Mission.)
My brethren and sisters, I feel very thankful for this privilege and opportunity of addressing this large assembly. I have rejoiced exceedingly in the various sessions of the conference, and in the spirit that has been made manifest in our gatherings. During the few moments that I shall stand before you, I desire that I may be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, that I may be able to say something that will be of benefit to you as well as myself.
I have been away, laboring in the Scandinavian mission, for nearly three years, and I can assure you that I feel very happy to again assemble with the Saints of God. However, I must say that I have had a blessed time. The Lord has been with me; He has encouraged me in my labors, and I have rejoiced exceedingly in being a humble ambassador of Christ.
I wish to say that the Scandinavian mission embraces, now, Denmark and Norway, there being three conferences in each of these countries. We have about 140 elders laboring there, and I may say, with Brother Baliff, that we could use more if we could get them. There is plenty of room, and we find that our elders are received very kindly on almost every hand. We are not persecuted as they are in some countries. The Scandinavian people are, as a rule, a good, hospitable, kind people. Our Elders are working hard in order to get the Gospel to the children of men. Our auxiliary organizations are in a very fair condition. We have twenty-two Sunday schools in the mission. We have eighteen Relief societies; and the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations are also in very good condition. We have a little over one thousand enrolled in the Sunday schools, one-third of whom are outsiders. Nearly one fourth of those who attend the Mutual Improvement Associations are non-members of the Church. Besides those who are members, we have a considerable number who come to the meeting's, who are also outsiders, and great interest is taken in these organizations. We have tried to encourage them along in these lines, having- been so instructed by the general authorities of the Church, realizing that it is of great benefit unto the young people to get them started aright in their youth. I call to mind an instance which came under my observation while laboring in that mission. I had made the acquaintance of a young girl and her parents, who were not members of the Church. I labored with this family, along with other Elders, while on my former mission, and we encouraged the parents to send their little children to our Sunday school. When I now returned to the mission field and visited this family, they were still outside the Church. The girls are now young ladies. I saw them and talked with them, and one day when I was talking to one of them, I said, "Would you be kind enough to answer me one question?" She said, "Yes, indeed." "Then I want to ask you, is there not something within your heart that draws you back to our Sunday school and to our people? Answer me candidly." She said, "Yes, there is! I do feel as though I want to mingle with you yet." She stayed away owing to the influence of her parents. Although they were friendly, they opposed her becoming: a member of any of our organizations; otherwise we should have had her a member of our choir and, no doubt, other organizations. Thus I have observed, in many instances, that the good seed sown in the heart of the child and young people does not leave them, but, if they are honest with themselves, it will in time lead them back to the pale of the Church — at least, such is my opinion. Our treatment by the officials of those countries is splendid. They are kind to us; and we have received no persecution. In the land of Norway we were able to hold funeral services in the chapels, just the same as their own members could do; for this we were thankful indeed. I may say that we had the Spirit of the Lord with us when we were congregated in these chapels; and more than once I have heard people exclaim that ours were the finest funeral services they had ever attended. As a rule, after we had held our little meeting or services at the chapel, we would congregate at the grave. We would dedicate the grave and sing one or two hymns. I may say that, as a rule, we had excellent singers; the Spirit of the Lord was with them, and they sang from the heart. The singing, and other parts of our services, seemed to have a good effect upon the people who witnessed the ceremonies. A short time before I was released we had a funeral in our own hall in Copenhagen; the president of the Relief society had passed away. There were in attendance many people who were not of our faith, people who were prominent in that city, and they told me that never in their lives had they witnessed a funeral that was so impressive.
I have alluded to the free condition in Norway. I am very happy to state that the same condition exists in Denmark today. We are able to hold funeral services, to speak at funerals, to have singing, and to dedicate the graves. We are very glad for this privilege. I am also pleased to state that we have some influential people who are members of the Church. Perhaps there are many here who know Brother Samuelsen, who is a member of the Danish Riksdag. He has done his part in framing laws that have been passed. We have other prominent people in those lands who are members of the Church; and there are very many nice people who are investigating the Gospel. The elders, as a rule, are performing a noble work. Of course, it may be said that we are not able to accomplish as much as they are in some lands, for the reason that our people are more scattered. For example, in Norway there are hundreds of inhabited islands, so you can readily understand that it is impossible to reach all those islands. At our last fall conference, one pair of elders reported that they had visited forty islands, calling at every house, every family. Another pair reported that they had visited nineteen islands. There is great hardship attached to these visits, because many of the island boats make only one trip a week, so that when the elders go there they have to remain a week, whether there is much to do or not. As a result, we are not able to do quite as much as might be done if the people were closer together. I wish to say, however, that the elders are working very faithfully and zealously. I congratulate the parents and the wives of those noble men who are performing such excellent work.
My brethren and sisters. I do not wish to occupy any more of your time. I rejoice in this treat and glorious work, and I hope I may be able to continue in the line of duty that will lead back to eternal life. I know for a surety that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world, and that Joseph Smith is indeed a prophet of the living God. I know that the authorities who lead this Church today have been called of God. My brethren and sisters, let us keep in line with the priesthood, and let us do our duty: let us be workers in very deed. The Lord bless you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
ELDER HEBER J. GRANT.
Zeal and faithfulness of missionaries commended.—The Gospel imparts joy and peace to its adherents.—Enemies of God's work foiled and. forgotten. — Evidence of Hebrew origin of American Aborigines.—Intellectual advancement among young Latter-day Saints. —Difficulty experienced in refuting lies.
I rejoice exceedingly in having the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints in this conference, and I have been pleased with the remarks that have been made. Many reflections have passed through my mind while listening to the words that have been uttered in our hearing during this conference. I have but one desire, and it is the desire I have always had, and hope I may always have while standing before the people, it is that I may say that which shall be for their best good.
I have rejoiced, particularly, in the testimonies which have been borne by our brethren who have been out preaching the Gospel. It always seems to me that when men return to us from foreign missions, if they have been faithful and energetic, there is a spirit that attends them in speaking to the people that is rather above the average. I rejoice in the burning testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which every faithful returned missionary possesses. When I think of the five years Brother Baliff has spent in Belgium, and in the Swiss and German mission, and the zeal he has manifested in this work; then, when my mind goes over to Japan and I think of the eight years, next July, since Brother Alma O. Taylor left us, and seven years in June since Brother Fred A. Caine left; when I think of their continued diligence, faithfulness and willingness to serve God my heart goes out in blessing to these young men. When I think of the far off land of Turkey and realize what a very difficult and hard mission it is, and think of Brother Wilford Booth and his companions, who have labored there for five long years, my heart goes out in blessing to them. And when I realize the joy, happiness, and peace that every faithful Latter-day Saint experiences, who has proclaimed this Gospel, my heart goes out in deep gratitude to God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which you and I have espoused, and for the sweet influence of His Holy Spirit which ever accompanies us, which ever attends and strengthens us when we are in the line of our duty. Surely it does require the Spirit of God to understand, appreciate and feel grateful for the Gospel. The world knows not of the joy, peace and happiness that is experienced by the humble elders who go forth with zeal and energy to proclaim the Gospel. Some of the sweetest moments of my life have been in the priesthood meetings of the elders, when out in the world proclaiming the Gospel, when tears of joy have filled the eyes of every man assembled in those meetings. As I listened today to the report from the Scandinavian mission, I remembered one of the finest, one of the sweetest spirited meetings that I ever attended in my life. It was held in Christiania, where our brother, who has just been speaking, was laboring at the time, this was before he was called to preside over the Scandinavian mission. Also, as I listened to Brother Baliff. I remembered one of the loveliest conferences of the Swiss and German Elders that it was ever my privilege to attend; it lasted two days, and was held in Zurich. I rejoice, beyond my ability to tell, in having partaken of some of the spiritual blessings that come to every man who is striving to serve God in this Church and kingdom. I rejoiced exceedingly in the remarks of Brother Nibley, because the test he gave is the one by which the world, as well as our people, will be judged, viz, by their works. The Savior laid down the rule that by your works shall ye know them. From the day that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was re-established upon the earth, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, until the present time, the works of the Latter-day Saints have been above reproach. I have often remarked that while the reputation of the Latter-day Saints is bad — because of the lying, the misrepresentations, and the falsehoods of our enemies—I rejoice that the character and works of true Latter-day Saints are above reproach, and that the life of every true Latter-day Saint is a bright and shining light worthy of the imitation of all men.
I find recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants a very short passage which reads:
"I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
I wish that every Latter-day Saint would remember these few words How I wish that they were engraven upon our memories and upon our hearts, and that we would determine that God shall be bound to fulfill His promises unto us, because we will keep His commandments. There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven—so we are told by the Prophet Joseph—before the foundations of the world, upon which all blessings are predicated, and when we receive any blessing, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicted. If you and I desire the blessings of life, of health, of vigor of body and mind; if we desire the destroying angel to pass us by, as he did in the days of the children of Israel, we must obey the Word of Wisdom; then God is bound, and the blessing shall come to us. If you and I desire that the windows of heaven shall be opened, that God shall pour out such a blessing upon us that we will hardly be able to contain the same, then you and I must pay tithing; then God is bound to give us that blessing. If we desire that we shall have influence over our children, so that they shall grow up with a disposition to love God and keep His commandments, so that they shall have the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must remember this commandment: "And again, inasmuch as parents in Zion or in any of her stakes that are organized, teach not their children to walk uprightly before God, the sin shall be upon the heads of the parents." If we desire the Spirit of God, so that we can teach our children and inspire them, we must obey that law. So with all the requirements that are made of us as Latter-day Saints.
I listened with interest to the brief remarks that were made here by Brother Winder. He read to us one of the verses of that beautiful hymn by Sister Eliza R. Snow. As he was reading it, I thought to myself, the third verse impressed Brother Winder, but the fourth verse is the one that impressed me; therefore, I will read it.
“What though our rights have been assailed?
What though by foes we've been despoiled?
Jehovah's promise has not failed,
Jehovah's purpose is not foiled."
Our enemies have never done anything that has injured this work of God, and they never will. I look around, I read, I reflect, and I ask the question, Where are the men of influence, of power and prestige, who have worked against the Latter-day Saints? Where is the reputation, for honor and courage, of the governors of Missouri and Illinois, the judges, and all others who have come here to Utah on special missions against the Latter-day Saints? Where are there people to do them honor? They can not be found. Where are the people to do honor to T. B. H. Stenhouse, who wrote a book purporting to tell all about the Mormons, and who did not have the courage to sign his name to the book, but hid behind the petticoats of his wife, by attaching her name to the book. (Laughter.) Where are the men who have assailed this work? Where is their influence? They have faded away like dew before the sun. We need have no fears, we Latter-day Saints. God will continue to sustain this work; He will sustain the right. If we are loyal, if we are true, if we are worthy of this Gospel, of which God has given us a testimony, there is no danger that the world can ever injure us. We can never be injured, my brethren and sisters, by any mortals, except ourselves. If we fail to serve God, if we fail to do right, then we rob ourselves of the ability and power to grow, to increase in faith and knowledge, to have power with God, and with the righteous.
I rejoice in hearing the choir and congregation sing all four verses of the great pioneer song, "Come, Come ye Saints." It has been a source of regret to me that we seldom if ever heard that fourth verse. I remember, on one occasion, while speaking in this hall, made the request that, whenever the choir or congregation should sing this hymn, that they sing the fourth verse. As I listened to the remarks of our prophet, I was deeply impressed. He asked the question, "Are we as faithful, are we as diligent as our fathers and mothers were?" While that hymn was being sung I remembered his words; and as we were singing it, I asked myself the question, Do I feel as did our parents?--
"And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! all is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow too;
With the just we shall dwell."
Do we feel that, if we die, all is well? Are we living so that if the summons should come to us, that we are worthy to go back to our Heavenly Father, when we leave this earth, and be welcomed there? Are we so living that we are worthy of the blessings we have received? I ask myself the question, Am I doing all I possibly can for the uplifting not only of myself but of my fellows, am I in very deed a shining light to the people, by reason of the example I set before them?
In our Sunday School Union conference in this building last Sunday night, we had one of the most glorious meetings I have ever attended. Several of the speakers were given four minutes each, and they were four minutes of gem thoughts, each and every one of them. The great burden of the remarks of all the superintendents who spoke to the subject—"the needs of our Sunday Schools," — was not the need of more system, more of this, that or the other, but the great need is more of the Spirit of the Lord in the hearts of the teachers, to give that spirit to the children. One of the speakers likened this Church, and the people working in it, to an electric monument, with lights all over it; and he asked the question, "Is each one allowing his light to shine?" and it came home to me. It has been said here, by some who have spoken, that we are not doing all we can. I do not believe that any man lives up to his ideals, but if we are striving, if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty. If we are seeking to remedy our own defects, if we are so living that we can ask God for light, for knowledge, for intelligence, and above all for His Spirit, that we may overcome our weaknesses, then, I can tell you, we are in the straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal; then we need have no fear. I am not afraid of any individual ever injuring me, but I am afraid that perchance I may fail to do my duty, that I may fail to be as faithful and diligent as I ought to be; I am afraid I may fail to use all the talents God has given me, in the way I ought to use them.
I rejoice in the work that is being accomplished both at home and abroad. I rejoice in the manifestations of the Spirit of God, that come to each and every one of our elders who faithfully perform the duties devolving upon them. I rejoice in the fact that God opens the way and prepares the hearts of the honest in every land and clime, wherever this Gospel of Jesus Christ has gone. It is also a source of joy and satisfaction to me that, in all my journeys at home and abroad, wherever I go, wherever I mingle with people, I am constantly receiving additional evidence and testimony regarding the divinity of this work in which we are engaged, As I journeyed away from home, and as I mingled with people, I would feel sorrowful if I had constantly been finding objections to the plan of life and salvation, that required exertion on my part to explain away. It would be a source of regret if I were constantly finding of stacks in the path, regarding the divinity of the work of God, which we have espoused. But, I have never found any such obstacles: I have never found anything that needed to be explained away: everything points to the divinity of the work.
While listening to the remarks of Brother Ivins, referring to a book that was written by one of our enemies, in which the statement is made that there is not a particle of evidence to show that there is any trace of the Hebrew among the people who anciently inhabited this country, and that there is no evidence that would go to prove that the Book of Mormon is true. I was reminded of a little item of evidence that came under my observation while I was in the City of London. A gentleman there, to whom a very dear friend of mine, Col. Alex. G. Hawes, had given me a letter, kindly invited a number of newspaper men to his home to meet me. I am very sorry that the newspaper men declined the honor; but I had the privilege of meeting with this man and his family, and a few friends, and conversing with them. One of his friends had been a member of the British legation at Constantinople, and had spent a considerable portion of his life there. He had traveled all over the holy land, and was familiar with the people and their customs. Among other things, he said: "Mr. Grant, I was astonished beyond measure, when I visited Canada, to find there oriental patterns woven in beads, by the American Indians. They were the same patterns that were woven in rugs, in the oriental countries. I have traveled extensively, and I had never seen those oriental patterns in any part of the world except in the holy land, until I found them among the North American Indians. Those patterns have been handed down for hundreds of years, from generation to generation ; they are kept in families, and can be found no where else ; and how under the heavens those Indians, who have no connection with the people of the holy land, should have the same patterns is a mystery to me." "Well, my friend," I said, "if I were to inform you that the forefathers of these American Indians came from the city of Jerusalem, that would explain it, wouldn't it?" He replied, "Well, of course, it would." I asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon. He said, "No." "Well, it will be my pleasure to send you a copy, and from it you will learn that the forefathers of the American Indians came from Jerusalem." "Well," he said, "that explains the mystery; I am much obliged for the book."
Now, the one thing for us to do, as Latter-day Saints, is to be loyal, to be true, to be patriotic, to be honest with God; then we need have no fear of what the world may say about us. We have the truth, and we know it, thank God; we know it, though the world may not know it. Let us follow the admonition of the Savior, and let our light so shine that other men seeing our good deeds shall glorify God.
I rejoice in the great work that is being accomplished by the Young Ladies' and Young Men's Mutual Improvement associations. When I realize that there are more than fifteen thousand copies a year of the Young Woman's Journal subscribed for by the young ladies, and read; and when I think of the many fine articles I have read in that monthly magazine, and know that they are read by thousands of people, I realize that it is doing a great deal of good. It is also a great satisfaction to me to know that twelve thousand copies of the Improvement Era are going into the homes of the people, and being read by perhaps three or four times that number of individuals, because in every home reached by the Era there are an average of three or four people who read part or all of the magazines. I rejoice when I realize that the Manuals that are issued from year to year, are studied by from fifteen to twenty-five thousand young men; and that the lessons in the Journal are also studied by a great number of young ladies. It is a pleasure to note the advancement that is being made among the people, from an intellectual standpoint. I am glad to note that members are increasing in the Young Men's Associations; and I have no doubt they are increasing in the Young Ladies' Associations; and a greater interest is being taken in the books recommended from time to time as a reading course. Our young people are taking advantage of these books, and are reading them; I rejoice in this. God has promised many wonderful things regarding this people. We have a marvelous destiny before us, and are gradually fitting and qualifying ourselves for that destiny. When I stop to reflect upon the fact that when chosen as a boy, not twenty-four years of age, to preside over a stake of Zion, I had not spoken in public ten minutes at any one time in my life,—I rejoice to know that today there is hardly a boy or girl in their teens who can not stand up and preach on the principles of the Gospel, from fifteen to twenty minutes. Nearly all our young people can do this, if they have been faithful in attending the Mutual Improvement Associations.
I rejoice in the natural growth of the people of God, and in the benefits that are coming to us. As I listened to the remarks of President Smith, in his opening address, I was reminded of some beautiful words that are contained in one of the little books recommended by the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations. If any of you want a copy of it, it will cost you only twenty-five cents, and a postage stamp. Write to President Charles W. Penrose, Liverpool, England, and he will mail you a copy. Now, I realize that there is nothing more tiresome to an audience than to listen to a man read. I have often been guilty of that during the past year, because it has happened that men had been writing on the subjects about which I wished to speak, and what they wrote was better than anything I could say myself. For that reason I have been guilty of wearying my audiences by reading on many occasions. But, in the hope that by reading a page or two you may be impressed with a desire to write to Brother Penrose for a copy of the book, I am going to weary you for a little while. Brother N. L. Nelson, of the Brigham Young University, to whom I sent a copy of the book with my compliments, was so impressed with it that he read extracts to a number of the students in his classes, with the result that they sent to Liverpool for one hundred copies. I have given away hundreds of copies of this book, because it has impressed me with its worth. I consider it worth ten—yes twenty times twenty-five cents, or the twenty-seven cents that it will cost to send to England for it. The book is entitled "Great Truths."
"Truth is the rock foundation of every great character. It is loyalty to the right as we see it; it is courageous living of our lives in harmony with our ideals; it is always—power.
"Truth ever defies full definition. Like electricity it can only be explained by noting its manifestation. It is the compass of the soul, the guardian of conscience, the final touchstone of right. Truth is the revelation of the ideal; but it is also an inspiration to realize that ideal, a constant impulse to live it.
"For the individual, there is no such thing as theoretic truth; a great truth that is not absorbed by our whole mind and life, and has not become an inseparable part of our living, is not a real truth to us. If we know the truth and do not live it, our life is— a lie."
"Let us cultivate that sterling honor that holds our word so supreme, so sacred, that to forget it would seem a crime, to deny it would be impossible. * * * "
"With the love of truth, the individual scorns to do a mean thing, no matter what be the gain, even if the whole world would approve. He would not sacrifice the sanction of his own high standard for any gain: he should not willingly deflect the needle of his thought and act from the true North, as he knows it, by the slightest possible variation. He himself would know of the deflection—that would be enough. What matters it what the world thinks if he have his own disapproval."
If you and I know the Gospel is true, if we know that God lives, if we know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what do we care if the world falsely accuse us? If we are honest, if we are faithful, if we are diligent in keeping the commandments of God, we know our heavenly Father and our consciences will be on our side; and that is worth more than the praise of the world; if we are not worthy of that praise, then we are under condemnation before our heavenly Father.
"Faith in Truth is an essential to perfect companionship with truth. The individual must have perfect confidence and assurance of the final triumph of right, and order, and justice, and believe that all things are evolving toward that divine consummation, no matter how dark and dreary life may seem from day to day. No real success, no lasting happiness, can exist except it be founded on the rock of truth. The prosperity that is based on lying, deception, and intrigue, if only temporary—it cannot last any more than a mushroom can outlive an oak. Like the blind Samson, struggling in the temple, the individual whose life is based on trickery always pulls down the supporting columns of his own edifice, and perishes in the ruins. * * * "
While I was in Japan, articles were published against us. One was an extract from a sermon of the late President Brigham Young, in which he said. "We have in our midst the biggest liars, the meanest devils that ever walked on the face of the earth;" so on and so forth. That was quoted in the paper. When I sent home and secured a copy of the sermon in full, I went to the editor of that paper and showed him the sequence to those words—"But with God's help we will cast them out;" do you think I could get that paper to publish it? Not a bit of it. Tracts against the Latter-day Saints are circulated all over the world, clear to Japan, with this extract from the sermon of Brigham Young, (and those circulating them know they are misleading,) without the following qualifications: "God knows that we have never sustained them, that I have never sustained them, that I do not approve of them, and that we will cast them out." And yet, this is one of the weapons that is used against us; but it will fail; it will fail as such weapons always do fail. Accusations like this, that are published all over the" world, must fail when the truth is known. I called on an editor in London, who had published about ten columns of the vilest kind of matter against the Latter-day Saints, and asked him to take one single column in refutation, and he refused it. I presented letters of introduction from leading influential men in America, stating that I was a gentleman of unquestioned integrity, and that my word was as good as my bond; but he would not take a word from me. He said, "We have published all we care to publish on the Mormon question." I said, "But all you have published is lies, and I know it, and I now ask you to publish one-tenth as much truth." He declined again. His name was Robinson. I arose and started as if to leave the office —I did not intend to go but I put my hat on and pretended that I was going. I stopped, when I got to the door, turned around, and again took off my two-story hat, and said to him, "My friend, if I remember correctly your name is Robinson?" "Yes," he said, "that is my name." "Did you ever hear tell of Phil Robinson?" "Yes." "Is he an honest and honorable man?" "Yes." "At the time of the first great Boer war, was he the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, one of your greatest newspapers?" "Yes." "Anything he would write, would you accept as truth?" "Certainly." Then I said, "Spend a couple of shillings and buy his book, 'Sinners and Saints;' then you will find that everything you have published in your paper about the Mormons is a lie." He said, "You surprise me." I said, "You are not the first newspaper man who has been surprised, when it comes to the Mormon question." Then he said, "May be you better write us something, Mr. Grant; make it brief; don't make it more than half a column." Think of the liberality of a great newspaper, one of the great newspapers of London, that had published from seven to a dozen columns of lies, and then would give only a half column to answer. I wrote it—or to be frank, I suggested the ideas to Brother Richard Shipp, and he wrote it for me. I sent the communication to them, and I got it back—as has been the case with many things that I have sent the newspapers — with a printed circular stating that the editor was very sorry, but he did not have room for it. Whenever I get one of these circulars I always think of the little saying that, "Polite lying is a gentlemanly accomplishment; it lubricates business, varnishes unpleasant facts, and promotes friendship."
Again quoting from "Great Truths"
"No matter what price a man may pay for truth, he is getting it at a bargain. The lying of others can never hurt us long; it always carries with it our exoneration in the end"
"Truth, is not a mere absence of the vices. This is only a moral vacuum. Truth is the living, pulsing breathing of the virtues of life. Mere refraining from wrong-doing is but keeping the weeds out of the garden of one's life. But this must be followed by positive planting- of the seeds of right to secure the flowers of true living. To the negatives of the Ten Commandments must be added the positives of the Beatitudes. The one condemns, the other commends; the one forbids, the other inspires; the one emphasizes the act, the other the spirit behind the act. The whole truth rests not in either, but in both.
"A man cannot truly believe in God without believing in the final inevitable triumph of Truth. If you have Truth on your side you can pass through the dark valley of slander, misrepresentation and abuse, undaunted, as though you wore a magic suit of mail that no bullet could enter, no arrow could pierce. You can hold your head high, toss it fearlessly and defiantly, look every man calmly and unflinchingly in the eye, as though you rode, a victorious king, returning at the head of your legions with banners waving and lances glistening, and bugles filling the air with music. You can feel the great expansive wave of moral health surging through you as the quickened blood courses through the body of him who is gladly, gloriously proud of physical health. You will know that all will come right in the end, that it must come, that error must flee before the great white light of truth, as darkness slinks away into nothingness in the presence of the sunburst. Then, with Truth as your guide, your companion, your ally, and inspiration, you tingle with the consciousness of your kinship with the infinite and all the petty trials, sorrows and sufferings of life fade away like temporary, harmless visions seen in a dream."
We have truth on our side; we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God lives; Jesus is the Christ. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God; and every man who has succeeded Joseph Smith has been God's mouthpiece. Let us be true to God, and God will sustain us. This is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "Let the mountains shout for joy."
President Smith called attention to the severe storm prevailing outside, and requested the congregation to express, by vote, their wish as to adjourning now, or continuing this meeting until the Conference is closed. The congregation voted in favor of the proposition.
Zeal and faithfulness of missionaries commended.—The Gospel imparts joy and peace to its adherents.—Enemies of God's work foiled and. forgotten. — Evidence of Hebrew origin of American Aborigines.—Intellectual advancement among young Latter-day Saints. —Difficulty experienced in refuting lies.
I rejoice exceedingly in having the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints in this conference, and I have been pleased with the remarks that have been made. Many reflections have passed through my mind while listening to the words that have been uttered in our hearing during this conference. I have but one desire, and it is the desire I have always had, and hope I may always have while standing before the people, it is that I may say that which shall be for their best good.
I have rejoiced, particularly, in the testimonies which have been borne by our brethren who have been out preaching the Gospel. It always seems to me that when men return to us from foreign missions, if they have been faithful and energetic, there is a spirit that attends them in speaking to the people that is rather above the average. I rejoice in the burning testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which every faithful returned missionary possesses. When I think of the five years Brother Baliff has spent in Belgium, and in the Swiss and German mission, and the zeal he has manifested in this work; then, when my mind goes over to Japan and I think of the eight years, next July, since Brother Alma O. Taylor left us, and seven years in June since Brother Fred A. Caine left; when I think of their continued diligence, faithfulness and willingness to serve God my heart goes out in blessing to these young men. When I think of the far off land of Turkey and realize what a very difficult and hard mission it is, and think of Brother Wilford Booth and his companions, who have labored there for five long years, my heart goes out in blessing to them. And when I realize the joy, happiness, and peace that every faithful Latter-day Saint experiences, who has proclaimed this Gospel, my heart goes out in deep gratitude to God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which you and I have espoused, and for the sweet influence of His Holy Spirit which ever accompanies us, which ever attends and strengthens us when we are in the line of our duty. Surely it does require the Spirit of God to understand, appreciate and feel grateful for the Gospel. The world knows not of the joy, peace and happiness that is experienced by the humble elders who go forth with zeal and energy to proclaim the Gospel. Some of the sweetest moments of my life have been in the priesthood meetings of the elders, when out in the world proclaiming the Gospel, when tears of joy have filled the eyes of every man assembled in those meetings. As I listened today to the report from the Scandinavian mission, I remembered one of the finest, one of the sweetest spirited meetings that I ever attended in my life. It was held in Christiania, where our brother, who has just been speaking, was laboring at the time, this was before he was called to preside over the Scandinavian mission. Also, as I listened to Brother Baliff. I remembered one of the loveliest conferences of the Swiss and German Elders that it was ever my privilege to attend; it lasted two days, and was held in Zurich. I rejoice, beyond my ability to tell, in having partaken of some of the spiritual blessings that come to every man who is striving to serve God in this Church and kingdom. I rejoiced exceedingly in the remarks of Brother Nibley, because the test he gave is the one by which the world, as well as our people, will be judged, viz, by their works. The Savior laid down the rule that by your works shall ye know them. From the day that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was re-established upon the earth, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, until the present time, the works of the Latter-day Saints have been above reproach. I have often remarked that while the reputation of the Latter-day Saints is bad — because of the lying, the misrepresentations, and the falsehoods of our enemies—I rejoice that the character and works of true Latter-day Saints are above reproach, and that the life of every true Latter-day Saint is a bright and shining light worthy of the imitation of all men.
I find recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants a very short passage which reads:
"I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
I wish that every Latter-day Saint would remember these few words How I wish that they were engraven upon our memories and upon our hearts, and that we would determine that God shall be bound to fulfill His promises unto us, because we will keep His commandments. There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven—so we are told by the Prophet Joseph—before the foundations of the world, upon which all blessings are predicated, and when we receive any blessing, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicted. If you and I desire the blessings of life, of health, of vigor of body and mind; if we desire the destroying angel to pass us by, as he did in the days of the children of Israel, we must obey the Word of Wisdom; then God is bound, and the blessing shall come to us. If you and I desire that the windows of heaven shall be opened, that God shall pour out such a blessing upon us that we will hardly be able to contain the same, then you and I must pay tithing; then God is bound to give us that blessing. If we desire that we shall have influence over our children, so that they shall grow up with a disposition to love God and keep His commandments, so that they shall have the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must remember this commandment: "And again, inasmuch as parents in Zion or in any of her stakes that are organized, teach not their children to walk uprightly before God, the sin shall be upon the heads of the parents." If we desire the Spirit of God, so that we can teach our children and inspire them, we must obey that law. So with all the requirements that are made of us as Latter-day Saints.
I listened with interest to the brief remarks that were made here by Brother Winder. He read to us one of the verses of that beautiful hymn by Sister Eliza R. Snow. As he was reading it, I thought to myself, the third verse impressed Brother Winder, but the fourth verse is the one that impressed me; therefore, I will read it.
“What though our rights have been assailed?
What though by foes we've been despoiled?
Jehovah's promise has not failed,
Jehovah's purpose is not foiled."
Our enemies have never done anything that has injured this work of God, and they never will. I look around, I read, I reflect, and I ask the question, Where are the men of influence, of power and prestige, who have worked against the Latter-day Saints? Where is the reputation, for honor and courage, of the governors of Missouri and Illinois, the judges, and all others who have come here to Utah on special missions against the Latter-day Saints? Where are there people to do them honor? They can not be found. Where are the people to do honor to T. B. H. Stenhouse, who wrote a book purporting to tell all about the Mormons, and who did not have the courage to sign his name to the book, but hid behind the petticoats of his wife, by attaching her name to the book. (Laughter.) Where are the men who have assailed this work? Where is their influence? They have faded away like dew before the sun. We need have no fears, we Latter-day Saints. God will continue to sustain this work; He will sustain the right. If we are loyal, if we are true, if we are worthy of this Gospel, of which God has given us a testimony, there is no danger that the world can ever injure us. We can never be injured, my brethren and sisters, by any mortals, except ourselves. If we fail to serve God, if we fail to do right, then we rob ourselves of the ability and power to grow, to increase in faith and knowledge, to have power with God, and with the righteous.
I rejoice in hearing the choir and congregation sing all four verses of the great pioneer song, "Come, Come ye Saints." It has been a source of regret to me that we seldom if ever heard that fourth verse. I remember, on one occasion, while speaking in this hall, made the request that, whenever the choir or congregation should sing this hymn, that they sing the fourth verse. As I listened to the remarks of our prophet, I was deeply impressed. He asked the question, "Are we as faithful, are we as diligent as our fathers and mothers were?" While that hymn was being sung I remembered his words; and as we were singing it, I asked myself the question, Do I feel as did our parents?--
"And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! all is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow too;
With the just we shall dwell."
Do we feel that, if we die, all is well? Are we living so that if the summons should come to us, that we are worthy to go back to our Heavenly Father, when we leave this earth, and be welcomed there? Are we so living that we are worthy of the blessings we have received? I ask myself the question, Am I doing all I possibly can for the uplifting not only of myself but of my fellows, am I in very deed a shining light to the people, by reason of the example I set before them?
In our Sunday School Union conference in this building last Sunday night, we had one of the most glorious meetings I have ever attended. Several of the speakers were given four minutes each, and they were four minutes of gem thoughts, each and every one of them. The great burden of the remarks of all the superintendents who spoke to the subject—"the needs of our Sunday Schools," — was not the need of more system, more of this, that or the other, but the great need is more of the Spirit of the Lord in the hearts of the teachers, to give that spirit to the children. One of the speakers likened this Church, and the people working in it, to an electric monument, with lights all over it; and he asked the question, "Is each one allowing his light to shine?" and it came home to me. It has been said here, by some who have spoken, that we are not doing all we can. I do not believe that any man lives up to his ideals, but if we are striving, if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty. If we are seeking to remedy our own defects, if we are so living that we can ask God for light, for knowledge, for intelligence, and above all for His Spirit, that we may overcome our weaknesses, then, I can tell you, we are in the straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal; then we need have no fear. I am not afraid of any individual ever injuring me, but I am afraid that perchance I may fail to do my duty, that I may fail to be as faithful and diligent as I ought to be; I am afraid I may fail to use all the talents God has given me, in the way I ought to use them.
I rejoice in the work that is being accomplished both at home and abroad. I rejoice in the manifestations of the Spirit of God, that come to each and every one of our elders who faithfully perform the duties devolving upon them. I rejoice in the fact that God opens the way and prepares the hearts of the honest in every land and clime, wherever this Gospel of Jesus Christ has gone. It is also a source of joy and satisfaction to me that, in all my journeys at home and abroad, wherever I go, wherever I mingle with people, I am constantly receiving additional evidence and testimony regarding the divinity of this work in which we are engaged, As I journeyed away from home, and as I mingled with people, I would feel sorrowful if I had constantly been finding objections to the plan of life and salvation, that required exertion on my part to explain away. It would be a source of regret if I were constantly finding of stacks in the path, regarding the divinity of the work of God, which we have espoused. But, I have never found any such obstacles: I have never found anything that needed to be explained away: everything points to the divinity of the work.
While listening to the remarks of Brother Ivins, referring to a book that was written by one of our enemies, in which the statement is made that there is not a particle of evidence to show that there is any trace of the Hebrew among the people who anciently inhabited this country, and that there is no evidence that would go to prove that the Book of Mormon is true. I was reminded of a little item of evidence that came under my observation while I was in the City of London. A gentleman there, to whom a very dear friend of mine, Col. Alex. G. Hawes, had given me a letter, kindly invited a number of newspaper men to his home to meet me. I am very sorry that the newspaper men declined the honor; but I had the privilege of meeting with this man and his family, and a few friends, and conversing with them. One of his friends had been a member of the British legation at Constantinople, and had spent a considerable portion of his life there. He had traveled all over the holy land, and was familiar with the people and their customs. Among other things, he said: "Mr. Grant, I was astonished beyond measure, when I visited Canada, to find there oriental patterns woven in beads, by the American Indians. They were the same patterns that were woven in rugs, in the oriental countries. I have traveled extensively, and I had never seen those oriental patterns in any part of the world except in the holy land, until I found them among the North American Indians. Those patterns have been handed down for hundreds of years, from generation to generation ; they are kept in families, and can be found no where else ; and how under the heavens those Indians, who have no connection with the people of the holy land, should have the same patterns is a mystery to me." "Well, my friend," I said, "if I were to inform you that the forefathers of these American Indians came from the city of Jerusalem, that would explain it, wouldn't it?" He replied, "Well, of course, it would." I asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon. He said, "No." "Well, it will be my pleasure to send you a copy, and from it you will learn that the forefathers of the American Indians came from Jerusalem." "Well," he said, "that explains the mystery; I am much obliged for the book."
Now, the one thing for us to do, as Latter-day Saints, is to be loyal, to be true, to be patriotic, to be honest with God; then we need have no fear of what the world may say about us. We have the truth, and we know it, thank God; we know it, though the world may not know it. Let us follow the admonition of the Savior, and let our light so shine that other men seeing our good deeds shall glorify God.
I rejoice in the great work that is being accomplished by the Young Ladies' and Young Men's Mutual Improvement associations. When I realize that there are more than fifteen thousand copies a year of the Young Woman's Journal subscribed for by the young ladies, and read; and when I think of the many fine articles I have read in that monthly magazine, and know that they are read by thousands of people, I realize that it is doing a great deal of good. It is also a great satisfaction to me to know that twelve thousand copies of the Improvement Era are going into the homes of the people, and being read by perhaps three or four times that number of individuals, because in every home reached by the Era there are an average of three or four people who read part or all of the magazines. I rejoice when I realize that the Manuals that are issued from year to year, are studied by from fifteen to twenty-five thousand young men; and that the lessons in the Journal are also studied by a great number of young ladies. It is a pleasure to note the advancement that is being made among the people, from an intellectual standpoint. I am glad to note that members are increasing in the Young Men's Associations; and I have no doubt they are increasing in the Young Ladies' Associations; and a greater interest is being taken in the books recommended from time to time as a reading course. Our young people are taking advantage of these books, and are reading them; I rejoice in this. God has promised many wonderful things regarding this people. We have a marvelous destiny before us, and are gradually fitting and qualifying ourselves for that destiny. When I stop to reflect upon the fact that when chosen as a boy, not twenty-four years of age, to preside over a stake of Zion, I had not spoken in public ten minutes at any one time in my life,—I rejoice to know that today there is hardly a boy or girl in their teens who can not stand up and preach on the principles of the Gospel, from fifteen to twenty minutes. Nearly all our young people can do this, if they have been faithful in attending the Mutual Improvement Associations.
I rejoice in the natural growth of the people of God, and in the benefits that are coming to us. As I listened to the remarks of President Smith, in his opening address, I was reminded of some beautiful words that are contained in one of the little books recommended by the General Board of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations. If any of you want a copy of it, it will cost you only twenty-five cents, and a postage stamp. Write to President Charles W. Penrose, Liverpool, England, and he will mail you a copy. Now, I realize that there is nothing more tiresome to an audience than to listen to a man read. I have often been guilty of that during the past year, because it has happened that men had been writing on the subjects about which I wished to speak, and what they wrote was better than anything I could say myself. For that reason I have been guilty of wearying my audiences by reading on many occasions. But, in the hope that by reading a page or two you may be impressed with a desire to write to Brother Penrose for a copy of the book, I am going to weary you for a little while. Brother N. L. Nelson, of the Brigham Young University, to whom I sent a copy of the book with my compliments, was so impressed with it that he read extracts to a number of the students in his classes, with the result that they sent to Liverpool for one hundred copies. I have given away hundreds of copies of this book, because it has impressed me with its worth. I consider it worth ten—yes twenty times twenty-five cents, or the twenty-seven cents that it will cost to send to England for it. The book is entitled "Great Truths."
"Truth is the rock foundation of every great character. It is loyalty to the right as we see it; it is courageous living of our lives in harmony with our ideals; it is always—power.
"Truth ever defies full definition. Like electricity it can only be explained by noting its manifestation. It is the compass of the soul, the guardian of conscience, the final touchstone of right. Truth is the revelation of the ideal; but it is also an inspiration to realize that ideal, a constant impulse to live it.
"For the individual, there is no such thing as theoretic truth; a great truth that is not absorbed by our whole mind and life, and has not become an inseparable part of our living, is not a real truth to us. If we know the truth and do not live it, our life is— a lie."
"Let us cultivate that sterling honor that holds our word so supreme, so sacred, that to forget it would seem a crime, to deny it would be impossible. * * * "
"With the love of truth, the individual scorns to do a mean thing, no matter what be the gain, even if the whole world would approve. He would not sacrifice the sanction of his own high standard for any gain: he should not willingly deflect the needle of his thought and act from the true North, as he knows it, by the slightest possible variation. He himself would know of the deflection—that would be enough. What matters it what the world thinks if he have his own disapproval."
If you and I know the Gospel is true, if we know that God lives, if we know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what do we care if the world falsely accuse us? If we are honest, if we are faithful, if we are diligent in keeping the commandments of God, we know our heavenly Father and our consciences will be on our side; and that is worth more than the praise of the world; if we are not worthy of that praise, then we are under condemnation before our heavenly Father.
"Faith in Truth is an essential to perfect companionship with truth. The individual must have perfect confidence and assurance of the final triumph of right, and order, and justice, and believe that all things are evolving toward that divine consummation, no matter how dark and dreary life may seem from day to day. No real success, no lasting happiness, can exist except it be founded on the rock of truth. The prosperity that is based on lying, deception, and intrigue, if only temporary—it cannot last any more than a mushroom can outlive an oak. Like the blind Samson, struggling in the temple, the individual whose life is based on trickery always pulls down the supporting columns of his own edifice, and perishes in the ruins. * * * "
While I was in Japan, articles were published against us. One was an extract from a sermon of the late President Brigham Young, in which he said. "We have in our midst the biggest liars, the meanest devils that ever walked on the face of the earth;" so on and so forth. That was quoted in the paper. When I sent home and secured a copy of the sermon in full, I went to the editor of that paper and showed him the sequence to those words—"But with God's help we will cast them out;" do you think I could get that paper to publish it? Not a bit of it. Tracts against the Latter-day Saints are circulated all over the world, clear to Japan, with this extract from the sermon of Brigham Young, (and those circulating them know they are misleading,) without the following qualifications: "God knows that we have never sustained them, that I have never sustained them, that I do not approve of them, and that we will cast them out." And yet, this is one of the weapons that is used against us; but it will fail; it will fail as such weapons always do fail. Accusations like this, that are published all over the" world, must fail when the truth is known. I called on an editor in London, who had published about ten columns of the vilest kind of matter against the Latter-day Saints, and asked him to take one single column in refutation, and he refused it. I presented letters of introduction from leading influential men in America, stating that I was a gentleman of unquestioned integrity, and that my word was as good as my bond; but he would not take a word from me. He said, "We have published all we care to publish on the Mormon question." I said, "But all you have published is lies, and I know it, and I now ask you to publish one-tenth as much truth." He declined again. His name was Robinson. I arose and started as if to leave the office —I did not intend to go but I put my hat on and pretended that I was going. I stopped, when I got to the door, turned around, and again took off my two-story hat, and said to him, "My friend, if I remember correctly your name is Robinson?" "Yes," he said, "that is my name." "Did you ever hear tell of Phil Robinson?" "Yes." "Is he an honest and honorable man?" "Yes." "At the time of the first great Boer war, was he the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, one of your greatest newspapers?" "Yes." "Anything he would write, would you accept as truth?" "Certainly." Then I said, "Spend a couple of shillings and buy his book, 'Sinners and Saints;' then you will find that everything you have published in your paper about the Mormons is a lie." He said, "You surprise me." I said, "You are not the first newspaper man who has been surprised, when it comes to the Mormon question." Then he said, "May be you better write us something, Mr. Grant; make it brief; don't make it more than half a column." Think of the liberality of a great newspaper, one of the great newspapers of London, that had published from seven to a dozen columns of lies, and then would give only a half column to answer. I wrote it—or to be frank, I suggested the ideas to Brother Richard Shipp, and he wrote it for me. I sent the communication to them, and I got it back—as has been the case with many things that I have sent the newspapers — with a printed circular stating that the editor was very sorry, but he did not have room for it. Whenever I get one of these circulars I always think of the little saying that, "Polite lying is a gentlemanly accomplishment; it lubricates business, varnishes unpleasant facts, and promotes friendship."
Again quoting from "Great Truths"
"No matter what price a man may pay for truth, he is getting it at a bargain. The lying of others can never hurt us long; it always carries with it our exoneration in the end"
"Truth, is not a mere absence of the vices. This is only a moral vacuum. Truth is the living, pulsing breathing of the virtues of life. Mere refraining from wrong-doing is but keeping the weeds out of the garden of one's life. But this must be followed by positive planting- of the seeds of right to secure the flowers of true living. To the negatives of the Ten Commandments must be added the positives of the Beatitudes. The one condemns, the other commends; the one forbids, the other inspires; the one emphasizes the act, the other the spirit behind the act. The whole truth rests not in either, but in both.
"A man cannot truly believe in God without believing in the final inevitable triumph of Truth. If you have Truth on your side you can pass through the dark valley of slander, misrepresentation and abuse, undaunted, as though you wore a magic suit of mail that no bullet could enter, no arrow could pierce. You can hold your head high, toss it fearlessly and defiantly, look every man calmly and unflinchingly in the eye, as though you rode, a victorious king, returning at the head of your legions with banners waving and lances glistening, and bugles filling the air with music. You can feel the great expansive wave of moral health surging through you as the quickened blood courses through the body of him who is gladly, gloriously proud of physical health. You will know that all will come right in the end, that it must come, that error must flee before the great white light of truth, as darkness slinks away into nothingness in the presence of the sunburst. Then, with Truth as your guide, your companion, your ally, and inspiration, you tingle with the consciousness of your kinship with the infinite and all the petty trials, sorrows and sufferings of life fade away like temporary, harmless visions seen in a dream."
We have truth on our side; we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God lives; Jesus is the Christ. Joseph Smith is a prophet of God; and every man who has succeeded Joseph Smith has been God's mouthpiece. Let us be true to God, and God will sustain us. This is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The choir sang the anthem, "Let the mountains shout for joy."
President Smith called attention to the severe storm prevailing outside, and requested the congregation to express, by vote, their wish as to adjourning now, or continuing this meeting until the Conference is closed. The congregation voted in favor of the proposition.
ELDER JOHN HENRY SMITH.
Tribute to strong, honest character of President Roosevelt.—prospect for continuance of good government — Integrity to trust in handling funds. —Laxity in discipline of children. The young incited to acquire nobility of character.
I have listened with intense interest to the remarks that have been made by our brethren, from the opening of the conference until the present time. It has been a joy to me to recognize the character of the spirit, as well as the nature of the words that have fallen from the lips of each of the speakers. I trust that the impress made upon our minds will remain, and be a joy to us while engaged in the performance of our duties during the next year.
In looking back over the past year, I recognize the fact that the blessings of the Lord have abounded in large degree upon this people, as well as upon all other people of the United States, and most of the nations of the world. While there have been calamities of a serious character that have fallen to the lot of some of our Father's children, enough at least to signify unto us that His providences are over all, and we realize that His judgments may be poured out in His own way, and in His own time, upon any of us; yet, as a rule, joy abounds in the hearts of the children of men.
We have recently noted the change of presidents of the United States, the passing from the presidency of this great nation of ours one of the most heroic, earnest, devoted and thoroughly honest men. His efforts toward the reformation of our land should be a joy to every American citizen. While he may, in his zeal, have made mistakes, I believe that, in the writings of historians of the future, one of the brightest names in the history of the race will be that of the man who has served this nation so faithfully and well—Theodore Roosevelt. The coming into power of another man as the executive of our nation, fully equipped for the discharge of his duties, with extended experience, and a body of able men around him, I believe presages to our country continued glorious growth and development. While it is not my thought to dwell upon the question of civil government, it is a joy to recognize the fact that the nation in which we live, which we love, and which is our nation, has demonstrated power to carry itself unscathed amidst storms and tempests, amidst financial distresses, and make successful the ministry and labor of its noble and gifted sons.
While I stand here I desire to speak briefly upon a subject that has not been spoken of at this conference, by any of my brethren—it is the question of financial integrity, sacred regard for trusts. It occasionally occurs, as we note in publications over the land, that men who are trusted with public and private funds go wrong. There seems to be a lack of understanding in regard to this question of the sacredness of these obligations. I hope that within each of the schools in our state, whether state or church schools, universities, academies, colleges, or grade schools, that there shall be an effort made by the faculties in those institutions to impress fully upon the minds of our young men the sacredness that attaches to public and private trusts. It is most desirable that the principles of honor, honesty, integrity, wisdom, and right shall be written in their souls, that moral principles may be so thoroughly implanted in them, through the training they receive therein, augmented by the efforts and ministry of Sabbath schools and the various associations that have been established in the Church, so that no young man of this Church or state, who shall be entrusted with the means of another person, whether it be private or public, shall be led to misuse those funds, and do that which shall bring discredit to his name, to his family, or to the people among whom he resides. I believe that more thoughtful and earnest labor is necessary in connection with these matters, in our homes, schools, and churches, and in the various organizations that have been established all over the land looking toward the betterment and uplifting of the sons and daughters of this glorious country of ours.
In the priesthood meeting last night, President Smith briefly made reference to propositions involved in the stricter guardianship of our children, calling attention to laxity in governing them, and a degree of recklessness that has developed, along certain lines, among some of our young people. From my own observation, I feel sure that we accord greater liberty to our children than is granted by a large majority of the rest of the world. I feel that this matter of the care and education of our children, needs consideration in every home, ward, and stake of Zion. As I remarked before, in one of the meetings in this Tabernacle, I am fearful we are becoming too much the lovers of pleasure, and too little the lovers of God; I believe that repentance and reformation in these respects are requisites among us as a people. I believe that excessive liberty comes into my own home; I know it does; and I believe it goes into the homes of too many of this people. While in no sense of the word would I curtail legitimate and proper liberty, proper enjoyment and recreation for the young, I recognize the fact that indiscriminate mingling of boys and girls in every place, and under every condition, without the guardianship of parents, is a menace to the morality, well-being, and good of our young, a hindrance to their development and growth in the cause of the Eternal Father. My brothers and my sisters, I ask you to think upon this problem of the proper care of our children. Let us instil into the minds of our young people, who are entering upon the duties of life a proper understanding and regard for the sacredness of those obligations, that they may duly recognize the principles of virtue, honesty, integrity, honor, devotion to the right, industry, perseverance and unyielding courage, with resolutions fixed upon the uplifting and upbuilding of the race, the betterment of the whole world.
As my brethren have said before me, I testify to the mission of the Redeemer of the world, the Son of the living God. I testify to the truth that has been established through His administration. I testify to the greatness, and to the truth in its fullness, of the work of the Almighty that has been entrusted to these men and women who are under the sound of my voice. It is the grandest and truest mission that has ever been imposed upon mortal in the history of the world.
I plead with my brethren and sisters to think of these matters, that we may understand the obligations that rest upon us in this great work; that we may understand our duties toward our children, that elements of the noblest character shall be implanted in the souls of our sons and daughters and that the country in which we live shall be uplifted through the purity and integrity shown in their lives and ministry. Amen.
Tribute to strong, honest character of President Roosevelt.—prospect for continuance of good government — Integrity to trust in handling funds. —Laxity in discipline of children. The young incited to acquire nobility of character.
I have listened with intense interest to the remarks that have been made by our brethren, from the opening of the conference until the present time. It has been a joy to me to recognize the character of the spirit, as well as the nature of the words that have fallen from the lips of each of the speakers. I trust that the impress made upon our minds will remain, and be a joy to us while engaged in the performance of our duties during the next year.
In looking back over the past year, I recognize the fact that the blessings of the Lord have abounded in large degree upon this people, as well as upon all other people of the United States, and most of the nations of the world. While there have been calamities of a serious character that have fallen to the lot of some of our Father's children, enough at least to signify unto us that His providences are over all, and we realize that His judgments may be poured out in His own way, and in His own time, upon any of us; yet, as a rule, joy abounds in the hearts of the children of men.
We have recently noted the change of presidents of the United States, the passing from the presidency of this great nation of ours one of the most heroic, earnest, devoted and thoroughly honest men. His efforts toward the reformation of our land should be a joy to every American citizen. While he may, in his zeal, have made mistakes, I believe that, in the writings of historians of the future, one of the brightest names in the history of the race will be that of the man who has served this nation so faithfully and well—Theodore Roosevelt. The coming into power of another man as the executive of our nation, fully equipped for the discharge of his duties, with extended experience, and a body of able men around him, I believe presages to our country continued glorious growth and development. While it is not my thought to dwell upon the question of civil government, it is a joy to recognize the fact that the nation in which we live, which we love, and which is our nation, has demonstrated power to carry itself unscathed amidst storms and tempests, amidst financial distresses, and make successful the ministry and labor of its noble and gifted sons.
While I stand here I desire to speak briefly upon a subject that has not been spoken of at this conference, by any of my brethren—it is the question of financial integrity, sacred regard for trusts. It occasionally occurs, as we note in publications over the land, that men who are trusted with public and private funds go wrong. There seems to be a lack of understanding in regard to this question of the sacredness of these obligations. I hope that within each of the schools in our state, whether state or church schools, universities, academies, colleges, or grade schools, that there shall be an effort made by the faculties in those institutions to impress fully upon the minds of our young men the sacredness that attaches to public and private trusts. It is most desirable that the principles of honor, honesty, integrity, wisdom, and right shall be written in their souls, that moral principles may be so thoroughly implanted in them, through the training they receive therein, augmented by the efforts and ministry of Sabbath schools and the various associations that have been established in the Church, so that no young man of this Church or state, who shall be entrusted with the means of another person, whether it be private or public, shall be led to misuse those funds, and do that which shall bring discredit to his name, to his family, or to the people among whom he resides. I believe that more thoughtful and earnest labor is necessary in connection with these matters, in our homes, schools, and churches, and in the various organizations that have been established all over the land looking toward the betterment and uplifting of the sons and daughters of this glorious country of ours.
In the priesthood meeting last night, President Smith briefly made reference to propositions involved in the stricter guardianship of our children, calling attention to laxity in governing them, and a degree of recklessness that has developed, along certain lines, among some of our young people. From my own observation, I feel sure that we accord greater liberty to our children than is granted by a large majority of the rest of the world. I feel that this matter of the care and education of our children, needs consideration in every home, ward, and stake of Zion. As I remarked before, in one of the meetings in this Tabernacle, I am fearful we are becoming too much the lovers of pleasure, and too little the lovers of God; I believe that repentance and reformation in these respects are requisites among us as a people. I believe that excessive liberty comes into my own home; I know it does; and I believe it goes into the homes of too many of this people. While in no sense of the word would I curtail legitimate and proper liberty, proper enjoyment and recreation for the young, I recognize the fact that indiscriminate mingling of boys and girls in every place, and under every condition, without the guardianship of parents, is a menace to the morality, well-being, and good of our young, a hindrance to their development and growth in the cause of the Eternal Father. My brothers and my sisters, I ask you to think upon this problem of the proper care of our children. Let us instil into the minds of our young people, who are entering upon the duties of life a proper understanding and regard for the sacredness of those obligations, that they may duly recognize the principles of virtue, honesty, integrity, honor, devotion to the right, industry, perseverance and unyielding courage, with resolutions fixed upon the uplifting and upbuilding of the race, the betterment of the whole world.
As my brethren have said before me, I testify to the mission of the Redeemer of the world, the Son of the living God. I testify to the truth that has been established through His administration. I testify to the greatness, and to the truth in its fullness, of the work of the Almighty that has been entrusted to these men and women who are under the sound of my voice. It is the grandest and truest mission that has ever been imposed upon mortal in the history of the world.
I plead with my brethren and sisters to think of these matters, that we may understand the obligations that rest upon us in this great work; that we may understand our duties toward our children, that elements of the noblest character shall be implanted in the souls of our sons and daughters and that the country in which we live shall be uplifted through the purity and integrity shown in their lives and ministry. Amen.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS M. LYMAN.
Some who have the Gospel Spirit possess worldly spirit also.—Responsibility of parents, and instructors: agency of children.—U. S. has gathered best people of all nations. — Nation favored of the Lord; the people should be righteous.
I have rejoiced exceedingly with you, my brethren and sisters, during this conference. It seems to me it has been one of the most inspiring and edifying conferences that we have ever enjoyed. The weather has been good, and the congregations have been large and attentive. I am sure that we have verily been fed spiritually, and instructed, and I am now quite prepared for the transaction of the remaining business of the conference, and for its adjournment.
The work of the Lord is so thoroughly fixed in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, that it is secure among men. It may not yet have reached its majority, or become strong enough to be very remarkable among the churches and peoples of the earth, but it certainly is so strongly established that it will never be shaken, nor moved. It will not be moved out of its place, for the Lord will sustain it; and He will sustain each of us, individually, through our faith, and having done the will, of the Lord. We not only recognize the results in the works of the people, but we know of the doctrine. The Lord has favored us, as He would have favored all men if they would have received His blessings, if they had been willing to listen to the truth and receive it. Not that we have been any more favored, particularly, than the rest of the world would have been, if they had been willing, if they had opened their hearts and their ears, and had listened. They could have known as we know, and they might have realized the truth of the doctrine, as well as to have recognized the good works quoted here by our bishop. We would like them to be able to quote a good many more good works than we have heard, in connection with us individually and as a people, for there is ample room for our improvement. We must correct the troubles that we complain of in regard to our children, and that we find in ourselves. At times we have to acknowledge that we are a little like the world, that we stray from our professions and the doctrines of life and truth. Unless we are careful, we may depart, in some particular, from the straight and narrow path.
Although we have to acknowledge these things, yet there is being established and is established now, in the hearts of a large majority of the Latter-day Saints, a clear understanding of the doctrines that are so difficult for the world to comprehend, for the reason explained by the bishop—that they have not the spirit of this work, but have the spirit of the world. We, too, have the spirit of the world in quite liberal amount, so that we understand, as the world understands, the things of the world; we comprehend and agree in regard to them, and, like the world, we participate more or less and are engrossed in that spirit more than we should be. We should be more thoroughly and entirely under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Ghost; but we are improving in this regard. I say that the Latter-day Saints are improving, and I am not sure but there is improvement also in the world. There are many good people in the world, who are righteous, who are humble and faithful according to their understanding of the truth.
Our trouble is, much as others, we have our agency, and our children, just like ourselves, have their agency ; and although we may possibly set before them reasonably good examples, and be solicitous for them, prayerful and anxious for their salvation, yet they take their choice—your boys and mine, and our girls, they do just about as they please. I believe it is generally understood, and advocated, that if we were better parents, better fathers and mothers, attended more faithfully to our duties in teaching our children and training them, we would have better children. I presume there is much truth in it; but sometimes good people, good parents, have bad boys and bad girls. I understand that the Lord has more bad boys and girls than anybody else; yet, He teaches, and instructs, and inspires, and is ready to do everything He can for them; and aren't you and I ready also to do what we can for our children. Although we may do all that lies in our power, set good examples, give good instructions, take pains to observe the Sabbath day ourselves, and have our children do the same, yet a percentage of them may be reckless, and some may go to destruction, and as a result our hearts may be broken. Tender fathers and mothers are very greatly distressed over the waywardness, of their children. It is our duty to care for our children, to look after them, to do all the good we can for them, and when we have done all that, why some of them, no doubt, will be lost—at least they will not do as we want them to do. They will exercise their agency, and some of them may listen to the spirit of evil that is in the world. Notwithstanding these difficulties, it is our obligation to take every pains in our power for the salvation of our children, for they are the children of God. They are entrusted to us, and we are responsible for teaching them, training and leading them by our example and precept in the ways of righteousness. When we have done our duty faithfully, and have been perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect, as near as we can—which I believe we can fairly well be if we will—then the responsibility rests upon the children themselves. Parents do not rest under condemnation when they have done their duty in regard to their children. The obligation rests first with the parents, but it also rests upon the bishops and presiding officers in the wards, in the stakes of Zion, and in the Church, the leading presiding brethren, and the leading and chief sisters in the associations—a great responsibility rests upon them as well as upon the parents; they must all do their duty, so that the young people of the Church may be thoroughly trained and instructed.
Let us take care of what the Lord has entrusted to us. He has given us everything we enjoy, the Church, the people, our families, our country. Thank the Lord for this country, of which we speak so highly, and its government— a splendid government, a splendid country; and yet there are difficulties, and troubles in the cities, the states and in the nation. We have to struggle with great questions, great difficulties, but we have the finest part of the world, the best government, and the finest people—for we have the very best people of all nations ; we have gathered in this country from all nations. Ours is a gathering nation, as well as a gathering people. I do not know that there is any other nation—I do not think just now of another nation that is gathering from all the other nations of the earth. All the nations of the earth seem to be contributing to build up this nation which the Lord seems to have held in reserve; that is, He seems to have delayed the establishment of this nation, the developing of this side of the world. He has reserved this country for the accomplishment of His purposes. They are gathering to this continent, and they are gathering to this people, as to no other religious denomination. We have represented here nearly all the civilized nations of the earth—if they are not all represented now, they will be after a little while. The choicest element seems to be moving from the old world, from among other nations, to gather upon this new side of the world — although it is sometimes regarded as the old side of the world; it has been old so long it seems to have come young again. We are developing a nation, and we are developing a people, religiously, such as is not known on any other part of the earth.
Being thus favored of the Lord, and being called as His instruments, it behooves us to be faithful and diligent. We have been called of God; He has inspired us; He has opened our eyes and our ears, and enables us to understand. It seems that He has been unable to make others of His children see as yet, though their eyes will finally be opened. Thank the Lord that our eyes have been opened early, and that we now have the privilege of helping to build up the kingdom of God, to spread abroad in the earth the principles of truth and righteousness, to take care of the foundations of this Church which the Lord has established in our day.
It is a wonderful thing for us to be members of this Church. The brethren sometimes say how they appreciate their membership in this Church. Why, there is nothing greater, nothing finer in the world, for we are associated with the counsels, the directions, and divine inspiration and authority of the Father, to whom all men are accountable. He inspired His prophet Joseph Smith, to lay the foundations of this work, so securely that it will never be disturbed; that is, it will never be overturned; and the work will never be given to another people, for the people who now possess it, and their posterity, and those who come to our assistance, will sustain this work, and it will never be overthrown, for God has said it. He is sustaining and directing this great work. You and I are His instruments, and we will be wonderfully honored and blest in our salvation, and the salvation of our posterity, if we are faithful. Let us do our duty ; da it faithfully, thoroughly, and well, so that we. shall never be condemned, nor be ashamed—through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Some who have the Gospel Spirit possess worldly spirit also.—Responsibility of parents, and instructors: agency of children.—U. S. has gathered best people of all nations. — Nation favored of the Lord; the people should be righteous.
I have rejoiced exceedingly with you, my brethren and sisters, during this conference. It seems to me it has been one of the most inspiring and edifying conferences that we have ever enjoyed. The weather has been good, and the congregations have been large and attentive. I am sure that we have verily been fed spiritually, and instructed, and I am now quite prepared for the transaction of the remaining business of the conference, and for its adjournment.
The work of the Lord is so thoroughly fixed in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints, that it is secure among men. It may not yet have reached its majority, or become strong enough to be very remarkable among the churches and peoples of the earth, but it certainly is so strongly established that it will never be shaken, nor moved. It will not be moved out of its place, for the Lord will sustain it; and He will sustain each of us, individually, through our faith, and having done the will, of the Lord. We not only recognize the results in the works of the people, but we know of the doctrine. The Lord has favored us, as He would have favored all men if they would have received His blessings, if they had been willing to listen to the truth and receive it. Not that we have been any more favored, particularly, than the rest of the world would have been, if they had been willing, if they had opened their hearts and their ears, and had listened. They could have known as we know, and they might have realized the truth of the doctrine, as well as to have recognized the good works quoted here by our bishop. We would like them to be able to quote a good many more good works than we have heard, in connection with us individually and as a people, for there is ample room for our improvement. We must correct the troubles that we complain of in regard to our children, and that we find in ourselves. At times we have to acknowledge that we are a little like the world, that we stray from our professions and the doctrines of life and truth. Unless we are careful, we may depart, in some particular, from the straight and narrow path.
Although we have to acknowledge these things, yet there is being established and is established now, in the hearts of a large majority of the Latter-day Saints, a clear understanding of the doctrines that are so difficult for the world to comprehend, for the reason explained by the bishop—that they have not the spirit of this work, but have the spirit of the world. We, too, have the spirit of the world in quite liberal amount, so that we understand, as the world understands, the things of the world; we comprehend and agree in regard to them, and, like the world, we participate more or less and are engrossed in that spirit more than we should be. We should be more thoroughly and entirely under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Ghost; but we are improving in this regard. I say that the Latter-day Saints are improving, and I am not sure but there is improvement also in the world. There are many good people in the world, who are righteous, who are humble and faithful according to their understanding of the truth.
Our trouble is, much as others, we have our agency, and our children, just like ourselves, have their agency ; and although we may possibly set before them reasonably good examples, and be solicitous for them, prayerful and anxious for their salvation, yet they take their choice—your boys and mine, and our girls, they do just about as they please. I believe it is generally understood, and advocated, that if we were better parents, better fathers and mothers, attended more faithfully to our duties in teaching our children and training them, we would have better children. I presume there is much truth in it; but sometimes good people, good parents, have bad boys and bad girls. I understand that the Lord has more bad boys and girls than anybody else; yet, He teaches, and instructs, and inspires, and is ready to do everything He can for them; and aren't you and I ready also to do what we can for our children. Although we may do all that lies in our power, set good examples, give good instructions, take pains to observe the Sabbath day ourselves, and have our children do the same, yet a percentage of them may be reckless, and some may go to destruction, and as a result our hearts may be broken. Tender fathers and mothers are very greatly distressed over the waywardness, of their children. It is our duty to care for our children, to look after them, to do all the good we can for them, and when we have done all that, why some of them, no doubt, will be lost—at least they will not do as we want them to do. They will exercise their agency, and some of them may listen to the spirit of evil that is in the world. Notwithstanding these difficulties, it is our obligation to take every pains in our power for the salvation of our children, for they are the children of God. They are entrusted to us, and we are responsible for teaching them, training and leading them by our example and precept in the ways of righteousness. When we have done our duty faithfully, and have been perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect, as near as we can—which I believe we can fairly well be if we will—then the responsibility rests upon the children themselves. Parents do not rest under condemnation when they have done their duty in regard to their children. The obligation rests first with the parents, but it also rests upon the bishops and presiding officers in the wards, in the stakes of Zion, and in the Church, the leading presiding brethren, and the leading and chief sisters in the associations—a great responsibility rests upon them as well as upon the parents; they must all do their duty, so that the young people of the Church may be thoroughly trained and instructed.
Let us take care of what the Lord has entrusted to us. He has given us everything we enjoy, the Church, the people, our families, our country. Thank the Lord for this country, of which we speak so highly, and its government— a splendid government, a splendid country; and yet there are difficulties, and troubles in the cities, the states and in the nation. We have to struggle with great questions, great difficulties, but we have the finest part of the world, the best government, and the finest people—for we have the very best people of all nations ; we have gathered in this country from all nations. Ours is a gathering nation, as well as a gathering people. I do not know that there is any other nation—I do not think just now of another nation that is gathering from all the other nations of the earth. All the nations of the earth seem to be contributing to build up this nation which the Lord seems to have held in reserve; that is, He seems to have delayed the establishment of this nation, the developing of this side of the world. He has reserved this country for the accomplishment of His purposes. They are gathering to this continent, and they are gathering to this people, as to no other religious denomination. We have represented here nearly all the civilized nations of the earth—if they are not all represented now, they will be after a little while. The choicest element seems to be moving from the old world, from among other nations, to gather upon this new side of the world — although it is sometimes regarded as the old side of the world; it has been old so long it seems to have come young again. We are developing a nation, and we are developing a people, religiously, such as is not known on any other part of the earth.
Being thus favored of the Lord, and being called as His instruments, it behooves us to be faithful and diligent. We have been called of God; He has inspired us; He has opened our eyes and our ears, and enables us to understand. It seems that He has been unable to make others of His children see as yet, though their eyes will finally be opened. Thank the Lord that our eyes have been opened early, and that we now have the privilege of helping to build up the kingdom of God, to spread abroad in the earth the principles of truth and righteousness, to take care of the foundations of this Church which the Lord has established in our day.
It is a wonderful thing for us to be members of this Church. The brethren sometimes say how they appreciate their membership in this Church. Why, there is nothing greater, nothing finer in the world, for we are associated with the counsels, the directions, and divine inspiration and authority of the Father, to whom all men are accountable. He inspired His prophet Joseph Smith, to lay the foundations of this work, so securely that it will never be disturbed; that is, it will never be overturned; and the work will never be given to another people, for the people who now possess it, and their posterity, and those who come to our assistance, will sustain this work, and it will never be overthrown, for God has said it. He is sustaining and directing this great work. You and I are His instruments, and we will be wonderfully honored and blest in our salvation, and the salvation of our posterity, if we are faithful. Let us do our duty ; da it faithfully, thoroughly, and well, so that we. shall never be condemned, nor be ashamed—through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
AUDITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Elder Heber J. Grant read the following report of the Church Auditing Committee:
Salt Lake City, Utah,
April 2, 1909.
President Joseph F. Smith and Counselors,
Dear Brethren:
Your committee, entrusted with the auditing of the books and accounts of the various officers having charge of the financial affairs of the Church, beg leave to report that we have completed our labors, having carefully examined all books and accounts, and have found them accurate, and correctly kept. We further certify that all receipts and expenditures have been fully accounted for, and the details thereof given with great particularity.
We desire especially to mention and commend the intelligent and business-like methods prevailing at the offices of the Trustee-in-Trust, Presiding Bishopric and minor offices of the Church.
Very respectfully submitted,
RUDGER CLAWSON,
W. W. RlTER,
A. W. Carlson,
Henry H. Rolapp,
Auditing Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Hyrum M. Smith moved that the report of the Auditing Committee be accepted and approved.
Elder Joseph E. Robinson moved to add, as an amendment to the motion, that the members of the Church, present at this meeting, hereby express entire confidence in the administration of the financial affairs of the Church. The motion and amendment were sustained by the congregation, by unanimous vote.
Elder Heber J. Grant read the following report of the Church Auditing Committee:
Salt Lake City, Utah,
April 2, 1909.
President Joseph F. Smith and Counselors,
Dear Brethren:
Your committee, entrusted with the auditing of the books and accounts of the various officers having charge of the financial affairs of the Church, beg leave to report that we have completed our labors, having carefully examined all books and accounts, and have found them accurate, and correctly kept. We further certify that all receipts and expenditures have been fully accounted for, and the details thereof given with great particularity.
We desire especially to mention and commend the intelligent and business-like methods prevailing at the offices of the Trustee-in-Trust, Presiding Bishopric and minor offices of the Church.
Very respectfully submitted,
RUDGER CLAWSON,
W. W. RlTER,
A. W. Carlson,
Henry H. Rolapp,
Auditing Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Hyrum M. Smith moved that the report of the Auditing Committee be accepted and approved.
Elder Joseph E. Robinson moved to add, as an amendment to the motion, that the members of the Church, present at this meeting, hereby express entire confidence in the administration of the financial affairs of the Church. The motion and amendment were sustained by the congregation, by unanimous vote.
AUTHORITIES SUSTAINED.
Elder Heber J. Grant presented the General Authorities of the Church, to be voted upon by the assembly, as follows:
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 Council of Twelve Apostles, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, Charles W. Penrose, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay and Anthony W. Ivins.
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, Brigham H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin and Charles H. Hart.
Charles W. Nibley, as Presiding Bishop, with Orrin P. Miller and David A. Smith, 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, A. Milton Musser, Brigham H. Roberts and Joseph F. Smith, Jr., Assistant Historians.
As Members of the General Church Board of Education—Joseph F. Smith, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, George H. Brimhall, Rudger Clawson, John R. Winder, Charles W. Penrose, Horace H. Cummings and Orson F. Whitney.
Arthur Winter, Secretary and Treasurer to the General Church Board of Education.
Horace H. Cummings, General Superintendent of Church Schools.
Board of Examiners for Church Schools—Horace H. Cummings, Chairman; George H. Brimhall, James H. Linford and Willard Young.
Tabernacle Choir—Prest. John R. Winder, President; Evan Stephens, Conductor; Horace S. Ensign, Assistant Conductor; John J. Mc- Clellan, organist; Edward P. Kimball and Tracy Y. Cannon, assistant organists ; George C. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer; Noel S. Pratt, Librarian; and all the members.
Auditing Committee— Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, William W. Riter, August W. Carlson, and Henry H. Rolapp.
Duncan M. McAllister, as Clerk of the Conference.
Each and all of those named were duly sustained in the positions designated, by unanimous vote of the Conference.
Elder Heber J. Grant presented the General Authorities of the Church, to be voted upon by the assembly, as follows:
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 Council of Twelve Apostles, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, Charles W. Penrose, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay and Anthony W. Ivins.
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, Brigham H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Jonathan G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells, Joseph W. McMurrin and Charles H. Hart.
Charles W. Nibley, as Presiding Bishop, with Orrin P. Miller and David A. Smith, 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, A. Milton Musser, Brigham H. Roberts and Joseph F. Smith, Jr., Assistant Historians.
As Members of the General Church Board of Education—Joseph F. Smith, Willard Young, Anthon H. Lund, George H. Brimhall, Rudger Clawson, John R. Winder, Charles W. Penrose, Horace H. Cummings and Orson F. Whitney.
Arthur Winter, Secretary and Treasurer to the General Church Board of Education.
Horace H. Cummings, General Superintendent of Church Schools.
Board of Examiners for Church Schools—Horace H. Cummings, Chairman; George H. Brimhall, James H. Linford and Willard Young.
Tabernacle Choir—Prest. John R. Winder, President; Evan Stephens, Conductor; Horace S. Ensign, Assistant Conductor; John J. Mc- Clellan, organist; Edward P. Kimball and Tracy Y. Cannon, assistant organists ; George C. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer; Noel S. Pratt, Librarian; and all the members.
Auditing Committee— Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, William W. Riter, August W. Carlson, and Henry H. Rolapp.
Duncan M. McAllister, as Clerk of the Conference.
Each and all of those named were duly sustained in the positions designated, by unanimous vote of the Conference.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH.
CLOSING REMARKS.
Faithful Elders who have died recently in mission fields.—The blessings of heaven invoked on the Saints.—Admonition to serve God.
It is with feelings of great sympathy, on the part of the brethren who preside, and the Saints everywhere, that I have to announce that since the October conference the following deaths have occurred in the mission field:
Brother Charles Mortenson, of Koosharem, Utah, died in Scandinavia, on January 12, 1909; cause appendicitis.
Brother George Edwin Morris, of Mesa, Arizona, died December 12, 1908, in Samoa; cause, sunstroke.
Brother Oliver Hansen, of Bear River City, Utah, died November 28, 1908, in Scandinavia; cause, leakage of the heart. This brother died at Chicago while en route home from his mission.
We felt that it was our duty to mention the names of these our brethren who have fallen in the ministry, while devoting their time and the gifts the Lord bestowed upon them, in the mission field. They were faithful and true, and their memories should ever be held clear by their kindred and all the Latter-day Saints, in that they laid down their lives in the Master's service. We pray God to bless and comfort those who are bereaved more especially by their loss; and their hearts may not faint, but that they may be buoyed up in the hope of the glorious resurrection awaiting them when they and their loved ones shall, be reunited in the life and light which will never perish or again grow dim.
I desire to express my gratitude to the Latter-day Saints who have so faithfully attended this conference. I feel to give to you, my brethren and sisters, my blessing, and to ask humbly of the Lord to bestow greatly upon you all His favors, His blessings and protecting care, that you may be prospered in your temporal labors, and that you may also be prospered abundantly in your spiritual labors and efforts to build up the kingdom of God in the earth. I trust that we may all return to our daily duties rejoicing in the spirit that has been manifested during our conference and in the excellent instructions and counsels that have been given to us by those who have spoken. Let us bear these things in mind, and go home determined more than ever to serve God and to keep His laws; to work righteousness in the earth, that our light may indeed so shine that the world may see it, and that men may be led to glorify God.
It was announced that Prof. John J. McClellan, and assistants, will give recitals at 12 m. daily hereafter, on the great Tabernacle organ, to which the public will be admitted free, as heretofore.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
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;
We thank Thee for every blessing
Bestowed by Thy bounteous hand;
We feel it a pleasure to serve Thee,
And love to obey Thy command.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder John G. McQuarrie, and Conference was adjourned for six months.
Prof. Evan Stephens conducted the singing of the choir and congregation at all the conference meetings in the Tabernacle, and Prof. John J. McClellan played the accompaniments, interludes, etc., on the great organ, assisted by Edward P. Kimball.
The stenographic reports of the discourses were taken by Elders Franklin W. Otterstrom, Frederick E. Barker, and Fred G. Barker.
D. M. McAllister,
Clerk of Conference.
CLOSING REMARKS.
Faithful Elders who have died recently in mission fields.—The blessings of heaven invoked on the Saints.—Admonition to serve God.
It is with feelings of great sympathy, on the part of the brethren who preside, and the Saints everywhere, that I have to announce that since the October conference the following deaths have occurred in the mission field:
Brother Charles Mortenson, of Koosharem, Utah, died in Scandinavia, on January 12, 1909; cause appendicitis.
Brother George Edwin Morris, of Mesa, Arizona, died December 12, 1908, in Samoa; cause, sunstroke.
Brother Oliver Hansen, of Bear River City, Utah, died November 28, 1908, in Scandinavia; cause, leakage of the heart. This brother died at Chicago while en route home from his mission.
We felt that it was our duty to mention the names of these our brethren who have fallen in the ministry, while devoting their time and the gifts the Lord bestowed upon them, in the mission field. They were faithful and true, and their memories should ever be held clear by their kindred and all the Latter-day Saints, in that they laid down their lives in the Master's service. We pray God to bless and comfort those who are bereaved more especially by their loss; and their hearts may not faint, but that they may be buoyed up in the hope of the glorious resurrection awaiting them when they and their loved ones shall, be reunited in the life and light which will never perish or again grow dim.
I desire to express my gratitude to the Latter-day Saints who have so faithfully attended this conference. I feel to give to you, my brethren and sisters, my blessing, and to ask humbly of the Lord to bestow greatly upon you all His favors, His blessings and protecting care, that you may be prospered in your temporal labors, and that you may also be prospered abundantly in your spiritual labors and efforts to build up the kingdom of God in the earth. I trust that we may all return to our daily duties rejoicing in the spirit that has been manifested during our conference and in the excellent instructions and counsels that have been given to us by those who have spoken. Let us bear these things in mind, and go home determined more than ever to serve God and to keep His laws; to work righteousness in the earth, that our light may indeed so shine that the world may see it, and that men may be led to glorify God.
It was announced that Prof. John J. McClellan, and assistants, will give recitals at 12 m. daily hereafter, on the great Tabernacle organ, to which the public will be admitted free, as heretofore.
The choir and congregation sang the hymn:
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;
We thank Thee for every blessing
Bestowed by Thy bounteous hand;
We feel it a pleasure to serve Thee,
And love to obey Thy command.
Benediction was pronounced by Elder John G. McQuarrie, and Conference was adjourned for six months.
Prof. Evan Stephens conducted the singing of the choir and congregation at all the conference meetings in the Tabernacle, and Prof. John J. McClellan played the accompaniments, interludes, etc., on the great organ, assisted by Edward P. Kimball.
The stenographic reports of the discourses were taken by Elders Franklin W. Otterstrom, Frederick E. Barker, and Fred G. Barker.
D. M. McAllister,
Clerk of Conference.