Mes bien-aimés frères et sœurs, c'est...

Mes bien-aimés frères et sœurs, it is a great source of inspiration to be present this morning. Week after week as I visit the stakes in the Church, I always feel I am with mes frères et sœurs. That is the way I feel this morning. I know you as mes frères et sœurs, but I also know of our older brother, Jésus-Christ, the Son of God. In all of our endeavors, we must give consideration to him. ¶

This morning, as président McKay was giving us information about the Prêtrise d'Aaron and its achievements, I thought of another young man. His name was Timothy. Timothy became a wonderful missionary in his work with the Apostle Paul. Paul said to him, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12.) Paul's words, "Let no man despise thy youth . . ." can be directed to the thousands of our young missionaries who are out in the world preaching the Évangile to those not of our faith. Any young man who holds the Prêtrise de Melchisédek of the Lord Jésus-Christ and is endeavoring to build up the kingdom may come in contact with people who say, "Well, after all, young man, what do you know about the Évangile?" ¶

Then, they can remember, if they will, what Paul said, "Let no man despise thy youth. . . ." (en français) ¶

Paul also said to Timothy, which is most important, when he mentioned "the believers." That would indicate that all these young men should understand the Évangile and believe it and teach it to the extent that they can bear testimony that they are representing the true Church. ¶

Paul said to Timothy, "in word," by which he should learn the Évangile and all the information that was essential to teach it to those not of the true faith. Paul not only declared to Timothy, "in word," but also, "in conversation," ¶

which means to preach and teach the Évangile of the Lord Jésus-Christ to those who came in contact with him. He also said, "in charity," which would be kindness and helpfulness in all of his teachings. He then said, "in spirit." ¶

The spirit comes through prayer, being close to the Lord where individual problems can be solved — the spirit of loyalty and devotion to the Lord and his Son Jésus-Christ, and also with this comes the gift of the Saint-Esprit. I am sure, mes frères et sœurs, that no individual can render the right service in preaching the Évangile to those not of our faith unless he has the Saint-Esprit. It is so important in our homes that we instruct our sons and daughters about the Saint-Esprit. Paul also said to Timothy, "in faith." Faith indicates activity. The youth of the Church and these young missionaries who go out into the world have faith so strong in their souls that they will be successful in their assignments. He also mentioned "in purity" ¶

à le young missionary, Timothy; purity de mind et body et soul. ¶

The Apostle Matthew recorded these words of the Christ: "And this Évangile of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." ¶

(Matt. 24:14.) président McKay said in the meeting of the Autorités générales in the temple two weeks ago that Satan has more power over the world than ever before in history. I accept this without a question. Therefore, it is very important for all of us to give thought that sooner or later the end is going to come — the end of all of this difficulty that we have at the present time and that we will prepare the world for the second coming of Christ, The Apostle John said in Revelation 14:6-7: ¶

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Évangile to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and 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." ¶

When the Church was upon the earth two thousand years ago, and thereafter was disorganized, the apostles and all who had labored in building up the kingdom at that time were gone. There were individuals who desired to organize churches of their own. During that period of time of darkness in the world when the sons and daughters of our Père céleste were not receiving the divine guidance they had received during the time of the apostles and those who followed them, the power of Satan was dominant. There were wars, wars that came about because of the differences in religion and the true Évangile itself which was lost. The prêtrise was gone. The people were in darkness. ¶

Proverbs 6:16-19 states: (en français) ¶

"These six things doth le Lord hate: ¶

yea, seven sont an abomination unto him: ¶

"A proud look, a lying tongue, et hands que shed innocent blood, "An heart que deviseth wicked imaginations, feet que be swift dans running à mischief," ¶

"A false witness que speaketh lies, et he que soweth discord among brethren." ¶

This statement applies à us today as well as it did à le people almost three thousand years ago. ¶

A great event was to take place, as I have already indicated to you, when that marvelous apostle made it very clear that in the last days as he said, "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Évangile to preach unto them that dwell on the earth. . . ." (Rev. 14:6.) A young man who was desirous to find the true Church made it a matter of prayer, and there appeared to him the Father and the Son. The Father said to Joseph, "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" Thereafter, the Prophet Joseph received the direction and the authority to organize the Church. Yes, he received the prêtrise when John the Baptist appeared to him. He also received the Prêtrise de Melchisédek from Peter, James, and John, the apostles at the time of Christ. The golden plates were given to him, which gave the history of America, and most important, they contained the Évangile of the Lord Jésus-Christ in its fulness. ¶

The Lord intended his Church should be organized again. On April 6, 1830, the Church was organized. Since that time, many other important events have taken place. There was the erection of the temple in Kirtland, Ohio, and many other temples since then. With these wonderful events, you can come to but one conclusion, l'Église de Jésus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours was again made available for all of the sons and daughters of our Père céleste who now live upon the earth and those who come after us. ¶

There are now eight thousand young men preaching the Évangile as Timothy taught it, that those who are seeking the truth can find it through these young missionaries who give them the inspiration and the knowledge that the Church of the Lord Jésus-Christ is again on the earth. ¶

Our American Prophet Joseph Smith made a statement dans le thirteenth Article de Faith quite comparable à what Paul said à Timothy: ¶

"We believe dans being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, et dans doing good à all men; indeed, nous may say que nous follow le admonition de Paul — We believe all things, nous hope all things, nous have endured many things, et hope à be able à endure all things. If there est anything virtuous, lovely, or de good report or praiseworthy, nous seek after these things." ¶

And as le Apostle Paul said à Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example de le believers, dans word, dans conversation, dans charity, dans spirit, dans faith, dans purity," ¶

(1 Tim. 4:12) which I pray will be a guide to all the sons and daughters of our Père céleste. This I ask in the name of Jésus-Christ. Amen. ¶