Remarks

President Joseph F. Smith, was the first speaker. He warned the people to be on their guard against pickpockets and other bad characters who had probably been attracted to this city from other places by the Conference and dedication, thinking it a good time to practice their trade among the crowds which would be drawn together on this special occasion. ¶

He felt grateful for the privilege of meeting with the Saints under such favorable circumstances and conditions at this time, and he prayed that the Lord would pour out His Holy Spirit abundantly upon all those of His faithful Saints who had assembled together. This was a great time for them as a people. Zion was growing, and the people of God were multiplying. We were in a great Gospel school, wherein we should be faithful students, in order that we might be prepared for the great responsibility which might devolve upon us as the people of God. One of the great lessons necessary for the Latter-day Saints to learn was that that which was spiritual was above and superior to that which was temporal. They should set their hearts above things far higher than this world could afford. It was necessary that every man and woman should bring himself and herself to the standard that they could say in their hearts, “Father, Thy will, not mine, be done.” ¶

We were now preparing to go, day by day, into this Temple which had been in course of erection during the last forty years, for the purpose of presenting ourselves for the purpose of presenting ourselves before the Lord and making unto Him the offerings of our handiwork. He was thankful that we had been so successful in this labor and that we had been permitted to accomplish it in the time we had; also to see the excellent spirit and kindly feeling which had been manifested by the Latter-day Saints everywhere in relation to this undertaking. He was likewise grateful to God his Heavenly Father for the liberality which the people had shown in contributing of their means, within the last year especially, towards the completion of this house. The Lord, he was sure, was well pleased with the Saints for what they had thus done; and he felt convinced that the majority of the people among us were in possession of the right spirit—the spirit of the Gospel. We must not go into God’s holy Temple with any bitterness in our hearts one towards another, with hatred in our soul towards our neighbor, but must humble ourselves before the Lord as little children. ¶

The speaker counseled his hearers not to lose the smallest opportunity which presented itself of doing good among the children of men. He urged the Saints to be honest in their convictions, true and sincere in their profession, and consistent in the certain policy which they had marked out for themselves. It was necessary for us to be a humble people before God, and we should never harbor in our hearts a feeling of unforgiveness towards our neighbor. He himself desired to ask the Latter-day Saints everywhere to forgive him for any wrong which he, a weak, frail, erring creature, had done, and if there were any who had at any time wronged him either in word or deed, he gladly extended to them a free and full forgiveness. It was not necessary, however, that we should be bowed down in sorry, or enter God’s Holy House with heavy countenances; rather did He desire that we should meet together with cheerful hearts and a spirit of happiness. ¶

By his own voice the Lord had spoken from the heavens in this the last dispensation, and this work would go on spreading until it covered the whole earth. It was the work of righteousness, and it was our duty to acknowledge His hand in all things. ¶

The Church was in its infancy when he was born, some fifty-four years ago. For over thirty years of his life he had been connected with the Priesthood and had labored among the people at home and abroad, preaching the Gospel, bearing his testimony to the truth, and trying to do good both by precept and example. Men might propose, but God Almighty was disposing of this work in His own way, and would bring all to pass in His own due time. The mission of the Latter-day Saints was to do good to all and wrong to none; and this was his own individual desire. ¶

The speaker dwelt upon the Word of Wisdom and asked how many of them kept it absolutely? Not one-half of the people called Latter-day Saints; and yet it was the command of God unto them—one of the laws which He required us to keep inviolate. It was our duty to learn that there was something in this life and in the life to come more desirable, and more lasting than riches, and that was righteousness. ¶

Let us go to the Lord in faith, nothing doubting, and we would hereafter receive our reward. ¶

President Smith echoed the sentiment expressed by President woodruff this morning, that never before in the history of the Church had greater unity of heart and spirit existed between the two leading councils of the Priesthood than prevailed today; and yet there was room for improvement. He prayed that the Saints might also be united in all things and seek to know the mind and will of God. ¶