Remarks

Elder Marriner W. Merrill, of the quorum of the Apostles, ¶

bore an earnest testimony to the truth of this work. He had the satisfaction of learning this before he joined the Church, when about only nine years of age, in answer to prayer, and had received evidences of that truth all along the line. The Lord sustained the Prophet Joseph Smith in the midst of all his trials, and He had sustained those who had since followed him at the head of the Church. Those who attempted to criticize the actions of the servants of God stood on dangerous ground. The Lord had chosen these brethren himself, and not one of them had sought the position which he occupied. Was it our place to regulate the Presidency of this Church? No, and the man or woman who continued to do this would, sooner or later, lose the spirit, and their minds would become darkened. He trusted the Saints would be humble, meek and lowly and avoid anything that was calculated to engender a feeling of dissension or ill will. Elder Merrill spoke upon the gift of healing, the power of which, he said, was in the midst of the Saints today. The Presidency of the Church had a deep interest in the people and their welfare, and that was why they exhibited so much anxiety in their keeping the commandments of God. Temple work was dwelt upon by the speaker, who said the spirit of this labor had not yet rested upon the people to the extent that it should. It was important that we should minister not only for the living but for the dead—those of our kindred who had died without a knowledge of the true Gospel. As to the financial depression with which we were now face to face, the Lord would deliver us in his own due time. The speaker besought the people to live within their means and not to mortgage their homes under any circumstances. To those who owed money he would say, pay to the utmost farthing as soon as you can, and so relieve yourselves of the burden which presses so heavily upon you. He feared we had been too extravagant in the past and trusted that a lesson had been taught us in this regard as to the future. The speaker prayed that the blessings of heaven would be poured down abundantly upon this people. ¶