Sunday School Work and Faith for Cannon

I presume that there is no more inspiring sight to be found in the world in connection with Sunday school work than we have before us tonight. I wonder if there is any spot on earth where there is anything in this line to compare with what we see tonight, and such as we see twice a year. It becomes quite common to us, such a gathering of children as we have here to make music, and the choice singing by others. I have been wondering what percentage of the congregation present are not really workers and interested in the Sunday schools. I notice that our Sunday schools have the presence of our leaders -- the members of the Presidency of the Church and the chief men in the Stakes of Zion; and in the wards the presiding authorities are always attentive and give encouragement to this cause. It embraces almost every department of the Church; men and women, old and young, middle-aged, all are interested in this great and important cause, and no one can be too thoroughly devoted to it, for it is particularly and entirely devoted to the salvation of the souls of the children, and if we can save the children, there will be no trouble with the older people, for if the children be saved the old people cannot help but be saved after a while. And the impressions that are made upon them in the Sunday schools will never be forgotten. Listening to Dr. Tanner urging us to commit to memory passages of scripture, I do not think that we can give too much thought to this splendid suggestion. It is not new, it is rather in the ancient line, for we have no doubt among us today many of the older people of the Church who were trained in Sunday schools in early times when almost the entire work was devoted to committing to memory scripture passages, scripture chapters, and almost all have some of the books of the scripture, and I believe that we have drifted, as the doctor says, in the other direction, and that we should return and give greater attention to memorizing scripture passages. This evening I was thinking as we were about to come to this gathering, that Brother George Goddard has passed away. Brother Maeser has passed away. These two great assistants to the general superintendent have passed away, and tonight our hearts are sad with the fact that the general superintendent himself is in a precarious condition, and I want to suggest to these Sunday school workers that we exercise in behalf of our general superintendent, President George Q. Cannon, all the faith that we can muster, and that we do not lie down tonight until we have in humility and in faith asked the Lord that his life may be preserved to us and to His Church. I ask it as a favor of this body of Sunday school workers, these seven or eight thousand people that are here. Brother Reynolds remains with us here, the others are away from us, two of them permanently and President Cannon unable to be with us. I have known these men since I was a child. President Cannon, seventy-four years old. I can remember well when he was as modest and blushing as a maiden, although I am so much younger than he is, but I can remember when he was a young man, remember him well. Brother Maeser, I learned to known him early in life and experience here. Was connected with him in school matters. Brother Goddard I can remember almost as long as I can remember anyone in these valleys. Elder George Reynolds, who is with us tonight, a little younger than I am, came to the ministry when I was a traveling Elder in the London conference forty years ago, and we have traveled side by side from then till now. Our integrity is known to each other. We know each others' hearts; and these men that I have spoken of are being succeeded and associated with by men of the same type. I thank the Lord that this splendid body of men, who stand to the Sunday school cause as the Presidency and the Twelve stand to the Church of Christ, the leaders and chiefs, and as devoted and as earnest and faithful in this cause as the Presidency and the Apostles are in the Church, and just as sweet, and clean, and devoted. This is my testimony in regard to these men. God bless the Sunday school cause. I delight in it, I enjoy it; and as I have said before, I never received an appointment in the Church that brought me greater pride, satisfaction and pleasure than to know that I could be associated with this body of men, and in this cause in the Church of Christ. That we may be faithful and devoted, and accomplish all the good that lies in our power for the salvation of the souls of the children that the Lord has entrusted to us, I humbly ask in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶