Reminiscences of Prison Life and Dedication of the Grave

My brethren and sisters and friends, we have gathered here upon this occasion to pay a last tribute of respect to a great leader in Israel. The death of President Snow is known today in all the Stakes of Zion, and the Saints bow in humble submission to the divine will. We are assembled to mourn his departure, and to weep over his sacred remains. Let me tell you, it is we who weep; he does not weep. I believe that he is a very happy man. His life is an open book. His works are well known to the people. He went down to the grave full of years, and died in the harness; and I repeat that I believe President Lorenzo Snow is a very happy man. Oh, how happy he must be in this great last victory of his life! ¶

A short time since, in looking at an old picture of a group of leading brethren, I was reminded of the mighty changes that are taking place in our for a moment, we shall scarcely realize midst, and, except we pause and reflect it. Among the faces shown in that group were the following:- Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Ezra T. Benson Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Brigham Young, Jr., and Albert Carrington. All of these stalwart men have passed away, except two, and those two are present with us today — President Joseph F. Smith, who now stands at the head, and Brigham Young, who stands next to him. Those who have fallen in recent years are John Taylor, Abraham H. Cannon, Wilford Woodruff, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon and Lorenzo Snow. All these men who have passed away have gone within the very short period of fifty-four years. But notwithstanding we do not see their faces in our midst any more, the work of God moves on in majestic power. I want to testify to this vast congregation that it is the work of God, and not the work of man, and God will have the glory. ¶

But I would more particularly speak for a moment of President Lorenzo Snow, whose remains are before us. I was intimately associated with him for some eight or ten years in the Boxelder Stake of Zion, when he was the resident Apostle of that Stake. During that time I had the advantage of his wisdom and experience, and I learned to know his worth, the integrity of his heart, and his devotion to the cause of Christ. My confidence in him was made firm and strong, and I know that with him it was the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and, as has been remarked, all other things will be added to him. I was also intimately associated with President Snow for eleven months in the penitentiary, where he was incarcerated for conscience sake, and I want to say to this great congregation of people that he bore the trial with fortitude and patience, notwithstanding he was a man of refinement and culture. His life in the penitentiary was an inspiration to your humble servant, and also to the members of our Church who were sent to the peni tentiary. We looked upon him under those trying conditions, and we loved him. In order to give you an idea, in brief, of his character and how he met the condition, I will mention an incident that happened there, when, upon one occasion, he called the brethren together (there were some thirty-five or forty in all) and said in substance: "We have been sent to this place and are associated together in prison. It will be our privilege, if we so desire, to express our feelings to the Lord by offering up unto Him the sacred shout" — that great and glorious shout which has been led by President Snow upon many occasions, more particularly in the great temple of the Lord standing on this block, at its dedication, and also at Brigham City, and in this Tabernacle. He informed these prisoners for Christ's sake that it would be their privilege to raise their voices to the Lord in the sacred shout, if they felt the spirit of it. An expression was taken, and it was the unanimous feeling of the brethren that they avail themselves of this great and glorious privilege. The sacred shout was then offered up within those prison walls — a great and a mighty shout to God and the Lamb. The foundations of the prison seemed to shake, and the shout ascended to heaven. I testify to you it is my belief that that great shout was acceptable to the Lord and is recorded in the library of the celestial kingdom. ¶

In conclusion, I would like to say that it was my privilege to attend the last fast meeting held by the temple workers in the Salt Lake Temple. Presiden Snow was present, though in feeble health. At the conclusion of the meeting, he requested the choir to sing that beautiful hymn which you have just heard, "Shall we meet beyond the river?" and for his benefit and pleasure it was rendered with great pathos and spirit. After its rendition President Snow arose and said: "I say to you brethren and sisters of this meeting, we shall meet beyond the river. God bless you, God bless you, God bless you." A parting benediction to those devoted temple workers, and very impressive. ¶

I feel interested in the family of President Snow. I pray that God will let His blessings and His favor rest upon them, that they may be sustained and encouraged in this hour of trial and bereavement, and that all Israel may be comforted, and that we may be able to say, O God, Thy will be done, not ours. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶