Tribute to the Life and Example of President Lorenzo Snow

It appears to me that we have met frequently on occasions of this kind in this building; still we acknowledge the providences of God in what has befallen us in our bereavement, and also in all our successes and mutations in life. I have been called upon within the last few months to mourn the loss of friends who were as dear to me perhaps as any friends I ever had upon earth. I have looked upon President Lorenzo Snow as a second father. I have loved him as a father, and I mourn his departure; but I feel thankful that he was surrounded with every comfort, that peace prevailed in his home and with the people, and that he passed to his rest in the midst of his loving family and friends. About two hours before his death I laid my hand upon his brow and said, "President Snow, do you recognize me?" He looked at me with his sweet smile and eyes full of intelligence, and said, "I rather think I do." He was intelligent nearly to the last, and he knew that his time had come, for he spoke of it. If the prayers and faith of the people could have saved him, President Snow would be alive today; but God has willed it otherwise, and we are deprived of a man who has been one of the most valiant of those who were raised up by the Almighty to assist in laying the foundations of the great cause which He instituted for the salvation of His sons and daughters. ¶

I have known President Snow since before the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I knew him well before the Prophet was martyred, and I knew he was a friend of the Prophet, a friend of the leaders of the Church, and a friend of God. Though but a boy, I recognized in this man a power that was born of the Holy Spirit. I have known his works since 1843, and no man that has lived among us has been more thorough, more diligent, wiser in all positions where he has been placed, and shown more integrity to the work, than the late President Lorenzo Snow. I loved that man, as I loved his predecessors; and the grand work that he has accomplished in the last three years will live in the history of the Church, showing forth the greatness and the executive and financial ability of the man. He will stand among the foremost of those who have inaugurated this great and glorious work of the latter days. Thank God that I was acquainted with him! Though I mourn the loss of his society, I know that he has gone to a reward that is great and glorious. For him there is a crown laid up that shall never fade. I know his family will miss him, and his brethren will miss him; but Lorenzo Snow has done a magnificent work, and his example is worthy of emulation. His life is a monitor to me, an example that I wish to emulate as far as possible in my place and calling in the Church. I am sure that President Joseph F. Smith, who will succeed him, will also emulate the example of this man. When men manifest in their lives that they desire to obey His laws and keep His commandments, God moves upon them to do the work that He has for them to fulfil, and they do it in a way that is often wonderful to us. Wonderful has been the work of President Snow. God has overruled and shaped affairs so that he has passed along with a serenity, an evenness and a judgment that could only have been born of God. He labored for this all his life. I can look back upon his life and see that he was in training all his days for the very work he has accomplished. So it has been with all our leaders. Those who led us to this country were in training; so were those who have presided since we have dwelt in these mountains. Everything has moved along harmoniously, and each man has seemed to have his labor cut out for him to accomplish in the service of his God. ¶

I rejoice that President Snow has passed away peacefully. We are not now in the midst of mobs; we are in the midst of friends. It seems as if all classes are ready and willing to pay tribute to the remarkable qualities of our beloved leader, and to recognize him as a great man, as the Latter-day Saints do. He has wrought wondrously, under the power of God, for the salvation of this people; and not until the history of his acts for the last three years is laid before us will we know precisely the stupendous work he has accomplished. God has blessed him abundantly. While under the rule of President Woodruff we were robbed and maltreated by our enemies on the right and on the left, under the presidency of President Snow, God has showered His blessings upon the people, and the way has been opened up in a manner that to me is miraculous. It is God's power that has done these things, and we give him the glory; but under Him this man has wrought wondrously for the salvation of Israel. ¶

May God bless his wives and his children. May his sons emulate his example, and seek by every power of mind and body to be worthy to go into the presence of their father, when their time shall come. I have a desire in my heart for all sons to be worthy of their worthy fathers. May this family of President Snow's be comforted. They have the sympathy and love of the people; for we have all lost a friend, a brother, a prophet, seer and revelator in this man who has gone to his reward. May God help us all brethren and sisters, that when we lay our bodies down and our friends carry us to our last resting place, it can truthfully be said of us, "Well done, good and faithful servant (or handmaiden) ; enter into the joy of thy Lord." May He give us strength to emulate the example of these worthies that have gone before; for of all things that are in my heart I desire most to stand in their presence in the world to come, in the presence of God, and receive his welcome plaudit. May this be our happy lot, I humbly ask, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶