Importance of Maintaining Church Organizations

My brethren and sisters, I rejoice with you in the privilege of attending this conference, although, with you doubtless, I have my regrets that it has been found necessary, so soon after our late conference, to convene the people for the purpose of considering questions that are of vital interest to us all. I am most happy in saying that the Council of Apostles have been a unit thus far in every action that has been taken by them. I am one of those that believe it is the duty, most sacred, of the men who have been chosen to officiate as witnesses for the Redeemer, to see that the quorums and organizations of the Priesthood are fully and thoroughly maintained, and that no question is permitted to enter into our organizations that would weaken them in any of their functions. I believe that the methods used to break down the force of the Christian religion as presented by the Redeemer and sustained in the ministry of His chosen Apostles of that dispensation, were due in some measure to the fact that the brethren presumed to take long periods for their deliberations upon the question of the maintenance of the organizations that the Master had established. As a result, there grew up a variety of schisms, which so destroyed the purity and power of the organization that it degenerated into what we now witness in the world. ¶

In the consideration of the questions involved in the speedy establishment of the presiding head in its proper place in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there has been no quibble, no contention, but our spirits have been absolutely in unison with each other. There does exist in connection with this organization the necessity for a power that can legitimately and properly transact a great variety of business which no one is virtually in a position to perform until the body of the Church passes upon the question. While I presume no man or woman conversant with the doctrines of the Church and in harmony therewith would question for a moment the action of the Council of the Apostles in pointing the way for the performance of any part in connection with the work of God, there might arise in the minds of the people a question as to whether all the rights involved had been properly and thoughtfully considered by the presiding quorum, in such an exigency as has arisen since our last general gathering. ¶

I endorse to the fullest the remarks made by President Joseph F. Smith, and the doctrine enunciated in the revelation from which he has read. I endorse the sentiments and spirit that have actuated the utterances of President Lund, as also the remarks that have been made by President Brigham Young. I trust that in the future, as the Lord shall manifest His designs in connection with the development of His work, the power, wisdom and judgment to exercise the functions bestowed will be given to the men who may stand in the forefront of the work, as He has guided and directed the movements of that grand body of men who have wielded the destinies of this people up to the present moment. I believe that it would have been possible, after the martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch of the Church, had the Saints seen the necessity of action in connection with the presiding quorum (although it is not for me to cast words of censure), to have preserved the Church from a number of factions that grew out of the circumstances surrounding the people at that time. You can see the attitude in which we would be placed today if, as was the case in those days, the Prophet of God was taken by the hand of assassins, and twelve men holding the Apostleship should each one presume to strike out in any direction that he might think proper without regard for the opinions of the others. We recall that Lyman Wight went in one direction, and other bold spirits went off in various directions. Had such examples been followed generally by the Apostles, we would have been a broken, disorganized band, and the power and force of the Priesthood among the people would have been shattered. But when the time was reached that the man whom God selected to guide the destinies of His people and plant them in these mountain vales began to exercise the functions of His Priesthood, in harmony with the wishes of his associates, the few that were dissatisfied withdrew themselves, or, surrendering their views, united themselves with the body and aided in the gathering of Israel and the establishment of the Gospel among the nations of the earth. ¶

My brothers and sisters, these are matters for thought. The union of the people should lie near to our hearts. The development of our beings in harmony with divine rule should be our wish and ambition. It should characterize the actions of the presiding authority in this Church, whether it rest upon a First Presidency of three or whether it falls briefly upon the shoulders of that body of men to whom the Prophet made the remark that where he was not there was no presidency over the Council of the Apostles— not meaning himself personally, but that species of leadership couched in a Presidency of three, who should direct the movements of the Apostles in the dissemination of the Gospel, calling the Seventies to work in harmony with them for the accomplishment of this purpose. ¶

I recognize the fact that our time is far spent; but I say to you that I have never discovered in all my association with this body of men since the death of that eminent leader, Lorenzo Snow, the least thought on the part of him who now stands at the head, or his associates, to do aught than carry out the purposes of our Father in the organization of His Church and in the establishment of that rule of Priesthood given by Him, which is destined to guide the work until it shall accomplish His purpose in regard thereto. I bear testimony to its truth, and to the revelations of the divine will to myself, showing me the positions which Brother Joseph F. Smith and Brother Brigham Young occupy today as the President of the Church and the President of the Twelve Apostles respectively. God gave me a revelation concerning this as clear and explicit as ever came to any man, and it was given to me over ten years ago. I saw then the positions which these brethren would occupy in connection with this work; and yet my associates will credit me with being as modest as a man need be in relation to this; for at no time or place, save on two occasions, have I ever presumed to say that my Father had revealed to me and pointed out the way in which the leadership of this Church would be developed as it stands today. I pray that His peace may abound in your souls, that the knowledge of His truth shall be written upon your hearts, that a comprehension of His purposes may ever be with you, that every movement made for the development of His Zion and the establishment of His righteousness shall find a response in your souls, that your action shall indeed be in harmony with His holy will. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶