Logan Temple Work

I take pleasure, my brethren and sisters, in representing the second temple dedicated to the service of God in this inter-mountain region. The Logan Temple was opened in 1884, and since that time thousands upon thousands of the Latter-day Saints have entered its sacred precincts, receiving blessings at the hands of the servants and handmaidens of God laboring there. The spirit of Elijah has rested upon the labors of God's servants and handmaidens, so much that thousands have received blessings at their hands. Their hearts have been made to rejoice in the holy one of Israel, and they have gone from the house of the Lord feeling that God's presence is resting upon the Temples that have been erected for the administration of ordinances pertaining to the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead. The Saints have been made glad to know that the welding link between parents and children and husbands and wives has been made manifest in these latter days through the revelations of God to His servant, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and to his legal successors. The labor in the Logan Temple has been continuous since its dedication. We have rejoiced that the Spirit of the Lord has been with us in the work. We have been delighted with the visits of the Presidency of the Church and of the Apostles who have come to us from time to time and given us the benefit of their administrations and counsels. It is astonishing how the work has increased from the time we commenced in 1884. True, the people then had but small records. Few indeed had genealogical records to any extent. But since that time strangers to this work, persons who had scarcely any faith in the resurrection of the dead or in a hereafter, have been inspired of the Lord to compile the history of their forefathers and give data sufficient for the Latter-day Saints to work in the Temples for and in behalf of their kindred dead. Many have hoped and prayed that ways might be opened up to them by which they might receive intelligence pertaining to their ancestors, and I testify before you that in many instances the prayers of such Saints have been answered, and they have received information pertaining to their kindred dead that has simply astonished them. They have come into possession of information that they never dreamed was in existence. The results have been that the work of the Lord in Logan Temple has been carried on to a surprising extent by persons who thought they had no record whatever. I well remember persons talking with President Merrill and telling him they would like to work in the Temple, but they had no record. They simply knew a little concerning their parents and their brothers and sisters, but back of that they could not go. President Merrill advised them to do the work for those they knew about, and God would open the way for them to obtain information pertaining to their grandparents and others. They have done as advised, and the information promised has come to them, and they have come to President Merrill and others testifying that the prediction of Brother Merrill has been fulfilled. In some cases they have received books containing thousands of names of their ancestors. ¶

I bear testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that this is God's work. I testify that Joseph Smith was an inspired Prophet of God. Those who have succeeded him in the presidency of the Church have also been inspired, and they have brought this work to its present standing. I know that this kingdom will triumph, because God has said so. This work will progress, salvation will be given to the living, if they will obey the laws of God, and redemption shall be brought to the dead, inasmuch as we will attend to the duties and requirements made of us by virtue of the calling whereunto we are called. May God add His blessing to us and help us to be ever faithful and true. I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶