The Power of Example and Influence of the Priesthood

My brethren and sisters, I feel that it is impossible . for me to satisfactorily express my feelings this morning, in standing before this vast congregation. All the speaking that I have done during the time I have been away has been in comparatively small halls. I think the largest congregation that I have been called upon to address numbered, perhaps, 400 persons. I, therefore, feel that it will be difficult for me to say anything interesting, or instructive, unless I have the Spirit of the Lord. ¶

In reporting the work in the Swiss and German mission, I am pleased to be able to state that everything is going along very well there. We have had a great deal of opposition. Something like one hundred of our missionaries were banished within one year, mostly from Prussia; but we were able to get an extension of time, through an appeal made to the German government by the U. S. Ambassador, and during that period the work formerly attended to by our missionaries was, to a very large extent, turned over to the local Priesthood. I am pleased to be able to state that notwithstanding the missionaries from Utah are not now accorded freedom in that land, still the work is going onward, many converts are being baptized, and those who are coming into the Church are firm in the faith I believe. They do not accept the Gospel unless they are sure that it is true, exercising care on account of the opposition. Hence the people are better and stronger, and more able to stand, in spite of all the opposition they have to meet, than at any previous time in the history of that mission. I am happy to say that the seeds of truth, the seeds of the Gospel, have been planted in that land; and I predict that, in spite of all the opposition of our enemies, that seed will grow and will bring forth fruit. I have an absolute assurance that this will be the case. ¶

The area of the Swiss and German mission at the present time is very large. It covers Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Roumania and Servia, containing about one-twelfth of all the people in the world. In Switzerland we have more freedom, and a good work is being done there. In Hungary and Austria we have very little freedom; still we are able to preach the Gospel to some extent, and are baptizing in both those lands. In Servia and Roumania nothing is being done by our missionaries at the present time. I expect in a very short time to hear that missionaries have been sent into the northern part of Italy, over the Alps from the French part of Switzerland. Many people have been gathered from that part of the country, and some prominent families now in Utah accepted the Gospel there. I firmly believe that many more will embrace the Gospel in that part of the world. I have listened with great pleasure to the remarks that have been made this morning, and I thank the Lord from the bottom of my heart I have a testimony that that which has been said is true. I thank Him sincerely that I know Joseph F. Smith is a Prophet of the Almighty, and that he was called by revelation to stand in the place which he now occupies. I was taught from my earliest infancy to revere and love President Smith. My father was associated with him and loved and honored him, and he taught me to love, honor and respect this man. I thank my Heavenly Father that I know of a surety that this work will triumph. History repeats itself; the same cause will always have the same effect; and if we look back over the 75 years that this Church has been in existence, and note the history of those who have' raised their hands against this work, we will find they have been failures, that they never have succeeded in their designs, and that the Gospel has gone on and on. I can bear testimony, as President Smith did, that it will triumph, and that it will eventually fill the whole earth. If I did not have an absolute assurance of this I would be filled with misgivings at the present time. If I did not know that the Lord, and not man, is at the head of this work, I would be filled with fear; but, having that testimony, the only fear I need to have is that I may not be able to endure unto the end. I pray God that I may. I pray for my brethren and for my sisters, that all may retain the faith and prove true unto the end. I ask these blessings for all of us in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶