The Anniversary of the Restoration and Report from the Colorado Mission

My brethren and, sisters, I rejoice this afternoon with you in having the opportunity to attend this seventy-fifth anniversary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I want to bear my testimony to what President Smith said this morning in relation to the growth of this great latter-day work. In the field where I have been appointed to preside the church was never in better condition, and I do not know the time when the people were trying to live nearer to the Lord and were more willing to sustain President Joseph F. Smith, his counselors, the Twelve Apostles, and all the leading authorities of the Church. We have had some opposition in our work, but most of our trouble has been indifference. However, at the present time there is a spirit of inquiry among the people, and they want to know something about the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About two weeks ago I took by surprise the Elders who are laboring in the city of Denver, and asked them to report to me the number of homes where they could go and read the Book of Mormon and tell the people of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and we counted 101 homes in that city where the Elders could go any night they choose and read the Book of Mormon to the people. We have established in many homes Book of Mormon classes, and have advocated doing this wherever practicable. We go there on specially appointed evenings, read chapters to them from the Book of Mormon, and they have the privilege of asking questions. This gives us the opportunity to confine our remarks to the subject in hand, instead of wandering about. We have discovered that this has accomplished a great deal of good. The people have begun to inquire about the Book of Mormon, and many have desired a copy of it. We are pleased to know that many influential men in our mission are in favor of the Church of Jesus Christ, and in sympathy with the Elders. Many have invited the Elders to their homes, and have volunteered their friendship to us, telling us that anything they could do we were perfectly welcome to. We have not made many converts, so far as baptisms are concerned, but I believe that there is a feeling of inquiry spreading throughout the mission which will ultimately result in good. We had one of our "reverend" brethren come up there (I was wondering if he came from Brother Rich's mission) and he unintentionally did some missionary work for us. In a newspaper interview he told some awful tales all about what the Mormons are doing in Denver, and with tears in his eyes related many pathetic stories regarding the work. The result was that for six weeks after his interview our little hall was crowded with people, and we were accosted on the streets, and by street car and railroad conductors, asking us about this "reverend" gentleman, and what effect he had had upon us. My answer always was that he had done us no harm, but I did not know how much harm he had done himself. When I see the gentleman I am going to thank him for assisting the Elders to preach the Gospel of Christ. ¶

We have a body of good Elders in the mission at the present time. They are studying and working hard to preach the Gospel unto the people. We have also three lady missionaries, who are doing a valuable work among the people, getting into homes where the Elders could not obtain access. Girls who have left their homes in our midst and have married men not members of the church, have been visited by these sisters, who have had the privilege of teaching them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and instructing their children how to pray, when the fathers have absolutely refused to have the Elders in their homes. Our sisters have gone into these homes, and in Denver they have not done any tracting for several months because their time has been completely occupied in visiting the homes of friends, and they are two or three weeks behind now in going where they have been invited, notwithstanding they are going out day and night. ¶

Brethren and sisters, I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is the power of God unto salvation. I know by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Joseph F. Smith is a prophet, seer and revelator, and the man who has been chosen of God to lead this people. I know that his counselors are men of God. I know that the Twelve Apostles have been chosen by divine authority and have been sent out to preach the Gospel. I am always willing, and I hope I always shall be, to listen to the counsel they give unto me. I hope I shall always be able to put myself in subjection to the Spirit of the Lord, that those who preside in this great work will have access to my heart and be able to counsel and direct me for good. May the Lord bless us and help us to this end, is my prayer. Amen. ¶