The Support of Local Leaders and the Granite Stake

I desire, my brothers and sisters, to enjoy the same good spirit that has actuated the remarks of the brethren who have preceded me. I feel grateful unto my Heavenly Father that I can bear my testimony to the work of the Lord, and that we have servants and prophets of the Lord ministering to us. I have been much impressed with the remarks of Elder George A. Smith this morning on the spirit of forgiveness. I feel how necessary it is that we as Latter-day Saints should have this in our souls, not only towards those who are of our own faith, but the Savior requires that we have it towards all men. In connection with this, I bear testimony 'that I have been acquainted with the authorities of this Church from President Young until this day, and that I have witnessed this spirit of forgiveness in the hearts of all those prophets and leaders of the Church. They have felt to forgive their fellowmen. I was not, of course, acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith; but my father was intimate with him, and hundreds of times I have listened to him discourse on the merits and graces that characterized the Prophet, and I learned to love him more dearly because of the kindness of his heart and because he loved all persons, little children and all. I remember, a year or two ago, a man bearing his testimony to the kindness of the Prophet Joseph toward little ones, and it struck me as being very similar to the character of our Savior. He referred to an incident when he was a little bare-footed boy. He was traveling in to Far West, and it was inclement weather. He and several other small boys were paddling through the cold water and their feet were chilled. A man came along on horseback and he picked them up, one by one, took a large silk handkerchief out of his pocket and tried to warm their benumbed feet. It is only a little incident, but it shows the kindness of the Prophet's heart toward little ones. I remember my father speaking of the mobbings, trials and privations he endured and I being but a little boy, unable to discriminate always between right and wrong, and not having that feeling of forgiveness which the Gospel of Christ brings to the soul, my face used to blush up and I would become indignant, and felt in my heart that when I became a man I would resent the wrongs that had been perpetrated upon our fathers in establishing this work. My father used to smile at me, and pat me on the back and say, "My boy, that is not the kind of spirit that the Gospel leaves in the hearts of mankind; as you grow older you must learn that you must forgive." This gospel of ours is designed to save, to build up, to bless and comfort; and it is not right on our part to harm any man. I have been acquainted with these brethren. I have listened to their testimonies, and I know that I have never yet listened to their voices being raised to harm or injure any man. On the other hand, their counsel and advice has been uplifting, saving, and such as would bless and comfort all who would give heed to it. I know that they have been good, clean men, and I know their advice has been good and would bless me if I would only carry it out. I honor them for this. I know that the example they have set in this community has been good, one that anybody could imitate with profit and blessing. When I think of this, I think how different it is to the spirit that has characterized some of our friends who do not have the same faith that we have. I never knew the authorities of this church to go out into the world condemning mankind, and pulling them down. On the contrary, their counsel and their lives have been examples to live up to, and that would benefit and bless mankind. I have met many people of different denominations in the world, and I have been anxious to learn concerning their faith, to find out what they possessed that might add to my faith and increase my knowledge, but I never had one of them manifest a spirit to bless me. I have had them by the score point the finger of scorn at me, and I have heard them ridicule the best men of our community, men I love with my whole heart. I have had men tell me that my father, who I knew was clean, pure and upright, was not a fit man to associate with. Figuratively, I never had one of them hand me a loaf, when I asked for it they have given me a stone. On the other hand, whenever I have gone to the authorities of this church they have given me comfort, and peace. The spirit that seeks to pull down, to destroy, and to harm mankind, is not the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. The genius of this gospel is to build up, not to destroy; it is to unite, not to dismember; it is to bring peace and good will, not to bring sorrow and distress. I testify that when I have lived this religion, and done my duty, the Spirit has brought unto me peace, comfort and blessing. As I have grown older I have learned, as my father testified to me when I was a boy, that when people live this religion and keep the commandments of the Lord they seek to build up, to bless, and to comfort mankind. "When I was young it used to be quite a testimony to me, and it is today, that the religion of the world cannot be true because the followers seek to destroy the character of clean, good men, and to pull down this work of our Heavenly Father. I know that the Spirit of the Lord does not actuate men to injure or to destroy, or to pull down any people, whether in this church or any other church. The Spirit of the Lord does not actuate people to do harm, or to do ill of any kind. I take delight, brothers and sisters., in sustaining the authorities of this church, because I know they are men of God, actuated by the Spirit to bless and comfort us if we will only follow their teachings. God forbid that I should forsake them, or that my hand should be raised against them, or that I should indirectly or directly be a party to any attempt to nullify their good works and bring to naught that which they desire for the blessing and comfort of the Latter-day Saints. If we will heed their counsels we will be happy indeed, and we will be blessed and sustained by our Heavenly Father. I have no fear of the Latter-day Saints in the least about this matter, because I know those whom I come in contact with, that are living their religion, manifest unity of faith, and do sustain those who preside over them. I know that the people in the stake over which I preside sustain the authorities of "this church with their whole hearts, and propose to continue to sustain them. ¶

I do not feel that it would be wise for me to continue my remarks. I love this work, I love the authorities who preside over us. I have a testimony of the truth of this work. As I live nearer to my heavenly Father I enjoy more of the Spirit of the Lord, I have more happiness and peace in my heart, and I feel kindly towards all mankind. May the blessings of the Lord attend you ever, I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶