Report on the Central States Mission and Early Church Lands

(President of Central States Mission.) If there is anything that would strengthen the testimony of an Elder in the Church, outside of the mission field, it would be to see this vast congregation here today. It is a testimony to me that the Lord knew what He was doing, when He delivered His message unto the Prophet Joseph Smith, and that the time had fully arrived when the Gospel of His kingdom should be again established in the earth. ¶

In the mission field where I labor we are close to many places of interest, connected with the organization of the Church and the early travels of the Saints, especially in the state of Missouri. We are on the ground where the Prophet Joseph Smith once lived with the people, where he labored, and preached. Over there in the city of Independence, Missouri, I scarcely ever pass the court house, but what I think of the time when he was brought down from Far West and exhibited, almost like a wild beast, for the people to look at who desired to see the Mormon prophet. I had the privilege of meeting a lady, once, whose father was one of those mobbers. She told me she remembered that, when she was a child, her father carried out coals from the fire-place to light the cigars of those men who brought the Prophet Joseph from Far West. She also told me that her father was one of the men who tarred and feathered Bishop Partridge at Independence. We questioned her about this and asked her what she thought of such a proceeding. She said she did not think it was right, but that they were all excited over this new religion. It had caused more or less excitement, especially in the section where she lived. ¶

My testimony is the Lord did reveal unto the Prophet Joseph Smith the everlasting Gospel, as we read in the writings of Saint John: ¶

"I saw another angel fly through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the earth, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come." ¶

My testimony is that that angel has flown, that the Gospel contained in the Book of Mormon is the Gospel that the angel delivered here on the earth; again, that the Gospel that was taught by Christ the Lord was restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and is the same, in the Book of Mormon as in the New Testament. As a result of that teaching, many thousands of men and women have accepted the Gospel through the testimony proclaimed by the Elders who have gone out and borne that testimony fearlessly among the children of men. Personally, there has been nothing that has ever given me so much joy and satisfaction, or paid me better, than the time I have expended in the mission field traveling among the people. There is nothing that could purchase that experience. I have walked and carried my grip from house to house, in the mission field, visiting the people and bearing my testimony unto them, proving unto them that the Gospel is again on the earth, together with the power to teach it. When I have seen men and women, whom I personally visited, go down into the waters of baptism, and afterward living the Gospel of Christ to the best of their ability, gathered together in little bands, or in hundreds, teaching their children to observe the laws and commandments that were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, it has paid me more than anything else I could have been engaged in. There is nothing to equal it upon the earth. ¶

I am thoroughly convinced that this is the Gospel of Christ. The Lord has revealed it unto me by the power of His Spirit. I know that He does live, and that His authority is here in the earth today. This authority has been with the people from the beginning. The Church which Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, presided over, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the Church of God. He never ordained, or set apart, or delegated any man in this dispensation to preside over any other Church than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith died the president of it; he died the Prophet of the Lord, the head of the institution that the Lord gave him the authority to organize. When a man finds the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he finds the authority and Priesthood of God on earth, and the power to administer in the ordinances thereof. He will find this authority in no other; I know this is correct. This testimony that has been imparted unto us has made us strong, and this strength and unity has made the world admire us. We do not now meet the prejudice today that prevailed just a few years ago, even in the beginning of my own experience. Men and women are beginning to look more favorably upon the principles of the Gospel that we proclaim. This constant work that is being carried on by the Latter-day Saints is having its effect upon the minds of the thinking people of the world. Elders who travel here and there, two by two, canvassing in a systematic manner, visiting the people in their homes, in the cities and in the towns, in the country everywhere, bear their testimony, and it is having its effect upon the minds of the children of men. ¶

The Lord has said that this Gospel of the kingdom should be preached in all the world, as a witness to all nations, before the end shall come. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. President Smith said that "Mormonism is the power of God unto salvation," and it is true, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Mormonism are the same. I love the word; it gives prestige wherever I go; it is the biggest thing in the world; there is nothing to equal it. I know that it is right, and I know that salvation is obtained by a continual observance of the principles and doctrines of Christ. A man can be saved no faster than he gains knowledge, Joseph Smith told us so, and it is correct. It is my testimony that a man who serves the Lord will gain salvation, and that salvation will bring for him an inheritance in the kingdom of our God. I trust that the Latter-day Saints may be faithful; that their treasure shall be the principles and doctrines of Christ, that their hearts may be with that treasure ; and that we may value it sufficiently, for there is nothing to equal it under the sun. The man or woman who goes through this life without having a knowledge of the Gospel has missed an experience that is priceless. We go through this life only once ; I never expect to travel this road in mortality again. ¶

I trust that I shall be faithful all the days of my life; that I shall never utter a word that will cause a man younger or older than myself to mistrust or criticize the presiding authorities of the Church, in the wards, in the stakes of Zion, or anywhere. I endorse, heartily, the remarks of Brother Callis along this line. A man that will sustain his Bishop, that will go to him first and not go over his head, is one of the best men in that ward, his influence for good will be felt as he travels along in life. ¶

I pray the Lord to bless this body of people, to bless all Israel, to bless the missionaries in the world. I ask the prayers of the Saints upon the Elders of Israel, and I say unto you, write them good letters; fill them full of faith, and encourage them. You are able to do it. Many of them are boys, and they need your assistance : they need the assistance of every man and woman in the Church, to make them equal to the occasion. The Lord is the author of this work ; He is behind it ; He is with those Elders, and He makes them strong ; but we can ourselves help them very materially by giving them good counsel from home. May the Lord bless us, I ask it, in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶