I feel very grateful for the privilege of

I feel very grateful for the privilege of attending this conference ; also for the opportunity of speaking for a short time to this vast congregation. Although I am not altogether unaccustomed to public speaking, but have had some experiences at home and abroad in this direction, I approach the task imposed upon me this afternoon with some timidity. ¶

Gratitude for the Restored Gospel

I feel keenly the need of the spirit of my office and calling to qualify me for saying anything today, after the splendid utterances that were delivered from this stand during the morning, and I hope that I shall have your attention and your faith and help while I stand here occupying this position. The Lord has been very merciful and kind to me since I embraced the gospel, restored in the latter days, when I was but a boy, and through all my travels and labors and struggles he has been with me by the power of his Spirit, and in the public congregation, this afternoon, I express to him, although in feeble language, the gratitude of my soul, the desires of my heart that I shall be able to continue in this splendid work in which we are all engaged as long as I live in the flesh, and then be able to carry on the work when I pass beyond the veil, and come into the society of the great men and women with whom I have been associated in years that are past, in the same mighty cause. It is the cause of God and of humanity, his children, for it involves the happiness and salvation of many millions, and the exaltation of those among them who received the gospel in the flesh, or afterwards received it in its fulness, and prepared themselves thereby to associate with the good and the true and the best of mankind. ¶

Ever since I heard the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored in these last days, preached by the elders of Israel and published in the books of the Church, I have been filled with joy and satisfaction, for it seemed natural to me to receive these things. Although not one of my family and kindred received this gospel, yet It seemed perfectly natural to me to drink in of the streams that flowed from the eternal fountain, and today I bless and praise the name of the Lord for his goodness to me, in opening the eyes of my understanding and enabling me to see and comprehend the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and that I am enabled so far to continue in the path, in the good work of the Lord. I can say, with the Prophet Joseph Smith, my course has been always, apparently, up-stream. I have not been favored like some of my brethren with having been born in the faith, or of parents that were in the faith, or of associations until I came in the Church with people called Saints ; so my career during all the years that I have been in the service of the Church has been one continual struggle, so to speak. But my path has been a pleasant path, so far as enjoying the principles of eternal life is concerned, and so far as the influences that have been thrown around me in the gospel and in my associations with the Saints and servants of the living God, it has been a continual pleasure to me, and today I rejoice with all my soul that I am in harmony with my brethren in the Priesthood and with the Saints of God who desire to serve him and keep his commandments. ¶

In Harmony With the Brethren on the League of Nations

This is a glorious day for me. I find myself in perfect harmony with that which has been said by our brethren today, and with the sentiments expressed by President Grant, a week ago last Sunday, in which I believe most of the people, at any rate those who heard or have read the remarks that he made, feel that they were right and true and applicable to the present situation. I take great pleasure in announcing that so far as I know, all our close associates, the First Presidency, and Council of the Twelve, who are here at home — some of them are away — are in accord with President Grant in that which he did in reply to the manifesto, as it is called, sent from the East, which came by telegraph, and he telegraphed back his pleasure in signing his name with that of Ex-President Taft and a number of other prominent American citizens, desiring that the pact or covenant of the League of Nations should be approved by the Senate of the United States and that without delay, making some little lee-way for clarifications, perhaps, in some of the text, so long as it did not interfere with the full signing of the treaty. I believe we are of one heart and mind on that particular question, but we do not call into question the sincerity of some of our friends who do not see exactly as we do on this matter. ¶

Concerning Liberty and Labor Organizations

I am also in hearty accord with President Grant in the sentiments expressed this morning concerning the liberties of mankind. I believe in the doctrines of the Declaration of Independence ; I believe in the principles set forth in the Constitution of the United States ; I also believe in the destiny of this great government which God set up, the constitution of which was written by men who were raised up for the very purpose of placing on record principles that will bring about, eventually, the freedom of "all flesh." I believe it is the destiny of this great nation to carry the principles embodied in the two instruments I have named to all the world, and that this will be a preparation for that great day of universal peace referred to by President Lund, this morning. The liberty of mankind is not to be limited except to the extent of oppressive tyrannizing over and preventing the freedom of people who differ from us. I agree with President Grant on that matter that he talked about this morning, — that it is right for men to have the liberty to combine for their own benefit, for the raising of wages, for the shortening of hours of labor, for anything that will be for their good and benefit, but they must not exercise that in a way to infringe the liberties of others who do not see as they see. The idea of a Latter-day Saint, a man holding the Priesthood of the Most High, given for a blessing, for persuasion, for instruction, for light and for the liberties of mankind, saying that a brother in the Church shall not have the privilege of obtaining work for the support of himself and family, unless he joins some society and has a card to show his membership therein! That, I think, is going far beyond the bounds of the liberty of American citizens. We have no right to trench upon the freedom of others. It is permissible to stand up for our own individual rights, to stand up for the rights of any association with which we are connected, unless such association involves oppression and tyranny upon any portion of mankind. ¶

The Lord Has Set Up the Ensign of Peace

The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints was revealed from heaven in the last days, to bring about the liberties of the world. For all nations the Lord has "set up an ensign" as the Prophet Isaiah predicted he would. Read the 18th chapter of the book of Isaiah, also the 11th chapter and the 5th chapter. I will not turn to them now — you get them, and read them. The Lord declared that some time he would raise an ensign to the nations of the earth : "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains ; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye." The ensign has been raised. Brother Brigham, when he went up on the mountain here just after the arrival of the pioneers, said that was "a good place to raise an ensign." I don't know that the ensign was raised right then and there, but the real ensign alluded to is the ensign of peace which is in the gospel of Jesus Christ sent down from heaven anew in these last days. It is to be brought by Zion, as Isaiah the prophet said, "Oh, Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain." That has been fulfilled in the coming here of the people who are now gathered in these mountain valleys, and the word of the Lord is going forth and it is to be carried to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. ¶

The Revelations of God and the Covenant of Peace

Some of our brethren will say, perhaps: "But do not the revelations of God, ancient and modern, declare that there will be tribulations and troubles and wars and bloodshed in the last days?" Certainly. Is that any reason why an ensign of peace should not be lifted up? Is that any reason why the gospel of peace should not be preached? Is that any reason why nations and communities and clubs and associations shall not be formed for the establishment of peace, for the proclamation of peace, for attempts to bring about harmony among the nations of the earth, preparing them for that day of ¶

universal peace? I see nothing in any of the revelations of God, ancient or modern, that should stop or hinder in any way proper efforts made for the bringing together of the nations of the earth in a bond of peace. President Grant read some hymns this morning, all appropriate, all having good texts. I would like to read a hymn that we used to sing when I was a boy, when I first embraced the gospel, written by Parley P. Pratt, one of our splendid poets, one of the great men of the latter days, one who proclaimed the gospel at home and abroad. Here is what he says, on page 102 of our Hymn Book, hymn 92. He was the author of the first hymn in the book, the Church hymn book. I don't say anything against Psalmodies, or The Songs of Zion — they are all good, but there is our Hymn Book, not bound quite so well as it might be, perhaps, but it is our Church Hymn Book, very difficult to find in many of the stakes of Zion, and in some of the wards you cannot find one, but he is the author of the first hymn, a most splendid piece of poetry. I will read the first one — the President says to read them both : ¶

The morning breaks the shadows flee; ¶

Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled. The dawning of a brighter day ¶

Majestic rises on the world. ¶

The clouds of error disappear ¶

Before the rays of truth divine; The glory, bursting from afar, ¶

Wide o'er the nations soon will shine. ¶

The Gentile fulness now comes in, ¶

And Israel's blessings are at hand; Lo! Judah's remnant, cleansed from sin. ¶

Shall in their promised Canaan stand. ¶

Jehovah speaks! let earth give ear, ¶

And Gentile nations turn and live; His mighty arm is making bare, ¶

His covenant people to receive. ¶

Angels from heaven, and truth from earth Have met, and both have record borne; ¶

Thus Zion's light is bursting forth, To cheer her children's glad return. ¶

This is changed a little from the original but that does not matter so very much. ¶

Now here is the hymn that I was referring to: ¶

Lo! the Gentile chain is broken ¶

Freedom's banner waves on high; List, ye nations, by this token ¶

Know that your redemption's nigh. ¶

See on yonder distant mountain, ¶

Zion's standard wide unfurled; Far above Missouri's fountain, ¶

Lo, it waves for all the world. ¶