Session notes: Second Day opening hymns and prayer

SECOND DAY. In the Tabernacle, Saturday, October 4, 1919, at 10 a. m. The congregation was called to order by President Heber J. Grant. ¶

The choir and congregation sang: O say, what is Truth? 'Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce; And priceless the value of truth will be, when The proud monarch's costliest diadem Is counted but dross and refuse. Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize To which mortals or Gods can aspire: Go search in the depths where it glittering lies, Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies; 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire. The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp, When with winds of stern justice he copes, But the pillar of truth will endure to the last, And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes. ¶

Then, say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, For the limits of time it steps o'er: Though the heavens depart, and the earth's fountains burst. Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Eternal, unchanged, evermore. ¶

Prayer was offered by Elder Don B. Colton, President of the Uintah stake of Zion. ¶

The choir and congregation sang the hymn: How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled? In every condition, in sickness, in health, In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth, At home or abroad, on the land or the sea, As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be. Fear not, I am with thee, O, be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'er-flow, For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine. E'en down to old age, all My people shall prove My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn, Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake! ¶