Testimony of the Gospel

My brethren and sisters, in one respect I have not enjoyed this conference very much, because Lhave sat here with fear and trembling throughout every session of the conference. In other respects, I praise the Lord for his Spirit that has been with my brethren who have addessed this conference, for I testify that their words have been directed by the Spirit of God for the strengthening of the faith of the Latter-day Saints and for the advancement of God's work upon the earth. ¶

I have in my heart a desire that all the faithful in Israel today shall be blessed of the Lord. I have in my heart a blessing for the Saints of God who have come to this conference and have so faithfully remained in such goodly number, even to this last session, and I pray God to bless you, sustain you, strengthen your faith, provide for your necessities and help you, as my brethren and sisters in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, to carry out his purposes in the earth, to fulfil the wonderful work and mission which have been themes of this conference. ¶

I also desire to remind my brethren and sisters that the eyes of the world are upon us, upon you and upon this work, that we have been called upon to perform. Therefore, we should be as near to what we profess to be as it is possible for us to be. And although the adversary made an attempt to thwart the purposes of the Lord when Joseph Smith went into the woods to pray, he was overcome and his plan was set aside by the powers of the Father and of the Son, who came in glory and dispelled the agents of darkness and the very evil one himself. That evil influence still exists in the world, that battle between light and darkness is still going on. The adversary has not given up the fight. He is still sniping here and there and carrying on other plans to thwart the purposes of the Lord. In a revelation to the prophet, we are given counsel, advice and instruction which, if we obey, will help us to triumph in this battle for the truth and for the right. ¶

I read from section fifty-nine: "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; for verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors; and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times." ¶

Also, in section sixty-eight, further counsel and advice are given upon this same subject. The Lord has given a word to the parents who have children, directing how to care for them and to teach them: "For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized; and their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands, and they shall also teach their children to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord * * * And a commandment I give unto them, that he that observeth not his prayers before the Lord in the season thereof, let him be had in remembrance before the judge of my people." ¶

So, let me admonish you, my brethren and sisters, to observe the counsels given in these revelations, for they are the words of the Lord unto us today regarding this principle which will give us power and favor with our heavenly Father, in battling with the powers of darkness, that we may triumph and secure the blessings prepared for the sons and daughters of God. ¶

Now, you may say, we do pray, we are a praying people, and that is true. The Latter-day Saints are a prayerful people, but we are admonished to pray not only for ourselves, but to pray always -- and to pray for our enemies, also to teach our children to pray and to pray in season thereof, -- pray night and morning, every day, in public and in secret. I am grateful that we have men and women who have been blessed with the spirit of prayer, whose hearts are filled with the desire to keep the counsels of the Lord. They are the leaders in Israel, and I admonish you, my brethren and sisters, to follow their counsels, because the Lord has always had leaders in Israel and he always will have as long as this work shall remain in the earth. ¶

I am grateful for the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ that I have been blessed with,.for I feel in every fiber of my being that the testimony of Joseph Smith is true. I have never doubted from my earliest boyhood days that the story told by the Prophet Joseph is the absolute truth. I have always honored my birthright as far as I have been able to and think myself very fortunate indeed to be numbered among those whom the Lord has honored with responsibility in his work, and for the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ that has come to me, not alone through teachings but through diligent study and humble prayer. And never have I doubted the teachings of the leaders in Israel, nor my parents, concerning the life and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I pray God to bless his memory and the work of the Lord which he has been the instrument in accomplishing and establishing upon the earth. ¶

I admonish my brethren and sisters to be more prayerful in the future than they have been in the past, and to be more diligent in teaching their children to pray, that we may triumph in the end over the powers of darkness, and be permitted to join in this glorious work with our Prophet on the other side and with all other prophets of God. I acknowledge the hand of the' Lord in his blessings unto me, and although a weak and humble instrument in his hands, I have observed many sacred testimonies which have come to the Latter-day Saints through the words that have come to me as a servant officiating by virtue of the Holy Priesthood and by that authority, I bless the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all the faithful members thereof, especially you, brethren and sisters, who have been given responsibility and leadership. My heart goes out to you in blessings from the Lord, because I say to you in his name that he is pleased with those who are true and faithful, with those who can stand up, as the brethren have in this conference, in the different sessions thereof, and testify in boldness and in wisdom pertaining to the growth and truth of this work. God is at the helm. This is his work and not ours, although we are his agents, authorized with power and with authority to carry it on. These are instruments for our guidance, and a principle of power with us and our children, my brethren and sisters, is prayer. May you take it home and cultivate it and practice it to the glory and honor of God and his work in the earth, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶