After One Hundred Years

In the year 1820, Joseph Smith had his first vision. After one hundred years, what do we see? We behold a great and a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, organized into a Church and founded upon principles and doctrines which he set forth. We behold a great conference of the Church here on the 4th day of April, 1920, and the people of the Latter-day Saints gathered together until the Great Tabernacle is filled to overflowing, the Assembly Hall is crowded to its utmost limit, and another overflow meeting is now in session upon this block, while hundreds have been turned away from these buildings because they could not get admission. ¶

Three Precious Volumes

My brethren and sisters, between these two covers I now hold are three precious volumes. They are books that are most precious to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to the world at large. I take it that these three books are perhaps as desirable and precious as any three volumes in the world. One is the Book of Mormon, translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith, giving a religious history of the ancient people of this continent; also in this book will be found the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in its fulness. This Book of Mormon is attested by eleven witnesses, in addition to the Prophet himself who brought it forth. ¶

The book that follows is the Doctrine and Covenants. It emphasizes the fact that the channel of revelation is open between the heavens and the earth, a channel that had been closed for at least 1,800 years. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that impressive, the fact that that channel has again been opened? For, as a mater of fact, this book contains the revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ to his prophet and to his Church. How blessed are this people, that we can have in the Church the voioe of revelation. ¶

This work is introduced to the Church and to the world by -i most powerful preface. I will just read a line or two. It is wonderfully impressive. It emphasizes divine truth: ¶

Hearken, O ye people of my Church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say, hearken ye people from afar, and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape, and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated. ¶

See how comprehensive and how sweeping is this statement, every eye shall see and every heart throughout the world shall be penetrated by the power of God. ¶

And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow, for their iniquities s'hall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths ¶

of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them. Behold, this is mine authority, and the authority of my servants, and my preface unto the book of my commandments, which I have given them to publish unto you, O inhabitants of the earth. (Doc. and Cov. 1:16.) ¶

The whole section is worthy of the deepest thought. ¶

And now, in this book of Doctrine and Covenants you will find, among the many that have been given, a mighty revelation upon the authority of the holy Priesthood. You will also find there a mighty revelation with respect to the dead and the temple work, and a mighty revelation with regard to the great principle of marriage, and other communications from the heavens. Oh, is it not marvelous indeed! ¶

The next ' book is the Pearl of Great Price, which is composed of writings, narrations, and translations of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In this book you will find a record entitled the Book of Moses, showing how great was the light and truth Jhat was shed forth from God, and the dealings of God with his children and the doings of Moses and also of Enoch, who lived before the flood. You will also find there the Book of Abraham, a translation by the Prophet Joseph Smith, which has brought to light a knowledge of great things concerning Abraham and his authority and Priesthood, and the revelation of God to him concerning the heavens and the earth, all of which is subject matter for deep and thoughtful study. And you will further find a narration by the Prophet himself of the First Vision referred to. He gives an account of it in simple and impressive language. It is beautiful; the very simplicity of it is beautiful indeed. That communication did not come to us in scientific terms. No, it does not need to be translated. A child can understand the story of that First Vision, it is so simple and beautiful. And we find that the simplest things in the world often turn out to be the most profound, do we not? I think so. Well, you could hardly put a price on the Pearl of Great Price. It is most precious indeed. ¶

And what a revelation, what a wonderful combination of books under one cover. If that were the only book of the kind in the world and it was in my possession, dear me, I would not part with it upon any consideration. I would hold on to it as I would hold on to my soul. I would eat with it and sleep with it, and have it with me at all times. But, brethren and sisters, you have this book. How many of the Latter-day Saints appreciate these great standard works of the Church? How many of the Latter-day Saints are giving them study and reflection? We are commanded to search out wisdom from all good books, and particularly good books of the Church. ¶

The Book of Mormon has always been to me as interesting as a romance, as interesting to me as any thrilling story that I have ever read. It is marvelous, and yet in connection with the story of the people of the Nephites is the gospel of Jesus Christ laid before us in all its beauty and simplicity. Well, the Lord be praised. Surely this is "a marvelous work and a wonder," is it not? You cannot improve that definition? There is no use trying to elaborate upon it. You might ¶

speak for a month about "Mormonism," and you could not get beyond saying, it is a "marvelous work and a wonder," almost beyond human understanding and quite beyond full explanation. ¶

Well, blessed be the Prophet of the Lord, the living prophet today; and blessed be the people of the Latter-day Saints, and now after the lapse of a hundred years let us rejoice together in the knowledge and testimony of these things. ¶

Appreciation of the Ogden Tabernacle Choir

Let me say, in conclusion, and I think very likely I am voicing the feeling of the entire congregation, when I say it, that I appreciate fully the effort put forth here by the Ogden tabernacle choir, led by Brother Joseph Ballantyne. They have done most excellent service today, and have helped to make this meeting a splendid success. Of course, our meetings are always successful when they are conducted under the direction of the Spirit of God, but we could not get along without the singing. We must have good singing. We must have singing that is tuneful, we must have singing that breathes forth the Spirit of God; we must have singing that is in harmony. And in the singing today we have had perfect harmony. The Lord bless the Ogden tabernacle choir, and may he bless us all, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶

The quartet, Agnes Warner and choir, sang, 'T Bring You Glad Tidings." ¶