Remarks

My dear brethren and, sisters, I rejoice exceedingly in the testimonies of my brethren. As President Grant has stated, I was born in a foreign land. My parents were very kind to the elders, and as a consequence many of the missionaries had a home there. I remember very plainly, some years ago, while traveling on the road as a commercial man, I was in the city of Elsinore where I stopped over Sunday, and the bishop asked me to speak at the afternoon service. After closing he asked me who my father was. I told him, and he said: "I thought so, when you spoke. I want to tell you that I called at your father's home while laboring as a missionary in the country ¶

where you lived. We had been in the habit of lodging in your father's home. We came there on one occasion and the spare room was taken. It seemed that there would be no opportunity for us to stop there, at this time, but your father suggested to your mother that they would sleep on the floor and the missionaries might sleep in their bed. ¶

I have often thought, my brethren and sisters, since coming to Utah, and since having received the gospel, how greatly I have been blessed of the Lord, and I feel to thank my parents, although my father never joined the Church. My mother, however, emigrated with the Saints; and I may say this in behalf of my father, he was very kind to the missionaries, and that he was ready to be baptized. He suggested this to my mother, but she was not yet ready. A few months after this transpired, father passed away, and mother soon afterwards sold out her business and emigrated to the land of Zion. ¶

My brethren and sisters, I know that this is the work of the Lord. I have enjoyed the spirit of this work, and I feel that the Lord is with his servants under all circumstances; for wherever I have labored, whether at home or abroad, I have felt the inspiration of his Holy Spirit. I want to say to you that I sustain the authorities of this Church with all my heart. May the Lord bless us and help us to become, more and more, his servants and his handmaidens, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ¶