God Guides and Directs This People

About ten days ago it seemed as if I might be prevented from attending this great gathering. I took counsel with myself, and came to the conclusion that the general conferences of the Church, which I have been permitted to attend, with considerable regularity, ever since the days of my early manhood, have been a tremendous source of strength to me. I doubt whether any other Church activity has been more powerful in establishing and building my faith than these great general conferences. ¶

God Guides and Directs This People

I have been stirred by this conference; and uplifted in my feelings. I desire to bear witness to the truth of that which has been spoken. ¶

God has indeed been with us, and his word has been taught by his servants who have been called upon to address us this day. It is always a source of gladness to me to recognize, in the events within the Church, that God does indeed guide and direct this people. ¶

The True Meaning of Life

These great gatherings are a constant marvel to me. There are none other like them in the world. I never attend one without pondering upon the real reason why these conferences bring out these hosts of people, all apparently of one mind, one heart, and one understanding. President Grant's remarks this morning gave the explanation. These thousands could not assemble every six months, and enjoy these meetings, unless we were certain about the great issues of human life. I believe that every person here belonging to the Church, who has caught the spirit of this great latter-day work, feels certain as to the origin of man, the purpose of life, and the destiny of humanity. Perhaps no search in the history of the world has been equal to the search for the truth regarding the origin and destiny of man. We have had times when great nations have given themselves to a search for wealth or for long life. The elixir of life and the philosopher's stone were the objects of man's seeking for many generations, and at other times men have sought other great things. But there has never been a time when the great majority of thinking people have not attempted to seek out the true meaning of life. We have found that true meaning. In the hearts of the Latterday Saints there is an assurance as to the meaning of life, and that security of knowledge makes possible the many wonderful things that characterize this Church and Kingdom. ¶

Uncertainty of the Meaning of Life a Cause of Wickedness

As I travel about among those not of our faith it seems to me that the uncertainty concerning the meaning of life is a chief cause of the wickedness, indifference and fear which are found among the nations today. In fact, whenever uncertainty with respect to this fundamental problem attacks an individual, from that moment on, either fear develops with him, fear of the unknown, often leading to superstition, or he becomes indifferent, and says: "I don't know whence I came, I don't know where I am going, why should I care? Let me do my bit today, my little kindness, but pay no attention to the churches or to organized forms of religion, because I don't really know what is the truth." ¶

Revealed Religion Gives the Interpretation

Curiously enough, our wealth of modern, man-made knowledge sheds little light upon the meaning of life, unless interpreted in the light of revealed religion. How different with us Latter-day Saints! If we know one thing with certainty, it is that we were in the beginning with God, that we came here according to a fully and completely devised plan, and that we shall live on after this life, forever and forever. ¶

Father Lehi, in his remarkable farewell address to his children, ¶

as recorded in the Book of Mormon, declares that "Adam fell that men might be;"and continues, "and men are that they might have joy."Any person reading this statement so frequently quoted among our people, must understand that the very essence of it is that there is no chance with respect to the great program of human life, but that this earth and all things on it, every living soul, fits into the great, eternal plan prepared by Almighty God before the foundations of this earth were laid. In another place in modern scripture we have a statement to the effect that not only shall we have joy in this life, on this earth, but that in the hereafter we shall have "immortality and eternal life."Not merely continued existence, from age to age, but eternal life with all that life implies — activity, development, growth and increase of every proper kind of character. Such doctrines give joy to the human heart. Such doctrines make it possible to live on this earth in the face of difficulties that men of necessity have to encounter. ¶

The Great Principle of Eternal Progress

I am especially grateful for the doctrine that we shall go on, throughout the endless ages, far beyond the comprehension of man. I am indeed grateful that all has not been revealed today, because if we are to go on, today and tomorrow and throughout all time to come, then we shall be continually learning and increasing in knowledge. I find men occasionally who are very fond of discussing the unrevealed truths of the gospel. To them everything must be explained; there must be no mystery. This is completely out of harmony with the great principle of eternal progression, one of the cornerstones of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful that I do not understand all things; that I have been given a certain field of knowledge into which I must fit this mortal life to the best of my ability; and that I know for a certainty that on the tomorrow, when this life is passed, or perhaps before it is over, new light and knowledge may be given me. ¶

I am grateful also that man is that he "might have joy."I believe that statement does not mean joy merely in the hereafter; I believe it means joy on this earth. As a people, we are and should be joyful, glad and happy. We should so live that those who come among us would observe that gladness is in our hearts, because of the truths that have been given us. The body, mind and spirit should be used to give joy, not sensual pleasure to man. However, merely knowing a doctrine or a truth is not enough to make us fully happy, or to give us that complete joy of which Father Lehi speaks. Undoubtely, the one great way to achieve joy in this life is that laid down by President Grant this forenoon. A person, to enjoy satisfaction in life and to stand firmly upon his feet in the walks of life, must of necessity obey law which really means the proper use of knowledge. Conformity with law gives joy, opposition of law brings misery and unhappiness. ¶

Obedience to Law

How much of the law should a man obey? All of the law! Not one ¶

law should be forgotten. Let us obey all the law, with all our might and strength, and we shall find the joy that characterizes those who really understand life, and who have won the full measure of gladness. I am thankful that we have among the Latter-day Saints very many persons, perhaps the majority of the members, who so live that this great joy, which has been promised us, is theirs indeed. ¶

Sincerity a Dominant Trait in the Church and Its Leaders

Obedience to law must be impelled by simple honesty or sincerity. I wonder if we are quite sincere in our obedience, or if we give to the Lord with hidden motives in our hearts. We cannot be anything but sincere if we are true Latter-day Saints. Men who give of their time, talents or means without fully giving themselves, their hearts, only give in part. Throughout the history of this Church is the simple thought, that sincerity lies at the foundation of this organization. The people of the kingdom have come from all corners of the earth, after accepting this gospel with full sincerity, holding nothing back. The Prophet Joseph Smith was sincere. Brigham Young was sincere; there was no doubt in their minds. They did not dissemble; they were not playing a game; they were not acting a part; but sincerity is evident in everything that they did. Some so-called historians who have written about us, have laid as the foundation of their writings the assumption that Joseph Smith was a scoundrel who attempted to fool the people, and that Brigham Young became a "Mormon"because he loved wealth and power. That is not history. Those who will read the history of this Church, with honest hearts, freeing themselves of prejudice, will come back to the conclusion that this work was founded in honesty. Any historians or purported historians who begin their work by assuming that the founders of this Church were dishonest or insincere, do not write history, they write travesty. History is more than a mere chronology of facts. History is a great interpretation of events. The events of "Mormonism"bring out clearly the fact that a sincere feeling has dominated all of its years. ¶

Joy Comes by Obeying the Will of God

I know, my brethren and sisters, that it is possible to be happy *in this Church and kingdom. I know that joy may be won by those who will do the will of God. I have tried, as you have, to keep the law fully. I bear you my testimony that as I try and try again to live the full law, a joy far beyond the power or the giving of man, becomes mine. ¶

A few years ago an old widow on her death bed asked: "Is this death?"And the answer came; "Perhaps it may be near."She then sat up in bed, asked that pillows support her, and said: "If this be death, then I want to testify of the joy I have had in finding and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gladness has come into my soul because of this great gift which I found in my early womanhood."A week ¶

ago, on the train, I met the type of man who has found joy in this work. This man, not yet very old, but in the afternoon of life, told me the story of his life. He had been on three missions. His sons, five or six of them, had gone on missions. He had twice sold out his property that he might obey the call of the priesthood and go on missions. Now, in his declining years, yet vigorous and strong, he told me with what a joy he faced the coming years. His children were taught in the truth, he himself had a modest home, and the good things of life, so far as he needed them. I said to him: "Brother, you have sacrificed much, but you have also a great abundance of blessings to compensate you for the sacrifice you have made."He turned to me, looked into my eyes, and said: "Brother, I sacrificed, therefore have I the blessings. Without sacrifice I should not have known the great joy which is promised to those who live the principle of the gospel." ¶

I bear witness again to the truth of this work, to its spiritual power and to its sufficiency in guiding men in all the affairs of life. I pray that we may be continually blessed by God, that we may always be willing to give unto him all that may be required of us, that we may go onward, and that the work may be prospered, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶