Remarks

I desire an interest in your faith and prayers this morning, that I may be supported by the Spirit of the Lord in the few moments that I stand before you at this time. ¶

I have enjoyed this conference, as I always do enjoy them, and have rejoiced in the opportunity that I have of attending them and associating with you, my brethren and sisters, and those whom the Lord has chosen to direct the affairs of his Church in the earth today. I rejoice that we have men who are not afraid to speak the truth. No honest man sitting in the audience and looking into the faces of the General Authorities of the Church can help but say, that they are sincere and honest. ¶

I was forcibly struck this morning at a meeting of the Board of Education by a remark made by Elder David O. McKay, wherein he drew a little comparison to drive home his point. He said, "Latter-day Saints should not be ashamed of the gospel, nor should they hesitate to stand up and defend it at every opportunity." ¶

Last June it was my privilege to go to the city of Cleveland, I attended a convention there. My son, who was presiding over the Northern Indiana conference, came down and visited a few days with me. The business men were very kind to us. They went out of their way to do everything to make our visit pleasant while we were in that city. They would send their automobiles around to our hotel and place them at our disposal, in order that we might enjoy our visit with them. I told some of them that I did not want them to do that, that I was busy. I thanked them, however. But I said I would like to go out to the Kirtland temple, if it was agreeable to them. "Certainly,"they said, and at the appointed hour they came, not only the chauffeur of the car but three of the business men of Cleveland, and they in company with the Governor of our own state and one or two others journeyed to Kirtland, and we were escorted through the temple by an elderly gentleman there, who said he was a patriarch in the church. Of course, the main thing that was talked about by him was in the nature of a criticism of the "Brighamites"and the Latter-day Saints in general. We listened to him, we were his guests, and when we left the building I turned to him and said: "My friend, I want you to know that I preside in one of the stakes of Zion. Now,"I said "I have listened to you. Why didn't you tell us what happened in this building? Why didn't ¶

you tell us that the Savior appeared here to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and that Elijah appeared and conferred the keys of the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children, etc.; and that Moses appeared and conferred the keys of the gathering; and Elias appeared also? Why didn't you tell something about that?""O, well," he said, "we only do that when people ask us."I said "Well, I am going to tell these gentlemen." ¶

We left the building and went to the car. "Now, my friends,"I said, "I do not want you to get our Church and this church confused. There is a vast difference between us,"and I proceeded to tell them what happened in that temple, and why it was of so much importance to us in the history of the Latter-day Saints. And before I got through one of the gentlemen from Cleveland said, "Why, Mr. Hart, you know more about it than this man does.""I most certainly do, because he doesn't know anything about it." ¶

We journeyed to the city and about nine o'clock my son and I retired to our room, and were going to retire for the night. I had taken my coat and collar off, when a knock came at the door. I answered it, and there were the three gentlemen who went with us to Kirtland. They came to my room. They wanted to excuse themselves and tried to leave, but I insisted that they stay, and assured them the only reason that I was going to retire was that I didn't have any other place to go that night. They came in, and, of course, I knew what they wanted. I had given them a pretty good talk at noon that day, and they came there and inquired most earnestly regarding other things pertaining to our Church, and I had the privilege of relating to them some of the fundamental principles of the Church to which we belong. I entertained them there until 12:30, and during our talk I explained to them briefly the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the organization of the Church, etc., and during my talk along that line, at intervals one of the gentlemen raised his hand above his head and said, "Mr. Hart, that is the most wonderful story I ever heard."I said, "It is, it is one of the greatest miracles of modern times."I said, "If we should strip the divine claim from that book, we could not publish it half fast enough for the world to read it.""But,"I said, "it is divine, it has stood the test of a hundred years, and we want the people to read it, we are not hiding it from them." ¶

When the time to separate came, I gave them a Book of Mormon, with a distinct understanding and a promise from them that they would read it. Since returning home I have had several letters from them to the effect that the first one had read the book and passed it on to the next one, and that they were enjoying it. ¶

Now, I simply state this, my brethren and sisters, to further testify to the fact that was stated this morning by Elder McKay, that we should not try to hide our light beneath a bushel, because the world is hungering and thirsting after the gospel of Christ, and I thank God ¶

that we have leaders here who are able, and not afraid, to present it to them upon every opportunity. It did my heart good when I heard President Grant state in his opening address where he had been, how he had traveled in the world, and visited, and embraced every opportunity that was presented to him to preach the gospel to the children of men wherever he went, and I know that he rejoiced in it, and that the Lord will bless him and every other man who will take this opportunity. ¶

Now, my brethren and sisters, I do not fear for these men. God will take care of them, but I am fearful for myself, and I hope and pray, and do pray continually, that the Lord will keep me in the path of rectitude, that I may be able to endure to the end. And may we all do this, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ¶