Remarks

The splendid discourses delivered this morning have been a real inspiration to me. I hope they have made a deep impression upon your souls. We need the gospel of repentance preached at home as well as abroad. I believe the home to be the place where our children should be taught the things they should know with respect to virtue, honesty, temperance, truthfulness, etc. I fear there is a false modesty existing between many fathers and their sons, likewise between mothers and daughters, and our young people often get the wrong impressions of life from their associates instead of being told the things they ought to know by their parents. ¶

I appreciate the splendid auxiliary organizations we have in the Church, and the wonderful influence they are having upon the lives of our young men and women in creating within them faith in God and inspiring them with a testimony of the gospel and the divine mission of Jesus Christ. All these things are fine, but parents, too, have a great responsibility. ¶

I have faith in the youth of Zion, I believe in them. No finer or cleaner men and women can be found anywhere than those who come into the mission field. I count it a blessed privilege to be associated with them. Without exception they are developing into splendid representatives of the Church capable of giving a reason for the hope that is within them. ¶

While the religious world is being split wide open over the most fundamental doctrines of Christian faith, while churches are divided and pastors forced to resign because of their modernistic views, and the intellectuals are ridiculing religion, calling it superstition, good enough to hold the ignorant in check, our missionaries are going right ahead preaching the gospel of repentance, and contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints. There is no schism, no controversy, no difference of opinion with respect to the ¶

saving ordinances of the gospel, to be found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am frequently asked why we do not center our efforts on the heathen in Africa, and other foreign countries, rather than here in Christian America! Some feel we have no right to proselyte among members of other churches. My answer has been that our message is to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, and is as much needed in this country as anywhere in the world. We have a message for all people if they will but receive it. We have no apology to offer for our presence in the world. God has again spoken from the heavens and established his work in the earth; we are his representatives and the gospel we preach is the power of God unto salvation. ¶

In the World's Work for Feb., 1924, W. P. Merrill makes this statement: ¶

"It is time we were facing the question: What right has a denomination to exist? It is plain truth that no organization of men or women has a right to call itself a Christian church which is not built on Christ's line. * * * * If Christ did not found the Church and lay down its lines, it has no divine authority. If he did, then to change those lines to alter conditions, to demand what he did not demand, to insist on that which he ignored is indefensible." ¶

We are glad to face the question, because we are built upon Christ's lines. He is the author of our faith, the founder of our Church, and is the chief corner stone upon which it is built. We are demanding only that which he demanded: implicit obedience to the ordinances of the gospel, and we teach that every doctrine and prin ciple advocated and taught by Christ and his apostles is part of the great plan of salvation. We affirm that we have divine authority to teach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. We declare that holy angels have been sent from the very presence of the Christ to restore the holy Priesthood, and to commission men with authority to organize the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth. We identify the angels, Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elias, Elijah; we state when they came, where they came to, and what they said and did. We affirm that we have the same kind of an organization that existed in the primitive Church, with apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, elders, seventies, high priests, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons; that they are in the work for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ, and that they will continue in the Church until there is unity of faith in the world. We invite the most searching investigation of our claims, and go so far as to declare if men and women will make that investigation, with a sincere desire to know the truth, God will manifest it unto them by the power of his Spirit. Furthermore, we are making no compromise; we are not altering conditions or changing gospel ordinances. ¶

Recently I was in Grand Island, Nebraska. A convention of one of the great Protestant churches, for that district, was in session. Baptism was being discussed. One of those present said, ¶

"Baptism when properly administered, is a beautiful and inspirational sight, that is why we are reluctant about giving it up." Think of it! Not because it is a commandment from God, not because it is the door into the fold of Christ, not because it is the only ordinance through which we may receive a remission of sins, not because it is an outward sign of an inward grace, the answering of a good conscience toward God, but because it is a beautiful and inspirational sight. Such trifling with sacred things can have but one effect; the destroying of faith in religion as a means of salvation. I am grateful to belong to a Church which states its position in very definite, concrete terms upon all these matters that are so vital to the Christian faith. ¶

I testify to you that I know God lives, that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God, and the Redeemer of the world, that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of the living God; that what is known to the world today as "Mormonism"is the gospel of Christ; which is the power of God unto salvation. I pray that we may have a broad vision of our responsibilities, that we may give loyal and willing service to the cause which is so dear to our hearts, that we may all be saved in our Fathers' kingdom, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶