Remarks

Brethren and sisters: A solemn thought comes to me as I stand before you. It is this: The Lord said: "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make things become strong unto them." ¶

The Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Lord, declared: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." ¶

There were those in Paul's day who made the statement that his bodily presence was weak; but in that earthen vessel was the courageous spirit, the power of the Priesthood and the Holy Ghost that magnified the name of the Lord, and that preached Jesus Christ and him crucified to all the people who would listen to the apostle's message. ¶

We should look upon the manner of our redemption not only with respect and gratitude, but also with deep love and affection. In the body of the Babe of Bethlehem was the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the God of heaven, who came down to redeem his people. ¶

What was there in that young child to incite the murderous impulses in the heart of the wicked King Herod? The child appeared to mortal eyes much like other children, except to those whom God had given the light to see that the Son of Mary was God, the Savior. The evil power moved Herod to seek the life of the Only Begotten of the Father, because the promised Son was a revelation of God, the Redeemer of the world, who came to save mankind by his atoning blood. He was the Resurrection and the Life. ¶

When the Prophet Joseph Smith related to sectarian ministers the account of his glorious vision in which he beheld the Father and the Son, they laughed him to scorn and persecuted him. After accomplishing all the work God had given him to do, he sealed his testimony with his blood as a martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ. What was there in that boy to stir up hate and murder in the hearts of those who persecuted him and sought his life? The evil one revealed to them that here was a man who came to declare to the world that God lived, that Jesus was the Christ. Joseph Smith was a man sent from God to fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord and to restore the true and everlasting gospel for the salvation of the children of men. ¶

The remark is sometimes heard among us that the world looks with more complacency upon a prophet than it did a generation ago. This is not true, and those who entertain that idea are deceiving themselves. The same power that hated the Savior has always hated and will always hate the prophets he sends into the world. "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." ¶

A few years ago, shortly after the World War, I had a conversation with a prominent minister. He was a great preacher of the gospel as he understood it. In manner he was courteous, and his questions indicated a tolerant spirit. At the close of our talk I said to him: "Doctor, do you not think that this great war and this terrible epidemic of influenza foreshadow some great event such as the second coming of the Son of God?" He replied: "I think so now, but if a man eight years ago had told us that this war and epidemic would come, we would have laughed him to scorn and then crucified him." I said: "Doctor, men did crucify just such a man." Then to relieve the deep astonishment depicted on the churchman's countenance, I told him the story of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the marvelous predictions that he made, by revelation from the Lord, of the Civil War, the World War and the desolating sickness and the overflowing scourge that should cover the land. ¶

I testify to you, my brethren and sisters, that in earthen vessels there is power, there is a heavenly treasure. In the Prophet Joseph Smith there was a heavenly treasure, an immortal spirit, the power and calling of the holy Priesthood and the Holy Ghost by which he established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all its beauty and power, divinely commissioned to preach the gospel to prepare the way for the second coming of the Lord. ¶

And I testify that in the missionaries, earthen vessels, the Holy Ghost dwells, and by this they know, by first-hand knowledge and not second-hand, that Jesus is the Christ. By that treasure and power they are preaching the restored gospel, reproving the world of sin, and God is blessing their labors. ¶

The President of the Church has the same treasure, the same power, keys, and authority that the Prophet Joseph Smith had, and all the leaders of the Church, and the officers laboring under their direction have these treasures and the calling and authority that belong to the particular offices to which they have been appointed, to declare God's message to the people to whom they are sent and among whom they labor. This testimony I bear, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶