Prayer Is of Great Benefit

On occasions of this character there is an obligation resting upon each member of the Church present, perhaps the greatest responsibility is upon those who are called upon to instruct the people. ¶

PRAYER IS OF GREAT BENEFIT ¶

We all have need of the help our Lord so generously gives, when sought after in the way that he has appointed. Our singers need help that they may have control of their voices, that they may have the spirit of these hymns and songs which are sung, that the song may be as a prayer unto the Lord, that it may be an acceptable feature of our worship, and be answered with blessings upon our heads, and that they may be able, not only to be heard, but to be understood. The individuals who pray need help that they may be able to voice the sentiments and feelings of the members of the congregation, for they are not offering an individual prayer, but a prayer for the whole people, expressive of their thoughts and feelings. The speaker needs that help which the Saints can give by their prayers of faith. The Lord has said that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much with the Lord. This being the case, the prayer, silent and secret though it be, of many faithful men and women is sure to avail more with the Lord, and if we all do our duty in the spirit of worship when we come together on such occasions, our worship will not only be approved of the Lord, but will be sanctified to our blessing and salvation. ¶

THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THE SOUL OF THE CHURCH ¶

The Apostle Paul in an epistle to the Corinthians made comparison of the Church and the offices thereof with the human body, and made the declaration that one member could not say to another: "I have no need of thee," for all the members are necessary. Notwithstanding the perfection of this organism of man which God has created, there is something within, that is the spirit, that if it were lacking this body would be as the dust of the earth, there would be no virtue in it. And so it is with the Church of Christ and the officers therein. But for the Spirit of God, which is the very soul of the Church, of our religion, of "Mormonism," it would be powerless to accomplish its destiny in the earth. There is in this thing called "Mormonism" a spirit, a spiritual life, and I fear that many of us have not found it. I fear that we are too mechanical in our prayers, in our worship, and in our service of God. When this spirit is upon us we feel the truth and see the beauty of the gospel which we have received. Our souls are lighted up by it and we have the spirit of testimony and a knowledge of the truth. It is the spirit of revelation, it is the spirit by which the Church and kingdom of God has been set up and by which the work has been conducted up to the present time. We can have this spirit with us and have its manifestation if we will live for it, my brethren and sisters. We must make these tabernacles of ours, which are the temples of God, fit to receive the Holy Ghost that he may dwell within us, that we may be inspired by him in that which we have to do in life, to see aright, to feel aright, and to act aright, that our administrations and our lives may be acceptable unto God. We cannot do this work assigned to us, we cannot live our religion acceptably to the Lord without his help. ¶

THE SPIRIT COMES TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING ¶

If we obtain his help it must be through his holy Spirit, and if we would have that Spirit we must live for it holy lives, being altogether worthy in the sight of the Lord, then we must have a willing spirit, willing to receive that which the Lord has to give us, willing to give that which the Lord desires at our hands, whether it be our time, our talents, our means, or our lives, we must have that willingness of spirit that we will place all upon the altar to be used by the Lord for the accomplishment of his purposes, the saving of the souls of his children. We must recognize that authority which the Lord has placed here in the earth, in his Church, for he has said: "Whether it be by my own mouth, or by the mouth of my servant, it is the same." So, when a call is made upon us by those who are in authority, we should regard it as a call from the Lord, and never refuse to accept that call, no matter what of sacrifice it may entail. We should receive these things with grateful hearts, having that faith and trust in God that it will mean to us honor and glory in the life to come which it certainly will if we magnify these callings and the work which is assigned to us. We are here to learn what the will of God is concerning us and to do his will, walking in the footsteps of our Savior, even in the light as he was in the light, that we may receive a fulfilment of the promise that we shall have fellowship one with another in his kingdom, and that the blood of Jesus Christ shall cleanse us from all sins. ¶

PRAISE THE LORD IN PRAYER FOR OPPORTUNITY AND BLESSINGS ¶

I have been greatly edified and blessed in this conference. I have enjoyed the inspiring songs, so beautifully rendered, and particularly the song, "Beautiful Zion for me." My soul went out in rejoicing and thanksgiving before the Lord that my lot is cast with the Latter-day Saints in Zion, that I have membership in the Church and kingdom of God here upon the earth, that I have the fellowship of the Saints, their love and confidence and association, that I have a portion of the authority of the Lord and have been honored with the privilege to minister for him in this great ministry in the earth, for his sustaining hand and power have been with me in my ministry, notwithstanding my weaknesses and personal inability. May the name of the Lord be praised forever. ¶

My attendance at the meetings of this conference have had the effect of bringing me to appreciate, it seems to me, more than ever before, the blessings of the Lord unto me and unto his people. I love the Latter-day Saints. I desire to see the blessings of God poured out upon them, the blessings of heaven and the blessings of earth, and I desire to see this people faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord and in doing his will. Brethren and sisters, if we appreciate the great blessings that have come to us through the gospel, let us never forget our obligation to render thanksgiving to our Father in Heaven for them, in the name of Jesus Christ. Morning and night is not too often. It was not too often when I was a child at my mother's knee. I have never felt less the need of prayer than at that time. As obligations have come to me, and as I have been made to appreciate more the blessings of the Lord, I have felt more the need of prayer, and I have constantly, and fervently prayed unto him in praise and thanksgiving, and, realizing my dependence and my weakness, I have pleaded with him for mercy, forgiveness and for spiritual guidance. The Lord has been very good to me, and I feel sure you feel the same, brethren and sisters, that he has been good to you. ¶

OTHER WAYS THAN PRAYER TO MANIFEST APPRECIATION ¶

Now let me say, it is not sufficient that we pray to the Lord often in thanksgiving for the blessings. There are other ways in which we can manifest our appreciation, if we appreciate what the Lord has done for us, we will love him and the greater our appreciation of these blessings the greater will be our love, and the Lord has said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments," and thereby does he know whether we love him, if we keep his commandments. He has said: "If a man love me, he will keep my word." He has given us his word through his servants. President Heber J. Grant has referred to the Word of Wisdom as the word of God, which it is. Now the Lord says: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. If a man love me, he will keep my word." Some people say: "But the Word of Wisdom is not a commandment." If the Lord has commanded that I love him with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might, and then has said that if I love him I will keep his word, therein is a commandment to me that I keep the Word of Wisdom. Regard it as you will, to me it is sufficient to know that it is the mind and will of God. That is what we are here for, my brethren and sisters, to learn his mind and will and then with his help to do it at whatever cost it may entail. ¶

TESTIMONY ¶

I know that this is God's work, I am thankful for it, I know that President Heber J. Grant is the mouthpiece of God unto this people at this time, and I know that he has the inspiration of his calling. I know that this work is progressing as it has under administrations of the Church which have gone before, and I know there will be no dearth of interest on the part of the Latter-day Saints in helping to carry on this work. I am assured of its triumph. I have no fear of future embarrassment, of being found in a mistaken condition. I know, and thank God for this testimony, that this is his work, that he is at the helm, and that it will triumph. This is my testimony which I bear to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶