Remarks

I am very happy, my brethren and sisters, to be in attendance at this conference; and, had I been left to my own desires I would have preferred that my time be given to President Grant. I appreciate the gospel and the knowledge that has come to me through my ministry, and the privilege I have had of laboring in the ministry, bearing my testimony to the children of men; that the work of God as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith in our day is true. In my travels I have found faith among the children of men, and have become acquainted with many men and women who have obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the elders of the Church who have labored in the Central States mission during my appointment as president of that mission. ¶

Inasmuch as I have had many hundreds of young men and women laboring under my direction as president of that mission, I have been able to observe that the youth of Zion are growing stronger, and that they are not weaker than they were 20 years ago. I know that the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are growing in faith and that the youth of Zion are not losing their faith, but that they are holding their own, notwithstanding the increased temptations that surround young people, compared with the temptations of 20 years ago. ¶

Considering the fact that our young men and young women continue to show improvement in faith and in preparedness, is it not evident, then, that the membership of the Church of God in the earth is growing in strength and in power? For if we could notice a decline, it would be undoubtedly because of the training of the youth of Zion, and inasmuch as the youth of Zion do show an increase in faith and in general preparedness for preaching the gospel, we cannot but conclude that the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are well administered, and that the work of the Lord is growing and increasing in power and in strength in the earth, and that the children who are given to parents in Zion will be able to continue to carry in honor the gospel message to the children of men until the Lord shall come. ¶

I know that the Lord lives and that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God and that he received the authority to act in the name of God; that he was divinely appointed and commissioned to establish the Church, and that the gospel through him might be preached in all the world. I bear testimony that the Priesthood of the Son of God is in the earth, and that the presiding brethren, with Heber J. Grant at the head, are divinely appointed men to act in the name of God, for the furthering of his work here in the earth. That the Priesthood shall remain in the earth until the Son of man comes to rule and reign; and I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶