President of the Minidoka Stake

President of the Minidoka Stake ¶

Brethren and sisters : I wish to extend the love and sympathy and good fellowship of the people of the Minidoka stake to the presidency and all the general authorities and all the people of this Church. This is an experience that I have never before had. I remember many years ago, when just a mere boy, of sitting in a little country meeting house and school house combined on a Sunday when the home missionaries came to the ward. And as those brethren sat up on the stand and in their turn talked to us, I thought to myself, what wonderful looking men. I wonder if that opportunity will ever come to me. And from that time to this present moment I have tried to do my duty in the Church, have tried to help to build up the kingdom of the Lord to the best of my ability, and I thank him from the depths of my heart for the opportunities that have come to me in helping to carry on this work. ¶

I thank him that I was born of goodly parents, and I thank him that in the home of my parents I have the first time to hear either of them speak disparagingly of any of the authorities of this Church, and that teaching has been inculcated into my system until I would be afraid to raise my voice in criticism of any of these, the Lord's anointed. I hope and trust that while I sojourn in the earth I shall be privileged to do the best I can in bringing souls unto Christ and helping to build up his kingdom here in this earth, and I will give to him the praise and the honor and glory, forever and ever. Amen. ¶