I feel very keenly the responsibility that is

I feel very keenly the responsibility that is upon me this moment, and yet I am glad to add a few words to those already spoken. We have assembled here to be instructed, and I suppose it is true in the case of each of the other speakers, as I know it is with me, that it is impossible to express all the thoughts that arise in the mind as we listen to these services. ¶

Purpose of the Conference

I take it for granted that the purpose of these conferences is that we who assemble here may hear instruction. Moreover that the instruction may be as seed planted in our souls, taking root and growing, causing reflections in our minds. No doubt when we return to our homes we enlarge upon the things we have heard, and through faith and study gain greater knowledge, and thus draw nearer to our heavenly Father in the truth. If we do not, then we are not obtaining the full benefit of the meetings and the instructions given by the brethren. It is our privilege and duty, therefore, to study and enlarge upon the things that here are spoken. ¶

The Faith of Young Latter-day Saints

, Reference has been made by some of the speakers to sentiments uttered by those not of our faith, and who are not kindly disposed towards the Church and its members, to the effect that the youth of "Mormonism" — and I place that word in quotation marks — are not walking in the footsteps of their fathers, and, that in time the children will depart from the faith and accept the teachings of the so-called "Christian" sects of the world. As one of the fifth generation in the Church I testify that I know this is not true, and that there is faith in Israel among the young people. ¶

The gospel is, as the Savior said, like a net cast in the sea, which gathers of all kinds, and naturally there will be some that will have to be cast out because they are not good. Without a doubt there are those who come into the Church with ulterior motives, and some who are always weak in the faith. These latter may become discouraged and depart from the Church because they have not understood the truth. Again, we know it to be a fact that the unrepentant transgressor will deny the faith and turn away in a spirit of bitterness. However, I am assured, and I have that assurance in my heart through the teachings I have received from the Spirit of the Lord and from the inspiration that has come to me from the revelations of the Lord through his servants, that the majority of this people will always remain true. ¶

Significant Quotation from Daniel

Elder Whitney this afternoon referred to the prophesying of Daniel concerning the restored gospel and the Priesthood. Let me present a verse that Daniel uttered which to us, and to all the world, if they will receive it, is very significant : ¶

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom • which shall never he destroyed ; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. ¶

"Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold ; the great God hath made it known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter; and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." ¶

That is the statement of an ancient prophet concerning this latter day work — this gospel of the kingdom which has now been restored, and the organization the Lord has established, in other words, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It will never be destroyed. It shall not be given to other people. While many will come into the Church, and some will go out of it, the great majority of its members will remain true and faithful to the truth, and the Kingdom is bound to grow until jt shall fill the earth. ¶

Worldly Religious Systems

I think that the Protestant ministers, to whom Elder McKay referred— Mr. Parrish and Mr. Fosdick — have spoken better than they knew in their arraignment of the Protestant world. Not only do their remarks apply to Protestantism, but to all creeds, sects and parties that are not recognized of the Lord, for he has decreed that in this dispensation of the fulness of times he would break in pieces and bring to naught every work that js not of him. He declared, through Paul, that it was "according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth ; even in him." And as he has decreed, so he will fulfil. All things that pertain to the salvation of man have been restored in this dispensation preparatory to the coming of Christ and the setting up of his kingdom with absolute authority over all the earth. When that time comes, and Christ reigns, all that now exists contrary to that Kingdom and in conflict with it must come to an end. If people are engaged in works which are not approved of the Lord, the earlier they come to an understanding of the truth and come out of them and learn to serve the Lord, the better it is for them. It is far better to know the truth and forsake error than to remain in the systems of the world which are not approved by the Lord and therefore in due time must cease tc exist. That day is near at hand, and because of it the Lord has sent forth his servants in the world proclaiming his gospel and crying repentance, that all who will may hear and escape. It is within the reach of all who are willing to forsake error, to know the truth and the established work of the Lord. ¶

The Enemy Shall Not Overcome

When the Priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith by John the Baptist (I speak now of the Aaronic Priesthood) the promise was made that it should remain on the earth and should not be taken away. So we look for the Church with all its power to grow and develop until all the righteous are gathered into the kingdom of God. For it is the will of our Father that all who are willing to serve him and seek light and truth shall have the opportunity. In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, January 2, 1831, before the Church was one year old, the Lord said : ¶

"Wherefore, gird up your loins, and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome." ¶

I have faith in that. He has given to us the kingdom. He has made us the promise that the enemy of the kingdom shall not overcome. We may have trouble. We have had trouble. We may meet with opposition, but that opposition shall fail in its endeavor to destroy the work of God. ¶

Now the Lord has said something more in the verses which follow the one I have given you, and these are very significant and very timely : ¶

"Verily I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all ; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased." ¶

There Are Some Tares in the Church

The Lord could not say he was well pleased with all the members of the Church. For, even then, as now, there were some in the Church who were not clean. Nevertheless he did declare this Church was the only one with which he was well pleased. He could not say that of the systems and organizations extant which will not hearken to his word and obey his commandments, but set up doctrines of their own, contrary to his laws and ordinances. It is only natural, since he did establish his Church, to speak of it in the terms which he did and while expressing satisfaction with the organization as a whole yet point out forcibly the fact that there were in the Church some tares guilty of sin. After making this statement he further says: ¶

"For all flesh is corrupted before me ; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven — ¶

"Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned ; and, behold, the enemy is combined." ¶

Great Things to Take Place in This Age

So the Lord points out the fact that great things are to take place ¶

in the earth in this day. The gospel has been restored, and the kingdom given to his Saints according to the prophecy of Daniel. It is not again to be removed, destroyed, or given to other people, and in his own way and time he is going to break down all other systems, that his kingdom may prevail and that he may come and reign as Lord of lords and King of kings upon the face of the whole earth. ¶

The Restored Church Not to Be Removed

Again in reference to this same matter, which is in harmony with that which we have heard this afternoon from the other speakers, the Lord said : ¶

"And verily I say unto you, the rest of my servants, go ye forth as your circumstances shall permit, in your several callings, unto the great and notable cities and villages, reproving the world in righteousness of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds, setting forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in the last days. ¶

"For, with you saith the Lord Almighty, I will rend their kingdoms ; I will not only shake the earth, but the starry heavens shall tremble. ¶

"For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven ; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that T am, and that I will come and reign with my people. ¶

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Amen." ¶

So again in these modern scriptures the Lord has called attention to the fact that he is going to destroy systems and organizations and combinations that are false. And how is he going to do it? By giving their members the truth, if they will receive it ; by giving them the privilege of coming out of those organizations to receive the truth and have every opportunity to come into his kingdom, for his hand is outstretched ready to greet them. If they will not come ; if they will not receive his message, then of course they must fall with their systems. Truth will prevail ; truth will stand when all else is removed, and it is destined to cover the face of the earth. ¶

False Systems to Be Destroyed

In one of these scriptures I have presented, the Lord said the angels are waiting to reap down the earth. I heard President Wilford Woodruff make the statement, in this very spot where I now stand, at a conference of the Church, that these angels had been sent forth on their mission to reap down the earth, to tie in bundles the tares for the burning and to gather the Saints of God. I heard him make this statement on several occasions. Moreover he said from that time forth, and that was about the year 1894, earthquakes, pestilence, war, famine, plague, and other commotions among both men and the elements would increase and continue until the coming of Christ. ¶

In the revelation known to us as the "revelation on war," the Lord declared that he had decreed the overthrow of nations, "until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations." In that day, when this shall come to pass, the nation set up by the Lord must reign supreme and all other powers, kingdoms, organizations and societies shall pass away, for so it is decreed. ¶

Advice and Admonition to the Saints

Now, just a word or two in conclusion, as advice and admonition to the Latter-day Saints. We are living in perilous times. I do not feel that we ought to sit down and take things easy, to partake of all the sins and follies of the world and their systems and do just as they do in all respects. We should strictly observe the Sabbath day. We should keep the Word of Wisdom. We cannot afford to discard the doctrine of prayer. If we turn away from these principles which mean so much to us, we cannot be approved of the Lord. The world is turning from these fundamental principles. They do not mean to the ordinary individual in the world what they used to mean. Many professed ministers of Christ are making light of these sacred things ; not all of them, for there are yet some who are devout and sincere in the things they are teaching. However, a great many professed teachers of the gospel have discarded the fundamental truth upon which salvation is based. We should not pin our faith in men, or in their philosophies and their worldly teachings. The world is full of doctrines and vain philosophy diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I say to you, my brethren and sisters, we ought to follow the admonition the Lord has given us to stand in holy places and be not moved, and be just a little more firm in the keeping of his commandments. We should make a more careful search of the Scriptures and the revelations of the Lord. ¶

We have no business violating the Sabbath day. In the Priesthood conferences, which have been held in the stakes of Zion during the past three months, we have put a great deal of stress upon this principle. We have been teaching the people the necessity of observing the Sabbath day and keeping it holy. I regret very much that, even in communities of Latter-day Saints, this doctrine is not looked upon as it ought to be by some ; that we have those among us who seem to feel that it is perfectly right to follow the custom of the world in this regard. They are partakers of the ideas and notions of the world in violation of the commandments of the Lord. But if we do this the Lord will hold us accountable, and we cannot violate his word and receive the blessings of the faithful. ¶

We cannot afford to discard the doctrine of prayer. We should be teaching our children in our homes to pray ; we should pray in secret, and in our hearts, and'before our families. Without the spirit of prayer we cannot please the Lord ; we cannot stand before him in favor if we are not willing to acknowledge his hand in all things and keep his commandments. These are the words he has given us by revelation. ¶

Necessary to Walk in the Full Light of Truth

We cannot afford not to pay our tithing, nor can we afford to turn away from any. other principles of the gospel. I fully endorse the remark made by one of the speakers here yesterday, that it is necessary for us to walk in the full light of the truth, not in part of the truth only. I haven't the privilege of discarding some of the principles of the gospel and believing others, and then feel that I am entitled to the full blessings of salvation and exaltation in the kingdom of God. Jf we want exaltation,, if we want the place which the Lord has prepared for those who are just and true, then we must be willing to walk in the full light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and keep all the commandments. We cannot say that some of them are small and insignificant and therefore the Lord will not care if we violate them. We are commanded to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. "Why call ye me Lord, Lord," he says, "and do not the things that I say?" So he spoke to his disciples when he was with them, and he has also spoken to us in this day in a similar way, saying: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." ¶

I pray that we may all walk in the light of the truth as it has been revealed to us, observing to do all things required by the Lord, which, through our faithfulness and perseverence, will insure our exaltation in the Kingdom of God. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶