My Dear Brethren and Sisters: This Is Certainly a Surprise to Me

My dear brethren and sisters: This is certainly a surprise to me, and I assure you that I am in need of your sympathy and faith, that the time I may occupy may be for our mutual benefit and blessing. ¶

I have rejoiced in all the testimonies which have been borne during this conference. The inspiration of the Lord has been with those who have spoken, and I am sure that the Saints who have been gathered together here have found joy in listening to them. ¶

From my youth I have been taught the principles of the gospel. In my early youth my father paid little attention to the Church and its organization, but during all that period of some seventeen years, I have heard my mother repeatedly say she never ceased to pray that he might yield obedience to the principles of the gospel, and accept the same of his own volition. Though he was born of Latter-day Saint parents, as was the case with many "Mormon" youths at that time, he went into neighboring states and places, and for a time seemed to lose the faith, but later accepted it and has been true to it ever since. ¶

I am grateful to my heavenly Father that I was born of goodly parents, that through them a testimony of the truth has come to me. I do not hesitate to think that perhaps it would have been difficult for me to accept the gospel, had I been found in the world as many people have been. I rejoice in the opportunities that have come to me, in the responsibilities that have been given to me, because out of them I have found joy and satisfaction, and I have seen in my brethren a desire for the benefit and blessing of the people about them. In the councils of my brethren, into which I have had the privilege of being called, and in joining with them, I have never seen aught, nor heard aught that was not good, never any manifestation or desire, or intent to injure any, but always the spirit of service and consideration, that those who make up the Church and those not of the Church should be benefited and blessed. Nothing but good has ever been evidenced in their intent and their purposes. To these testimonies also have come the testimonies of the Spirit, and in trial and in responsibilities that I have borne I have seen ¶

evidences of the truth of this work. I do not doubt it. I have never had any doubt as to the integrity of the men who have been called of the Lord to lead this work. ¶

I see in the scriptures, in the standard works of the Church, in the writings of those whose minds have been drawn out to write of the things of the Lord, and teach the people, that which is for our good. I rejoice in the Book of Mormon. To me it is an indisputable testimony of the truth of this work. Its very existence demonstrates to me, together with a knowledge of its coming forth, that it is of the Lord. So also with the Pearl of Great Price. The thought came to me while some of the brethren were speaking this morning that it is a strange thing that the records which were found seemingly so mysteriously, that made up part of the Pearl of Great Price, should find their way into the hands of the Prophet Joseph, and yet, if the Lord had a servant on earth, if he had a prophet in existence, isn't it only natural that it should find its way into his hands, and should be published to the world? ¶

I bear you my testimony, my brethren and sisters, that the peace of the gospel has come into my soul, and I am satisfied without any doubt whatever of its truth. I see in its principles a philosophy that would serve the human race, principles that will mean our salvation temporally and spiritually; and I feel, my brethren and sisters, that the little service that I can render, the little value that I may be to my brethren and sisters, and to myself, in all the things that I may be able to do, and that the Lord may help me to do, is of little consequence unless the Lord helps me and helps others to understand me and my endeavors to keep his commandments and to serve in this work. It seems to me that the frailties of human kind, the weaknesses of human nature, and the littleness of men, particularly of myself, grow upon me from time to time, and I recognize how much I need the blessing and Spirit of the Lord and his help to uphold me and guide me in the work that I am called upon to do. ¶

I pray the Lord to bless us with satisfaction and with joy, and with a continued testimony of his goodness unto us. I thank him for these things that have come into my life, for the privileges and blessings that have come to me through the gospel, and I do it, and bear my testimony unto you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶