My Testimony Has Been Greatly Strengthened

My testimony has been greatly strengthened during this conference. In listening to the calls of our mission presidents for more missionaries, I feel very proud of the little stake that I have been asked to preside over, for we sense the responsibility of preaching the gospel not only to the world, but to the people who live in our stake who may not understand the gospel. The small stake that I preside over has but 1,250 people. A year ago we had eleven long-term missionaries in the field. When the call came from President Grant for short-term missionaries ten of our brethren volunteered. This is very pleasing to us who preside over that stake of Zion. During the last winter we have had fourteen long-term missionaries in the field and three short-term missionaries. ¶

We quite often hear people, who are trying to criticise, say that our people are not sincere in their belief. I do not see how any person, with a sane mind, can say that, after listening to the report that Elder David O. McKay read to us yesterday of the time and money that have been spent by the members of this Church, and after knowing, as I know, of the effort our people are putting forth in our little stake to preach the gospel to people who do not understand it. I know that we are sincere, and I know that the gospel is true. I know that people who do not think we are sincere have never been humble enough themselves to ask their Father in heaven that they might understand the gospel. ¶

There is one truth that we cannot get away from, and it is this: We cannot understand the gospel without the assistance of our Father in heaven. We find in our organizations that wherever those in charge attempt to accomplish the work themselves, with their own power, without asking for the assistance of their Father in heaven, they fail. But wherever they are humble and pray for the assistance of our Father in heaven, he will always come to their rescue and help finish the work they are called to perform. If the people of the world who do not understand the gospel, and are always criticising, would get down on their knees with a prayerful heart and ask their Father in heaven to help them to understand the truth and the beauties of the gospel, I am sure that our heavenly Father would come to their rescue. I know he has done this for me, and that he will do it for others. I know that the gospel is true, and that by trying to help others in this life we help ourselves. We always get more out of the effort of doing our duty than we put into it. May the Lord help us to perform our obligations here on the earth, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶