President Heber J. Grant Recently Complimented a Gentleman

President Heber J. Grant recently complimented a gentleman for having splendid terminal facilities. That part is not bothering me at present. I would like to have a self-starter. Elder Geo. F. Richards, in one of the meetings of this conference, said that it required greater intelligence to create an idea than it did to find words with which to express it. I have an idea that there is truth in that statement. ¶

I rejoice this morning in being numbered among this people, and in having the privilege of rendering service in this great organization, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a most wonderful organization. It has nurtured me from my infancy. It has provided for me all the facilities which I consider essential for my progress and development. I am not saying how well I have observed and taken advantage of the opportunities that have been afforded, but it has always provided a means for the exercise of my ambitions and for my development. I thank the Lord that in my teens I became interested in the Church and its doctrines and organizations, and received the benefits of its teachings; that early in my young manhood the Lord blessed me with wholesome surroundings and gave me the privilege and opportunity of associating with men and women of greater wisdom than I had, who were interested in my life and directed my footsteps in the ways of truth; that it became my privilege to perform a mission to the world, and that even before my return from that mission, several months, in fact, I was chosen a member of the bishopric of my ward. I have not been out of the harness since. As a representative of the third generation in the Church, I am happy today to say that the faith is still with the family and has not waned in the least from the days of my grandfather who embraced the gospel in his native land, England. ¶

A wonderful organization, I said. It has been an inspiration during this conference, as it has during many others that I have been privileged to attend, to witness the great body of men of intelligence, busy men, who give their time and their talents for the furtherance of this work, and to look into the faces of thousands who have been called to positions in this Church to minister for the people and teach them the doctrines of Christ, that they may grow in the fear of the Lord. I say that it is an inspiration at this moment to see such men as I see before me. We do not seek positions in this Church, but they come to us as a rule through faithfulness, and I doubt not that the majority of these brethren who are before us, received their appointments with reluctance, feeling their incapacity and inability to discharge the duties and responsibilities that would rest upon them in serving the people and administering in the various offices to which they have been called. ¶

As a parent I feel grateful to the Lord that provision has been made in the organizations of the Church to supplement the home and give proper teachings unto our children in the Sunday schools, in the Religion class and other organizations; that means are provided whereby they can be taught the ways of the Lord and be led to fear him and keep his commandments. It is wonderful when we contemplate these things how kind the Lord has been to us, how merciful he is to us. ¶

I feel that this work is growing. I wish I could report, as the brother before me did, with respect to the missionary work. I think it is a wonderful report that he has just given. I felt that we were one of the smallest stakes in the Church, but we have nearly three times the number of people that the brother who has just spoken has in his stake. It is something to be proud of for a stake with so few members to furnish as many missionaries as he reports has been furnished by his stake. I can see how, in the future, that can strengthen the wards in his stake. These missionaries coming back to the stake with their experience and the zeal that they acquire in the work of the Lord, in their missionary efforts, will repay ten-fold for all the sacrifices that are made now in sending them abroad. I think that this is one thing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the world is jealous of, this missionary system, the strength it brings to the people. It was said recently in a convention by a certain man who had heard many from Utah express themselves that he wondered how it was that the men from Utah when assembled in conventions could express themselves so clearly. This gave the opportunity to explain to this gentleman our missionary system, for practically all of the male members of the Church have the privilege in their early manhood of going out and proclaiming the gospel, thus developing themselves to become useful and efficient in expressing their ideas and views on different questions pertaining to civil life. I am proud today to be numbered among this people, and to have the pleasure of serving them in our stake. I trust that we may grow and be united in our effort to serve the Lord and accomplish his purposes. ¶

May God add his blessings unto all of us, that we may do our duty faithfully, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶