Oh That My Words Were Now Written

"Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book! ¶

"That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! ¶

"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ¶

"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: ¶

"Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." ¶

Many times in my life, my brethren and sisters, I have read this wonderful prediction of Job's and have marveled at it, and have been very greatly impressed by it. I think that in my study of the Scriptures nothing else has so much impressed me as has testimony. Nothing else in the history of the Church to which we belong has so impressed me as have the testimonies given by the Prophet Joseph Smith. In reading his brief account of his life as given in the Pearl of Great Price, I turn back repeatedly and read over and over again, with added inspiration, the wonderful testimony given in so simple a way concerning his vision. This good man, of whom I have read today, had been persecuted, he had been singled out and had suffered, and still he was able to testify, in an outburst, not of reason why, but to leave his testimony for the world, that notwithstanding all that had come, or that might come unto him, he knew that his Redeemer did in very deed live. And the Prophet Joseph Smith, strange as it might seem, inoffensive towards any human being, never having harmed his fellow-man, yet simply because of the fact that he recounted that he had seen a vision, that he knew that God lived, that he had been visited by him and by his Son, he was singled out for persecution. He was invited to retract, and was assured that should he do so persecution would cease. But he testified in the simple words that he knew that he had seen a light, and that in the light he had seen two personages whom he knew to be God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ; and furthermore, he knew that God knew these things, and he dared not other than to continue to testify of this truth. And so he did testify, my brethren and sisters, to the day of his death, and sealed his testimony with his blood. ¶

In regard to the matter of testimony, I have concluded that those testimonies which have impressed me most have not been accompanied by reason why. They seem to carry with them their own conviction, and I verily believe, my brethren and sisters, that they were given by the power of the Holy Ghost, and that same Spirit has witnessed to my spirit that they are true. ¶

It is a remarkable thing, when you review the life of Joseph Smith and the great work he brought forth and the wonderful things that he testified of. We heard in priesthood meeting a review of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, given by President Anthony W. Ivins, and of the wonderful things to which Joseph Smith attached his name — a document which set forth that there were once mighty cities upon this land, and those cities had not been discovered at that time, not even the ruins of them. He attached his name to the assertion that there had been a wonderful civilization upon this land, schooled in the arts and sciences, and he was even bold enough to affirm that the people worked in metal, of iron and steel. And he told of books written upon gold leaf, and that verily the book he translated was from engravings upon a book of gold leaf. And still Joseph Smith is not supposed to have known of the existence of anything in the world that would corroborate his statement at that time. We now find that those simple testimonies and statements are corroborated all the time by the findings of scientific men who are delving into the ruins of the country to the south of us, particularly. At last, steel instruments have been discovered on this continent, and they are attributed to the ancients who manufactured them and used them. ¶

The truth of these statements of the Prophet Joseph Smith has been borne in upon me, my brethren and sisters, as I have stood among these majestic ruins of Mexico and Central and South America. I have stood there and tried to imagine that the Book of Mormon was not true, but I have prayed that I might know of a surety for myself whether it be true or not. I want to tell you that in those solemn places, in those beautiful ruins, among majestic stones, larger than any I have ever seen in any other architecture of this modern day, I have had borne in upon my soul this truth that the Book of Mormon is true; that it is a new witness for God upon the earth, and that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of God. ¶

I have been impressed during this conference by the spirit of testimony. Tears have come to my eyes more than once during this procedure because of the spirit of testimony that has come from the speakers to me. And I stand as a witness, my brethren and sisters, that these testimonies are true. ¶

We have spoken of the testimonies of great men in this Church. Now, the thought is, are they alone entitled to a testimony? Are they alone entitled to know whether there has been a restoration of the gospel or not? Are they alone entitled to know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ? I think not. I think that the Savior has given us ample reasons to assume, by reason of his teachings, that all men, if they will comply with the conditions upon which a knowledge might come to them, may know of the truth of the doctrines that he taught, which are none other than the doctrines that Joseph Smith was an instrument, in the hands of God, in restoring to the people in this present day. They may know whether they be of God or whether they be of man. There are many people in the world — I know by contact with them — who would give a very great deal to be able to say that they know that the gospel is true; that they surely know, without shadow of a doubt, that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. In the face of all the confusion and conflicting ideas that there are in the world, today, I know there are many honest-hearted people who would give a very great deal to be able to say what has been said in this conference by those who have spoken in regard to these things. But they do not know. How may they know? "If any man will do his will," says the Savior, "he may know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Are there any Latter-day Saints who are not in possession of a testimony in regard to these things? If there be such, I say unto them, as I have said to these men in the world, If you will put your lives in harmony with the principles of the gospel, as they have been restored in this age, and if you will humbly ask the Lord for a testimony concerning these things, he will bear witness unto you through the Holy Ghost, which you are entitled to have as a companion when you comply with the requirements of the gospel, in unmistakable terms, that the gospel is true, that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, that God lives, and that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world. ¶

I admonish you, therefore, my brethren and sisters, to live humbly, to put your lives in harmony with the truth. We, as teachers, should possess this wonderful testimony, and we bear a wonderful responsibility in teaching it to our children, to our brethren and sisters, and to our friends in the world; for all of those people, way out there, are our Father's children and heirs unto salvation, if they will but comply with the requirements of the law. We have a knowledge of the law and the conditions thereof, and we should teach them. There is a wonderful responsibility resting upon a teacher, my brethren and sisters. To those who assume to teach, in such a way as to destroy the faith of the youth of Zion, I tell you there is a terrible responsibility resting upon them. There is nothing that I would rather my children have than an implicit faith in God. Learning, riches, an influence in the world, or in the affairs of the world, do not compare with the great blessings of an abiding faith, and I wish to instill that, so far as God gives me power, in the minds of my own children. And so far as he gives me power, I shall testify, before the world, with an endeavor to instil that witness into the hearts of my fellow-men. ¶

I realize that the time is past. I am thankful unto the Lord for the privilege to participate in his work. I am thankful for the opportunity of bearing my testimony to you. Of a surety I know that God lives, and I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world. Of a surety I know that Joseph Smith was raised up to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to restore to the world for the last time the great gospel of salvation. I know that the gospel is true, and, in the words of our beloved prophet, I know that God knows that I know these things, and I dare not other than testify of them. ¶

May the Lord add his blessings to us, and help us to live so that we may merit them and do good continuously upon the earth, that we may eventually be saved in his presence, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶