The Growth of the Church in Power and Testimony

The time has passed when we are supposed to dismiss, but there are a few things that I would like to say and I crave your indulgence while I do so. ¶

Growth of the Church in Power and Testimony

When I was made one of the apostles of the Church we did not have twenty stakes of Zion. We now have ninety-six, and we have voted to divide the Jordan stake, which will make ninety-seven, and to divide the Los Angeles stake, which will make ninety-eight, and to organize a new stake to embrace Oakland and San Francisco and vicinity, making ninety-nine stakes of Zion, or a little more than five times as many as there were when I was chosen to be one of the apostles. ¶

Anybody who thinks the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not growing, is ignorant, to say the least. Zion is growing in power, strength and testimony. ¶

Regret No Time to Hear from More Stake Presidents

I regret that we did not have the opportunity of hearing from at least a dozen more of our stake presidents. There are a dozen men who were ordained as far back as 1924, who have not yet had the opportunity of speaking in General Conference. But it seems that we can never quite get through, although we have had an extra meeting of two hours in this conference. In addition, Brother McMurrin, Brother Smoot, Brother Talmage and Brother Hyrum G. Smith are away. Somehow or other we never quite have time enough to hear from these presidents of stakes. Occasionally we hear from a few of them, but I would like to hear all of the ninety-six men, whom God has seen fit thus to honor, bear their testimony for a few moments before this congregation. I hope that we may hear from more of them next time. ¶

New Stake Tabernacle in Los Angeles

Speaking of the division of the Los Angeles stake, I have a telegram from Leo J. Muir, the chairman of the tabernacle finance committee, it having been decided to erect a tabernacle, to be utilized by both stakes after the new one is organized: ¶

"Reports received this morning from the ward chairmen indicate tonight's total will reach $125,000 pledged for the Los Angeles stake tabernacle." ¶

I can remember when there were not a half dozen Saints in Los Angeles. The Church will match this $125,000 which has been pledged locally, so that there will be in southern California quite a fine building, as a further evidence of the "decaying of the Church." ¶

Ours an American Church

There is one thing that I desire to emphasize, and that is that we are engaged in an American Church, born in the land of freedom, born in fulfilment of prophecy. We believe and teach, and have taught from my earliest recollection that God has protected and fought on the side of America in all of the struggles we have had for liberty; that he was with Washington and his armies. We sustain and uphold the president of the United States and the officers of this great country. We rejoice in the wonderful response that has been made upon all occasions by the Latter-day Saints to calls for money and for men to fight the battles of our country, and in all things to sustain and uphold this country. ¶

Testimonies and Warnings Endorsed

I want to say that I endorse with all my heart the many splendid remarks that have been made here. I rejoice in the virtue of the Latter-day Saints as a people. I endorse with all my heart, however, the warnings that have been given here. I have the most supreme and absolute contempt for men who are guilty of proclaiming that virtue should not be maintained; that there is no sin in sexual intercourse. It is the doctrine of devils. It is an inspiration from the devil himself, and the men who defend things of this kind are instruments in his hands to try to destroy virtue and to wipe from the earth liberty and right, and all that is of real genuine worth to humanity. ¶

Call to Repentance Our Supreme Obligation

I want to emphasize that we as a people have one supreme thing to do, and that is to call upon the world to repent of sin, to come to God. And it is our duty above all others to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the restoration again to the earth of the plan of life and salvation. Appeals are coming from all over the world for more missionaries. The Latter-day Saints should so organize their affairs, and so shape their finances, that more will be ready and willing, especially those of age and experience, with a testimony and knowledge of the divinity of this work, to go forth, not only on short, but on long missions. Too many of us are gradually setting our hearts upon the things of this world. We have so much to look after, so many business interests, so many important things, so far as dollars and cents are concerned, that we are neglecting the one great thing of all; namely, the proclaiming of the gospel, and making what people call sacrifices but what actually are the exact opposite. We have in very deed the pearl of great price. We have that which is of more value than all the wealth and the scientific information which the world possesses. We have the plan of life and salvation. The first great commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, might, mind and strength; and the second was like unto it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. And the best way in the world to show our love for our neighbor is to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which he has given us an absolute knowledge concerning its divinity. ¶

God bless all of the Saints. God bless the president of the United States of America and his cabinet, and the governors of our states and the mayors of our great cities. And bless every honest-hearted man and woman upon the face of the earth, and give to those who seek for it (and he will) a testimony of the divinity of the work in which you and I are engaged. ¶

God bless and multiply the substance of the Latter-day Saints. May we cooperate for the advancement of the Church and for the advancement of this magnificent country that God has given to the people who are located in it, is my prayer, and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. ¶