My brethren and sisters : President Grant has

My brethren and sisters : President Grant has announced the call which has come to me, and I wish to say that it always has been a great privilege to me to serve in the work of the Master. I am glad to obey the request that has been made of me and shall go forth, with mine, to do the best we can in behalf of this high and holy cause. Like every other elder in Israel, called to serve, I feel humble and incapable, of my own strength, to accomplish the work that lies before me ; but I have, faith, I may say absolute faith, in the inspiration that guides this Church and kingdom, and I know that, throughout the ages, the Lord has made use of the weak things of the earth to accomplish mighty purposes. With that faith I go forth gladly at the request and call, and under the authority, of those who preside in Zion, with the prayer in my heart that good may come of the action taken. ¶

OUR OBLIGATION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL ¶

I recognize, with Elder McKay, who spoke briefly on the subject this morning, that we are under obligation to preach the gospel to all the world. Every person must hear the truth ; every honest heart must be warned. It is our bounden duty, from which we may not and cannot escape, to do this work. Throughout the world there are hosts of honest hearts who love and seek the truth, but who are so hedged about by the traditions of their fathers and by the conditions of their lives, that they find it difficult to recognize the truth when it is placed before them. It is not only a privilege to attempt to break down this barrier which stands between truth and untruth, but it is also a solemn obligation and a heavy responsibility. Many years ago in the days of my early boyhood I came out of the European countries, into this blessed land, blessed above all other lands, to live here. As my memory goes back to my mother country, and later to the days I spent in the European countries in my early manhood, as a student, I feel that there are in those countries a very great number, perhaps untold hosts of men and women, children of God, honest souls, whom we may reach if the Lord will but assist us in our labors. ¶

GOD OVERRULES ALL THINGS FOR HIS PURPOSES ¶

I was impressed this morning by the remarks made by President Ivins, that throughout all the ages of history the hand of God has overruled the actions of mankind, that nothing is done except as the Lord may use it for the accomplishment of his mighty purposes. No truth has become more living in my soul throughout my life than this. I have little belief in chance, little belief that things happen just because we, often stupid people, do certain work in our blindness. The things accomplished by humanity become in the end God's accomplishments, as he makes use of them in working out his infinite purposes. So, with respect to this great missionary activity to which we have devoted so much of our strength from the beginning of this dispensation, I cannot help but believe that the mighty changes that have come in this latest day of civilization, the vast physical, economic and social changes, have all been brought about through the goodness of the Lord for the accomplishment of his latter-day work. The printing press came into existence, and by it the Word of God has been brought to all people. Then in this day, when the Lord has restored the gifts and blessings of the gospel and the organization of the Church, have come other marvelous means by which we may speak the eternal truth in our keeping to all the world. The steamship came that we might carry the truth from continent to continent, across the great oceans ; the railway that we might deliver the same everlasting truth to every part of every land ; the telephone and the telegraph, and now the radio, that we might spread, the truth of the gospel over all the world. In time we shall be able to utilize all these agencies to bear our witness to the peoples of the world, that we may stand free from blame before our Maker in the last great day. ¶

THE SPIRIT OF GOD THE STRENGTH OF ZION ¶

The spirit of God is upon the face of the earth ; it enters the hearts of men. That spirit tempers human acts, and impels humanity to actions of righteousness. That same spirit serves as a powerful preparatory agent for us in our gospel labors. In fact, the most important thing for every person engaged in this great latter-day work is that we do rely upon the assistance of the Spirit of God. No man can safely stand in his own strength in the holy labor assigned to us, but we must stand before our daily duty with the knowledge that the Spirit of God is within our reach to assist us, to bless us and to carry us on in our labors, ¶

OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL WILL SOLVE ALL DIFFICULTIES ¶

We were all deeply impressed this morning by the message of President Grant and of those who elaborated the thoughts in his opening address. This is indeed a day of wonderful blessings for humanity, but correspondingly great temptations. When much light is given, the contrasting darkness is also deep ; where there are our present immeasurable opportunities for service, there are also temptations to do evil such as never before has been known. This condition has existed in all ages. The battle between righteousness and wickedness has always been waged actively. It is our duty, our business as a chosen people, to teach righteousness and truth forever and forever to the world until the end shall come. When we teach righteousness, the key to our conquest of evil will be the application of the few simple principles that constitute the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is not a complicated system, but is simple and easily understood. It may be brought into the hearts of men ; it may be used in their daily lives ; and if we use the simple principles of the gospel in fighting wickedness and in establishing righteousness, our course will be well set and our success will be fairly promised. ¶

INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH OF "MORMONISM" MOST CONVINCING ¶

During the last few weeks I have been reading, with my brethren and sisters throughout the Church, the glorious book of doctrine known as the Book of Mormon, which came into the hands of the Prophet one hundred years ago. In that book we find over and over a repetition of the methods by which wickedness may be overcome ; for throughout that whole book runs the great message that, in the words of Alma, wickedness or sin is never happiness. The beginning of our teaching to those who tend to depart from righteousness is that out of unrighteousness man may never win happiness, and happiness is the most fundamental and the choicest desire of humanity. ¶

In my reading of the Book of Mormon I am always reminded that the witness of the truth of this work — restored through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith — lies within the work itself. One does not have to go into external places for proof, since within the work itself, within its doctrines and organization lies the most convincing witness of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon itself, I have no doubt, within the next few years will be corroborated by all manner of discoveries. Men are digging in the earth ; things are found that we did not dream of a few years ago. A man voiced the opinion a few days ago — a visiting Englishman — that every new discovery in American archaeology tends to confirm the truth of the Book of Mormon. We shall use such finds and discoveries for the establishment in the hearts of seekers after truth, of the correctness of the Book of Mormon. Yet, within that book itself there lies in the history it tells, in the doctrines it sets forth, and in the pictures that it paints, the most convincing evidence of its truth. I have always felt that the best approach to the gospel of Jesus Christ is through the study of the internal evidences, found within the Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon. ¶

ETERNAL VALUE OF THE BOOK OF MORMON ¶

There are only two kinds of books in the world. First, the kind that lasts for a day, published by the tens of thousands, but have only a momentary existence, then pass away. The other kind of books are few in number, written and produced under the inspiration of divine power; they live on throughout the ages. They are the books that contain principles of eternal truth; the doctrines that live and last, that satisfy the needs of humanity irrespective of time and age. They become the permanent possession of mankind and shape the destinies of mankind. In the Book of Mormon we have just such a book, one which contains those eternal, true principles, that may be read upon all occasions, in all emergencies and in all ages. It belongs with the Bible to the class of everlasting writings. The religious classics of the world have survived the centuries, and have influenced the destinies of mankind, because they contain perhaps a grain here and a grain there of such eternal truth. The Book of Mormon does not deal with trivial things, — the battles and contests, the conquests of the enemy and the treaties made, the many difficulties of history, form merely a background against which the principles that really make the book are illustrated. The teachings of the Book of Mormon appear against a narrative of historical events, but the events are of little consequence in comparison with the lessons that are taught for man's guidance in any day. ¶

KEYS TO SOLVE OUR PRESENT PROBLEMS ¶

Keys to the solution of the difficult problems that were discussed this morning — none more difficult in the course of history — are found in the Book of Mormon in a few simple teachings that are presented over and over again. First, there is constant teaching against atheism and all unbelief, and for belief in the existence of God and his son Jesus Christ, and that a definite plan has been proposed by God our heavenly Father, for the salvation of his children. I am not so certain but that today the most dangerous enemy to truth is the feeling on the part of some men that they must dedicate their strength to destroy faith in God. Within the last two years, one of the great states of the Union has authorized by law the formation of an association for the advancement of atheism, an organization apparently supplied with ample funds, formed for the purpose of proving to the American nation that there is no God. We cannot solve our social or economic problems except upon the basis of faith in the existence of God and man's relationship to his Father in heaven. Therefore, we do not hesitate, as a people, to teach all the world faith in God, which by this time should be so much a part of man as the blood and bone and marrow of his physical organism. Out of the pages of Nephite days comes also the lesson that men dwindle in unbelief and become wicked and practice evil if they allow themselves to become unequal in their social and economic relationships. This is a land of liberty, yet we are beginning, though we are founded upon the doctrine of equality, to have classes of the wealthy, the learned, the powerful, and of those who have neither power nor wealth nor station. This Church teaches the equality of humanity, that the Lord loves all his children equally, if they but do his will ; that he reaches out for us all, and that the glorious destiny of a place near him is for all if we only make use of that which he has offered us. In this marvelous book there is a third warning, already discussed here. When men begin to defy the laws of the land and the laws of God — usually two aspects of the same inclination — when lawlessness grows and increases, then men and women begin to depart from the truth. Some will call themselves better than others in their own estimation ; their faith in God diminishes; soon they are overwhelmed by the difficulties that of necessity come to the disobedient, and ultimately they will receive the terrible punishment quoted this morning by Brother Roberts from the Book of Mormon. ¶

TESTIMONY ¶

I bear testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, that I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is dear to me. It has helped me in times of joy and in times of sorrow. It has been like a great beacon light to guide me in all the affairs of my life, not merely in the Church, but in those beyond the Church, in matters of State and of private concern. I have found it possible to use the simple principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ for my upbuilding and strengthening, for bringing me into closer communion with the great unseen universe which, after all, is the great concern of everlasting life. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am always thankful that missionaries were sent into my native land; grateful that my mother, throbbing with faith, had courage to receive the gospel and go into the waters of baptism, to leave her home and friends and relatives, and all her loved ones. I am grateful for the thousands of Latter-day Saints who have done likewise, who, either in person or by their children, make up this vast congregation. We are children of faithful and courageous parents, who have opened the door to us, and made clear to us the joy of accepting and living the eternal truth of God. This Church is the bearer of truth. God bless us, and make us steadfast in the truth. May we walk always according to our best light before our Father in heaven, I pray, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. ¶