I Esteem Very Highly the Privilege of Attending

I esteem very highly the privilege of attending this conference and of listening to the instructions and testimonies that we have heard. There is in my soul a sincere gratitude for my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ. As I came down this morning, observing the sunshine, the changing tints of the foliage, and the beauties of this valley that surround us, I felt that surely the great pioneer leader made no mistake when he announced to that little band of pilgrims who had crossed the trackless plains, "This is the place !" ¶

THE JOY OF THE WORK ¶

I desire to be blessed by the Lord, that the thoughts voiced by me may be profitable to you. We are a small part of a great congregation that belongs to our heavenly Father. All the children in the world, are his, and upon us has been laid the responsibility of delivering to them the truth, much of which has been in the world before, some of which has been lost until the gospel was restored again in this latter day. We have listened to these good men who preside over our missions, have partaken of the spirit of the mission field, and have rejoiced with them and with those who labor under them, that our heavenly Father has given to us in this latter-day the duty to perform of proclaiming his truth to the children of men. Perhaps it might appear to the outside observer that there is among the Latter-day Saints an unusual enthusiasm. As one man recently said : "It is strange to me how joyfully you people carry your work forward. It matters not whether I speak to a youth or to a mature man, to a gardener or a policeman among your people, they are all happy and satisfied and confident that they possess the gospel of Jesus Christ." Everyone should possess the spirit of the work, a spirit of love, a spirit of kindness, a spirit of charity for the weaknesses and frailties of mankind, but with a pronounced desire that the truth may be made manifest, that those who err in their lives may be led to forsake their folly and turn to the Lord our God. ¶

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD ¶

We believe absolutely in the admonition that was given by the Savior of the world when he said: ¶

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things will be added." ¶

Therefore, we believe that if we can establish faith in the minds of the rising generation, if we can teach the truth in such a way that our Father's children will seek him and his influence first, that this world will begin to prepare for the Millennium, when there will be joy and peace and happiness, and when our heavenly Father will establish his kingdom, into which he has invited every child of his that has been born into the world. With that understanding in our hearts, and with that feeling in our souls, is it any wonder that there is enthusiasm in our worship, that we have a disposition to be anxious to divide these glorious truths with our neighbors? Is it to be wondered at, that when the time comes that our sons are called into the mission field, or we are asked to lay aside our duties and go out as servants of the living God, endued with power from on high, possessing authority that has been conferred in this latter-day, in order that we may divide with all people this wonderful truth that has made our lives so rich, and that is preparing us to be desirable companions for all his children wherever we may find them, that we respond willingly and gladly? ¶

OBEDIENCE AND THE SPIRIT OF UNSELFISH SERVICE NEEDED ¶

It is this spirit of unselfish service that is needed in the world. Repentance of sin is also greatly needed by mankind. It is necessary that there be obedience to law, not only to the laws of God, but obedience to the laws of the land should be stimulated in the minds of men, if we expect this earth upon which we live to be the kind of a home that he desires us to possess. Our ministry is one of love and forbearance, and we desire to do good to all, and to assist all to understand the plan of life and salvation that the Lord revealed in this latter day. The assurance that God lives is most desirable and that knowledge may be just as fixed in the lives of the humble man and the humble woman in the ranks as it is in the lives of those who preside over us. I am not dependent upon the testimony of my brethren and my sisters by whom I am surrounded, and for whom I have an affectionate regard. And this is the testimony that I desire to leave with you, I may if I will know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that he is the Redeemer of the world, and that he so loved the world that he gave his life in order that his gospel might be preached to all men. ¶

SACRIFICE AND LABORS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH ¶

Joseph Smith, the prophet, who was the servant of Jesus Christ, our Lord, was given an understanding of the gospel that was taught by ¶

the Redeemer, and in our day was inspired to perfect a church organization that is recognized as the most perfect in the world. ¶

This youth was so sure of the revelation that he had received, and was so anxious that his Father's children, all of them, should know of the truth, that from the time he received the plates of the Book of Mormon from the angel Moroni he devoted his entire life to the organization of the Church and disseminating the truth. Those chosen to carry the work forward received the holy priesthood and were prepared to carry on when the prophet said : "I go like a lamb to the slaughter, but I have a conscience void of offense toward God and all men, and it will yet be said of me, 'he died in cold blood'." So he went to his doom as he understood it, but there was burning in his soul a knowledge such as Stephen had, such as the Redeemer had, that our heavenly Father was at the helm, that it was his work that was upon the earth, that it was his power that would eventually control, that this life was but a part of eternity. He was prepared to give up a part of his earth-life, if need be, in order that he might enjoy eternally the companionship that he so sincerely loved, and the association of good men and women who have and do dwell upon the earth, and will again dwell upon the earth when it becomes the celestial kingdom. This testimony the humblest individuals of this Church may have, and know just as they know that they live, that these things are true. ¶

THE GOSPEL THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION ¶

This gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation, as the Apostle Paul declared. It is the Redeemer's work. It is the only way whereby we may attain the highest exaltation that the Savior of mankind intended that those who followed him should enjoy. I do not say that egotistically, I say it with all charity for our Father's children who belong to other churches. I say it with love for his sons and daughters who do not understand, but he has commanded that we should say this thing. It is his will that people should know. In no uncertain tone is the gospel being proclaimed among the children of men, and the message of life and salvation is being offered, without money and without price, to all our Father's children, in order that they may avail themselves of the knowledge that will prepare them for eternal life in his celestial kingdom. That is why there is rejoicing in the lives of those who keep the commandments of God. ¶

THE CAUSE OF HAPPINESS ¶

The happiest men and the happiest women that you know in the world are those who are conforming their lives to the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are those who have the assurance of eternal life; they are those who understand the purpose of our being; they are those who realize that to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, means for them all that men and women can enjoy in this life or in the life that is to come. ¶

With happiness and with thanksgiving, there departs into the world from his Church a group of men and women whose lives are devoted to proclaiming the truth. In the neighborhood of two thousand are in the world today, paying their own expenses, going from door to door, teaching what our heavenly Father has said must be known by the children of men before this world can be transformed into the kingdom of our Lord. These are your sons and daughters. After them shall go others who will carry this message forward to the honor and glory of our heavenly Father. As I have traveled to and fro in the world bearing this message, my soul has been filled with joy, and my eyes have been dimmed with tears, when I have seen how perfectly men's lives may be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen those who were discouraged, those who were in darkness, those who questioned the purpose of their being, and when they have had taught to them the glorious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they have changed, they have learned to be happy, to be contented, to be satisfied, to be enthusiastic in believing and teaching the gospel that was proclaimed by Jesus Christ when he dwelt upon this earth and traveled in Galilee. ¶

THE GOSPEL MISSION PROCLAIMED IN LOVE ¶

Brethren and sisters, the world does not understand that, but it is our mission to assist them to understand it, and it is not with egotism, it is not with arrogance, but with charity for all, with loving tenderness, that this message is sent forth. We do not say to the Presbyterians, to the Methodists, to the Baptists, to the Catholics, and those others who in their lives are striving to live the teachings of their churches, we do not say to them : "You must give up all that you have been taught, you must turn away from the truth that has been deposited with you in order that you may come into the Church of Jesus Christ." But we say to them, "Keep all that you possess. Keep all the virtues, keep all the truth, keep all the goodness that has ever come into your lives, and then permit us to share with you the additional light that our heavenly Father, in his tender mercy, has bestowed upon the children of men in our day." That is our mission to our Father's children. It is a mission of peace, of good will towards all men. It is an intense and enthusiastic desire to divide with all our Father's children the good things that he has so generously bestowed upon us ; and it is with the hope that they may understand, that we go upon our bended knees, day after day, and pray that their hearts may be touched, that the spirit of God may come into their souls, that they may understand the truth as it is given unto them, and thereby make preparation for the time to come when our heavenly Father will gather those who have sought him first and who have prepared themselves thereby to be the eternal companions of Jesus Christ our Lord. ¶

TESTIMONY AND GRATITUDE ¶

This, my brethren and sisters, is what brings joy into our hearts. ¶

That is why there is peace in your home and in mine. Therefore, this morning, as one of the humblest among you, I thank him with all my heart for the assurance that has come into my life, for the privileges that have been mine, for the associations that are so desirable, that I have been permitted to enjoy while I have lived here these few years upon the earth. And above all, I thank him for the knowledge that has been burned into my soul; I know that my heavenly Father lives, I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind, and that there is no other name under heaven whereby men and women may be exalted, but the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. I do know that he came into the world in this latter day, that he bestowed divine authority upon a humble boy who was seeking the truth, and the result of that has been the organization of the Church with which we are identified ; and there is with it the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe. Knowing that as I know that I live, I bear you witness of it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶