I Appreciate the Honor of Being Asked to Occupy a Few Moments

My brethren and sisters: I appreciate the honor of being asked to occupy a few moments of your valuable time this afternoon. To me the associations of the Latter-day Saints is worth more than all else in life. Had it not been for the early elders in the Church having found my father in his native state of Tennessee, where he accepted the gospel, and moved to Nauvoo, where he was a neighbor of the Prophet Joseph Smith, from whence he came to Utah in the early days—had it not been for the first elders of the church going to England, where they found my mother, who accepted the gospel and came here, walking from Omaha to this valley, pulling a handcart all the way— had it not been for their faithful lives and for these glorious events I would not be here today. So I owe all that I have to the gospel. ¶

I feel grateful indeed to my heavenly Father for the testimony I have, that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a servant of God raised up in these latter days to restore the gospel. I am thankful that I have a testimony that President Heber J. Grant, together with his counselors and the quorum of the Twelve are prophets, seers and revelators unto us, and I trust that I may ever be able to remain faithful and true unto the covenants that I have made. It is gratifying indeed to me to be associated with the faithful band of brethren and sisters who are striving to do the will of our heavenly Father, and for the blessings that we see following those who believe and practice the principles of the gospel. ¶

I pray that the Lord may bless the youth of Zion: that we may all ever stand for the right, and against the wrong, and that we may ever remember that "angels above us are silent notes taking of every action. Do what is right." May we ever have the moral courage to stand up for our honest convictions and thereby gain the respect and love of those who know us, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ¶