There Has Been, This Afternoon, a Very Great Compliment Paid to the Church

There has been, this afternoon, a very great and deserving compliment paid to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its work with the boys of the Church as they have become associated with the Boy Scout movement. ¶

Practical Value of Scouting

I believe in Boy Scouting. It has come into my home. The past few days my seventeen-year-old boy has been attending a Scout powwow that has been conducted at the University of Utah. This afternoon, as I was about to leave for meeting, my boy sat at the table working with his papers. I suggested that I should be pleased if he felt like coming to conference with me. He said, "Father, I am working on these merit badges. I do not see how I can very well leave them." And realizing that this was a consummation of what he had been working on during the past three days, I felt to excuse him. This boy has earned and obtained seventy merit badges. He is not satisfied yet. ¶

One evening as we sat in our home, one of my sons-in-law, who has had much experience in the handling of cattle and horses said he would like to know what my son had to learn in order to obtain a merit badge for horsemanship. So the boy proceeded to tell him, and, when he was through, my son-in-law remarked that he had been with horses and cattle all his life, but that he had just heard things about horsemanship that he had never known before. ¶

I have thought that what is required to obtain the merit badges presented by the Boy Scout organization, would make a splendid juniorcollege course, and I know that the influence of the organization is wholesome and good. I believe that if our boys were to become good Scouts, they would be better deacons, teachers, and priests and better Church members; so I desire to lend my influence to the Scout movement. ¶

God to Raise Up a Man Whose Name Was Joseph

The beautiful tenor solo that 'was rendered here this afternoon impressed me very much. The prediction made by Joseph who was sold into Egypt, looking down through the vista of time, and seeing that a man of God would be raised up for the accomplishment of a mighty work in the last days, contained a very specific declaration, to the effect that as his own name was Joseph, so should be the name of this individual whom the Lord would raise up, and not only that, but that the name of this individual's father also should be Joseph. The coming forth of Joseph Smith as a prophet of the last dispensation fulfils that prediction beautifully. His coming forth and the visitation of the Father and the Son and the message delivered to the boy, Joseph, in answer to his earnest prayer, were most beautifully presented in that solo this afternoon. ¶

Evidence of Truth of the Gospel

As I was thinking of these things, I thanked the Lord in my heart for the many evidences that he has given to us of the truth of the gospel, as it has been revealed to us through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith. And I said to myself, I know that this is God's work, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and I can prove it to my own entire satisfaction. It does seem to me that what is satisfying to my soul, in the way of evidence, should be satisfying to the souls of other men and women who are honestly seeking for light and truth. ¶

Witnesses to Testify

It is not unusual that witnesses should be raised up to testify of God and his Son Jesus Christ and of the truth. We read in Acts, first chapter and eighth verse: ¶

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you : and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." ¶

With the disciples of the Master, that was one important part of their calling, to be witnesses of the Lord. In John twentieth chapter and thirty-first verse, in speaking of the things which were written and preserved in the New Testament, we read : ¶

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." ¶

And so, in this day and time, the Lord has raised up witnesses for him. His prophets are his living witnesses and the oracles of the Church. After Joseph Smith had received from the angel Moroni the plates from which the Book of Mormon has been translated, and after ¶

the translation, the Lord provided witnesses, and he did this that men and women who are seeking for light and truth might be convinced and that those who believe not might be left without excuse. ¶

Testimony of Book of Mormon Witnesses

You know the nature of the testimony of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris. They testify that an angel of God came down from heaven and laid before their eyes, that they beheld and saw the plates and the engravings thereon; that they heard a voice from heaven saying that they had been translated by the gift and power of God; and that they were commanded to bear record of that fact, which they did. ¶

Eight other witnesses, reputable men, men of character, testified that Joseph Smith showed to them the plates, which had the appearance of gold, and as many of the leaves as he had translated they handled with their hands, and they declared that the characters on those plates had the appearance of ancient work and of curious workmanship, and they gave their names to the world as witnesses of these facts. ¶

In the Book of Ether (Book of Mormon), 5th chapter, 3rd and 4th verses, we have a declaration, that the Lord would raise up these witnesses, in words like this : ¶

"And unto three shall they [the plates] be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true. ¶

"And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established ; and the testimony of three, and this work, in which shall be shown forth the power of God, and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record — and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day." ¶

In one of our modern revelations, as contained in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith said : ¶

"Therefore, having so great witnesses, by them shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work. ¶

"And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life ; ¶

"But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation." ¶

Testimonies That Joseph Smith Was a True Prophet

Applying a little reason to these testimonies, and I am sure that the Lord intends that we should, I conclude that these evidences, these testimonies of the three and eight witnesses to the truth of the Book of Mormon, are just as strong testimonies that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God as that the Book of Mormon is true. The Book of Mormon could not be true, having come through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, had he not been a prophet of God. ¶

We may take the test which our Savior gave by which we might know a true or false prophet. He said: ¶

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¶

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¶

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. * * * ¶

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." ¶

Prophet's Story Must Be True

There can be no question about the Book of Mormon, as it is given us today, with the fulness of the everlasting gospel contained therein, being the fruit of this tree, Joseph Smith, in that it was given to. us, of the Lord, through him. Then, if Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, the story that he tells of the visitation of the Father and the Son to him must be true, and, being true, God the Eternal Father is a glorified, immortal being, having a body of flesh and bones and spirit, and his Son like him. Joseph Smith being a prophet, this visitation being true, the things that were told to the Prophet Joseph by the Son of God must also be true — that there had been a falling away. That did not mean that just a few apostatized from the Church. It has always been that way ; in every dispensation there are some that fall away. There had been a general or universal apostasy from the truth. That is the word of our Lord and Savior to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the testimony of these witnesses is a testimony of that fact. ¶

A Falling Away Before a Restoration

We stand for a restoration of the gospel. But how can there be a restoration of the gospel without there first be a falling away? The scriptures tell us that "known unto God are all things, even the end from the beginning." They also tell us that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation, but that the prophecies came not in olden time, by the will of man, but that holy men of God spoke as they were moved upon by the power of the Holy Ghost. That is the means of communication between the heavens and the earth. ¶

And again, we are told that the Lord doeth no thing, but he revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets. And I think we may add to that, no great thing is done, affecting the human family, except it has been revealed to his servants the prophets. If there was to be a universal falling away from the truth, he would have made it known through his prophets. He has done so, and made it very clear. Many scriptural declarations, concerning an apostate condition are to be found in the Old and New Testaments. History tells us that there has been this falling away. ¶

Keys of the Priesthood Restored

The Lord has sent John, the Baptist, who died in the primitive days, holding the Aaronic Priesthood, and the keys of that Priesthood were conferred by him upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, with authority also to confer it upon others who are worthy. That was in the spring of 1829. A little later, Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the primitive days, came and ¶

visited Joseph and Oliver and conferred the keys of that priesthood upon them. ¶

If Joseph Smith had not been a prophet of God, these witnesses could not have testified as they did; he being a prophet of God, what he said and what Oliver Cowdery said, in regard to the restoring of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods upon them, must be true. It happened just about the time that these witnesses bore their testimony, in the spring of 1829. It was on the 15th day of May that John, the Baptist, conferred the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. ¶

I say these witnesses, the like of which no other religious organization can provide for its comfort and conversion, are witnesses of the truth of the restoration of the everlasting gospel. ¶

Foreseeing of Restoration Proof of Falling Away

John, the Revelator, as recorded in Revelation, 14th chapter, 6th and 7th verses, when his vision was opened to see the many things that were to transpire before the great and glorious event of the coming of our Lord in the last days, towards which the eyes of all religionists are directed today, said : ¶

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ¶

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." ¶

Would there have been any occasion for an angel to deliver the everlasting gospel to the nations of the earth if the gospel, recognized of the Lord, and the authority of the Lord to administer the ordinances of the gospel had been here? Reason answers that question for us. There would have been no occasion for it. ¶

John's Vision Completely Fulfilled

The visitation of the Angel Moroni fulfilled, at least partly, the vision of John upon Patmos, when he delivered to the Prophet Joseph Smith the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, containing the fulness of the everlasting gospel as taught by our Savior to the ancient inhabitants on this continent. If there need be any further administration to make a full and complete fulfilment of what John saw, we find it in the visitation of John, the Baptist, conferring the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood, and the visitation of Peter, James and John, conferring the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, conferring the power and authority to build up the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth, to establish the Church of Christ, to restore the gospel, and administer the ordinances unto the children of men who are prepared to receive them. ¶

All these and numerous other evidences come up before us, proving the truth of this work and that Joseph Smith was a divinely inspired man of God, a prophet in very deed. ¶

Not All Accomplished at Once

And now, carrying the thought just a little further, if I may, all that we see in this mighty work of God, the admiration of the world, because of the beauty and perfection of its organization, the efficiency of its workings — have not been accomplished in the days of Joseph Smith. Only one of these great auxiliary associations of the Church had been organized in his day, but they have been organized since, under the leadership of those who have succeeded to the presidency of this Church. These great auxiliary associations, our Church school system, our seminaries, these stakes of Zion throughout the valleys of the mountains, ninety-nine in number, and a thousand wards and branches, are evidences to me, conclusive and convincing, that those who have succeeded to the Presidency of this Church have been recognized of the Lord. His power has been with them in administration, and those who have been associated with them, and this work has grown and prospered until it has arrived at its present condition. ¶

Heber J. Grant a Prophet of God

I know that Heber J. Grant is an inspired man of God, the right man at the head of this work, a prophet, seer and revelator, just as well as I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I uphold and sustain him as such. This people do also. Were it not so, he could not accomplish the work the Lord has for him to accomplish, and that which he is accomplishing with the means that the Lord has given him. So that I know that we are the people of God, that this is the Church of Christ, the power of God unto salvation, and I do know that it will go on to triumph. The truth will, ultimately, prevail throughout this world, and the purposes of our Father in heaven will be consummated, his Son will come to reign over this his kingdom, as King of kings and Lord of lords, forever and ever. ¶

This is my testimony ; I bear it unto you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶