I Feel Very Highly Honored, My Brethren and Sisters

Of the First Council of Seventy and President of the California Mission ¶

' I feel very highly honored, my brethren and sisters, in being accorded this privilege. It is marvelous to me that I should be permitted to stand before you. I feel in my soul that it is good to be here on this occasion, and I most fervently thank the Lord that the teachings that have been imparted to us in this session of our conference find lodgment in my soul, and fill me with that joy that passeth understanding. ¶

I will read a word or two from the revelations of the Lord that I think very important in connection with the great work in which we are engaged. I suppose it is but reasonable that, as a missionary, my own mind should reflect upon matters pertaining to the preaching of the ¶

gospel abroad among the nations. There has been much given in the revelations of the Lord concerning the importance of carrying the gospel to the nations of the world. I do not know whether it is common today for men to seek to know the mind and will of the Lord regarding those things which would be most important for them to do that the Lord's work might be forwarded. There are many revelations in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, indicating that in the early days of the Church men frequently sought the prophet of the Lord to know what would be most important for them to do ; and the Lord answered. I will read one of those revelations: ¶

"Hearken, my servant John, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer. ¶

"For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth. ¶

"And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone — ¶

"For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you. ¶

"Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you according to my commandments. ¶

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father." ¶

The Lord himself has declared the following in relation to the value of the souls of men : ¶

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God ; ¶

"For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh ; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. ¶

"And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. ¶

"And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth ! ¶

"Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. ¶

"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" ¶

The importance of carrying the message of the gospel has not only been declared in the revelations that have been given in the dispensation in which we live, but the same importance was comprehended by the servants of God in the meridian of time. The Apostle Paul declared : ¶

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of : for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe unto me if I preach not the gospel!" ¶

A dispensation of the gospel had been committed unto Paul, and he knew that woe would be unto him if he preached not the gospel. ¶

Much more might be brought forth from the word of God in relation to this very important matter. I am wondering whether the men of the Priesthood who are at home in the midst of the people in the Zion of the Lord, feel the importance of the commandment of God in relation to the carrying of the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. I think I would but voice the sentiments of mission presidents if I made the declaration that in every mission of these United States and the countries adjoining our nation, people are perishing for the word of the Lord. There are opportunities abounding on every hand for the proclamation of the gospel, and we are crying out until I suppose we become almost an annoyance to the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Give us more missionaries!" That is the cry from California. There is a feeling with some people, that there is not much necessity for the word of the Lord, or for religious doctrine in the state of California, as Californians are supposed to be concerned about pleasure alone. Well, I thank God that there are many earnest, God-fearing men and women in the state of California. We are finding a few of them, and we would find more if we had more men and women to bear witness concerning the truth. We need many more. I would like to plead with the men of the Priesthood, presiding men, that they feel in their hearts the necessity of sending the servants of the Lord abroad in the nations with the truths of the gospel. I would like to make a plea among all men and among women who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that they cultivate a desire to engage in the proclamation of the gospel. I understand that I am under the same obligation as the Apostle Paul, and that unto me, in connection with my brethren; a dispensation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has been committed, and woe will be unto me if I preach not the gospel. I want to say, in the name of the Lord, that woe will be unto all men who bear the authority of priesthood if they do not desire to labor and do not labor to the extent of their power, that the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation, be sounded among the inhabitants of the earth. If you desire to bless your sons and your daughters, and to establish them in the work of the living God, give them an opportunity, if they are of proper character, and if they have the proper desire in their hearts, to go abroad as missionaries. If there be anything else in this world that establishes the feet of young men and women in the right path, and reveals to them the truth of the gospel in the same wonderful manner that missionary service does, I do not know what it is. ¶

I listened with very great joy to the testimony of our Commissioner of Education that there had come to him in periods of trial and anxiety the whisperings of the Lord, the revelations of the Lord, establishing in his soul a knowledge concerning the existence of God our Father in heaven. Thanks be to God for such whisperings. I want to say to you that God is no respecter of persons. Men who are educated, who humbly seek the Lord, receive the revelations of the Lord and the testimony of his word ; and men who are not educated receive by the same marvelous power the same convincing evidence. It has been my pleasure just within a few weeks to listen to the testimony of the gospel from the lips of young girls and young boys, trembling with fear, their eyes moistened with tears, yet with joy in their souls, bearing witness that God lives, and that that knowledge has come to them by the power of the Holy Ghost. I thank God for that. I am also glad that the Lord, in his mercy, has revealed to me that this is his work, the marvelous work promised by the voice of inspiration through ancient ¶

prophets for the latter times. I have that knowledge. I thank God that in my soul, in my heart and in my mind I have been given to know the truth of the record that we have been singing about, the Book of Mormon, that it is true, that it contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel I thank God for my membership in the Church of Christ, for the fellowship that I have with my brethren ; and I bear solemn witness to the truth of the gospel, the truth of the things that have been taught us this day, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶