I sincerely trust that the spirit of the

I sincerely trust that the spirit of the Lord may lead my thoughts at this time. ¶

The principles of the Gospel as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ appeal to me; they are in strict accord with the holy scriptures; they are conclusive evidence to me that this Church is in harmony with that established by our Lord and Master in the meridian of time In my experience I have not found any man or set of men who have successfully assailed any of the principles of the Gospel revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith a century ago. During that period of time the Church has taught many glorious truths — among others, that our Eternal Father has a body of flesh and bones; that men lived before they came into this world, in an ante-mortal state, where they developed under the inspiration and power of God, and where prophets were chosen and ordained. No sect or party of men has been able to prove these doctrines untrue. ¶

On the other hand, I have listened hundreds of times to young men from the stakes of Zion, who have come into the world to preach the Gospel, proclaiming the same doctrines which were taught by the early elders of the Church. These young men have never heard these early sermons, they have never had an opportunity to read them, but they have taught the same principles and delivered almost verbatim the same sermons by the same power. This fact bears testimony to me that the Divine Teacher who taught the elders of this Church in the beginning is in the earth today teaching the children of men through the priesthood of the Son of God. ¶

The power of the Holy Ghost is in the earth; God our Eternal Father rules and reigns; he governs and controls the destinies of men according to their obedience to his laws. The Savior of the world is guarding the interests of his Church and it shall stand in the earth to be here when he shall come in his own due time. ¶

Men and women by the score have been gathered out from among the congregations of the earth and have borne testimony through the inspiration and power that God gives to baptized believers, that this work is true. Hundreds and thousands of copies of the Book of Mormon have been printed and distributed by our missionaries, and men and women have come into the Church through the divine testimony taught within the pages of that holy record, which record is a history of the hand-dealings of God with the children of men who lived on this American continent. It has been assailed again and again but unsuccessfully. ¶

I glory in the work of God. There is nothing in the world that is of more interest than the teachings of the Gospel; nothing that will make men and women happier and bring them closer to our Father. ¶

I am glad to be able to report to you the success of our mission, the Central States mission. The elders there and the sisters are happy in their work, and they are developing the testimony that came into the world with them, that will make them a power in this world. They will be the means of bringing many others into the Church. It is the work of God. I thank our Eternal Father for the light that he has given me, for the testimony that he has given me, for the privilege I have had of learning and teaching the principles of the Gospel to men and women in the earth and of being associated with holy men of God who bear his priesthood, his power and his authority, as leaders and prophets in the dispensation of time in which we live. It has been my salvation. ¶

I pray God that he may continue to give light and truth to his children, that we may obey the inspiration that comes to us and glorify his name to the end; in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶