President of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association

President of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association ¶

My brethren and sisters, this is surely a surprise to me, and I stand before you entirely dependent upon the Spirit of our Heavenly Father as to what I shall say. I may say, however, that I am very, very proud of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since I am asked to bear my testimony, you will not consider it egotistical if I say that from my childhood, I have looked upon the presiding brethren — the President of this Church, and those associated with him — as the very servants of God. I was taught in my early years that President Brigham Young was the mouthpiece of God to all mankind, and that thought has never wavered in my heart concerning him and also the succeeding presidents up to this time. I want to say here before the fathers and the mothers, teach your children reverence for the Authorities of the Church. Teach them that they are men of God. Teach them to obey their counsels. I was trained to believe that in obeying counsel there is safety. I realize that nowadays many of us are not so particular about this matter as our people used to be. ¶

Naturally, as you know, I am interested in the youth. I have been interested in my own children, and as I look back through a long life and take note of what I have gained, I find it is my children that mean the most to me. My children are my jewels ; they are my heritage, and I thank the Lord that they are fairly good. None of us can throw stones, you know. We all live in glass houses. But I do thank the Lord that I have been able to rear my children in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I do pray that he will give me influence with the daughters of Zion, especially; that because I have lived they may have more faith in God and in their fathers and mothers and in the Authorities of the Church. I ask this blessing in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶