Grateful for Conference

In case any person fails to fully appreciate the plain statement of President Ivins that the book to which he referred is to be considered as the personal opinion of the author and not as having been approved by the Church, I wish all the members of the Church to know that when any book has the approval of the Church it will have the stamp of approval of the Presidency of the Church. Therefore, no agent selling any books is justified in quoting the Church as approving a book that does not carry the stamp of . approval in it. ¶

I believe that for the first and only time since I became the President of the Church it is not four o'clock when the time has arrived to call upon the choir to sing and for the final benediction to be pronounced. ¶

It has fallen to my lot on more than one occasion to make a few remarks after four o'clock. We are all willing to stay here after four o'clock, I am sure, to hear the choir in the closing anthem. Therefore, there are ten full minutes left for me, for which I am grateful. ¶

Grateful for Conference

First, I am thankful for this wonderful conference. I believe sincerely that today we have had as many if not more in attendance than is usual at our Sunday morning and afternoon meetings. It seemed to me that we were more crowded this morning than at any other time I can remember. ¶

I am grateful that what to me was the most marvelous sight I have looked upon -in this building was that which I witnessed last night when the building was nearly filled with members holding the priesthood of the living God. Let me say that with all ,our faults and failings I believe we are the best people in the world. It 'Sounds a little egotistical, but I believe every word of it, and I believe firmly that our sisters are better than the brethren, t, haven't any doubt of this, none whatever. There was a magnificent showing here last night of the priesthood, and from the bottom of my heart and in the authority of the priesthood of the living God that I hold I have great pleasure in blessing the men who hold the priesthood of God, the power from heaven, and in blessing our wives who, on an average, have been more devoted, I am sure, to the work of the living God than we have been. ¶

Loyalty to President Hoover and Associates

I rejoice in the splendid work of the Latter-day Saints. I desire and $ee\ to pray for the blessings of the Lord to be and abide with the President of the United States and his cabinet in this time of great trouble, in a time when we should be loyal. "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates." Let us be loyal to those who in the providences of the Lord stand at ¶

the head of our nation at the present time, in this great time of trouble.. I am >sure nobody will accuse me, seeing- I am counted as a Democrat, of being guilty of mixing politics with religion here ; but I believe that no truer, better, finer man has ever sat in the presidential chair than the man who is sitting there today. That is my opinion of President Hoover. ¶

A Straw Vote

Some years ago for the first and only time in my life I paid some attention /to a straw vote. I do not think such votes amount to a straw; that is my opinion of them. I think that if there is ever any "stuffing" in ballot boxes it is when a straw vote is being taken. I think it is properly named "straw vote." It is as weak as a straw. But I could not resist the temptation way back many years ago, when the Literary Digest asked for a straw vote, and lo and behold, I voted for Hoover. That was my opinion of the man who had >done so much, such magnificent and wonderful work during the war, in feeding the people in Europe. I believe that he is absolutely honest and conscientious and that his heart is as firmly set upon doing the right thing for the people of this country, as the hearts of the Jeaders of this Church are set upon doing the right thing for the Latter-day Saints. ¶

I am happy indeed in a knowledge of the divinity of the work you and /I are engaged in. I humbly pray for the blessings of the Lord to be with each and all of you, with the Latter-day Saints the world over, and the honest in every land and every clime. God bless you, Amen. ¶