Sacrifice Brings Compensations

My brethren: I crave an interest in your faith and prayers for the short time that I may stand before you this afternoon. I hope that some thought that I drop may be helpful to some of us, otherwise I feel I would be a trespasser in occupying your time. ¶

Sacrifice Brings Compensations ¶

There have been many references made during this conference to our many brothers and friends and relatives who are wearing the uniform of their country, we think, in the defense of a very righteous principle. I heard a talk the other night by a prominent man, the theme of which was, every good thing comes to us by sacrifice. I have been thinking of it some since; for a long while I have been thinking of these young men. We already know that some of them are not coming back to us, and we have reasonable assurance that others of them will not. I have been trying to work out some way to determine what makes a full and complete life for a man, and I find it a difficult thing to measure. Some of us live a long, long while, and some of us not so long. Some of us whose life ends early may perchance render a greater service to our fellows than those who live longer. ¶

We remember if we will read back through our history that there have been some very important sacrifices required at the hands of people of this Church in this dispensation. I remember reading that when the Lord saw fit to organize the Council of the Twelve and the Council of the Seventy in the Church, that before doing so He had organized what was known as Zion's Camp, a service which asked of every man in it that he should place upon the altar of sacrifice, if required, his life. It is true that most of the men who went out on that trip returned. Some few however did not. They died of sickness, not in actual combat. You will remember that the Prophet in vision saw their state and reported it as glorious. Out of that group was organized the Council of the Twelve and the first quorum of Seventy, and the second quorum of Seventy in the Church, tried, true men, every one, men who had offered their lives for their brethren. Fortunately this sacrifice was not required of them. ¶

The Prophet Joseph Smith likewise, knowing full well what he was walking into, gave his life for the testimony that he had of this glorious work. ¶

Now we have out representing us thousands of young men, some of whom have a strong and virile testimony of the truth, and have been engaged in teaching peace to the world. The country now has called for their service and they go gladly and willingly in the spirit of sacrifice. Not one of them is going out as an adventurer, but is going in response to a call from properly constituted authority. Many of them may have their lives cut off prematurely, from our point of view, without having gained the blessings which come through marriage and fatherhood and other blessings that might come their way. I feel, brethren, that these young men who make this sacrifice will gain a blessing which will compensate them in every respect for everything that they may lose. I feel too that if some of them gather up some habits which we do not approve, that perchance their life's blood will wipe out the stain of it, and that God will take into account their wonderful sacrifice. No man can do more than offer his life for his fellows. Life is the most precious gift of man, and it is the greatest gift that can be offered in sacrifice. ¶

If I had a son in this service, I think that thought would be a great comfort to me, that he was making the greatest sacrifice within his power for me and for you, for his brothers and sisters and for the generations of men unborn; for we believe, brethren, that this is a conflict between two ideals of government, one coming from God, the other from the devil, and it will be a fight to the death eventually between those two ideals, the safety of future generations resting only with the successful termination of this conflict on the side of justice and honor. ¶

We believe, we know, that the principles that we defend are those of righteous government inspired by God, and I hope that those of us who suffer in this great conflict may gain some comfort in this thought. ¶

Seventies in the Armed Service to Retain Offices ¶

We are proud that we have in the seventies' quorums many representatives among this group. We are so proud of them that we refuse to allow those who are presidents in our quorums to be released from their responsibility for the simple reason that they are going into the service. We would like all of our stake presidents to take notice that that is our sentiment, and unless there be some other reason, that they do not recommend to us the release of the president of a seventy's quorum because he puts on the uniform of his country. We feel that he will be a better representative of the Church and that he will have a stronger anchor if we retain him in his position of trust and honor. ¶

I pray that those boys may have the safeguard which comes from your continual prayers in their behalf, that the absolute minimum of sacrifice may be required at their hands. When God sent Abraham into the mount to sacrifice his son, he did not require it, and Abraham headed a large family of Israel, and from these men of whom this sacrifice is not required may come our rulers, our officers of the future. I pray that God may give them strength that in all they are called to do there may be no hate in their hearts, but only the promptings of duty and the spirit of sacrifice. God bless you. Amen. ¶