Conference Address

Although it has been nearly two months since I left the Northern States Mission, I feel that it is sufficiently recent that I may bring you the greetings of the missionaries and the splendid people residing in that Great Lakes area. There are probably only a few of our people who live in that section of the country that are permitted to attend this Conference, but I am sure the desire of all of them would be to meet with you here in this wonderful gathering. ¶

These few minutes will not permit me to give much of an account of the activities of the Northern States Mission. There will be time, however, to tell you of one experience that has made a deep impression upon me. It is not a single experience but a recurring one as we have traveled about that territorty in the United States. Within the boundaries of the Northern States Mission are many historical places of the early days of the Church, many landmarks that remind us of the courage and the faith of those who gave so much to the establishment of this work, and many of the landscapes bear evidence even to this day of the hardships and sufferings of these noble people. In that area are located Kirtland, Carthage, Nauvoo, Mt. Pisgah and Winter Quarters, and a little beyond the mision's eastern boundary lies the Hill Cumorah at Palmyra, and between these places are some vaguely discernible trails and roads where these faithful Saints with weary feet have trod. Each time Sister Stoddard and I traveled about the mission and our journeys have taken us to or through these places, they have become more sacred to us. Many of our trips have been made in winter-time, and as that is the season of the year when these people, in most cases, were required to leave their homes and go into the open country, we could picture to a degree the suffering which they endured. We asked ourselves the question, how much faith did it require to give up home in the winter and move out into a storm that defied survival of human life. This they did because of their love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and because they were unwilling to compromise in any degree with those who were enemies of the truth. ¶

One day while visiting Nauvoo, a typical midwestern blizzard was sweeping that area. On the trip from Carthage to Nauvoo it was difficult to keep warm in a closed automobile, and as we crossed the Mississippi bridge into Iowa, outside the car the weather was almost unbearable. It required little imagination to picture the early Saints crossing that river when no bridge existed and taking with them what provisions and household goods that they could move with the very limited equipment they possessed, and making this crossing with only the prospects ahead of building a winter home on the open prairies of Iowa. It now seems more miraculous to us than ever that these people were able to survive. Surely that section of the country is the cradle of the Church, and it continues to bear mute testimony of the price that was paid for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in this dispensation. ¶

During the brief period spent by the Savior in his ministry, he descended below all things that he might rise above all things. He demonstrated complete self-mastery and the power of overcoming evil forces. A similar experience of lesser degree has been required of his servants of any generation who have established his truths among men. With a feeling of sacredness, most of us direct our thoughts to these courageous, God-fearing people and say "my parents, my grand-parents, or my great-grandparents were among them." We are indeed grateful for the heritage which is ours. When Christ first addressed the multitude, he spoke of the virtues of humility, meekness and lowliness of heart. In his life he saw meekness grow into strength, humility grow into power, and lowliness into wisdom and understanding and intelligence. The early Saints demonstrated these same virtues, and through their faithfulness the restoration of the Gospel has been accomplished. From these humble beginnings a great Church has been established. It is a good tonic for discouragement for us to look to their accomplishments. ¶

I am thankful above all else for a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for a testimony of its restoration to the earth in our . day. It is a cherished privilege to have been called into his service and to enjoy the blessings that come from working in his ministry. May God bless us always to prove loyal to the knowledge and responsibility which are ours, I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ¶