Pulpit

Conference Address

Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch to the Church

1947 April General Conference·Third Day Afternoon Session·1947-04-06

A Testimony of the Truth

I have been active all my life, and I don't think that there has been a time when I haven't had a testimony of the gospel. I know that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am the sixth generation in this Church in this dispensation. If all my forefathers could be active members in the Church, as they were, I don't know why I should be one to find fault with it, or to question their testimonies as well as the testimony which bears within me. I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I think that there are probably thousands of men in the Church who, if called by the proper authority, could come and fulfill any position in the Church, and the position to which I have been called is no exception. I believe and have always taught that the Lord's way is the best way and that he is guiding this Church. This is the Lord's Church, and he is directing it, and those who are called to positions are truly called of the Lord, and they are directing this Church as he wants it done, in spite of the fact that we all have our free agency.

Advice of Mission President Recalled

While I was in the mission field in Germany, President Hugh J. Cannon said to us one time in a missionary testimony meeting, where only the missionaries were present:

The Lord uses the weak things in this life to accomplish his purposes. If you don't believe me just look around at yourselves, and the first chance you get, take a good look in a mirror.

That is still true, and I think I am just as weak today as I was then, and I am sure I am going to need the help of the Lord to fulfil this office to which I have been called. President Cannon also said to us at one time, "How much time do you waste in prayer?" If we are wasting our time, we are not praying. My appeal to you as the membership of this church is that you do not waste your time, and when you pray, pray! Remember the Authorities of the Church in that prayer, and include me with them, because I am going to need it.

May the Lord bless us all and help us all in our righteous endeavors and in all of our callings, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Cite this talkEldred G. Smith, "Conference Address," 1947 April General Conference, Third Day Afternoon Session (1947-04-06). Pulpit Vault, 1947-04-eldred-g-smith-conference-address. Authoritative print text from catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org.Pulpit Vault, edition of 23 September 2026 (commit 4bdc6ac627).
Elsewhere in the corpus
  1. 1984Write Down a DateM. Russell Ballard¶ 2
  2. 1907Report on the Western States MissionJoseph A. McRae¶ 2
  3. 1915Yesterday, the words of the LordSamuel O. Bennion¶ 2
  4. 1942Inspiration Up the LadderMarvin O. Ashton¶ 2
  5. 2016“If Ye Had Known Me”David A. Bednar¶ 2

Passages elsewhere in the record that speak where this talk speaks — nearest first, found by comparing paragraph texts. Each opens at the cited paragraph.