Conference Address

I have occasion, my brothers and sisters, to be thankful for the radio, and I should make an acknowledgment at the beginning of my talk. I felt somewhat indisposed this morning, and knowing that the building here would be very crowded I felt that I would do well to remain home and listen to the addresses and singing over the radio. While sitting there I heard President Smith call the names of one or two of the mission presidents who had presided, asking them to come to the stand. I thought it was about time I was getting up to the Tabernacle. I appreciate very much the opportunity I had of laboring in the mission field and particularly in the Central States Mission, one of the most historic spots in the world to Latter-day Saints. I had filled a mission in the Southern states for three years and enjoyed my labors there immensely, and had filled another short-term mission. I want to say this last experience was one of the sweetest in my life, notwithstanding there came a sorrow into my life such as I have never before experienced. I would like to pay tribute to my beloved companion who died in the service of her fellow men, and I want to thank these kind brethren who did so much to comfort me in the hour of affliction. Sister Romney was loved by everybody in the mission for her sweetness of character, her humility and her fine administrative ability. She was brought here for burial, and at the depot we were met by President Smith and a number of the Twelve and other leading brethren. We were fortunate to have President Smith, President McKay, Apostle Widtsoe, and other prominent men speak at the funeral service. ¶

My brethren and sisters, I want to say a few words about this mission, the spirit that prevails throughout the Central States, and compare that spirit, the changed conditions there, with what obtained when our people first went there in the early history of the Church. You all know, I am sure, that the Central States Mission comprises the four central states of the Union, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Soon after the Church was organized, just a few months, four brethren were called by the prophet, by the spirit of revelation, to go down on the borders of the Lamanites and preach to them the gospel. You will recall that Parley P. Pratt, and Oliver Cowdery were two of these men who were thus chosen. On their journey up to Ohio they were successful in baptizing several hundred into the Church, which resulted in the removal of the Church from Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y. to Kirtland, Ohio. These brethren endured a great many hardships on their journey of one thousand miles from Ohio to Independence. They tell us that they waded through snow at times waist deep. Now Independence at that time was on the western frontiers of America. It was a great outpost. Caravans that made their way down to the Southwest and also the Pacific coast were outfitted there. Independence at that time was only three years old, being established in 1827. These brethren were not successful among the Indians because of prejudice against them which was engendered in the hearts of these red men by the Indian agents, but their mission there resulted in a revelation coming to the Prophet in which he was told that Independence should become the center of Zion. It wasn't long until he and a number of other brethren came down to Independence, and they were followed by a great many of the Latter-day Saints who engaged in building up and beautifying that place. They established a paper there, The Evening and the Morning Star, and Gilbert and Whitney established a mercantile establishment there. But the enemy came up against them, and our people to the number of twelve hundred who had gathered in Jackson County were driven from their homes in the dead of winter. Along the Blue River we are told that something like a hundred twenty-five houses were burned by the mob. In one settlement there, where there were about a hundred ninety odd people, composed almost altogether of women and children, these Latter-day Saints were driven down toward the Missouri River and one writer, not a member of the Church, declared you could trace them by the blood that flowed from their feet. I would like to read to you a statement made by Parley P. Pratt with reference to this expulsion: "The shore of the Missouri began to be lined on both sides of the ferry with men, women and children, goods, wagons, boxes, provisions, etc. while the ferry was constantly employed. When night again closed upon us the cottonwood bottom had much the appearance of a camp meeting. Hundreds of people were seen in every direction, some in tents and some in the open air around their fires while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, wives for their husbands, parents for children, and children for parents. Some had the good fortune to escape with their families, household goods and some provisions while others knew not the fate of their friends and had lost all their goods. The scene was indescribable and I am sure, would have melted the hearts of any people on the earth except their blind oppressors and a blind and ignorant community. People were expelled in a body from Jackson County, Missouri, into Clay County to the north and into other countries farther north, to the northeast. You remember that our people built up another city to take the place of Independence as their headquarters, known as Far West. There another temple site was dedicated to the building of a house of the Lord. These Latter-day Saints were not long to enjoy the comforts they had gathered around them at Far West, but under the cruel edict of Governor Boggs, they were driven out of the country. You will remember the Prophet Joseph Smith and a number of the brethren were incarcerated in Richmond Jail. You remember the event when the drunken guards were boasting of the indignities they had heaped upon the Latter-day Saints and were saying what they were going to do with them in the future. You remember the Prophet Joseph Smith, with chains still clinging to him, arose and rebuked them in the name of the Lord and they quailed at his feet. He and his brethren, a number of them, were taken to Liberty Jail and there they were treated very inhumanly. You remember upon two or three different occasions they were fed poison, and on another occasion they were offered human flesh to eat and in agony the Prophet Joseph Smith cried out thus: 'Oh God, where art thou, and where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed and thine eye, yea thy pure eye behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants and thine ear be penetrated with their cries. Yes, yea, oh Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions before thine heart shall be softened toward them and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them. Oh, Lord, God Almighty, Maker of heaven, earth and seas and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil and the dark dominion of Sheol! Stretch forth thy hand, let thine eyes pierce, let thy pavilion be taken up, let thy hiding place be no longer covered. Let thine ear be inclined, let thine heart be softened and thy bowels move with compassion toward us. Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies and in the fury of thine heart with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs. Remember thy suffering saints, oh our God and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.' Then the voice of the Lord came to him thus: 'My son, peace be unto thy soul. Thine adversity and thine affliction shall be but a small moment. Then if thou endureth well God shall exalt thee on high. Thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hand.' " ¶

My brethren and sisters there is a great change among the people of Missouri and the other states in the central part of the United States. I want to say that there is no mission in the world, in my opinion, where the president of the mission is given greater consideration than in the City of Independence. My predecessor, Brother John F. Bowman, was honored by presiding over the Chamber of Commerce for two sessions. These presidents, for a number of years, have been members not only of the Chamber of Commerce, but of the Kiwanis Club, the outstanding organization of that kind in the city as well as belonging to the Ministerial Association. ¶

I want to say to you that the people generally are very kind to the missionaries, and I want to say this that it is necessary that we make friendships among the people. I don't care what denomination they belong to or whether they belong to any denomination at all, we must be tolerant. We must make friends of them before we can convert them to the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So I rejoice that these people are looking favorably upon us. I had the opportunity while there of delivering the baccalaureate address at one of the great universities in Missouri. Again we had the opportunity of going to Lamoni which was the headquarters of the Reorganized Church before they came to Independence. Israel Smith, the President of the Church was kind enough to furnish us with a conveyance there and back. It was a brotherhood affair. We felt honored that I had been called upon to deliver the talk upon that occasion. The one who introduced us said, "This is the first time in the history of our church that we have ever conferred an honor like this upon an elder from Utah." ¶

My brothers and sisters, I love all mankind. I think there is no person in all the world whom I cannot love and extend the hand of fellowship, especially those who are striving to serve the Lord. In closing I want to bear my testimony to you that I know that this is the work of the Lord. These brethren who have succeeded Joseph Smith are indeed prophets of God as they have presided over this Church. I love this man who presides at the present time with all my heart, and I say God bless him and all of these fine brethren who are associated with them in presiding over the affairs of this great latter-day work. ¶

God help us to be faithful and true to the covenants which we have made with him that our testimonies may grow daily, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶