Conference Address

I think I have a good heart. I feel greatly honored and appreciate the opportunity of standing before this great congregation of saints in this historic building. ¶

This is the one hundred nineteenth annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which means that we have held two hundred thirty-eight conferences since the Church was organized. ¶

You know, these conferences never become tiresome. We are always happy to come, and we feel always when the conference is over that we have been fed the bread of life. I recall that at the first conference of the Church, which was held on June 9, 1830, it is reported there were only thirty members present. There were, I suppose, not many more than that number in the Church at that time. Today there is a Church membership of over a million and forty thousand. ¶

At that early time when the Church was first organized the Lord gave a revelation to the people, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, which is recorded in the twentieth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, giving instructions regarding the organization of the Church and the duties of the various officers in the Church. Those instructions are just as valid today and just as important and necessary as they were at that time. Among them was the instruction that conferences should be held at certain intervals among the elders of the Church and among the people. ¶

Certainly, my brothers and sisters, we are a conference-loving people. We hold these general conferences of the Church every six months, there are quarterly conferences held in the stakes of the Church every three months, there are conferences held in the wards every year, there are auxiliary conferences held in the Church from time to time and the people come just as regularly and faithfully to those conferences today as they have ever done, and they go away from them feeling that they have been fed the bread of life. These conferences are held in order that the business of the Church may be transacted and that the people may be built up in their faith. If this were not the true Church of Christ, such a condition could not exist. ¶

Way back in February of 1829, more than a year before the Church was organized, the Lord said through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "Behold a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men." Surely a marvelous work has come forth among the children of men. ¶

A part of the genius of this great Church that appeals to me very greatly is the wonderful organization whereby so many men and women are given opportunity to render service. I marvel at the great responsibility that rests upon the men who stand at the head of this Church, the General Authorities of the Church, and how God has magnified and blessed them. I am thinking of the men who preside over the various stakes and wards in the Church, the presidents of stakes and their counselors, the stake clerks, the bishoprics and their clerks, the high councilmen who help the presidencies of the stakes, and the men who serve as ward teachers in the wards, the one hundred seventy-two presidencies of High Priests' quorums in the Church with their clerks, besides the three hundred thirty-six, I think it is, Seventies' quorums in the Church, each with its presidency of seven men, the ten hundred thirty-six Elders' quorums with their presidencies, to say nothing of the men who are teaching in these various quorums; the auxiliary organizations: the Relief Socities, the Sunday Schools, the Mutual Improvement Associations and the Primaries, each having general organizations, general boards, stake boards, general superintendencies and presidencies, and ward and stake superintendencies and presidencies. Then, too, there are the missions throughout the world with their branch organizations, the mission presidents, and the great body of missionaries ¶

in the missions and stakes, all men and women devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a great army for righteousness! These men and women are supposed to be, and most of them are, exemplary in their walks and talks in life, men and women who observe the Word of Wisdom, who pay their honest tithing, and who keep themselves pure and clean, and all devoting themselves unselfishly to the cause without hope of financial remuneration. Where can one go and find such an organization as this? ¶

Yes, brethren and sisters, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is his Church; certainly, a marvelous work and a wonder has come forth among the children of men. These men and women who have set their hands to the wheel are men and women of faith and hope and charity. Yes, of love, of knowledge, of temperance, of virtue, of brotherly kindness, Godliness and diligence. Certainly the Lord must be pleased with them. ¶

I thank God for the privilege of being a member of this Church, for the privilege of being associated with the men who stand at the head of this Church, for it is in very deed, I bear testimony to you, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. ¶

I remember that when I was a young man living on the farm we had a pump from which we had to get water to give to our cattle. I suppose you have similar pumps out in the country districts now, but in order for us to get that water we had to put water into the pump. It is the same with these brethren and sisters who are holding positions in the Church today, they are putting water into the pump. They are priming the pump, and one has to give something in this Church, brethren and sisters, in order to get something out of it, and I am sure the more you give the more you get. ¶

The Lord bless us and help us to carry on as He would have us do. May he bless and sustain and heal and strengthen our president, President George Albert Smith, and President George F. Richards. I humbly pray for these and other blessings we stand in need of, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶