An Inspiring Sight

This is indeed an inspiring sight. Also a very sobering one. ¶

My dear Brethren: I am happy to be here tonight. I appreciate this opportunity. With the exception of eleven months in 1948, Sister Bringhurst and I have had the privilege of serving constantly in the mission field since 1944. ¶

We are grateful to the First Presidency and to the General Authorities of the Church for affording us the privilege and honor of presiding over two of the very fine missions of this Church. ¶

I should like to pay tribute to my good wife tonight. She has stood constantly by my side and although when we went to Switzerland, she could not speak the German language, through hard work, study and prayer, she was able to conduct her meetings and take charge of them, whether with the Relief Society or Primary officers before we returned to our home, before we were released. I am real grateful to her for the splendid work and the leadership she brought to those two organizations in the mission field. ¶

We have had the privilege of working with many of your fine sons and daughters during our time in the mission field, in those two splendid missions. I want you to know that they are the finest in the world, and I hope that you will not think that I am becoming too personal or that I am intruding myself into your business when I suggest to you fathers who have sons and daughters in foreign missions, where it is necessary for them to learn a foreign language, to write a little more often to them. Do not leave all the writing for your wives to do. The first six months in those foreign missions is a trying period. The missionaries must learn a new language. They must adjust themselves to new and changed conditions, and it is very difficult for them. And they need every encouragement they can possibly receive from every source. ¶

When you have difficulties at home, take them to your bishop, if you need to, but do not write them to your sons and daughters in the mission field. ¶

They worry about them, it interferes with their efficiency, the only thing they can do to help you is to pray for you, and I assure you that you have their prayers and their faith in your behalf when you do have difficulty. ¶

May I also ask you fine bishops — I know you do have a lot to do, I speak advisedly — write to your missionaries, occasionally, they appreciate those letters and they help them a lot. ¶

Our missionaries in the Swiss-Austrian Mission and also in the Northwestern States Mission, have been some of the finest it has been possible to send to any mission. They have been diligent in their efforts, they have been loyal to the Cause, and I wish you fathers and your good wives could have been present on occasions when we have had testimony meetings. It thrills one to hear the humble testimonies of those fine boys and girls, and it always does us good to hear them praise their parents at home and ask our Heavenly Father to bless and to guide them. ¶

There is another trying period in the lives of these fine boys and girls, and that is immediately upon reaching home. Please encourage them, give them help. They have a difficult time adjusting again when they get home. ¶

They have been active, they have been working ten hours, a day doing missionary work and they need your help and encouragement when they get home, until they get adjusted again. ¶

It would be a fine thing, and I am sure every mission president would appreciate it, if the fathers of our missionaries would write the mission presidents occasionally. I will tell you why that is important. During the four years that we were in the Swiss-Austrian Mission, we kept a graph of several activities, tracting, cottage meetings, and total, proselyting hours, also showing the expenses of the missionary. Without one single exception each time expenses went up, all three of the other activities went down, and when expenses went down, the other three activities went up. If you will write the mission presidents they will be happy to tell you the amount of money that your missionary boy or girl needs, and do not send them more than they need. ¶

We are grateful to our Heavenly Father for the Gospel. We are grateful for the opportunity we have had of serving the Church. President McKay has mentioned the part we played in obtaining the Temple site in Bern, Switzerland. We deem that a great honor. The greatest privilege that ever came to us, and one that will never be forgotten by the members of our mission there, was the visit of President and Sister McKay and their son Lawrence and wife, they will never forget that, and the enjoyable time we had with them, the few days they were with us will always live in our memory. ¶

May our Heavenly Father continue to bless President McKay, that he may continue to be our inspired leader. ¶

I was thrilled this morning to hear my first mission president, President Thomas E. McKay speak a few minutes. ¶

He is a marvelous man, and I love him. ¶

Way back in 1910, when he was our mission president, and President Rudger Clawson was presiding over the European Mission, President Clawson prophesied that President Thomas E. McKay would hold a more important position sometime in his life than he held at that time, and I am happy to have lived to see that prophecy come true. ¶

My brethren, I hope that you will take to heart the words of Brother Benson about our great country. It seems as though we have to leave and go away for a while before we are really ready to take into consideration the value of living in this great country of ours. ¶

When Sister Bringhurst and I landed in New York, I got down on my knees and kissed this good old earth. This is the greatest country in the world. ¶

Let us keep it that way. All of Europe, every country in Europe, is looking to us for leadership, and also for help. ¶

It is important that we realize our position in the world today. ¶

President Thomas E. McKay mentioned these mountains; every morning I thank my Heavenly Father for them. ¶

There are no finer mountains in the world, and every time I gaze at them I think of this poem written by the late Harrison R. Merrill, perhaps his last, as it was found on his desk after he had passed away. ¶

Oh, God, let this be heaven — I do not ask for golden streets, Or long for jasper walls, Nor do I sigh for pearly shores Where twilight never falls; Just leave me here beside these peaks, In this rough western land, — I love this dear old world of Thine — Dear God, you understand. ¶

Oh, God, let this be heaven— I do not crave white stainless robes, I'll keep these marked by toil; Instead of straight and narrow walks I love trails soft with soil; I have been healed by crystal streams, But these from snow-crowned peaks Where dawn burns incense to the day And paints the sky in streaks. ¶

Dear God, let this be heaven — I do not ask for angel wings, Just leave that old peak there And let me climb 'till comes the night — I want no golden stair. ¶

Then when I say my last adieu And all farewells are given Just leave my spirit here somewhere — Oh, God, let this be heaven! ¶

I bear you my testimony tonight, my dear brethren, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only plan that will bring peace and salvation to a troubled, sick world. I bear you my testimony that the messages we have heard today from these our brethren are true, and this group of men whom we will sustain and whom we have always sustained as our General Authorities are God's representatives here on the earth, and if we will but live according to their teachings and their advice, we need have no concern about the future. I have learned that my Heavenly Father will be just as near to me as my life will allow him to be. I have learned that he will take care of all my needs, if I do my part. ¶

May he help us to be the kind of men that we ought to be, those of us who are privileged to bear his priesthood, may he continue to bless and support these our brethren, the General Authorities of our Church, I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶