President N Eldon Tanner President Hugh B...

President N. Eldon Tanner President Hugh B. Brown of the First Presidency, from whom we have not heard for the last two or three General Priesthood meetings, will be our concluding speaker. ¶

Following President Brown, the men of the Tabernacle Choir, conducted by Richard P. Condie, with Robert Cundick at the organ, will sing, "Ah, Then My Heart So Free," following which Elder Boyce H. Lines, President of the Mt. Graham Stake, will offer the benediction. This Conference will then be adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. ¶

President Hugh B. Brown Of the First Presidency I shall not detain you long, brethren. ¶

I would very much like to say, however, that this evening's session has been very much worthwhile to me. ¶

Although, because of age, my days of laboring with my own children are pretty well over so far as their early life is concerned, I am still greatly interested in the welfare of the young people. ¶

I have enjoyed very much listening to Brother Dunn and Brother Tuttle, giving us some viewpoints that, I am sure, caused us to think. I hope we will take these thoughts home and put them into practice. ¶

I was glad to get Brother Smith's reaction to the priesthood and its meaning and its value. ¶

I think it is a wonderful thing that we could have with us tonight Brother Lind, who, being an astronaut, has had some experiences that none of us has ever had or probably ever will have. ¶

It is refreshing to find a man who has gone through the kind of tests he has and who has remained true to the truth, true to himself, true to God. His testimony to you, all of you out there as well as you who are here, should be a thrilling thing. It should help you as you go forward and have your tests, your temptations. It will help you, if you will think back and remember what he said tonight and then try and put your lives in order, so that you may at the end be found worthy of the blessings of God. ¶

I shall never forget the words of my mother when I left to go on a mission sixty-odd years ago, when she said to me, "When you were a lad you often had bad dreams. You remember you would call out from your room and say, 'Mother, are you there?' And I would say, 'Yes, son, I am here. Everything's all right. Turn over and go to sleep.' " She said, "Now, my boy, you are going on a mission. You will be 5,000 miles away from me and I can't answer your call, but many times you will need to ask someone, 'Are you there?' Now," she said, "while you are gone, and the rest of your life, whatever happens, don't forget to call out and say, 'Father, are you there?' And I promise you, my boy, if you will do that, he will respond to you. You may not hear his voice; you will not see his form or figure, but you will know he is there, and he will support you." ¶

I bear you my witness tonight that many times in intervening years I have called out to him for help, and I have needed it all the time. I needed it at the beginning of this conference. I called out to him and said, "Father, are you there?" I bear witness that he answered. He has been with us through this conference. We have had a glorious time. ¶

I leave you my testimony of the divinity of this work. I know it better than I know anything else, and I thank God for the privilege of working in it. ¶

I pray that all of you, my brethren holding the priesthood, will remember that you can get just as close to your Heavenly Father as you can to your earthly father, if you will undertake to live righteously, to talk to him regularly, and to obey his commandments. I leave you my witness and pray that God will bless you. ¶

Father in heaven, wilt thou bless these fathers that they may have the genius to reach the hearts of their boys. Oh, Father, wilt thou bless these boys that they may know the value of their fathers, and get close to them. ¶

Oh Father, wilt thou bless the mothers of these boys and the wives of these husbands. Be with them, and inspire them in their work. Father, be with all thy children. Help us to discharge the duties of our priesthood, the obligations of our callings, to be true to ourselves and to thee, we humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶